Dumb Purchases

[ddb]

40 + years ago I made a business trip to London and of course did a pilgrimage to Hardys.

That was on an outbound leg of a mutli stop trip so I did not buy the cane rod I really wanted but could not imagine safely hauling through multiple airports. So I contented myself with a reel that went into my carry on and -- here comes the dumb part -- a salmon tailer. ( For the uninitiated, a tailer is a rod @2.5' long with a wire hoop at the end. You slide it over a salmon's tail and lift so it closes over the tail and holds it while you unhook. At least that is the legal use. Adept poachers also use it to sneak up on dozing salmon and snatch them out of the river. At one time in England if you were a varlet caught on the high road at night with a tailer it was a hanging offense.)

Anyway lugging it around Europe and back was an experience. Several airlines refused to allow me to store it overhead as they thought it was weaponable. (The Air France folks not only permitted it but wanted to know what sex toy shop I go it from.)

And I returned home only to find that it is illegal in most states here!

Its too small to use on kids and I still have not figured out what the French are up to.

ddb

 

[Ard]

I'm familiar with them, have seen and handled one but never considered using one legal or not. What reel did you buy?

For tailing I was blessed with big hands, the kind that you can stop a basketball with just by gripping it. At least I could do that when I was younger, I haven't touched a B. ball for 20 years I don't think, maybe longer. Another unique Hardy item is the fancy pewter tipped priests they used to sell.

 

[eastfly66]

Another unique Hardy item is the fancy pewter tipped priests they used to sell.

Very unique .....what is it ?

 

[myt1]

40 + years ago I made a business trip to London and of course did a pilgrimage to Hardys.

That was on an outbound leg of a mutli stop trip so I did not buy the cane rod I really wanted but could not imagine safely hauling through multiple airports. So I contented myself with a reel that went into my carry on and -- here comes the dumb part -- a salmon tailer. ( For the uninitiated, a tailer is a rod @2.5' long with a wire hoop at the end. You slide it over a salmon's tail and lift so it closes over the tail and holds it while you unhook. At least that is the legal use. Adept poachers also use it to sneak up on dozing salmon and snatch them out of the river. At one time in England if you were a varlet caught on the high road at night with a tailer it was a hanging offense.)

Anyway lugging it around Europe and back was an experience. Several airlines refused to allow me to store it overhead as they thought it was weaponable. (The Air France folks not only permitted it but wanted to know what sex toy shop I go it from.)

And I returned home only to find that it is illegal in most states here!

Its too small to use on kids and I still have not figured out what the French are up to.

ddb

Wow, if in 40 plus years that is the dumbest purchase you have made that is pretty amazing...great story to go along with it though.

In only four years of fly fishing I have a closet full of dumb purchases. I have quite a collection of vests, hip packs, and now even some rods and reels that I will never use.

 

[ddb]

I bought a Hardy multiplier reel which I later trraded for a Salmon no 1.

ddb

 

[brownbass]

I keep thinking "How many people I know that have a Salmon Tailer from Hardy's". Just me! Hang it on the wall in your tying room.

Bill

 

[fredaevans]

Tailer's are a total waste on Steelhead due to the shape of the tail.

 

[moucheur2003]

The irony is that if you had bought a priest, probably nobody would have raised an eyebrow.

Metal Fly Fishing Priest Foam Handle Fish Whacker Fish Bat Head Dia 25mm Red/Blue/Green - Green, 29(UK 9.5): Amazon.co.uk: Sports & Outdoors

 

[Hirdy]

Dumbest purchase? My first fly rod.

 

[silver creek]

I keep thinking "How many people I know that have a Salmon Tailer from Hardy's". Just me! Hang it on the wall in your tying room.

Bill

I do and I have used it in Wisconsin on Chinook. I have not heard they are illegal and I cannot find any regulation that says they are illegal.