Accessories

A unique copolymer mixture provides an unobtrusive, transparent appearance Offers superb knot strength with a grinner and palomar Controlled stretch allows a sensitive feel when finding that ‘donk’ Lo-viz green and deep brown Available in 10lb, 12lb, 15lb and 20lb £14. 99 WWW. GARDNERTACKLE. CO.

Although only white light is available, there are a few different modes in which it can be used. To be frank, I only ever use a light in the constant mode, changing the brightness as I see fit. I’ve never needed my bivvy light to flash, but it can be handy for anglers using boats as a guide as to where their swim is when rowing back during the night. Anyway, the light is a compact style, domed on the top and with an easy to use function button.

Let me begin by saying that I have only been using this on and off for two months and by no means am I claiming to be an expert in the technology this device utilises. However, that said, it is insanely cool and equally, if not more, practical than it may first appear. So what is it? It’s a small, compact and completely portable fish-finding device that also relays depths, substrate and temperature straight back to your hand-held device, which in my case was my Android smartphone. Firstly I was surprised at how easy it was to set up.

The Tackle Box’s Lee Jackson says: Simple and very effective way of keeping line tidy on a spool. Nothing can be more annoying sometimes than line spilling off the spool and then getting tangled with almost anything that it comes into contact with. These bands fit most commonly used spools and simply attach to the spool similarly to how you would attach an elastic band. The end of the line passes through a bead and then can by dispensed by pulling the end of the line or pushing the bead round with your fingers to wind it back onto the spool.

The Tackle Box’s Lee Jackson says: This is an ideal piece of kit to have in your tackle bag for cleaning up spots quickly to make bait presentation more efficient. Measuring 9. 5 centimetres wide, weighing in at 31/4oz and with five spikes on either side, this weed rake is ideal for dragging up low-lying weed, bottom debris and generally cleaning up spots of rotting leaves, dead weed and suchlike. Although its weight dictates that it can be easily cast using the average carp rod with 12 to 15lb main line, bearing in mind the weight of the weed that is sometimes being dragged in, it is more advisable to use a rod with a higher test curve, such as a spod rod, and in conjunction with braided main line around 30lb breaking strain.

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.