Accessories

As with any angler I obviously bait up, whether I am in the boat, wading down the margins, or using a throwing stick, one piece of kit that has made my life easier is the Skorpion Bait Pouch. With a generous capacity of over 2kg of boilies, depending on size of course, the pouch fits comfortably around my waist leaving both hands free for either quicker loading or for lowering my rig. Even when walking around I still have it on me; a catapult in the elasticated slot, a few boilies in the bag and I can happily bait my way around the lake with a view to returning and checking the spots. A Velcro’d removable liner makes it easy to clean or equally separate baits if you need to.

From dumpy pears, Hex distance, grippers to minute pink back leads, yes you heard me, pink back leads, Donk Leadz do them all. With the aim to offer a service to meet the angler’s needs no matter if you are fishing a lowland estate lake or highly pressured gravel pit, they do have a coating to suit. We have seen several versions of the craftsmanship and we are very impressed indeed, especially with the weed effect and peat versions, which look like they will easily take on liquids and substrate colour. The dark swivels are a nice addition to finish the lead off and, although some may say it’s pedantic, it’s my preference to be as subtle as possible.

LEE JACKSON SAYS: When I first saw this product at the Korda trade show I must admit to thinking that it was the simplest, most innovative and best new product on show. Apart from when I’ve used an adjustable zig, it’s always been a bit of a bugbear of mine avoiding getting the hook/hook bait snagged up in the undergrowth, on the ground or ending up casting out with a leaf or twig impaled on my hook. The clue’s in the name I suppose – a hook hooks into things! Prior to the Zig Magnet coming out I’d always placed my hook bait in a cup or suchlike prior to casting, which is sometimes a bit hit and miss. There’s no need now, though, because this clever yet simple invention can be screwed onto a bankstick, adjusted to the required height and has a swivelling magnetic disc on the top for holding the hook off the ground prior to casting.

Great for marking spots found from a boat Unique design automatically settles at right depth Visible orange finish (two sizes available) As seen in Adam Smith’s boat feature (p93) £7. 99 and £4. 25 WWW. GARDNERTACKLE.

PUKKA! If cool-looking indicators are your thing, and you haven’t been living under a rock for the last few years, you’ll be familiar with this versatile and varied range of heads. Designed in conjunction with Muddy Waters, they are the choice of very many carp anglers, especially those who want their kit to look just right. However, it is not just in the looks department that they score highly. With several sizes ranging from the smallest (10mm x 22mm) Clinga Old Skool, the slimline Clinga Lite, my favourites the Clinga Dumpy, Clinga Standard and then the daddies of the bunch the Clinga XL, XXL and Long Range, there really is a head size and weight to suit every occasion.

Designed after the huge success of RidgeMonkey’s Action Station, these new adaptors are made with alternative uses in mind. The first will hold an action camera (GoPro and so on) and either screw into a bankstick or attach to the Action Station clamp (depending on which model you go for). The second one, my favourite, houses the RidgeMonkey bivvy light and, again, allows attachment to a bankstick or bivvy frame via the clamp. This opens up a world of uses for the light, some of which we are already experimenting with.