Berkley X9 braid review
Over the closing weeks of the river season Angling Times News Reporter Chris Haydon was out on the banks in search of perch and pike on lures. Whilst catching a few fish, including a new personal best, he’s had the perfect chance to fully test Berkleys New X9 braid in a number of conditions, here are his thoughts…
I’ve had a brilliant experience whilst testing the X9 Lo Vis Green braid in both 10lb and 20lb breaking strains. These low diameter and low visibility braids are perfect for crystal clear water conditions which are common in the colder months. This attribute is particularly beneficial when fishing for species such as perch as the low visibility enables a shorter fluorocarbon trace to be used, which can greatly improve bite detection. The diameter also proves beneficial in other areas too as I only use a small 2000 size reel when perch fishing, which the braid sufficiently filled and sat neatly on.
Casting is where this product really comes into its own though. Great distances can be achieved effortlessly and accurately due to the zero stretch and low noise properties of the braid. Like all braids most anglers choose to spool up with, the Berkley X9 offers superior bite indication to a monofilament mainline, again, due to its zero stretch properties. This enables the angler to feel everything that the lure comes into contact with on the bottom. Whilst using the braid I found I connected with 90% of the bites I had from perch, which I caught up to 3lb 4oz.
An issue often encountered when using braid is tangles, but this wasn’t an issue with the X9, despite its extreme suppleness. In terms of strength the X9 also appeared reliable with all knots holding and pike up to around the 8lb mark landed with ease. I used a variety of lures including some big plugs and the braid cast them all without cracking off.
Despite several sessions the braid showed little signs of deterioration, even when often being left set up running through the rod rings for ease of use on my often short sessions. Overall this product is great for the mobile lure angler and will suit a variety of applications from roving with small lures on rivers to chucking plugs for big Stillwater pike.”
TECH SPEC
· Available in Fluoro Green, Lo Vis Green and Crystal Clear
· 150m spools
· Designed for optimum strength and casting distance
· Smooth for long and quiet casts
· High knot strength
· 9-carrier construction
· PE Core
Price: £42.99 (If you shop around you’ll find it cheaper)
Colmic Jolly Float Review
Believe it or not, there was a time before all-singing and all-dancing handmade pole floats were all the rage and it’s pleasing to see that many of the patterns that were on the go 20 years ago are still catching plenty of fish in 2018!
One of those is the Colmic Jolly, several of which adorn the winder trays in my seatbox and there’s one very good reason why – versatility.
In the smaller sizes, the Jolly makes a super float for fishing hemp or pinkies into far bank rat holes on canals and drains but up this to the 4x14 and 4x16 sizes and you’ve got a very good model for catching roach and skimmers on deeper venues. Go bigger still and the Jolly becomes a brilliant float for to hand work the whip or for running a bait down a big river.
With a classic pear-shaped body, carbon stem and thin plastic bristle, the Jolly remains surprisingly stable for such a thin pattern, the carbon stem giving the hookbait a slower fall through the water than if you were using wire. Dotting the bristle down is easy too as adding a No 11 shot doesn’t suddenly turn the float from a Belisha Beacon sticking out of the water to the proverbial lead balloon.
Available in sizes 4x8 to 8g, the only off-putting part about a Jolly is the pink colour – but who cares if it keeps going under?
RRP: £1.99
Mick Wilkinson Steady pole floats review
Mick Wilkinson Steady pole floats
Simplicity is important to me when it comes to pole rigs for commercial waters and I try to keep my float choices to a minimum.
That means you’ll find only five or six patterns among my pole rigs and of these, the Mick Wilkinson Steady is my first choice for the majority of open-water situations in anything but a gale.
With a highly-visible but thin hollow antenna of 1.25mm diameter, super-strong polystyrene body and 0.5mm wire stem, these floats sit up quickly, are unbelievably stable and can be used with confidence with baits from sweetcorn to maggots.
My Steadies have taken a right battering over the years but even stems that have bent after fish ploughed into reeds have been easily straightened. They’re consistent in shotting from float to float, and I find the 4x10, 4x12 and 4x14 sizes perfect for most of my fishing. Mind you, I’m pleased hear that larger sizes than 4x16 are soon to become available for when the wind really blows across the Fens…
Kevin Wilmot
Deputy Editor, Angling Times
Guru Super LWG Banded ready rigs review
I’m not proud to admit it, but as I’ve grown older I have become lazier in my fishing preparation. But can you blame me, when there are products like the range of Guru ready rigs on the tackle-shop shelves?
My favourite of these rigs currently are the superb Super LWG Banded ready rigs. For over a year now I have been using these hooks in sizes 18 and 16. Both come supplied on 6ins of 0.13mm diameter line, perfectly tied with small, strong but flexible bands on a small loop. I’ve used them for hard pellets in 4mm, 6mm and 8mm sizes, and also for banded caster and worm when shallow fishing, all on the pole.
Hand on heart, I haven’t have a single band break on me, and hardly any fish losses either – and I’m talking fish from 12oz F1s to 15lb carp. No wonder I’m getting lazy…
Kevin Wilmot
Deputy Editor, Angling Times
Middy's new luggage range
To celebrate the 50th anniversary of the brand, Middy has treated anglers to the launch of its MX Series luggage.
In its distinctive black and orange livery all items look modern and stylish but, as always with Middy, there’s more than just good looks on offer here.
Every item has been designed to keep you organised on the bank and protect your precious tackle in transit. Several of these – the MX-6T Holdall, MX-50L Carryall, MX-R820 Roller/Roost Bag,
MX-50C Baits/Accessory Cool Bag and MX-4L and MX-4L Accessory Cases – are made from SkinMax, a material of tightly interwoven nylon threads with a bonded liner.
Other items feature Hydroseal, a water-repellent and easy-to-clean EVA, sealed to form a watertight bond. www.middytackle.com
The new range includes
1) MX-6T Holdall
THE 1.85m length will take 12ft two-piece rods and 16m poles. With a hard-wearing reinforced top and bottom, the holdall is star-stitched at critical stress points. You get two gusseted side pockets, a balanced ergonomic carry handle and a padded secure shoulder strap.
Price: £89.99
2) MX-3T Lightweight Holdall
This lightweight holdall is made from a tough 420-denier material, and take 12ft two-piece rods and 16m poles. There’s a zipped main closure and two gusseted side pockets.
Price: £39.99
3) MX-RC1 Padded Rod Case
A well-padded sleeve that will take a single rod made up with a reel attached. The zip is positioned opposite to the reel to prevent damage to the line.
Price: £32.50
4) MX-R820 Roller/Roost Bag
AT 82cm wide, this bag will accommodate the very largest pole rollers and features a detachable padded shoulder strap and carry handles. The hardwearing SkinMax material is backed up by twin skin base reinforcement, and star stitching where it’s most needed.
Price: £69.99
5) MX-40L Lightweight Carryall
This lightweight carryall has additional twin skin reinforcement on the base. It features padded carry handles, a detachable padded shoulder strap and an open-style side pocket with adjustable strap closure for a keepnet.
Price: £49.99
6) MX-50L Carryall
In addition to the exclusive SkinMax material, this 50-litre carryall boasts a super-durable hard base and star stitching at critical stress points. The main compartment is rigid and there’s an open-style side pocket for keepnets.
Price: £69.99
7) MX-3L Reel/Accessory Case
This fully padded three-litre case stores a reel or accessories. A clear zipped flap lid makes the contents instantly visible, and it comes with a detachable padded compartment for storing a spare reel spool, as well as a movable EVA liner.
Price: £15.99
8) MX-4L Accessory Case
This fully padded four-litre accessory case is made from 840-denier SkinMax material. A clear zipped flap lid allows you to quickly see inside, and it is easy to wipe clean. The EVA moveable liner can be positioned underneath the flap lid for extra padding protection.
Price: £16.99
Also in the range
MX-50C Baits/Accessory Cool Bag
DOUBLING up as a baits cool bag and tackle bag, the MX-50C is foil-lined to keep baits fresh, and an EVA insert base ensures its thermal properties are retained while it rests on the ground.
Price: £69.99
MX-3NT EVA Nets + Tray Bag
MADE from hardwearing and easy-clean EVA material to ensure zero water leakage when stood upright, the MX-3NT stores three keepnets plus spoon nets with ease. An open-style pocket on the side takes a match tray.
Price: £49.99
MX-HS4L Accessory/Baits/Hook Case
Water-resistant EVA material and exclusive Hydroseal technology suit this item to storing hook cases, pellet baits or accessories. A clear lid allows you to see the contents at a glance.
Price: £14.99
MX-PS3 Pellet Soaker
IN a durable mesh material, this pellet soaker has a full zip closure and an ergonomic hard grip handle.
Price: £9.99
Kodex terminal carp tackle
Top specimen carp brand Kodex has added several new items of terminal tackle to its range.
Everything from ready-rigs to surface controllers has been well thought out, with clever design tweaks that will stack the odds in your favour when targeting pressured and wary carp.
Multi-Rigs
The Multi is a rig like no other. Its anti-glare size 8 swivel fits all popular lead-clips, and can be switched to a size 11 Flexi/Heli swivel (included) for heli rigs. You get two hook sizes with every rig – choose from sizes
3 & 5, or 5 & 7.
Hooks are super strong GenomicMGP Chods with micro-ground sharp points and a matt anti-glare finish.
They’re tied to the latest Micro-Strip 15lb coated hooklink material, which automatically sinks and pins down the rig, leaving you only needing to apply a small amount of Graviton putty on the knot near the hook.
Also included with each rig is bait floss and a micro rig swivel.
Price: £3.49
Micro-Strip
This semi-stiff coated hooklink can be stripped to reveal a flexible dyno-core. The pliable outer coating doesn’t crack when knotted. It sinks quickly and pins itself to the lakebed, excellent for bottom or pop-up set-ups.
This is the same material as used for Kodex’s ready-tied skin-coated stiff rigs and multi-rigs. In 15lb and 25lb options, on 20m spools.
Price: £6.99
Air Zig-Toppers
These buoyant mini hair stops are shaped like a piece of corn and are designed to attract more takes. Available in fluorescent red and yellow colours, they provide added visual attraction to your hookbait, giving carp a target to home in on.
Each pack contains 20 pieces.
Price: £1.99
Meltz PVA Bags
Extensively tested by Kodex’s expert consultants, Meltz solid PVA bags are strong and securely sealed, but melt down at a quick rate for perfect presentation, leaving virtually zero residue.
They are available in three sizes, each in a plain or perforated version.
Each packet contains 20 bags.
Price: £2.49
every rig bit you need in ‘outline’ range from avid
AVID Carp’s new Outline terminal tackle range is the result of two years of product development.
With its semi-transparent colour pigment and dark camo fleck finish, Outline blends in with any substrate. The fast-sinking material stays pinned to the bottom, so no need to carry an array of different coloured or tungsten-based components.
The prices of the full collection of Outline accessories range from £2.99 to £4.99.
1) LEAD CLIP KIT
Click-fit lead clip, matching tail rubber and size 8 swivel. Compatible with Avid anti-tangle sleeves.
2) RINGED LEAD CLIPS
For a hinged rig presentation tie your mainline or leader to the rear and tie rigs on to the reinforced ring section. Compatible with all Avid tail rubbers.
3) QC LEAD CLIPS
Quick-change rigs and set-ups are easy with this double-ended QC lead clip system. Tie your mainline or leader to the rear and hook rigs on to the QC section at the front. Compatible with all Avid tail rubbers and anti-tangle sleeves.
4) LEAD CLIP TAIL RUBBERS
Compatible with all Avid lead clips, these streamline your end tackle and are super-soft for maximum safety.
5) NAKED TAIL RUBBERS
Compatible with all Avid lead clips, these provide streamlined end tackle when fishing without a leader.
6) X GRIP TAIL RUBBERS
These ensure large leads won’t eject on impact, but allow them to do so in snags. Compatible with Avid QC and ringed lead clips.
7) INLINE TAIL RUBBERS
For use with all Avid inline leads, these can also be used with Avid lead clips for a slower-releasing set-up or in colder conditions.
8) ANTI-TANGLE SLEEVES
Shorter anti-tangle sleeves kick your rig away from the lead perfectly. Compatible with Avid QC lead clips and QC drop off stems. It comes in two versions, standard-size and extra-large.
9) QC Drop off Stems
The first-ever drop-off stems for fishing with inline leads, with the addition of a QC link. Compatible with Avid anti-tangle sleeves and all Avid inline leads.
10) SOLID BAG STEMS
Pre-formed, so you can attach your mainline directly to the top of the stem. Great for quickly changing between pre-tied solid PVA bag set-ups. A ring swivel completes the process.
11) PVA LINKS
Attach a PVA link to your lead and then slide a PVA bag into the groove. A great, hassle-free way to avoid tangles when fishing with PVA bags.
12) SPEED LINKS
Change rigs or leads quickly with a speed link. Compatible with Avid chod and heli buffers, and can be used with the ringed lead clip system.
13) RING SWIVELS
Create safe rigs with extra movement with these high-performance size 8 ring swivels – ideal for helicopter presentations.
14) MEDIUM and XL LINE ALIGNERS
Neat, streamlined alignment over hooks sizes 8-12 or 6-2, respectively.
15) HOOK BEADS
These small, grippy beads work effectively on hooks size 10-4.
16) HOOKBAIT SWIVELS
Big eye hookbait swivels are neat, convenient and far less obtrusive than many others of their type.
17) BOILIE SCREWS
These camouflaged hard plastic Boilie Screws will grip almost any bait. Create the perfect quick change pop-up presentation.
18) MIXED GROOVE BOILIE STOPS
Streamlined, tapered camouflage boilie stops.
19) Shrink TUBE (two sizes)
Camouflaged shrink tubing. Use on hook sizes 8-4 or 4-1
20) MEDIUM and XL DROPPERS
Slot your line into the dropper and twist until you get the right level of grip.
21) MEDIUM and XL RIG DROPS
Tungsten rig drops, a modern alternative to rig putty. Pre-formed on thicker wires.
22) Braided hooklink 20lb
Fine leader material keeps the rig pinned to the river or lakebed.
23) Unleaded leader 50lb
Ideal for use on waters where braid is not permitted.
AVID Retro Leads
These leads recreate popular shapes of yesteryear, but add a durable Outline Camo coating.
A double barrel flexi-ring swivel is moulded directly into the lead instead of being mounted on a brass loop, to amplify the bolt effect and reduce line twist and tangles. The leads perfectly complement Avid’s upcoming Outline Terminal Tackle range. Available from 1.5oz to 4oz, in half-ounce increments.
Price: £1.40 - £1.60
Distance Pear
The ultimate streamlined design for extreme distance work, a favourite that has stood the test of time.
Distance Bottle
widely used by big-fish anglers in the 1990s. Ideal for use on sloping banks and the sides of gravel bars.
Flat Gripper
The raised tooth design grips the bottom to hold your river rig firmly in position. Great for steep marginal shelves too.
Drop Off In-Line
Perfect weight distribution makes this classic shape with its Outline Camo inline tail rubber the ideal choice for PVA bags.
FISHSPY Marker Float Review
Key Features
Claimed battery life: Four hours
- Recording time on inbuilt memory: Seven hours
- Android range: Up to 100m
- Apple range: Up to 60m (up to 100m with range extender)
- Battery recharging time: Three hours
- Picture resolution: 640 x 480
- Weight: 96g
Fifteen years ago, you knew where you were with photos and videos. Cameras were cameras, devices in their own right.
Now, everything has been turned into a Cyclops. A single digital eye sticks out of your phone, your laptop, your cycling helmet and your car’s rear bumper. And with submersible cameras such as the GoPro becoming massively popular with inquisitive anglers, it was only a matter of time before someone stuck a lens in a marker float.
The idea might seem fairly simple in this surveillance age, but the FishSpy is an incredibly sophisticated piece of kit that took the team at TFG years to perfect. Set against the fact that water and electronics will never be best mates, the designers had to factor in the challenges of battery life, range, connectivity and the practical concerns of fitting a camera into a buoyant marker float.
If you believe this type of equipment is cheating – and that’s fair enough – then at least appreciate it for its engineering. And it really is well made. Straight out of the box, the FishSpy feels sturdy and durable.
So how does it fare in use? As you would expect, it is heavier than a normal marker float, so a beefy rod and heavy-duty shockleader is definitely recommended. The FishSpy will transmit to an Apple device up to 60m (100m with an extra extender), or an Android device at 100m, and is certainly capable of being given a big cast without (too much) fear of losing the most expensive float you’ve ever bought!
The float will stream live footage to your phone or tablet providing it is on the surface at the time. Once you wind down the line to get a closer view of the lakebed you need to press record and then watch the video back when the float has resurfaced. Once you have established a connection (the float gives off a Wi-Fi signal that you hook up to) we found you could watch the live footage uninterrupted very well. However, re-establishing the connection after the float has gone beneath the surface and back again was a little more hit and miss. Cold water does nothing for the battery life either, so remember that summer performance will be better than in winter.
That said, we witnessed things we could never see without diving into the lake. Even in 10ft of water, the image clarity is excellent and the sight of sweetcorn fluttering to the bottom through the shafts of sunlight was surprisingly artistic. Putting the FishSpy on spots you thought you knew well will really open your eyes – the footage will both excite and rock your faith in your ‘mind map’ of your favourite swim.
Coleman Fyrestorm PCS
This high-performance stove can quickly boil water or heat food even in windy conditions thanks to its clever WindBlock system which provides 360 degrees wind protection.
The stove features a 1.3-litre pot that sits over the burner while chrome-plated pan supports and feet are rust resistant. The pot has a neoprene cover with a handle that is easy to hold and a secure lid, complete with drinking hole. The stove and gas cartridge can be stored inside the cooking pot for storage and transportation.
RRP: £64.99
Avid Transit scales Pouch
Avid’s new Transit scales pouch has fully padded walls for added extra protection, while its semi-rigid construction also helps to keep your delicate instrument safe in transit.
The one-size-fits-all pouch can be used with all popular dial scales, and its clip opening front enables it to be carried with a T-bar in situ.
RRP: £9.99
Gardner Multi Rake
The Multi Rake is the ideal tool for quickly clearing weed, twigs and leaves from your spot.
Its design enables the rake to be attached to a rope and thrown by hand, or attached to a landing net handle or pole with the integral 3/8 BSF thread.
The versatility of having both attachment points means that this unique product can be used for weed clearance, creating small spots, clearing channels and quickly removing marginal weed to enable you to safely land any fish that you hook on weedy waters.
Multi Rakes are perfect for specialist anglers that like to rake a swim to kick up sediment and invertebrates, stimulating species such as tench into feeding.
RRP: £19.99
Free Spirit Net Handle
THIS 4m CTX Match Power Carp Combi landing net handle from Free Spirit uses the same unique carbon weave as found in the company’s best-selling CTX rods.
The take–apart handle has standard screw fittings on two sections, offering a choice of 2.6m, 2.9m or 4m lengths. Unique rivet and pin-less net ends are super-strong and should provide years of trouble-free service. Contact walkersoftrowell.com
VERDICT: Having used this handle for the past couple of months, I cannot speak highly enough about its superb build quality and unbelievable strength and rigidity at any length.Truly you get what you pay for!
Price: £115.99
Maver Pole Rigs
Few ready-tied pole rigs can match Maver’s superb Signature 1, 3, 5 and 7 series, which are made up with the highest quality mainlines, hooklengths, hooks, floats and shot.
Designed by Maver’s vastly experienced consultants and product team specifically for use on UK commercials, so you know they won’t ever let you down.
Price: £3.50
Guru Pellet Wagglers for carp
THESE long-awaited pellet wagglers from Guru are now in shops everywhere.
There are two main designs. The 10g, 12g and 14gbalsa-built Big Water floats promise superb casting accuracy.
The 6g, 8g and 10g foam pellet wagglers in Guru’s latest surface camo colour are intended for very shallow work. Shot them conventionally or with Guru’s new waggler conversion weights.
Daiwa Double Rock 'N' Roller Pole Fishing Roller
DAIWA’S Double Rock ‘n’ Roller pole roller tilts back and forth to give the perfect angle of travel as you ship the pole in or out.
A unique horizontal double flat layout is said to provide extra section protection, as it spreads the weight of the pole over a wider area.
Rotating uprights, extending legs and a fold-flat lightweight construction all add up to make this one of the best and safest pole rollers on the market.
Middy MX-100 fishing chair
This revolutionary new MX-100 chair from Middy offers the angler incredible comfort and tactical flexibility when pole or feeder fishing.
Its unique design allows for an extendable side bar to be fitted on to the main frame, while the supplied front and rear pole rests are sturdy enough to hold a pole securely in place... hands-free. A handy rear rippled foam rear rest can be used to keep pole sections neat, tidy and close to hand after they have been unshipped. Next comes an up-and-over mid-positioned rest that can be flipped over to act as a butt rest for rods or poles. Finally, the front rest’s graded head allows for quivertips to be accurately positioned, and also features a U-bend to hold a pole.
To all this you can add an intermediate side tray with fitment, and a one-way arm with threaded stick that acts as a keepnet holder. The chair itself has a cut-away section for easy shipping when using a pole, and is very dynamic, with a high padded headrest, adjustable legs, swivelling mudfeet and multi-positional recline settings. It can be folded flat for easy transportation.
FEATURES
Rear Pole Rest
This rear-fitted rest supports unshipped pole sections, keeping everything neat and tidy and preventing them from rolling away or being blown into the water.
Up and OverRear Rest
Push in the side button and this rod/pole rest turns over. It can now support the butt section of a rod or pole, allowing for hands-free use when feeding.
Mudfeet
Swivelling mudfeet with a wide fooprint make the chair stable on even the most uneven banks, and they team up with adjustable legs for comfort.
Comfort
A multi-positional reclining feature and a high, padded headrest make this the most comfortable chair you’ll have sat in in a very long time.
Side Tray
The MX-100 system comes with a handy sized side-fitting bait tray, large enough to hold a couple of three-pint bait boxes, a mobile phone, and sundry small tackle items.
Front rest
The sturdily built dual-purpose front rest has a graded EVA section for perfect positioning of quivertip rods, and a U-bend for holding your pole when feeding via a catapult.
MAP Z-36 Carbon and Elite White seatboxes
THE PACKAGE
• Shallow drawer unit
• Deep drawer unit
• Shallow tray unit
• Stacker lid with carry
handle
• Padded carry strap
• Seatbox cover
Z-36 CARBON SEATBOX
It had to happen… go-ahead match brand MAP is the first in the UK to launch a seatbox with a frame made from high-modulus carbon.
The Z-36 is stunning. Its seamless rounded frame is built and finished almost exclusively by hand, in a dedicated production facility with product testing to ensure it meets stringent quality control.
The benefits of carboninclude, of course, strength and lightness, two big advantages for match anglers. The box’s 36mm rounded legs offer total stability on any terrain.
PAY AROUND
£1,249
TECH SPEC
• Round profile 36mm legs with telescopic inners and threaded screw inserts for accessories
• Lightweight carbon frame
• Sliding footplate with twist-locking pins
• Large footprint swivelling mudfeet
• Padded pole seat with pole support
• Water-resistant seals on all drawer and tray units
• Divided drawer units
Z-36 ELITE WHITE EDITION SEATBOX
The Elite Z-36 White Edition seatbox is similar in many respects to its more expensive stable-mate, with 36mm rounded legs that many anglers insist upon.
The white frame features machined aluminium blocks that make it very light, yet super-strong.
A unique under-frame stacking system allows deep and shallow tray units to be stored in any order without the need of a runner on the bottom tray.
PAY AROUND
£749
Korum Feeder Fishing Line
Korum’s first dedicated Feeder Line will meet the demands of modern feeder fishing techniques.
It's denser than water, giving it super-fast sinking properties, and other key features include high knot strength, a smooth, round profile and a non-glare olive green finish.
Available in breaking strains of 6lb, 8lb, 10lb and 12lb on 250m spools.
PAY AROUND
£5.99
Ridge Monkey Action Station
This handy item enables all of your essential terminal tackle to be stored in one place at a height of your choosing.
The fitting and supplied adaptors enable it to be attached to bivvy ribs, banksticks, chair legs, barrows and storm poles. The quick release system also means it can be used as a standard tackle box if required.
The inside of the box is divided into three sections suitable for storing all sorts or items of terminal tackle and pots of bait etc.
PAY AROUND
£29.99 RRP