Author Topic: Hanak "French Nymph" 3100, and 'curly q's. (Read 1565 times)

Andy Larkin · « **on:** August 04, 2011, 12:13:05 AM »

I recently received a Hanak "French Nymph" 10' #3 rod in the mail the other day (along with one of their CZ 25 reels) and finally had the chance to test it out on a few of the smaller tributaries and creeks of a north Vancouver Island river for some trout fishing.

First and foremost, this rod casts mono like an absolute dream. Balanced with one of their "Czech Nymph 25" reels and uniquely equipped with a fighting butt, this thing is a high sticking french nymphing machine. It is definitely different when compared to the Echo Shadow PE's I have tried in the past (which as everyone knows, is also a great stick for ze nymph..). It has a softer tip and moderate front end with a progressive rear, which allows delicate accurate casts at distances and in close quarters. The rod is also great for pulling wets as well as fishing small dries. The 10 foot length made swimming wets, and line management/general mending with dries very easy and all together this rod is a true joy to fish. I'm really happy with the rod and am already looking forward to the months to come (and hopefully a future 'guilty pleasure' 8'6 #1

)

I had also received a few of the Hanak Spiral indicators. In the past I had been using their bi-color indicator lines wrapped around an allen key to build my "curly-qs". They were nice and compact, however would lose their shape after several fish, or while hanging off my reel between outtings. The hanak ones had such nice tight coils, and I found they would maintain their 'tightness' even after many trout to net. Also, with the tight coils, I could actually store the sighter with tippet attached in my reel without being worried of it losing it's shape, as I did in the past when fishing these kind of leader systems.

Rob Twombly · « **Reply #1 on:** August 07, 2011, 05:57:41 PM »

Nice Info. While I can't stretch the budget to afford another Euro Rod, I am interested in how they keep the coils from going out of shape? Can anyone shed some light. Is it the material or the process they use to do it?

Alain Barthelemy · « **Reply #2 on:** August 08, 2011, 06:46:48 AM »

Rob,
The simple answer is make your coils for 2012 now, and leave them on the form after boiling. The longer the better. Even without boiling, this produces the longest lasting coils. Cheap mono also helps, with the best being Ande.

Rob Twombly · « **Reply #3 on:** August 17, 2011, 01:32:57 PM »

Thanks Alain...so the freeze part is pretty much just to get the initial set...the memory happens over time??

Alain Barthelemy · « **Reply #4 on:** August 17, 2011, 04:04:23 PM »

Rob, the boil/freeze process imparts the initial set, but quite a bit of memory too. As you let them sit on the form, I think UV light tends to age the mono, making it stiffer. As it stiffens, the coils set more permanently. You can see the same thing happen if you compare old and new tippet spools, and that is why some vendors date stamp their mono. Make sure you leave the curly on the form until just before use. As I have said before, I had the best success with 15lb Ande IGFA Hi-Viz Yellow. The Ande is not always the most visible color, but it seems to have the longest memory. Best colors are the Siman bicolor and JMC DTK. There is nothing like FL Orange and opaque white for best visibility.

Ole Buhr · « **Reply #5 on:** February 21, 2012, 06:40:25 PM »

Hi Andy,
do you still like the rod now that you have had more time to use it? I´m looking to buy a euro-nymphing rod and I might be considering the Hanak.