Tackle Shop Review: Braddell's, Belfast.

Was twenty minutes on the road to Belfast when I got a call inviting me to a session Fly-fishing for wild brownies. Had to decline, which was very annoying. Had I got that call half an hour earlier, I'd have been fluff-chucking instead of motoring. :x

Anyhoo, to cheer myself up once I reached Belfast I decided on a trip to a tackle shop. A couple of quick calls to H Rocks and Phenwick Mist and they both suggested Joseph Braddell & Son in North Street. Good nuff for me, off I toddle.

I was looking for a pair of Neoprene Chest waders, and found a pair there that fitted me and were within budget. So I got a wading waistcoat as well, then I spotted some Saltwater Flies that looked tasty, so I had them also.

That was when I copped myself on and stopped shopping. Self-discipline, eh? :D

A lovely shop, in the old-style. Great range of outdoors clothing upstairs there. Well worth a visit, I reckon.

It's not a bad shop but a bit expensive and hard to get parked.

I would recommend a trip to Belfast Angling Centre - York St (not far from Bradells), if you were heading back to Donegal from Belfast Centre, instead of getting onto the M2, stay left and continue past Yorkgate Shopping Centre.

Belfast Angling Centre is about 1/2 mile past Yorkgate on the left hand side - facing Thompsons Animal Feeds Factory, after you have finished here, continue straight on and you can get back onto the M2 about 3/4mile up the road - easy peasy.

JUDE

Yip very expensive indeed :? ....good range though

excellent for the fly fisherman, but the stuff seems to be plied an a corner i think for the sea stuff. from their stand at the angling show at the kings hall it wasnt hard to tell the kind of market they wanted to hit - game fishing, with 1 rack of greys sea rods on show that was it!
on the other hand they are very helpful when you are in the shop and have the small bits and pieces that you might require plus quite a few decent rods and reels etc just a bit expense as mentioned before in the thread.

Oh arn't we all getting terribly Upper Class! His Beachcaster Selection could certainly be improved, and Terminal gear is unbelievably expensive, I'd rather go to Harrys. :)

They dont do worm and they tryed to charge me £135 for a sandstorm :evil:

To be fair, I suggested Belfast Angling Centre as well as I've heard good reports (esp. regarding price compared with Braddells), but I've never been so couldn't give Tanglerat directions.

I suppose Braddells have the expense of their city centre location driving up costs. Still a good shop though, a bit light on Sea Gear, but more than most local tackle dealers!

Hard to beat eBay !!

Yup, Belfast Angling Center was next on the list if Braddell's didn't have what I wanted. But they did, and I saved a few Euro compared to Donegal prices....... :D

Purely a matter of geography that I hit Braddell's before BAC. :D

Sure give it a go next time tanglerat.

The Geography issue is not as bad as it seems - trust me.

Jude

Braddells is too expensive, not really well stocked for sea fishing and is in area where parking can be a problem (unless you want to pay city centre rates). Belfast Angling Centre is better stocked, has helpful staff and is cheaper.

What route do take from Donegal? There are other tackle shops worth vsiting that could be on your route.


E.L.

Letterkenny, Derry, Dungivan, Glenshane Pass, Toombe, motorway into Belfast. Any good pitstops (tackleshops!) on that route?

there is a new one (well quite new) on altona cresent in lisburn they had an offer on penn fix spool reels the other week buy one get one free must stress this was on a few limited models only but hey what da ya want? the rest of his prices seemed quite good but since i am a cheap skate when it comes to tackle i dont really know the prices of the dear stuff.....i think £25 for a rod is expensive! and do you know what? i seem to catch as much as any one else on the boat.