LATEST ADDITIONS

For years I’d used a set of stainless steel bivvy pegs that were made for me by Martin Locke of Solar Tackle fame. You know how it is, though, you lose one or two of them here and there and then realise that you’ve suddenly got none left! It was a revelation for me therefore when Top-Notch brought out its version. I’ve been using these pegs for something like three or four years now and have got to say they are made from extremely good quality stainless, can be hit with a mallet if needs be and are virtually indestructible. They are available in a 5in stumpy version that are ideal for hard ground, a standard 8in version, and a nice touch is that they come supplied in a hard tubular case.

While the material that these replacement washers are made from are kept a closely guarded secret, what I can tell you is that they transform the drag of compatible big-pit reels immeasurably. Initially, they make the clutch exceptionally smooth and reliable, but they also ‘convert’ a standard drag to be much quicker. Essentially, you can, with the addition of the three washers (three are needed for each spool) take your clutch from locked up to free spool in half a turn or less of the drag knob. They’re easy to install and require no tools whatsoever.

The Tackle Box’s Lee Jackson says: Everything you could possibly need to sharpen hooks to pinpoint sharpness, something that is extremely important for ultra rig efficiency and that can be the difference between hooking a fish or not. The kit comprises two stone files plus handle, one diamond file, an innovative deluxe hand vice, an LED magnifier and comes supplied in a high-quality case that gives additional storage space for items such as hooks, needles, grease and so on. LEE JACKSON’s VERDICT -“If you’re into hook sharpening then get one. If you’re not, then you should be!” 8/10 £59.

Incredibly, he also landed mirrors of 36lb+ and an upper twenty in an overnighter on the Weasmere syndicate using the new TunaMino boilies. 36lb Ignace explains: “I knew from my previous trips that some fish were holding up in a particular area of the lake, and I’d done well in this area on the previous session. So, the plan was to get back in to the same swim as soon as possible before the other anglers heard about the captures and beat me to it. “When I arrived at the lake the weather was terrible.