Introduction If you are fishing in the UK you can be sure that at some point, you are going to get all four seasons in one day. It would be a terrible shame to have to call it quits for a brief squall or summer shower, especially if you are catching. The solution is to … Read more
Have you ever eaten the same thing for days in a row? How was it? The carp feel the same… “Another Tutti Frutti Boilie Mr Carp?” No thanks. When using a spod bomb you are going to have to make a really effective spod mix recipe to get them going. In this article we are … Read more
We are all looking for it. That ‘magic bullet’. The one bait that guarantees us success. Well, we’ll tell you now it doesn’t exist. If it did it would be called “catching” instead of “fishing”. However, you can tip the odds in your favour, and we are going to let you in on a few … Read more
Introduction Nowadays we all wonder exactly what we can bring on an aircraft? Get it wrong with your airline of choice and you may end up blowing your bait budget for the year. In this article we are going to address the question; can a fishing pole be a carry on? Can a fishing pole … Read more
Introduction We’re sure you’ve heard this debate raging at one time or another. But is braided fishing line better than monofilament? In this article we’ll compare the two, look at a few qualities of each and give you some answers. [amazon bestseller=”Braided Fishing Line” items=”3″ template=”table”] Braided Fishing Line vs Monofilament diameter 10lb braid vs … Read more
Wouldn’t it be great to be able to catch every single bite? Depending on species, you’ll undoubtedly be aware that some fish can be picky feeders. When you add any form of external influence into the mix, such as winds or a slight current, bite detection using conventional methods can often be a literal “hit … Read more
Contrary to popular belief, bigger is not always better. Sometimes you want a rod that is fast, quick and agile. 1.25lb test curve rods are ideal for this kind of work. Just because you use a lighter rod doesn’t mean you won’t catch bigger fish. And let’s be honest part of the fun of angling … Read more
Unless you are a fair-weather fisherman, chances are you are going to be out in the cold and wet. Ever tried to tie a knot with freezing cold hands? Inclement weather aside sometimes you want to be able to easily consistently make neat loops for tying up hair rigs or hook lengths. As you’ll know … Read more
“It was THIS big!” you protest holding your arms wide, yet your mates remain unimpressed. We all know the only way you are going to secure bragging rights is if you’ve got a picture, and if your angling buddies are particularly sceptical it will need you and the fish in it at the same time. … Read more
Some of us enjoy a challenge when angling, and some of us prefer the simpler life. Weed in your swim can be a real pain, not only does it make reaching the fish more difficult, but often, if you haven’t been able to manoeuvre your catch successfully, you can end up snagged, losing the fish. … Read more
What’s worse than being cold when fishing? Being cold AND wet when fishing. Aside from increasing your angling pleasure, the simple fact is that if you are able to fish for longer you are more likely to catch more. Pulling an all nighter is a real treat, but you’ll want to remember your evening for … Read more
You may have already seen our article on keepnets, in which we explained a lot of key features. A river keepnet is very similar, but there are one or two additional considerations that make it much more suitable. Our advice would be to have a dedicated keepnet for river fishing. If you try and use … Read more
Yes, we know, not the most exciting subject. But have you ever been manhandling your gear back from the swim after a heavy day only to find that one of your wheels on your fishing trolley has decided to call it a day? We have. And we’d blanked. And it was raining. By having the … Read more
Sometimes you have the right amount of gear, and sometimes you have just a bit too much. If you are just on the cusp of becoming a fully fledged carp angler but haven’t yet graduated to needing a trolley then it can be difficult to know what to do. Well we have the answer. You … Read more
Pellets are a super-effective bait for a lot of species, especially carp. Most carp will have grown up eating them in one form or another. It’s like their version of comfort food. The problem with pellets is that they are rock hard, fiddly and difficult to secure on a hook. If you soak them they … Read more
There are two things that should occupy your mind when you think ‘keepnet’. If you are anything like us the first will be “a huge, match winning catch rate”. Fair enough, after all that is why we pursue our sport so vigorously! However the second thing should almost certainly be the welfare of your catch. … Read more
Poles tend to be much better for bait presentation and consistency. A pole angler relies on the elastic in the pole to do the bulk of the work, with the pole action also relieving some of the pressure. To be successful when using a pole you have to make sure your setup is balanced. Poles … Read more
If you have ever had a bad back, we feel your pain. It doesn’t take much to join the bad back club. A mistimed sneeze or bending over in just the wrong way can lead to a trapped nerve or muscular discomfort that can last for longer than is ideal. Coarse fishing is not well … Read more
The ideal fishing setup is one where everything is within easy reach. An organised angler will out-fish those around them. Part of being organised is having or making the space to ensure that you have what you need around you. A fishing seat box doesn’t always present the ideal space to make this easy. Often … Read more
Gone are the old days of a man standing on the bank with little more than a garden cane, some silk line and a handful of worms. Fishing is going properly high-tech. If there’s anything that gets a carp anglers juices flowing, it is the promise of catching carp more easily. Or if it is … Read more