My Gear: What’s In My Pack

Field Tested & Current for the 2026 Season | Last Updated: May 2026"

Welcome to my personal gear guide. I don’t believe in collecting shiny, pristine kit just to look good on social media; the equipment on this page is the exact gear I pack into the camper van, strap to the motorbike across the UK. Every single item here has been used a lot, thoroughly tested, and proven to work when on an adventure. I bought it all with my own money, and if it's made it onto this list, it means I completely trust it when I'm out on the water or living by the campfire."

The Fishing Setup

The Fly Box & Lure Selection

I am a firm believer that you don’t need a million different patterns to catch fish in the UK—you just need a few reliable flies and lures that you have absolute confidence in.

I get asked a lot where I stock up before a trip. For my fly fishing, I tend to avoid the massive, faceless corporate warehouses. Instead, I buy my flies from independent specialists who actually know British waters inside out.

My go-to spots are The Essential Fly for keeping my core fly boxes topped up with quality patterns, and Peaks Fly Fishing when I need great gear and selection. When I'm looking for something specific that really stands out in the water, I get my flies from Fritz & Flash Fishing Flies.

Whether I’m stripping a lure through a deep reservoir or dropping a tiny dry fly onto a wild trout stream, I want flies that are tied properly and won't fall apart after one decent take. If a piece of kit makes it into my set up, it's because it actually catches fish.

When you buy those cheap, generic fly selections online (the ones that cost pennies), you are paying for rubbish. Here is exactly what separates the cheap stuff from the premium tungsten and quality flies you buy from places like Peaks Fly Fishing, The Essential Fly, and Fritz & Flash:

The Hooks Bend or Snap

Cheap Flies: They are tied on low-grade, brittle wire hooks. If you hook into a decent, hard-fighting wild trout or a big reservoir rainbow, the hook will literally straighten out or snap right at the bend, and you’ll lose the fish.

Good Flies: They use premium, high-carbon steel hooks (like Kamasan, Hayabusa, or Fulling Mill). They stay pin-sharp and won’t bend, even if you get snagged on a rock or a root.

They Fall Apart After One Fish (The Thread)

Cheap Flies: They are whipped together at warp speed in factories using cheap thread and no varnish or head cement. After one fish bites it, or after a couple of casts, the thread unravels, the dubbing falls off, and you’re left fishing with a bare hook.

Good Flies: They are tied by hand with strong, waxed threads and secured with proper head cement. A good fly can take a battering from dozens of fish teeth and still look brand new.

Lead vs. Tungsten (The Weight)

Cheap Flies: If they are weighted at all, they use cheap lead or brass beads. Brass is light, meaning your nymph just hovers near the surface where the fish ignore it.

Good Flies: They use genuine tungsten beads. Tungsten is nearly twice as heavy as lead. It cuts through fast river currents like a brick, sinking your fly straight down into the "feeding zone" where the big fish sit on the riverbed.

Poor Quality Feathers and Materials

Cheap Flies: They use cheap, stiff synthetic materials and low-grade feathers. When they hit the water, they don't move. They just look like a stiff, dead stick.

Good Flies: They use premium materials (like high-grade capes, CDC feathers, and buggy dubbing) that absorb water and "breathe." When it’s drifting, the feathers move naturally in the current, making it look alive.

Buying a cheap fly is a false economy. You might save a few quid at checkout, but you lose it when the fly unravels on the bank or snaps on the fish of the weekend. Spending that bit extra on proper tungsten and hand-tied flies means you fish with confidence—and confidence catches fish!

Fly Fishing Leaders & Tippets

Rio Powerflex Trout Tapered Leaders

When you’re fly fishing, your leader is the ultimate link between you and the fish. You can have the most expensive rod in the world, but if your leader behaves like a coiled spring or snaps on a take, you’re wasting your time. That’s why I usually have a few packs of Rio Powerflex in my pack.

They are made from a high-quality co-polymer, which basically means they are tough but have a bit of stretch to absorb the shock when a big trout hits your fly hard.

Why They Stay in My Kit Bag

Brilliant Turnover: The taper on these is spot on. It transfers the energy from your fly line down to the fly smoothly, meaning your fly lands gently on the water rather than bunching up in a tangled mess.

High Knot Strength: Some cheap leaders snap the second you tie a knot in them. The Powerflex holds knots incredibly well, giving you confidence when you're pulling a fish out of the weeds.

Camouflage Smoke Grey: They have a slight tint to them that cuts down on glare, making them hard for spooky wild trout to see in clear water.

20% More Strength When It Matters

The real secret to the Rio Powerflex is its high strength-to-diameter ratio. Rio uses a specialized co-polymer blend that gives these leaders 20% more tensile strength than standard nylon lines of the same thickness.

What does that actually mean for you on the bank?

It means if you are fishing a clear river where trout are easily spooked, you can drop down to a thinner diameter leader so the fish can’t see it—but you still keep the pulling power of a much heavier line. It gives you the ultimate edge when a big fish runs for the weeds and you have to hold your ground.

The Exact Sizes I Carry in the Pack

You don't need to buy every single size Rio makes. To keep things simple and effective, I stick to a few versatile lengths and breaking strains depending on where I'm pitching up:

The 9ft Leader (5lb or 6lb): This is my absolute workhorse for small-to-medium trout on stillwaters or when I'm fishing a windy hillside loch. The shorter length makes it much easier to cast in tight spots under overhanging trees, and the 5lb or 6lb strength gives me plenty of muscle if a big wild brown trout takes the fly.

The 12ft Leader (3lb or 4lb): I pull these out when I'm fishing flat, calm stillwaters or crystal-clear chalk streams. The extra length keeps my heavy fly line much further away from the fish so I don't spook them on the cast. Dropping down to 3lb lets me present tiny dry flies perfectly on the surface.

I always add a couple of feet of tippet to the end of the leader—it saves the main taper from getting cut down every time I change a fly.

Other Trusted Leaders in My Kit Bag

While Rio is a staple, I also keep a few other specific brands in the campervan for different conditions on the bank:

Orvis Superstrong: This is my go-to nylon when I need something incredibly reliable and abrasion-resistant. It knots beautifully and holds up brilliantly when you’re fishing on stillwaters and reservoirs.Fulling Mill Knotted Trout Leaders: If I’m fishing traditional loch-style tactics or want a leader that turns over beautifully in a stiff breeze, Fulling Mill’s knotted options are fantastic. They offer superb presentation straight out of the packet.Sunray: When I need something ultra-stealthy and cutting-edge for fussy, clear-water trout, Sunray is a brilliant premium choice that sits perfectly in the water column.

The Final Link: Tippet Material

My Go-To Tippet Spools

Seaguar Grand Max Fluorocarbon: This stuff is the absolute business for clear water or nymphing. It is slightly thinner than standard fluorocurbon but possesses incredible knot strength and sinks like a stone. It is virtually invisible to fish and incredibly tough against rocks and gravel beds, making it my ultimate "secret weapon" spool when things get tough.

Rio Powerflex Tippet: The natural partner to the Powerflex leader. It has that same co-polymer strength and slight grey tint that completely disappears under the water.

Orvis Superstrong Plus: This is an absolute legendary tippet. It is incredibly supple, which allows your dry flies to drift naturally without any stiff "drag" pulling them across the surface.

Where to Buy This Leader & Tippet Gear

Instead of wasting your time at massive generic warehouses, you can get every single one of these premium brands—Rio, Orvis, Fulling Mill, Sunray, and Seaguar Grand Max—from the independent UK specialist shops I trust for my own trips.

Sportfish: Brilliant for stocking up on your core Rio Powerflex leaders and Orvis Superstrong spools. Their delivery is fast and their customer service is top-tier.

Angling Active: My go-to for grabbing reliable gear, including Fulling Mill lines and premium Seaguar Grand Max fluorocarbon when I need to make sure my kit bag is completely primed for the weekend.

Sunray Fly Fishing: For the specific Sunray premium leaders and ultra-thin tippets, you can buy directly from their own online shop. Their gear is cutting-edge and highly respected on British waters.