THE BEST NEW GEAR
Prologic Cruzade luggage
RRPs: Carryall £34.99, hookbait bag £16.99, lead bag £9.99 www.prologicfishing.com
This neat collection is perfect for the roving or short-stay angler. The Cruzade carryall is deceptively spacious and well made, with chunky zips and 400D rip-stop fabric.
There’s a waterproof bottom, four outer pockets and an adjustable, padded shoulder strap. It’s 54cm long, 33cm wide and 31cm tall.
Fitting perfectly inside is the hookbait bag with glug pots (which could perhaps be more heavy-duty) and a neat lead bag, a sturdy pouch capable of carrying a decent weight.
Nutrabaits Liquid Krill
RRP: From £5.99 www.nutrabaits.net
Fishmeal liquids vary enormously in quality from one manufacturer to the next, but this one from bait-making veteran Nutrabaits is straight out of the top drawer.
Thicker than a reality-TV star, this gloopy liquid is packed with blitzed Antarctic krill and can be mixed with all sorts of baits, from boilies and pellets to groundbaits and particles. We reckon injecting it into a solid PVA bag would be a great fish-catcher.
Available in 500ml and one-litre bottles.
Rig Marole SLS Specimon Tough
RRP: £19.99 www.rigmarole.co.uk
For snaggy, weedy venues this copperbrown line with an inherent abrasion resistance fits the bill. It sinks quickly, has low stretch and low memory. Available in 12lb (0.30mm), 15lb (0.33mm) and 18lb (0.37mm), 1,000m spools.
JRC Cocoon landing net
RRP: £79.99 (42ins) £89.99 (50ins) www.jrc-fishing.co.uk
The magnetic mesh-retaining point on this net is a great touch – it keeps it tidy and away from snags as you net a fish, then releases as the fish drops into the mesh.
What’s more, the stainless steel folding spreader block is a thing of beauty and really sets this well-priced product apart from its rivals. The near-2m total length of the net and pole offers that bit more reach than most similar items.
Gardner Deluxe Weed Rake
RRP: £11.99 www.gardnertackle.co.uk
We are big fans of Gardner’s original castable weed rake, and this addition to the range looks just as good.
Shaped like a traditional rake head, it can be used in conjunction with the original to clear masses of weed from your swim. The Deluxe provides the finesse once the large clumps of weed have been cleared – it’s great for really polishing a spot and getting it ready for your hookbait.
Strong braided mainline is recommended when using this 3oz item, but it’s still very user-friendly and creates much less disturbance than a hand-thrown rake.
“IT’S PERFECT FOR REALLY ACCURATE BAITING AT UP TO ABOUT 70 YARDS”
Taska Venda SR throwing stick
RRP: £39.99 www.taskacarp.com
Unlike most throwing sticks, this carbon offering isn’t designed to blast baits to the horizon. It’s a more subtle tool for use when distance isn’t the main objective.
Light and short, it’s perfect for really accurate baiting at up to about 70 yards.
When you don’t need to cast into the next county it makes sense to use a stubby, lightweight stick like this. It feels effortless in the quick tests we have carried out so far.
Korda Zig Box
RRP: £10.99 www.korda.co.uk
This space-saving clip-lock storage system will accommodate dozens of pre-tied zig rigs, as well as leaders and floater hooklengths.
It comes with four extra-wide EVA spools around which you can wrap all your mono rigs without fear of them kinking or twisting.
There’s enough space under the lid for zig rigs to be stowed with their baits left on.
Chub Vantage suit
RRP: £149.99 www.chubfishing.co.uk
With autumn drawing in and winter around the corner, now is the ideal time to get your clobber in order – and this three-inone offering from Chub is incredibly versatile.
Both the jacket and the bib and brace trousers are made from waterproof and breathable Climatex 3000 outer material which is softer and ‘quieter’ (no ‘swish-swish’ noise as you walk the banks) than many similar products. The trousers offer plenty of movement and comfort, with a zipped ankle section for accommodating large boots and a zip fly on the trousers.
The zip-out fleece sits within the main jacket or it can be worn on its own in milder temperatures. The main jacket boasts very large pockets with security zips and Velcro wrist straps to keep chilling draughts out. For under £150 it’s a very impressive package.
Nash Siren snag ears
This brass thread will accept bobbins and swingers. RRP: £9.99 www.nashtackle.co.uk
Designed to fit Nash’s own S5 and S5R alarms, and any other alarm on the market, these snag ears extend the height of the alarm to stop rods being pulled off the side in the event of a take.
At the front there’s a brass indicator thread to accept bobbins and swingers.
Gardner DSLR Camera Angle (Heavy Duty)
RRP: £14.99 www.gardnertackle.co.uk
Gardner has long made the best bankstick-to camera adaptor on the market, and this uprated version, machined in the UK, will cope with the largest and heaviest SLRs. Screw a bankstick, a rod pod or tripod into one end and the camera into the other – now you can do self-take photographs without the need for a designated camera tripod. This product is built to last. The 360-degree ball and socket joint allows the camera to be positioned level on any surface in either portrait or landscape mode.