Farlows

Para_Adams

Para_Adams

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Got to browse through the Farlows store in Trafalgar Square, London. A few things stood out. First, there were more Sage rods than any other brand, even Hardy’s. Second, they said they love American made fly fishing products, especially Sage and Simms. Next, they said how very lucky
I was to be able to fish our PNW streams and Lakes. I think one guy called it “fishing heaven.” Last, Farlows hasn’t made new reels in maybe a half century…I guess Dave’s Farlows are relatively new for the brand!

Tight lines,
Ron
 

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Any more pics of the store Ron?

I remember Farlows fondly from some visits a couple of decades ago, but the firm's royal warrant pedigree was tarnished when it was sold to a Russian oligarch in 2013.

Love the old Farlows reels for fishing with Bamboo. They are heavier than modern reels so balance the longer bamboo rods well. And they aren't as pricey as the Hardy reels. Some of my favorite Farlows reels. A couple small Grenabys for trout fishing and various sized BWP's (also sometimes sold as the President or Ambassador) for summer steelhead and switch line and bull trout fishing.

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The BWP's have an interesting sliding drag as opposed to a knob.

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I stopped by Farlows about 5 years ago. I expected "more" and was somewhat disappointed as 99% of what they had I could get in my local shop in NH. I tried to purchase a Farlows ball cap, but was told by the snooty clerk that those types of things are NOT sold in Farlows. I did buy some non-silicone muclin as I have trouble finding it at home.
 
kmudgn said:
I stopped by Farlows about 5 years ago. I expected "more" and was somewhat disappointed as 99% of what they had I could get in my local shop in NH. I tried to purchase a Farlows ball cap, but was told by the snooty clerk that those types of things are NOT sold in Farlows. I did buy some non-silicone muclin as I have trouble finding it at home.
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I was just in London in June and the only shop I really wanted to check out was Farlow's and the only thing I really thought I might buy was a ball cap. Probably walked near it, but glad I didn't waste my families time being told they don't sell caps.
Was it this guy? He may not even own a ball cap. 😁
 
They DID have baseball caps that said Farlows, and T-shirts too. But after guesstimating the US$ after exchange, the Tshirt would have cost $55, and then only Dave Westburg would have known what "Farlows" was anyways, so I skipped those, LOL! But I did buy a box of 10 "buzzers" which are the nicest looking chironomids I have ever seen. They do love their buzzer fishing in the UK. Hope our local fish like their chironomids with an English accent.
 
Para_Adams said:
They DID have baseball caps that said Farlows, and T-shirts too. But after guesstimating the US$ after exchange, the Tshirt would have cost $55, and then only Dave Westburg would have known what "Farlows" was anyways, so I skipped those, LOL! But I did buy a box of 10 "buzzers" which are the nicest looking chironomids I have ever seen. They do love their buzzer fishing in the UK. Hope our local fish like their chironomids with an English accent.
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Hmmmm, if only I could steer Dave’s fly tying attention away from classics and into buzzers, my indicator catching rate would go way up!
 
Great thread Ron! I’ve never been to London, but if I ever get there I’m going to seek out the Farlows store. Haberdashery or not!

One of my favorite reels is also the Farlows BWP, a pre-war reel with a red agate line guard. I had seen a photo of one on the cover of a book I’d bought second hand and had to have one. I finally found one and feel fortunate to have it. Great reels!

The consensus on the Classic forum on the BWP reels is that they were actually made by JW Young for Farlows.

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Greg Armstrong said:
Great thread Ron! I’ve never been to London, but if I ever get there I’m going to seek out the Farlows store. Haberdashery or not!

One of my favorite reels is also the Farlows BWP, a pre-war reel with a red agate line guard. I had seen a photo of one on the cover of a book I’d bought second hand and had to have one. I finally found one and feel fortunate to have it. Great reels!

The consensus on the Classic forum on the BWP reels is that they were actually made by JW Young for Farlows.

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That's a great book Greg. The author John Orrelle used to live in Laconner.
 
I went to Farlow's last spring, during my visit to London. I was quite disappointed with the selection; I was expecting something grand, but felt it was no better than the average fly shop in the States.
 
Greg Armstrong said:
Great thread Ron! I’ve never been to London, but if I ever get there I’m going to seek out the Farlows store. Haberdashery or not!

One of my favorite reels is also the Farlows BWP, a pre-war reel with a red agate line guard. I had seen a photo of one on the cover of a book I’d bought second hand and had to have one. I finally found one and feel fortunate to have it. Great reels!

The consensus on the Classic forum on the BWP reels is that they were actually made by JW Young for Farlows.

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Awesome stuff Greg!
 
Greg Armstrong said:
Great thread Ron! I’ve never been to London, but if I ever get there I’m going to seek out the Farlows store. Haberdashery or not!

One of my favorite reels is also the Farlows BWP, a pre-war reel with a red agate line guard. I had seen a photo of one on the cover of a book I’d bought second hand and had to have one. I finally found one and feel fortunate to have it. Great reels!

The consensus on the Classic forum on the BWP reels is that they were actually made by JW Young for Farlows.

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Greg, that reel is beautiful! Unfortunately, those Brits chose the wrong side of the road, so to speak, when choosing which hand to wind with, LOL! After driving nearly two weeks in England I got somewhat used to driving on their side of the roads and traffic circles and never crashed our rental car nor caused, at least as I'm aware, any nearby drivers to crash theirs, nor did I hit any sheep (although they did seem to have an amazing lack of awareness of respecting my spatial needs, LOL). I adopted the "stiff upper lip", held the steering with with my death grip, eyes wide open, and made it safely across towns, farmlands and dales. But I am so thankful to return to the US and our normal "right" side driving, and to my normal "left" handed winding. Beautiful stuff that UK offers, but for me I just can't get used to their bass-backwards way of driving AND reel winding. ram.jpg
 
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Para_Adams said:
Greg, that reel is beautiful! Unfortunately, those Brits chose the wrong side of the road, so to speak, when choosing which hand to wind with, LOL! After driving nearly two weeks in England I got somewhat used to driving on their side of the roads and traffic circles and never crashed our rental car nor caused, at least as I'm aware, any nearby drivers to crash theirs, nor did I hit any sheep (although they did seem to have an amazing lack of awareness of respecting my spatial needs, LOL). I adopted the "stiff upper lip", held the steering with with my death grip, eyes wide open, and made it safely across towns, farmlands and dales. But I am so thankful to return to the US and our normal "right" side driving, and to my normal "left" handed winding. Beautiful stuff that UK offers, but for me I just can't get used to their bass-backwards way of driving AND reel winding. View attachment 127284
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Haaa!

Yep, driving on “the wrong side of the road “ is a real eye opener. I’ve only had to do that a few times and it’s always been an adventure.

I am not ambidextrous… at all, but reeling left or right handed doesn’t faze me in the least. I don’t know why that is, but I’m happy about that because it leaves more reels available to my liking although it can be to the detriment of my bank account!
 
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