Reviews

This stainless steel model has a thermoformed plastic coating to make it more impact resistant and give it a longer life expectancy.

The weight at the end of the cage gives great stability, it casts easily and with accuracy, thanks to its aerodynamic shape.

Filling the feeder is very easy to do. Put one finger behind the weight and use another to compress the feed. This makes it faster to load than many other feeders.

The cage quickly releases the bait thanks to the wide mesh. When retrieving the weight is positioned backwards creating minimal resistance in the water.

Available in a wide range of weights from 30 grams to 70 grams, covering medium to long range feeder fishing.

The colour blends in well with the lake bed, ideal when carp, tench and bream are the target species.

I use a simple rig that is tangle-free and very reliable. 

The feeder sits against two float stops above the hooklength swivel. I can adjust the length of the hooklength depending upon the mood of fish fish. 

My favourite groundbait mix with this feeder when targeting bream is equal amounts of Champion’s Method Formula Fish and Champions Choice Big Bream. 

Good fishing!

Creating a neat, no fuss connection between your elastic and rig can significantly cut down on tangles. Dacron Connectors have become increasingly popular for this job, particularly with the modern trend to use hollow elastics, which are thicker than traditional solid elastics. Not all connectors are created equally though, and I find these brightly coloured Dacron connectors just the job, especially with my regular Stretch 7 hollow and Cenex Microbore elastics. Not only are the beads soft enough to pull easily over the chunky knot that you get when tying hollow elastics, but they butt-up nicely against my Xitan PTFE bushes. 

The Dacron loop is just the right size to make attaching your rig easily. All in all, this is a very well thought-out product that does the intended job perfectly. 

Jim Hall

Fishing for carp in commercial waters is becoming more and more popular and popular, and the carp often better at avoiding being caught. 

Fishing up in the water and dobbing are often very successful tactics in the warmer months of the year when the carp spend a good deal of their time near the surface. Fishing in the near and far margins can also mean presenting a bait in very shallow water. Normal dark coloured top kits can easily be seen from below the water surface and can scare the fish off in these situations, leading to some frustrating fishing.

This is why Browning have developed the new Skyline kit, which has a light colour that does not stand out against the light-coloured sky. In fact, in most light conditions, the Skyline kit is almost invisible from below. With no dark outline moving about above them the fish are much more confident and will settle better on your line.

Using a top kit of a different colour might only sound like a small change, but on hard-fished venues this can make a very noticeable difference to your results. 

The one-piece Skyline Kit features:

Depth markers for precise float positioning.

The unique duo bush system 3.9mm / 4.5m, that enables a wider range of elastics to be used through one kit.

A reinforced area for the installation of a puller system.

Length: 1.85m

Weight: 45g

Check them out at your local Browning pole Retailer.

Martin Siwon

There are times when I need to mix groundbait or dampen down micro pellets in small quantities and using a large solid groundbait bowl just isn’t suitable. This is where these groundbait bowls come into their own. Available in small (15cm) and medium (20cm) sizes, they squash down, taking up virtually no room in my carryall. 

The material is wipe clean, making them easy to wash out, and yet they are rigid enough to make mixing groundbait very easy. I like the carry handles, which make them much easier to carry. I also use them to scoop some water when mixing larger amounts of groundbait. 

A very useful piece of kit that won’t break the bank. 

Picture the scene. A successful fishing day is drawing to a close and it is time to head for home. With the gear stowed in the back of the car the heating is on full power, as the days are already getting cooler. By the time I get home the car is full of condensation, and that ‘fishy’ smell that means it has been a successful day, but which the rest of the family certainly don’t appreciate! Fortunately, there is a simple answer to this problem that significantly reduces the musty odour of damp keepnets. 

Recently, I swapped to the Xitan Keepnet Bags, which do a brilliant job of keeping the water and odour in. 

The bags are available in two versions: the Xitan Waterproof Single keep net bag fits one or two standard keep nets and the landing net heads you need for your fishing session on the water. The Xitan Waterproof Double keep net bag can be used to stow two to four keep nets along with landing net heads and your unhooking mat. 

The pockets are waterproof, which prevents any leakage, keeping the back of your car dry too, until you get home and have a chance to dry your nets out in sunlight to kill any rogue nasties.

The strong handles are stable and secure and the finish on the bags is second to none. Keep the smell and dam locked away. Because all we want are the memories and not the ‘sweet’ smell of success! 

Features of the Xitan Waterproof keep net bags include:

Strong but soft waterproof material

Sealed seams and robust carrying handles.

A wide opening zipper cover, with durable zippers

Single size has space for up to two standard keep nets plus a net head.

Double size has space for up to four standard keep nets plus a net head

Washable thanks to the ‘Eazi Clean’ concept

Made from 300D polyester.

Tight Lines! 

Kai Chaluppa, Team Browning

Next up is Andy Blay of Team Crowsport who missing not only the completive nature of match fishing but the preparation needed prior to each one, before Tim Bruce of Team Wickford  completes this week’s anglers and talks about catching big carp down the edge on the pole.

Each feature will include some great tactical advice as well as the tackle needed to get the best out of each session.

Next week there will be more three more top class anglers talking about what they are up to, and you never know we all might be allowed back out to cast a line and enjoy our sport again.

The weather this summer has been all over the place, with 30-degrees plus one day, followed by torrential downpours the next. Having a set of waterproofs that can fend off the elements has become essential and the Browning Xi-Dry range fits the bill perfectly. 

I love the smart, understated look of this clothing, but most importantly it has kept me dry in monsoon-like conditions, with no annoying weak-points that let the water in. I particularly like the heavy-duty zips that have proper ‘storm-flaps’ covering them to provide an extra layer of waterproofing. 

I am a big chap, and I am pleased to report that this clothing has a great fit for the taller angler. The high cut of the Bib & Brace is great, helping to keep my lower back protected when pole fishing. 

I wear the Bib & Brace for a lot of my fishing as you inevitably get wet when unhooking a good fish in the net. You need clothing that is comfortable and just blends in, enabling me to get on with the fishing. The material feels reassuringly tough, without being stiff and noisy, which is a small, but important point. 

Two jackets are available. A heavy-duty Xi-Dry Polar Jacket, which has a padded lining to keep you warm along with a 12,000mm rated outer shell. The lighter Xi-Dry WR10 jacket is ideal for all but the coldest conditions and is rated to 10,000mm waterproofing, giving you the choice of a lighter jacket to keep the wind and rain off through the warmer months. 

A great two-piece suit that not only looks great, but does the job brilliantly well. 

Jon Whincup

At times it can be really difficult finding a reliable reel line, one that doesn’t constantly twist after a few sessions, and one that will serve a multitude of applications; a real all-rounder so to speak.

Well, if you are struggling then take my advice and get your hands on a few spools of Black Magic Gold as I have been using it for years and can confidently say it is brilliant. Recently I used it on the mighty river Wye for barbel, and it handled these hard-fighting fish in often snaggy swims with ease. 

It is my number one choice when it comes to feeder fishing, and I even tie up many of my pole rigs using it – it is that versatile. It also lasts incredibly well and simply resists the constant punishment I put it through. It is a ridiculously good main line. 

Even better, it is not going to cost you the earth. In fact, it’s really affordable and comes on big spools, for example 680m in a 0.17mm diameter and 490m in 0.27mm!

Available on convenient bulk spools in the following tests / diameters:

4.5lb – 0.17mm

6.6lb – 0.19mm 

8.0lb – 0.21mm

9.6lb – 0.23mm

12.6lb – 0.27mm

Tim Bruce

The hurly-burly of Method Feeder fishing demands a really tough line that can stand up to landing big fish, time after time. Recently, I swapped to Browning’s excellent Cenex Method Mono, which not only has brilliant abrasion resistance, but several other key features too. 

Even the best tied knots can let you down in some lines when subjected to Method fishing, but this line really can take the strain and a well tied knot will take the strain. The breaking strain is also very high for its diameter, to I opt for the heaviest 0.26mm diameter in the summer months which has a breaking strain of 15lb. Why risk losing fish when you can use a strong line to have that extra margin for error? 

Many modern nylon lines have a tendency to be neutral buoyancy and difficult to get to cut-through the surface film, especially when fishing at range. Method Mono certainly sinks quickly, and cuts through easily, making it a lot easier to gently tighten up to the feeder. 

Method Mono has a pleasing camouflage appearance made up of three different colours that certainly helps it blend in with the lake bed. All in all, it is great to see a company making a line specifically for this style of fishing. 

Jon Whincup

Diameters Available:

0.20mm – 8.10lb

0.22mm – 10.40lb

0.24mm – 12.80lb

0.26mm – 15.00lb

Creating a strong, reliable link in your rigs is essential. With some set-ups, particularly many feeder rigs, where the hookbait can spin on the retrieve, a swivel connection is desirable to cut down on twist. Most swivels are quite clunky though, and can look out of place when a more delicate presentation is required. Not the size 14 King Feeder Swivels though. These tiny swivels are ideal for both feeder and float set-ups where a swivel is needed.

The tiny size adds minimal weight and resistance to the rig (equivalent to a number 8 shot), meaning bites are seen more clearly and fewer indications are missed. The miniscule weight also means that these swivels can also be used on float rigs, especially in running water, where line twist can be a problem, I even use them on by big chopped worm rigs to avoid spin ups with big baits.

Despite the tiny size, these swivels are rated at 4kg breaking strain, more than adequate for most feeder rigs. If you want to improve your feeder rigs then these tiny gems are a must-have item in your box.

Available in a range of sizes from 8 to 14.

Kye Jerrom

If you’re looking for a long-distance flat-bed method feeder then look no further.

These feeders have been designed with perfectly arranged ribs for optimal hold on the groundbait during casting. No more exploding mid air, these will keep your bait intact even when casting to the horizon, yet will rapidly release once in the water. These compact inline, metal feeders are ideal for those big venues where the fish tend to live well away from the banks. 

Bream anglers will love them. 

Available in three weights 30g, 40g and 60g and compatible with the Hydrus Method Feeder Mould.

Alec Roberts

Compatible with the Hydrus Method Mould.

Another one finds the net.

Great on commercial carp venues too.