2026: The Year of the Sexyloops Tornado

The blanks are of course our original HT blanks rolled in Spain, designed by me working in close conjunction with my good friend Alejandro, The first batch of blanks ships next week. Most components are already US manufactured, principally by Rec Components, with the exception of Fuji Torzites which are manufactured in Japan of course. After long discussions and very much thought, we plan to call these US-built rods the Sexyloops Tornado. That gives us Torpedo, Tortuga and Tornado, depending on where the rods are assembled. (When we get around to assembling in Australia then I’m thinking “Tuxedo” – haha).

Replacement sections for US customers, will also be built by Andy and shipped from Texas (we don’t need the broken section or rod back, because all ferrules are fitted to master rods in Spain during the manufacturing process). The 666 Competition applies to all these rods as well of course and every rod purchased gives you an entry into an all-expenses paid fly fishing trip on the Sexyloops 666 Yacht. Also every rod comes with a Zoom flycasting session delivered by me, for those who want it. In a short time we will even have stock of all standard rods, which will mean US customers will receive rods extremely quickly, via courier, and without any tariffs. All very exciting and I believe a real game-changer.

I don’t know how this will affect prices. And I won’t be able to price the rods fully until we pay tariffs on blanks. I think there may be some small price increase. But also some things will be cheaper, so this will offset some of the increases. Current orders will of course be at current prices and I have three rods for Andy to build and counting as soon as the blanks land.

Andy the Redneck can also do highly customised work; fancy wraps and feather inlays for example. This sort of funky custom work will cost extra. Prices being established. For the hardcore Sexylooper, this is probably not very important, but for special gifts, then why not? :D

I also have the next prototype of the HT9 complete and it should be in my hards when Marcel visits in January to chase Snakehead. This week (today actually) David arrives. As well as guided days, David wants to try to catch fish by himself. This is even more difficult but also highly satisfying when it works! Not many have managed to land Snakehead off babies on their own here. Well basically three other people and of those only one has been successful more than once! It’s not easy!! In fact this may have been the understatement of 2025.

I expect to be busy guiding every other week right through to mid March. And then I’ll base myself on Sungai Tiang for some months. I really want to promote the Mahseer fishing with my friends who guide there. As you’ll no doubt remember, this is a fly fishing only C&R river, owned, operated and guided by the local indigenous Orang Asli in Royal Belum state park. Many of you have helped to make this happen and it’s a wonderful combination of protecting the river through C&R fly fishing and giving the OA their own guiding business. In the future, I would like for Sexyloops to help create more of these sanctuaries. That’s actually a long term goal of mine for Sexyloops. In the future I envisage half of Sexyloops profits going towards funding the creation of similar projects elsewhere. Wouldn’t that be something?

It’s shaping up to be a fantastic year. The Flycasting WCs are in Italy in August. I haven’t decided what to do personally in this regards. I am coaching quite a few athletes, which for me is a bit of a problem if I also compete. I haven’t decided how to handle that yet but of course the ICSF might simply price individual competitors out of competing anyway. So it might be not require any more thought from me on this matter! However, if I’m in Europe, which is reasonably likely, then I’d like to attend even as a spectator/ supporter/ coach. But we shall see how things unfold over the next few months.

Right now, my priorities are rod sales, particularly in the USA. The long awaited new Sexyloops website. My Zoom flycasting students and of course SexyloopsTV on YouTube. In addition, I want to get Sungai Tiang really cranking this year and my days guiding (and my fishing too of course!) all come first.

And yes, I’ll do another Ironman this year. Possibly a few actually. This is my way of staying fit to fish and live outdoors.

Wishing you all a wonderful and successful 2026. I hope you have the very best of fishing years, with as many days spent fly fishing as possible.

I’m somewhere past 12,500 days of fishing in my crazy life now, so by my measure about half way through life. Simple pleasures are the best ones! I know that’s not how everyone measures life and there are actually other, arguably far more important measures, such as what we do for our fellow man. However having personal goals makes life interesting too. And when it comes down to it, I’m just here to bloody well fish and have a great time! :)))) Whatever your life is about; good luck to you this year in furthering it along!! Have a fantastic 2026.

Cheers, Paul

POD: David Siskind!