Snowbee is a manufacturer of award-winning fishing tackle and apparel based in Devon, England. For over 40 years, their guiding principal has been to equip the modern day angler from head-to-toe, with the most technologically advanced fly fishing gear and apparel at an affordable price.
First introduced to the UK market in 1984, when the original range of lightweight PVC waders was distributed by the company, their business has grown considerably to include a full range of fly fishing gear. With the backing of Snowbee International Group, distribution partners have spread to over 30 countries worldwide including USA, New Zealand, Australia, Canada, Russia, Scandinavia and most of Europe.
What makes Snowbee tackle unique is that all the product design and development work, for the entire group, is carried out at the England office. The design team are all keen fly fishermen, with over 125 years of experience between them in all aspects of our sport – single-handed trout fly fishing, double-handed salmon Spey fishing, and saltwater fly fishing.
Snowbee Fly Fishing Tackle
Based in Plymouth, in the far south west of England, they are spoiled for choice for their fly fishing. A short distance to the north is Dartmoor National Park with thousands of acres of unspoiled moorland providing miles of gin clear brooks and streams, full of wild brownies, with lightning reactions. Further down the valleys, these streams combine forces to create the rivers Dart, Tamar, and Plym, the latter two bordering the city of Plymouth to the east and west and feed into Plymouth Sound. These mighty rivers and their associated tributaries offer a wealth of salmon & sea trout fishing.
The moorland streams & rivers also flow into spectacular reservoirs, which together with numerous small stillwater fisheries, provide unparalleled river & stillwater fly fishing near us. To the south is the sea, bordered by a rugged coastline with numerous estuaries offering spectacular sport for the saltwater fly fisher, where species such as bass, pollack, mullet & mackerel are often in abundance. Snowbee have recently developed their largest range of sea fishing equipment yet, and offer a wealth of new products and specialist equipment for serious game and saltwater fly anglers.
The wealth of fly-fishing opportunity and practical experience available locally to Snowbee allows them to trial many requests too, and this helps them give the forward-looking angler exactly what he wants, rather than simply what a manufacturer thinks he may want. With over 30 years of proven performance, the Snowbee brand and its reputation continues to grow.
In fact, Snowbee offers an “Original Purchaser Lifetime Guarantee” on all their fly rods. Provided you register your rod within 30 days of purchase, if it breaks they’ll provide a free replacement section (with free postage if it’s within 12 months of purchase), see the Snowbee extended guarantee.
So let’s take a look at some highlghts from the Snowbee products that we stock, starting with rods.
Snowbee Fly Rods
The Snowbee Classic Combo Starter Trout Fishing Kits are Sportfish best sellers, offering amazing value for money for a quality 4 piece fly rod, reel and line kit that’s perfect for beginners. A high modulus, lightweight graphite fly rod, with an easy action for effortless casting, it features high-lift snake guides, A-grade cork handle, lightweight graphite reel seat and a quality cloth rod bag.
The fly fishing reel is lightweight graphite with off-set drag, pre-loaded with backing, Snowbee Classic Floating fly line in weight-forward profile and leader. Each of the kits is a perfectly balanced outfit, all you have to do is tie a fly on and go fishing. The rods start at 7ft #4 and go up to 10ft #7 and include a 9ft #8 ideal for saltwater or predatory fish.
One of their latest and most advanced models is the Snowbee Prestige G-XS Graphene single handed fly rod. Its amazing new Graphene technology really is a ‘game changer’ providing incredible molecular compression and expansion properties in terms of fly rod design and performance. Graphene is the lightest physical material known and is over 200 times stronger than steel.
The Snowbee Prestige G-XS is a series of rods of extreme performance, offering effortless distance and casting accuracy. There are several single handed rod types to perfectly match whatever fly fishing you prefer: the Ultra-lightweight River and Brook series (7' 6" #1 and 7'#2), the Lightweight River Dry Fly & Nymph series (9' 6" #3, 10' #2, 10' #3 and 11' #3), the River & small Stillwater series (8' #4, 9' #4, 9' #5, 10' #4 and 10' #5) and the Stillwater, Reservoir & large river series (9' #6, 9' 6" #7, 10' #6 and 10' #7).
Snowbee Fly Reels
The Snowbee Classic 2 Fly Reel is a top-quality disc drag reel at a low price. It’s precision moulded from fiberglass reinforced nylon producing a lightweight rigid frame which is totally corrosion-proof. The large arbor design provides fast retrieve and the composite disc drag gives progressive smooth stopping power. The “V “shaped spool helps to increase the backing capacity. Models range from #3/4 to #9/11 and are also available as a 3-Pack version containing a reel and two spare spools supplied in a convenient padded storage case for the #5/6 and #7/8 options.
Snowbee Fly Fishing Lines
All Snowbee fly lines are designed in the UK and are recognised by top professionals everywhere, as truly world-class and among the best British fly lines ever made.
The Snowbee XS Floating Fly Line now has a finer, silky-finish and profile than ever before, helping them not only cast better, as they travel silently through the rod rings and cut cleaner through the air, but they are also more durable, increasing the life of your fly line. Featuring a balanced profile with a long shallow taper and long belly, they come in various colours from WF4 to WF8, with welded loops at both ends.
For a high floating line, try the Snowbee XS-Plus Thistledown Floating Fly Line, primarily designed for the river and light fishing on small stillwaters but is now a regular companion on almost any application where an angler enjoys finesse, stealth and accuracy. Featuring Nano Coating Technology (NCT) with a braided core, micro welded loops at both ends these lines offer the thinnest, most supple WF profile possible. Available in 3 sizes (WF1-4, WF2-5, WF5-7).
If it’s distance you after with a floating fly line then the Snowbee XS-Plus Spectre Distance Floating Fly Line is for you. Its profile can produce effortless, longer casting for even the most moderate of casters, thanks to its long head and extended rear taper. Nano Coating Technology (NCT) gives great shootability and improved presentation, while the twin colour helps you find the ideal loading point. Memory free with welded loops at both ends and available from WF5 to WF8.
For sub-surface lines, there’s the Snowbee Buzzer Tip Sink Tip Fly Line, perfect for fishing buzzers and nymphs below the surface. Nano Coating Technology (NCT) gives great shootability and delicate presentation. It’s available with either a 4ft or 10ft slow sinking (1¾ips) tip, and all lines are memory free with welded loops at both ends.
The Snowbee XS-Plus Hover Slow Intermediate Fly Line is a new generation of XS fly lines, now has a finer, silky-finish and profile than ever before. Nano Coating Technology (NCT) gives great shootability and delicate presentation with the same profile as the popular Snowbee XS floating lines. Designed to “hang” just below the surface, these memory free lines have a super slow uniform sink rate of 1-1½ ips, and come in WF5 to WF8 welded loops at both ends.
For salmon fishing there’s the Snowbee XS-Plus Prestige Switch Fly Line, a very easy to cast, modern, full floating switch line available in WF6/7, WF7/8 and WF8/9. The line features a compressed short head which is smoothly connected to the thin orange running line for the ultimate in distance and presentation. These lines cast best when used in conjunction with a short 5ft Versileader or Polyleader.
There’s also the Snowbee XS-Plus Short Spey Floating Line, designed to meet the needs of the modern salmon and seatrout angler for easy casting and in areas of restricted space. A combination of the best of scandi style lines and integrated shooting-head lines they will quickly load your rod and shoot a long way with gentle presentation. For the best turnover it is recommended to cast these lines with the addition of a Polyleader or Versileader. Available in WF7/8, WF8/9 and WF9/10.
Snowbee Clothing and Fishing Accessories
Snowbee Waders
Ultralight PVC fishing waders were the first product Snowbee introduced to the UK back in 1984, and since then their wader range covers just about anything.
Snowbee Granite PVC Chest Waders are manufactured from a durable, heavy-duty re-enforced PVC laminate, which despite being tough as it gets, is also extremely soft, light and flexible, for added comfort. The outer PVC layer is laminated to a tough, woven nylon inner lining, making the material super-strong and almost rip-proof, whilst remaining lightweight. They use a unique new seam welding technology, where the seams are fused together with an integral tape, using a new sonic welding process. This leaves the finished seams immensely strong, but also almost completely flush, to avoid any seam-chafe. The crossed braces design features elasticated material with a Duraflex rear buckle to hold the braces together and prevent them from slipping off your shoulders. Also supplied is an elasticated waist belt, for added safety when deep wading. Available in UK sizes 5 to 13, and also in a thigh version.
Snowbee Classic Neoprene Bootfoot Waders have a cleated sole and are available in UK sizes 7 to 12. They are a quality 4mm neoprene bootfoot wader for the angler looking for performance coupled with great value for money. The wide-fitting PVC boots are fully neoprene lined for added warmth and comfort. They feature double layer neoprene kneepads, high back style with built-in neoprene brace straps, adjustable, elasticated braces, opposed braces clip to help conversion to waist waders and a front pouch pocket.
Snowbee 210D Nylon Wadermaster Waders are incredibly tough, durable and hardwearing. Made from 210D material with a soft laminated PVC lining, they feature a front chest pocket with hand warning pockets behind, 2 mesh front pockets and an internal zipped pocket, comfortable, adjustable elasticated braces, 2 D-rings for accessories and an elasticated chest drawstring ensures a snug fit. Available with a cleated sole in UK sizes 6 to 12.
Lastly there are the Snowbee Prestige STX2 Breathable Bootfoot Waders, made of Snowbee’s Soft-Touch (ST) material, they are breathable, lightweight, flexible, and silent. The heavy-duty PVC boots are neoprene-lined and have studded felt soles that provide total grip in all conditions. There’s a 6-layer breathable membrane in key areas, double-layer knee and seat pads for added protection, Durable Water Repellent (DWR) treatment, twin zipped front pockets with handwarmer pockets behind, comfortable, heavy-duty, elasticated braces and a wading belt.
Snowbee Jackets & Vests
This covers a very broad range, not surprising given their mission to equip the modern day angler from head-to-toe with the most technologically advanced fly fishing gear and apparel at an affordable price.
Sportfish stock 3 types of Snowbee fly fishing vests, which are some of our all year round best sellers.
If fishing vests aren’t your thing, there’s the Snowbee Ultimate Chest Pack, a great addition to your fly fishing setup.
There’s also a Snowbee Prestige2 fishing jacket and a Snowbee Prestige2 wading jacket.
Plus the Snowbee Prestige2 Breathable Fishing Over Trousers which make a great accessory to have with you on every trip - we all know what the British weather can throw at us from nowhere!
Snowbee Fishing Nets & Tackle Accessories
And of course there’s a good range of reliable Snowbee fishing nets too.
Sportfish also stock a huge variety of smaller Snowbee accessories, including gloves, hats, tippet and leaders, kit bags, reel & rod cases, fly boxes, wading sticks, line trays, and polarised sunglasses.
If you’re after quality fly fishing products at an affordable price made in the UK, then Snowbee could be the brand for you.
