Pole cases seem to be all the rage at the moment and when I brought my new pole in August 2021, MAP had just brought out their version of these popular pole protection cases. 6 months in how’s it faired? Well 6 months in and yes I’m impressed. Being one of slimmer designs on the market which is a plus for me when loading the … Continue reading MAP Pole Protection Case
When the weather changes in the autumn soft expander pellets come into play for my pellet fishing. Hard pellets can still be a great bait as it gets colder but I feel more fish will take a soft pellet over a hard at this time of the year and this is when I reach for a bag of Pro Expanders. Expander pellets have been around … Continue reading Sonubaits Pro Expanders
Just a short review on a small but really important item of tackle we all use on our pole rigs, Split Shot. I feel both have benefits over the other when used in different ways. Over recent months after using Stotz’s for all my Commercial pole rigs over the last few years since they arrived in tackle shops, I’ve returned to split shot on most … Continue reading Split Shot v Stotz’s – both have their place
Being a match angler I never know the peg I’m going to draw, the weather conditions on the day or the depth of water I expect the fish to be in. So I need to be well prepared and carry a total of 110 rigs for most occasions in my seat box. All these rigs are tied up well in advance and when I go … Continue reading Commercial venue pole rigs
Having used Garbolino poles for the last 25 years and trust them immensely. Plus knowing all my Top Kits would still fit the new pole, when is came to replacing my GMax C1 Power for my commercial fishing the choice was the easy. A new Garbolino UK pole. But which one? I couldn’t afford the mortgage for a UK1 !! So baring in mind my … Continue reading Why I’ve chosen the Garbolino UK3 Match Power plus over the UK4 Maxim
I’ve been using these Guru SLWG Banded Ready Rigs for a couple of years now and I have total confidence in these expertly tied (better than I could do) Ready Rigs. Being in full time employment I simply don’t have the time to tie my own hook lengths for pole fishing and when these Ready Rigs came out it was like ‘manna from heaven’ for … Continue reading Guru SLWG Banded Ready Rigs
This Dura Slip Hybrid elastic ticks all the boxes for me based on it’s durability, performance and its cost price. 6 months in from trying a couple of top kits with Preston new Hybrid Dura Slip. I must say I’m pretty impressed with it. I first used the green 11 elastic though a couple normal top kits back in the winter fishing for carp and … Continue reading Preston Dura Slip hybrid elastic
Several years ago mass produced pole floats from some of the main fishing tackle companies were really terrible. Often falling apart even before they sat in the water. The choice on offer wasn’t good either with only a few basic options generally available. Many serious anglers turned to handmade or hand assembled float makers such as Mick Wilkinson and Nick Gilbert to name a couple. … Continue reading Why I’ve returned to mass produced Commercial pole floats
They are various ways of attaching your pole rigs to your top kits. I’ve used three styles of connector during all the years I’ve been pole fishing and these days all my top kits are fitted with Guru Dacron connectors Years ago when I first started fishing a pole we all used the Stonfo connector. These were easy to fit and use but some of … Continue reading Guru Dacron connectors
Garbolino Short Stop Kits 21 July 2020|Tackle Reviews In recent years especially for F1 fishing shallow, Short Kits have become a welcome addition to the match anglers armoury. I’m a big fan of Garbolino poles so when they brought out their own short stop kits, off to the tackle shop I went as all Garbolino top kits are interchangeable with their older poles. These short … Continue reading Garbolino Short Stop Kits
Daiwa Hydrolastic and Preston Hollo elastics I’ve used various elastic brands over the years and without doubt daiwa’s hydrolastic even though it’s pretty expensive is the one I turn to for my summer shallow fishing. Used in conjunction with my short stop kits with puller bungs, I find it unbeatable in the light orange (4-8) and white 6-10) grades. When fishing shallow and you have … Continue reading Elastics
Last winter I felt I had a rod missing from my match fishing armoury. I have 11ft pellet waggler rods but I really lacked a decent value for money 12ft carp waggler rod that I could fish a traditional waggler out at range during the winter months at full depth. I also wanted a rod that could also handle large match sized carp on the … Continue reading Drennan Red Range, 12ft Carp Waggler Road
Nick Gilbert has a large comprehensive range of award winning hand assembled pole floats that cover nearly all UK fishing applications. A Pole Fishing Magazine winner 3 years running. The build quality of these is about as good as it gets and the only range of pole floats I’ve used over the last several years. When I came across Nick’s website shop float store. I didn’t … Continue reading Nick Gilbert pole floats
Over the last 20 years of match fishing I have spent many an evening tying up hook lengths for my matches along with pole rigs for the weekend. Now over the last couple of years tackle companies such have Preston Innovations and Guru have released their Ready Rigs in numerous different options for pole, method/pellet feeder work and bomb. Being a working chap with limited … Continue reading The pre-tied Ready Rigs revolution
I’ve always been a Garbolino pole fan having had several of them over the years. Garbolino were really the first tackle company to produce a carp power pole and as most of my fishing centres around carp puddles it made perfect sense at the time to use this brand. A brand I have never left in 20+ years of match fishing. Buying a pole is … Continue reading Garbolino poles
A only use TDR reels for my running line work. Yes they are expensive, costing around £160 each but once you have used one you really don’t want to use anything else. My 2508 and 3012 single handle version are a pleasure is use Their amazing winding power is impressive and with their smoothness they make large fish playing easy work. The hard aluminium body … Continue reading Daiwa TDR Reels
I love great ideas that save me time on the bank and Preston Innovation ICS Feeder system certainly does that! The ICS (inter change system) has been around for several years now. Its a fantastic way of changing your terminal tackle on a ready made up rods in seconds and saves having to set up several rods for a match or pleasure session. Sometimes times … Continue reading Preston Innovations ICS Feeder System
Phil Seedhouse match angler 