RETRO SPEC - Our first new spec for 2012!

Yesterdays look and feel, today's technology...

Nostalgia is the theme & gorgeous smooth casting is the feel you get.
This rod blends the tradition of cane actions into the most high performance materials and features a very gentle loading action..

We want to take you back to yesteryear - a slow, graceful action and a taper so progressive that you never miss a split-second of the sensation of the cast - time stands still briefly as the fly gently lands in the pocket... then, once taken, the fish becomes part of the rod: part of you.

You will feel every bit of the tussle down to the grip. It's earthy. It's beautiful.

It's Retro - From the Snake brand chrome guides, Mildrum red agate stripper guide to the hand lettering to the classic cigar shaped flor grade cork grip, the retro folding hook keeper and the simple yet beautiful Walnut wood insert (that matches the blank!) nickel silver reel seat- all the old style fittings that will make this spec, a classic in itself.

Our feature build in this spec is a 3wt 7' 4pc - based on the CTS Vintage blank in walnut.

You can have from 0wt to 5wt in any length you like but our base offerings are as follows: 

0wt 6' - 1wt 6' - 2wt 6'6" - 3wt 7' - 4wt 7'6" - 5wt 8' 

Welcome to 2012!

September 2011 saw the official launch of HCE... But work had been going on well before that. 'Work'? More like creating and having fun, really!
So last year we introduced a few build specs: HCE, Evo, SWoFF and the sensational Native Spec. And offered local guys a real custom fly rod option in that you could design your blank if you wanted to.
We launched the website, complete with store socked with Teeny fly lines, apparel and stream-side accessories - all coming via free post in Australia.
We became an authorised REC fly rod components reseller here in Australia and started supplying CTS & Sage blanks to local builders.
We became sponsors of the FlyLife Magazine forum - where we have have been long time supporters.

So what is in store for 2012?

Hyper Spec & Hyper Spec Trout are coming. Another proprietary design that is looking very promising - adding a rod that will do anything you ask in the most extreme conditions... No excuse now not to "Fly fish the Now"!


Euro Spec, designed to be the most dedicated, specialised Czech Nymph rod build on the market today...

Code-name "Truth" Trout Spec - Yes, a code-name! But why 'truth'? This new spec will be true to weight, will reflect the true pleasures of trout fishing... Stay tuned for what we feel will be the best damn dry fly stream rod ever rolled.


Retro Spec - something special for the nostalgics amongst us... (Released 2 February 2012)

We will end up with one or two purely one off special rods for the connoisseur of fine & differentiated fly rods to collect: and perhaps late in 2012, a very special little project, code named "Aotearoa..."

Sponsorship of the Australian Saltwater Fly Fishing Forum... We are stoked to be on board guys!

That makes for a pretty exciting 2012 for us - and we hope you like what we bring. Everything we do at HCE is a team effort... Tony, Me and You! Let's make 2012 a great year for fly fishing!

FEED-BACK: HCE Spec Affinity X 6wt, 4pc 10'er...

Some feedback from Adam L on the HCE Spec Affinity X 6wt 10'er...


"Had an extended play with TJ's 6 weight 10 foot Affinity X yesterday. Was very impresed.
When HCE builds a rod you know it's going to be a quality build and of course I wasn't dissapointed. Fantastic colour on the blank.
When I first started to cast it I took some time to get used to the jump up to the 10 foot length but once I did I could comfortably cast the full GPX. 
Man I was having fun with it...giggling like a child. And when I finally hooked a fish I could feel the fish through the rod. 
The best thing was that where I was fishing I sometimes have backcast issues on my longer casts with catching tall grass behind me (which is entirely my casting technique problem!), but not yesterday. Even when I was getting tired at 10pm when I find the most problems occur, not once did I catch the grass...
Really enjoyed it!! If you get a chance, have a cast of this beast. It is certainly more powerful than my TCR but still responsive.

- Adam L. - Melbourne Vic. (Magpie)


Thanks Adam! Great feedback and very much appreciated! Glad you enjoyed fishing with the rod so much mate!  (Tony & TJ)
TJ's personal favourite lake rod! - You'll have to mug him for a cast now! 

Sage One build progression...

 The subject of this project: A Sage One 10wt 4pc that is destined to be working the flats of tropical north Queensland, Australia.

Specie such as Golden Trevally are the intended target.



Butt section here has had the gloss lightly sanded from the blank to help glue adhesion

 Our secret special industrial strength epoxy glue floods the cavity - It's made right here in Australia and is the strongest on the planet!











Whilst the reel seat is setting, the tip is section is spined & prepped for gluing too

High tech looking winding check for a high tech flats weapon!











Getting it top dead centre for the guides...

 Tuned and ready to bind...

Alignment dots in place

Ready...

Looks messy....

But the 'One' looks good... Will look even better under epoxy!

 Ready for the trims on the ferrule

Detail of trimming work... Will look great under epoxy!

Nice, level and lustrous epoxy on the butt. Told you those trims would look grouse under the epoxy!

Looking ordinary after two thin coats, the next should see it looking very sexy! A great finish is built up with layers...

 Stripper guide & Alignment dot detail;

 Details...

Ready to fish!

Thanks Bill for giving us the opportunity to build you your new Sage One. It was a tremendous project that we enjoyed immensely! Now all that is left is for you to take her out and put a decent bend in her!

Best Regards,

Tony & Peter.

Native Spec - Big cod = Big test!

I don't think that we at HCE could have imagined a better result from field testing the Native Spec, Virty. 


Congratulations mate! Well done and thanks for sharing an amazing catch!


The fly used was one of Ross's own new suface poppers. 
And how did the rod go? The proof is in the picture! 

HCE Spec 10' 6wt Affinity X 4pc

Whilst we still have a few new designs in various stages of development, we recently completed testing, tuning & building our 10' 6wt model, the HCE Spec - CTS Affinity X 6100 4pc. 
The CTS Affinity X blank is fast actioned with a fast taper, great for longer casts through the tip when waist deep and really is very good for line control when used Loch Style.
We're pretty chuffed with the casting trials and nearly fought over turns to cast it. Picking up 60' off the water is pretty easy and then sending the line away another 40' with a single back cast is a breeze. There was no need to cycle the cast quickly, a relaxed rythym is all we needed.
This is a "100' all day long" rod (if thats your thing) as we've designed it to be light in hand with the HCE Spec build. 60 to 80' is ridiculously easy. Seriously.
Line wise, we trialled both a Teeny LaFontaine Pro and an SA Textured GPX. Both are great - this rod will like most WF lines and the longer the head, the better this rod likes it. Tony tried a SA MED 7wt line and was roll casting 70'. We gave it the distance blast and were reaching 115-120', using the substantial low down butt power.


We see this rod as a big water option, where deep wading and long casts help reach productive areas such as weed beds and drop offs. 


In a boat, drifting teams of flies, Loch Style.


Or lobbing a couple of heavy nymphs across fast water, Tongarirro style.



Feel wise, it is not a broom stick. The tip section is firm yet sensitive. You can feel the butt wanting to come into play when you begin to really push, yet in close, it is very well behaved.


We like it. A lot. (TJ - I think this became my all time favorite 6wt by about the 3rd cast!)


On the 2nd of August, we took our range of rods to the Northern Suburbs Fly Fishing Club. This rod proved to be very popular - Everyone who had a cast loved the rod! A few of the clubs gunn casters where reaching distances of up to 145'... not that you'd ever cast that far on the water but simply highlights the sensation performance of this rig. The line used on the day was an ordinary SA GPX taper. We even took an order for a 9' version in a 6pc for a serious New Zealand back country pack rod!


If anyone in the local Melbourne area would like a cast of any of our rods, get in touch with us through our website or the Fly Life forum and we can organise some time on a local lake or park somewhere - And you get to speak with the rod makers themselves in person. Not bad eh! 

Coming soon...

Hyper - Over and Above... Available early 2012