Reviews

First Published in English.

One thing that I always try to achieve is to get my hookbait acting in the same way as the loose feed I’m feeding. This is especially important when fishing canals in the depth of winter, when the water is gin clear for roach, a situation where just a couple of extra fish can make all the difference in where you come in a match. Trying however to find the perfect hook that’s not only razor sharp and light but at the same time strong enough, just in case a powerful bonus fish such as a big perch is hooked, has proved difficult but at long last I can confidently say that I have found such a pattern! 

The Sphere Feeder Ultra Lite isn’t just for feeder fishing; it’s a brilliant hook to use when pole, stick or waggler fishing, especially with small delicate baits such as bloodworm, pinkies, squats and one of my favourites, bread punch. An added bonus I have found is that very few fish are lost on this pattern making them my go to hook for almost all my match fishing. And unlike most other brands you get fifteen spade end, barbed hooks in every packet from size 8 right through to an 18!

Jamie Burt

First Published in English.

When I’m feeder fishing at distance on very big venues for skimmers and bream I require not only an abrasion resistant, hard working line but one that will boost bite detection as this allow me to adjust my rigs quickly to how the fish are feeding and simply catch more than those around.

My first choice line for this style of fishing has to be Cenex Low Stretch Mono as this dark specialist pre-stretch line, specifically designed for distance feeder fishing has an amazing low diameter to its breaking strain, making casting effortless and keeps me in touch with the fish at all time along with being easily capable of landing a bonus 20lb plus carp if I’m fortunate to hook one.

Many of the venues I fish ban the use of braided main lines so this is an easier-to-use alternative and eliminates any chance of wind knots.

If you’re looking for the perfect feeder mainline then look no further. 

 Available on 150m spools in the following diameter/strength

0.14mm 2.10kg/4.60lb

0.16mm 2.65kg/5.80lb

0.18mm 3.15kg/6.90lb

0.20mm 3.85kg/8.50lb

0.22mm 4.85kg/10.70lb

0.24mm 6.10kg/13.40lb

0.26mm 7.15kg/15.70lb

John Pantrey

First Published in English

Feeder fishing has been revolutionised in the past few years by the widespread use of larger reels for this style of fishing. Not only has this given a big increase in the distances that can be comfortably fished, but the greater cranking power makes retrieving heavy feeders from these distances really easy. 

My reel of choice for much of my feeder fishing is the Black Viper Compact 855. Browning reels are synonymous with quality, and this model has proven its reliability time and time again when fishing the river Trent and other big rivers. 

I particularly like the excellent line-lay on these reels. I use braid almost exclusively for my feeder fishing. If the line isn’t coiled perfectly you will soon know about it, as any imperfection will lead to bedding in and snatching on the cast. Best case, this will cut down on distance, worse case it can lead to crack-offs. The Black Viper really excels, with line-lay that is hard to beat.

One thing that I often notice with other reels is that cranking in a big, often heavy feeder can put a lot of strain on reels and they soon develop a bit of slack where the gears begin to wear. Not so on the Black Viper, this has proven to be as tight today as it was straight from the box. The large handle and strong gears also mean that it is easy to retrieve a big feeder, and it is no longer a chore. 

These reels have large, but shallow spools, ideal for braid fishing, as they don’t need miles of backing. They are also light and compact, as the name suggests. I like to hold my rod most of the time when feeder fishing and using a heavy reel can be very tiring, but the lightweight of these reels balances with my 3.90m and 4,20m Sphere Feeder Rods perfectly. In fact, I would say they make the perfect set-up for big river fishing. 

This style of fishing is not for everyone, but if you want to be competitive in modern feeder fishing then you need to be using reels that are up to the job, so make sure to check out the Black Viper Compacts. 

Tom Noton

Originally Published in English.

These distinctive gold framed landing nets have unique, innovative EVA floatation tubes on the frame making them so much easier to lay on the surface when preparing to land a fish. Coupled with a fish friendly 6mm mesh (8mm on the large/extra large size), strong spreader block and brass thread the Gold Net range come in three sizes including a popular extra large size, great for those commercials when big carp expected. 

Teamed up with Black Magic T/A Power Handle it makes a great set up that’s very light, strong and stiff making it  easy to manoeuvre at those vital moments when speed is needed to those bonus fish.

Available in three sizes  

Medium – Width 45cm Height 38cm depth 28cm 

Large – Width 55cm Height 45cm depth 30cm

Extra Large – Width 60cm Height 50cm Depth 35cm

Jamie Burt

Originally Published in English.

Keeping delicate baits, such as worms, casters and maggots, in top condition can make a big difference to your catches. I am fastidious about how I store and prepare my bait and a quality cool bag is a must-have for keeping my bait in top condition. 

I particularly like the Xitan Combi Bait Bag because not only does it have the capacity to hold all of the bait I need for a match, but has some handy pockets for bait additives, towels, and other items that I need to have to hand. 

The main foil-lined and insulated compartment is large enough to accommodate eight large Browning Bait Tubs and a couple of ice packs in hot weather. Spare bait can be stored in here with the lid closed during a match, keeping it cool and in good condition. 

Next to the main insulated compartment is a smaller compartment that is ideal for carrying bags of groundbait and tubs of additives, such as maggot binder, groundbait dyes and flavourings. Like all of the compartments, this one has a nice wipe clean lining and a three-sided zip, which makes it easy to get to the contents.

The size and features of this bag also lends itself to be used as a compact holdall too, not just as a bait and bits store.  Used like this it’s deal for commercials, canals and feeder fishing – it’s such a versatile bit of kit!

On the outside are two large pockets that are ideal for all those bits and bobs that need to be carried along with your bait. Towels, bait droppers, and catapults live in here. 

Like all of the Xitan luggage, this bag is made from a really tough wipe-clean material in a smart black and red livery. All of the handles and zips are very strong and look like they will give years of service. 

All in all, a brilliant bag that allows me to organise all of the bait that I need for a match and keep it in top condition. 

Kye Jerrom

First Published in English.

These smart new insulated body warmers are just the job to wear over a jumper or hoody on colder days or as a mid-layer under a waterproof jacket. The insulated design keeps the core body warm, whilst not restricting arm movement, so there is no impediment to casting, or shipping a pole. 

Finished in a wipe-clean black polyester, they look the business too, and compliment the rest of the range of Browning clothing perfectly. A really useful jacket on cooler days.

Pat Cubby

Originally Published in Dutch.

These cutting edge rollers not only have a super-stable frame, but are equipped with some brilliant innovations, such as the silky-smooth, ball bearing rollers.

Due to the ball bearings, the rollers turn very smoothly, so there is hardly any resistance when shipping the pole. Each roller has ramped edges that keep the pole from falling off the rollers. This is especially useful if the pole needs to be un-shipped in two parts when there is not enough space behind the fishing spot.

These rollers also cope brilliantly with high banks, as they can be set very low simply by removing the standard legs and using the using the short legs instead.

The telescopic legs mean that the rollers can be set to the perfect height, which is especially important it you are using two rollers to ship back a long pole. Uneven banks can also be easily dealt with, giving you the perfect position every time.

Another neat little feature are the spirit levels, which make it so easy to set the roller level perfectly flat. 

Be sure to check out these fantastic rollers in your local Browning stockist.

Harrie Poels

Originally Published in English.

If you fish a wide variety of venues, as I do, then a pole that can handle a wide range of tactics is essential. Very often, this means buying a pole that can handle fishing with heavier gear for hard-fighting carp, at the expense of having the poise for more finesse fishing on canals and rivers. Fortunately, I believe there is an answer, in the form of the Browning Xitan Z16 L Advance. 

Most of my fishing is on the Midlands canal circuit. Often bites are at a premium, and you need a stiff pole that can enable you to fish comfortably for the full five hours right across at 16 metres. The long section design of the Z16 L Advance gives it incredible stiffness, yet cuts weight without compromising wall strength. As standard it comes as a true 16m package, but this can be increased by using the supplied parallel top-kit no.2 to give you 16.7 metres, or by adding parallel butts, taking the pole to 18 metres and beyond.

The top kit configuration is interesting. The long long section length of 1.9 metres allows for the use of one-piece top kits as standard, increasing stiffness and balance, by virtue of removing a joint at the most critical position. The one-piece kits also allow elastics to run more smoothly, increase strength, and cause less ‘bounce’. Standard SLK top kits can be used if you prefer, and feature the unique duo bush system, allowing a wide range of elastic diameters to be used.

As with a number of Browning’s top-end poles, the Z16 L Advance has woven reinforcement at the ends of each section for increased strength. You will also find section alignment points on each section that can be felt, meaning there is less need to look at the sections as you ship in and out. 

Another feature well worth of mention are the Xitan Square Pole Protectors (XEPP’s) which fit the 13m, 14.5m and 16m sections. These unique square profile short butts, are incredibly comfortable under the forearm, and give increased grip when the inevitable cross-wind blows. Incorporating an EVA skid bung, they also help protect those expensive butt sections from damage as you ship in and out. 

I could wax lyrically about my Z16 L Advance for hours, but the fact of the matter is you won’t know how good this pole is until you pick it up. So go check it out at your nearest Browning Pole Specialist Retailer. I guarantee you will not be disappointed, even when you put it against other poles costing considerably more. 

Tight lines! 

Mark Roberson

First Published in English

A lot of my feeder fishing on natural venues revolves around catching numbers of silverfish averaging a few ounces each, but of course the chance of a rogue lump or two as well. Hooks and hooklengths need to be relatively refined for this style of fishing, but not so light that the ever-present chance of hooking a decent bream, eel or tench is ignored or worse still wasted when light gear loses the battle. Whilst they cannot be relied upon, those bonus fish can mean the difference between winning and losing, so I need to capitalise on every opportunity.

Light hooks are great for presentation, and ensure my hookbait looks as natural as the particles it’s surrounded by, but of course everything on a feeder tends to require stepping up a bit.  My hook of choice for this style of fishing is the Sphere Feeder Ultra Lite, which despite being exceedingly light weight, packs an amazing amount of strength – don’t be fooled by the larger sizes, these area great for bit baits and aggressive retrieves when you need to ensure fish stay on all the way back. This must be down to the Japanese wire and tempering process used, but also the shape too. Whatever the ‘secret alchemy’ used, they have proven to be extremely reliable for this style of fishing.

Another point (sic) worth mentioning are the points! These really are razor sharp, but last really well too, meaning I bump less fish and need to change my hooklength less often.

Hook shapes are a very personal thing, but I do like the slightly ‘wedge-shaped’ bend on these hooks that see the point facing very slightly towards the shank. This shape, combined with the straight point, goes in and stays in, meaning less lost fish when I am fishing at range.

Bait wise, this is an allrounder, but really is a great maggot hook, especially when fishing with two or three grubs. It also lends itself really well to fishing worm heads and bunches of caster too. A great feeder hook that I use a lot.

Available in sizes 8 to 18

Kye Jerrom

First Published in English.

When bream and other larger fish are the target you need a net that is not only robust, but easy to manoeuvre. The CK Competition net meets these requirements admirably, and is available in several versions to meet different types of fishing. 

I tend to use the medium size which at 50cm by 40cm is just right for bigger fish. The depth is just right too, being not too deep, making it easy to unhook fish with the net held firmly between my knees.

The mesh on the large net has an 8mm diameter, making it very easy to push through the water. It is also really soft and the fish do tend to lay quietly in it. I have also found that the mesh is quite hook-resistant too, which can save time. 

The metal frame is really strong and is securely fixed into the spreader block. All in all, this is a very well thought out net that does exactly what it is designed to do with the minimum of fuss.

Small – 45cm x 35cm frame by 28cm deep, with 8 x 8mm mesh

Medium – 50cm x 40cm frame by 28cm deep, with 8 x 8mm mesh

Hair Mesh – 50cm x 40cm frame by 28cm deep, with 2 x 2mm mesh

Pat Cuddy