an amazing honor in the world of Sportfishing! - California Fishing

PlatinumHooks · 02-23-2005, 02:30 AM

Most of you are aware that I am the proprietor (president/owner) of two very well established companies in the sport fishing industry. One of my companies: "W.T.W. Pro Staff" (located in Ventura, Ca.) is the "Exclusive California Wholesale Agent / Representative" for several different well established tackle manufacturers in the sport fishing industry, as well as my company is also "head of new retail accounts" for the Lip RipperZ company.

W.T.W. Pro Staff is also very proud to be the "Exclusive U.S. Wholesale Agent / Representative" for "Caledon Flies" located in Clarens, South Africa. The Caledon Flies company is run and owned by the world reknowned fly tyer and Fly fishing author "Garth Brook" (no, not Garth Brooks the country singer.....Brook without the "s") . Caledon is a very popular, higher quality tied fly; very popular in Europe, Canada, and Australia; reknowned for their Bass Flies.

Last Year, one well established European Fly fishing magazine and the top Australian fly fishing magazine named Caledon Flies in the top 5 of the worlds best tied production flies.

Last year It took me months to convince the Caledon company that they have a market here in the U.S. With all the competition here in the U.S. they had shied away from this market for years in fear that their "pricey / high quality" product would not sell. To this day my company has established and continues to maintain several Caledon Fly dealers / accounts from the east coast to the west coast, which still continues to shock the Caledon company itself.

Last year (December 2004) the Caledon Flies company honored me by designing and creating a brand new fly pattern for their permanent product line and naming it after my last name: "Zubia"; the pattern is called the Zubia Zaker, and has been tested and comes in several different hook sizes from #14 to #8/0 hook sizes, successfully landing everything from Brown Trout to Tarpon to Sailfish. Caledon Flies has now officially registered that pattern and the name with the FFF (Federation of Fly Fishers) and has just been approved by the president and CEO R.P. "Van" VanGytenbeek .

Here is a picture of one color variation of the "Zubia Zaker" (the "Ruby body" color variation) It's basically a cross between a Deciever pattern and Wooly Bugger pattern. It blows me away to think about officially having a fly pattern named after me, knowing that no matter what fly tying company or individual that copies this pattern, they have to use that name...the "Zubia Zaker". Just wanted to share that with you guys.

GlobalFisher · 02-24-2005, 11:52 PM

WOW very cool man!

GlobalFisher · 02-24-2005, 11:52 PM

I want a fly named after me!

PlatinumHooks · 02-25-2005, 12:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GlobalFisher

WOW very cool man!

It still trips me out to think of having a fly named after me. If I had the larger hook sizes with me in stock I'd give you a couple for your saltwater fly excursion to Hawaii. But if you checked your PM's I'm gonna send you some of the new Saltwater patterns that Caledon is releasing this Spring (I have promo samples already...Decievers, Crazy Charlies, etc.). I might be able to get a few Zubia Zaker patterns in the 1/0 and 2/0 sizes for your trip depending on when you leave. Great for Dorado, Wahoo, Sailfish, etc. though I think for Sails you'd need at least a 6/0 or 7/0 hook size.

GlobalFisher · 02-25-2005, 09:24 AM

Think the zubias would work on salmon?

PlatinumHooks · 02-25-2005, 09:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GlobalFisher

Think the zubias would work on salmon?

Yes, The main reason being is that Wooly Buggers are proven to catch several different salmon species. The Zubia Zaker is the result of a Wooly Bugger that had sex with a Deceiver pattern!! In terms of freshwater situations and likenesses, it acts like a Wooly Bugger but swims alot better because of the tail. Salmon would kill it. I guess you'll find out soon enough

GlobalFisher · 02-25-2005, 10:35 AM

NICE!!

PlatinumHooks · 02-25-2005, 11:11 AM

Geoff, interms of the saltwater flies. My goal for the Caledon Flies company here in the U.S. is; (and I know it sound crazy), to get at least some type of IGFA saltwater line class world record on a Caledon Fly, if that were to happen every fly shop in the country would want to become a Caledon Flies dealer. That's what happened with "FLY-H2O" flies...they got a world record, and their business just sky rocketed!

GlobalFisher · 02-25-2005, 11:22 AM

Ya never know!

PlatinumHooks · 02-25-2005, 11:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GlobalFisher

Ya never know!

Yeah. That's what would happen with any tackle company..Rods, baits, lures, line, reels, etc. In fact, Dick Nite Spoons only became famous because someone (a woman) caught the IGFA all Tackle World Record for a "Humpy" on a Dick Nite Spoon(Red and Chrome).