the A9 has a new tackle shop.

[Calum]

The best thing to do at the Falls of Bruar is visit the Falls along the paths up to the old Victorian river bridges. There is a nice rock arch before the first bridge.
Go to the rear right hand corner of the main courtyard shopping bit, through the gap in the building to the right, go onto the path and go upstream on the excellent path under the railway bridge and so upstream following the river-side pathway. Lovely pools in the gorge. Once you reach the first stone arch keep on the left path and go on upstream to the second bridge, cross over the gorge and come down the other bank to reach the first bridge. Take a camera. One of the best riverside walks in Perthshire. After that you can feel justified in buying two packs of sausages and a cup of coffee.

And mind and take a rod with you if you fancy a bit of scrambling as well.  There are some spectacular pools that are stuffed wi wee brownies up to 12" on occasions....

[corsican dave]

in Calum's defence, i have to say that the fishing dept in house of bruar has come on in leaps and bounds from where it was when it first opened, not least in customer service, but also in diversity of gear.

i had a vested interest here as 1) i used to run a specialist independent outdoor shop and 2) i applied for Calum's job!

my initial reaction was "hmm, typical; just designed to catch the toffs with loads of money" and i have to say that customer service consisted of following me around the department eyeing me suspiciously. fair one, i'd have followed me around too, dodgy looking character that i am..... :lol:

however, the department has developed very nicely over the past year. my last serious visit was just before our spanish trip last year and i have to say the reception couldn't have been friendlier or more helpful. as Calum says, there's a range of kit to suit most pockets and some interesting stuff you maybe won't see anywhere else (proper swff rods or shirts anyone?). true, it's not a discount shop, but then we never sold our mountaineering gear cheap either. we sold at rrp and backed it up with great knowledge and service which is what i feel Calum and House of Bruar are trying to do.

i say "Well done & good luck" to Calum and his team. While i can't afford an Abel reel or a Hardy Zane, i'd certainly like to fondle one once in a while. and i'll buy the odd spool of fluoro too...

i'll actually be dropping by later today Calum, so hope you're there!  :

[bibio1]

in Calum's defence, i have to say that the fishing dept in house of bruar has come on in leaps and bounds from where it was when it first opened, not least in customer service, but also in diversity of gear.

I don't think I've said anything offensive but if I have I apologise. Also I don't think calum need defend anything. It is what what it is. Whilst expensive because of the type of equipment it sells its no more expensive that John Norris prices for the same equipment.

I actually think it's a good idea.

The only thing HOB could improve on is a petrol station but that will never happen and cauliflower cheese everyday.

One final thing..... any discount for forum members?

[Wildfisher]

One final thing..... any discount for forum members?

Only Wildfisher Fly Lines offers that.    :lol:

[Wildfisher]

And mind and take a rod with you if you fancy a bit of scrambling as well.  There are some spectacular pools that are stuffed wi wee brownies up to 12" on occasions....

Tradition has it that tree planting in the area by the Duke was in response to a visit and poem by Robert Burns "The Humble Petition Of Bruar Water". Possibly just another example of  Scottish romanticism bollox of course, but a good story nonetheless.  :lol:

The poem is superb and worth a read and listen. The good old BBC once again!   :

http://www.bbc.co.uk/arts/robertburns/works/the_humble_petition_of_bruar_water/

[Buanán]

House of Bruar caters for a niche but is slowly diversifying as it's footprint grows, and for the better.

I haven't any experience of the fishing department as it's been a while since I've been in. It's en route for me if I'm traveling to or from wherever I am needing to run the A9, I'm usually on the lookout for discounted smart shirts  : I'm rarely disappointed. Roadside on the A9 is very handy for me, as is the place on the A84 just outside Stirling. If the wellie shop at Tyndrum on the A82 could open a fishing department I'd be completely sorted  :lol:

I'll checkout their fishing department next time I have time

[Bobfly]

The walk up the Falls of Bruar pathway circuit is really splendid in the Autumn. The view out and down the gorge being one of Scotland's best gorge views. Burns also wrote a poem about the Birks of Aberfeldy which is also a great walk although less spectacular than at Bruar. There is a statue of Burns at a seat beside the Birks path.

I must go in the shopping section to visit the tackle shop. I did not know it was there.

[Inchlaggan]

As the manufacturer of hand-made, bespoke, wooden fly-boxes aimed fairly and squarely at the upper end of the retail market (now with ripple foam liners) I can only welcome an exceptionally well-managed fishing department at Bruar.
The experience and knowledge of the manager is truly outstanding, and the Peter Wosses he ties are works of art.
To have such a facility stuffed full of mugs Wuperts discerning, loaded, clients is only to be applauded.
I'll be in on Wed./Thursday morning to discuss prices and quantities for the order.
Put the kettle on.

[bushy palmer]

My we're a cynical bunch - one week we're bemoaning the loss of tackle shops and the next week we're complaining about one that's opened  :lol:

"£50 snips" that's nothing you must have missed the Abel ones costing £89.95 or even the £4.95 Airflo ones or £4.95 Streamworks ones.

"£1500 Salmon Reel" aye right enough, it's a hefty price to pay but it is hand made in Oregon, USA by a family company with three employees and it is widely recognised as the finest salmon reel in the world for the big fish rivers of Scandinavia and Russia.  If you dinnae quite fancy a trip to the former USSR then thankfully there are also salmon reels from Vision for less than £50 which I thought was pretty good value.  Not everyone wants to or can afford to fish in some of these places that might demand the capacity of the big reels...

I also see there is Seaguar flurocarbon at almost £25 for a spool!  £25 for a spool of gut!! Just as well there is maxima chameleon as well as the maxima ultragreen, frog hair, powerflex, fulling mill and even profil leaders by Leeda because some folk still use that stuff.  Can you believe it?  :lol:

And I wouldn't even think about the rod room where they sell the Hardy Bros Zenith - hand built in Alnwick - at an eye watering £1500!  Just as well there is also the good old Shakey Oracle Scandi and Spey rods for just over £100!  Phew.....It seems that everyone can afford to fish after all    If you fancy some more bling that Shakespeare, you can also choose from Greys, Vision, Guideline, Orvis, Scott Mackenzie, Sage, Hardy, Hardy Bros and LTS...

I thought the salmon and trout fly range is as good as I've seen anywhere in the country and I have been about a bit - and if you look closely you will see that there ARE even Peter Woss flies in size 8,10 and 12 if you want them...... :shock:

"Doing very well, very well indeed"  I don't ever remember saying that.  You should have introduced yersel' 

That's right folks, you've guessed it, I run the department at Bruar    Having fished throughout Scotland for over 30 years I saw it as an interesting opportunity, to work for a family who are passionate about fishing.  As someone who is equally passionate about fishing I have strived to choose brands from across the game angling world - some well known, some not so, but most of all I can guarantee that we can look after folk whatever they want to spend - even if that is £269 for a pair of pliers!  By the way the £9.95 ones were just around the corner 

So next time you're passing do come in and say hello, we do some pretty good Mill End lines for less than a tenner....

Calum

I Missed this earlier- That's brilliant! :lol:

[Highlander]

The fishing dept at House of Bruar lets face it was not somewhere you can pop in for " a tin of maggots" I was there in December just before Xmas when the family stayed in Pitlochry for a theatre visit as a treat for my retirement. Just to let you know I have visited Pitlochry
every year for a least a week for the last 20 odd years. Firstly when we had a touring caravan at Faskally & lastly in the static site at Milton of Fonab.
We always have a morning/afternoon at Bruar. Yes it is a "bitty upmarket" but that is part of it's attraction. The selection of clothing/goods etc is top notch but do not look for discounts as they are far & few between. To me it caters for passing A9 trade, tourists/foreign visitors, families & oldies out for the day & general holiday makers passing through or residing in the area & yes wupperts too, a goodly mix of people. From Regatta to Paramo wearers & everything in between. They even let weegies in all be it under escort.   :roll:
The fishing Shop is well laid out stocked with in the main "top end" kit.I thought their fly section was superb Peter Ross & all. They had a nice display of old Hardy reels in a glass case, along with top notch American reels which I can only dream about & the The staff, well the guy that dealt with me was chatty & attentive. Did not get his name but I do not think he was Calum as I detected an Englandshire accent. I purchased a new Hardy lightweight fleece that had "just come in" & a shirt that I had never heard of before Hook & Tackle but have subsequently found out it is of American origin & finds favour with SWFF. Colour is Red Snapper, not a lot of them of Largs beach  :lol:
All in all a nice place to spend a few hours even if I only buy my Crowdie Cheese & have a coffee & cream scone in the restaurant. Cauliflower cheese indeed  :roll:
Tight Lines