Category: Reviews

PB Products – Bungee Rod Lock

by Joel Harber

Being able to close your eyes at night, walk away from the rods or just turn your back on them while out on a session and know that your rods are safe and sound and not going for a swim is always a worry.

Over the years I am lucky enough to say, I’ve never had the misfortune of loosing a rod and reel setup due to a fish taking off. This past year I did find myself fishing a handful of new venues and the takes would come very randomly, often without warning. My bigger worry was how extreamly violent the takes would be. Now, we have all had a few over the years I am sure that have been very hard takes, normally from a mid-teen male common. But this was from fish much larger and It was now getting a little worrying and a few times to the point of almost loosing a full set up. 

Well…It wasn’t long after one sesion that I started to look for a solution, before long I found it. At the end of last year PB Products Launched their own version of the Bungee Rod Lock, and I have to say… they have been one of the best investments on small item gear that I have made.

PB Products – Bungee Rod Lock

 

Since their launch, this item has proven to be a huge success with anglers all over the globe, so much so that it was a while before they where back in stock for Big Carp Tackle to order some. 

They offer such ease of use for any size rod butt. The Bungee Rod Locks are offered in three sizes of small, medium and large. This is just the length of the bungee cord used to lock the rod butt in place. With the large, you can actually make a number of knots in the cord should you use various diameter rods.

They work on such a simple design, I am sure that’s what makes them so popular. The base is built of a very strong molded plastic. In the back center of it, a hole is punched out for the threads of the butt rest to pass though that would then screw in to the bank stick or buzz bar.

The PB Products – Bungee Rod Lock sits perfectly between your bank stick/ buzz bar and butt rest.

On one side of the molded base there is a notch, and this allows for the bungee cord to be looped over the butt of your rod. Once it is in place the cord can be locked in to the notch with help from the orange colored bead.

I like to have the bungee very tight so I actually tied in an over hand knot in mine closer to the base. As I mentioned though, you can tie multiple knots for different rod handle diameters. But the simple design allows them to work with any rod style from EVA, cork, shrink and even directly on the blank its self. 

PB Products Bungee Rod Lock in place. Peace of mind.

I can honestly say that since using these I have felt a lot more at ease knowing that any blistering take day or night, my rods are not going anywhere any time soon. I also talk over these in a video review, over on my YouTube channel. You can check it out here if you wish. 

For the cost, they truly are a worth while investment that not only looks good (if you are in to that bank side tartness) but they just work. 

If you would like to buy some and try them out for your self. You can follow the link below over to Big Carp Tackle. 

PB Products Gator Braid

by Joel Harber

To Braid Or Not To Braid!

Without question braid has a steadfast place in angling, and respectively, given the right fishing situation It will offer a number of attributes that other main lines just can’t.

So the big questions are when, where and why is it a good idea to have braid as your main line?

In this video I talk over how braid can offer you more in your angling, Ideal situations to use it in and I even go over a number of specifics that may help you make the choice between using braid or conventional mono as your main line.

To take a look at the products seen in this video follow the links below over to Big Carp Tackle to see more on the product and to buy and try it for your self!

Thinking Anglers 600D Rucksack

Thinking Anglers 600D Rucksack Review by Craig Welch

by Joel Harber

I’ve always been one of those anglers that takes way too much gear with me. I’ve always liked to be prepared for any eventuality, which is fine for long sessions on the bank but most of my angling these days is short day trips and I found myself struggling with the mountain of tackle I invariably take with me, most of which went unused. This year I made the decision to scale back and focus on just what I need for a short-day trip and this is where the Thinking Anglers 600D rucksack comes into play.

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All Things PVA

by Joel Harber

PVA…? If you are not using PVA in your carp angling, then it is about time you should! Simple yet devastating! In this How-To / Review I take you though a number of PVA products that are available over at Bigcarptackle.com from PB Products.

From the most simple items like PVA nuggets, string, mesh and bags. There is something for every situation to suit all angling levels.

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Rigwise Foam

by Evan Cartabiano

Rig tangles are always a concern while casting. There are a number of ways you can make your rig less likely to tangle, such as PVA sticks. But what if you just want to wack out a single bait? Rig foam is the answer, and the Rigwise Foam from Gardner is a great option.

 

The foam can be used on any rig, but I particularly like it when fishing baits with out a PVA stick,

The best part is its super simple to use. Simple wet one side of the foam and hook the hook into this side and wrap it around!

After you have wrapped it around the wetted foam will stick to it’s self, protecting the hook point.

Rigwise foam can also be used on stringers as well. It keeps the hook for getting stuck in any of the free baits.

Multicolor Rigwise foam is also available. Also, the Gardner Foam comes with a free storage pot that will fit in with your pop-up pots for easy use!

Gardner’s Pop-Up/Bait Bag

by Evan Cartabiano

If you are having, as I had, a problem with you hook baits being a mess of pop-up tubs and various containers of all sorts, the Gardner Pop-Up/Bait Bag might be just what you need.

The Gardner Pop-Up/Bait Bag.

The outside of the Gardner Pop-Up/Bait Bag is a durable material with both handles and a strap for carrying. The bottom is made from waterproof material so you bait will stay dry if you set it down on wet ground. It also has the added benefit for being easy to clean when covered in mud.

Carrying strap.

The zipper has two pulls and is nice and robust. I have been using it for almost a year and it has not had any issues.

The top tray with six compartments.

The first thing you see when you open the bag is the removable top tray. It has six compartments and will accommodate variety of different bait and dip containers. It also comes with six empty tubs that you can add your own bait to if you so desire.

The top tray is soft.

The fact that the top tray is soft really helps accommodate a wide variety of bait containers. The compartments are also deep enough to dube stack smaller tubs of pop-ups.

Zipper pouch under the top.

Under the lid is a mesh storage area with a zipper closure. It is really handy for baiting needles, boilie stops, and other such items. If you are looking to travel light you can fit enough supplies in here for a short session.

Flap to bottom compartment.

Under the tray there is another flap with a zipper that keeps the bottom compartment separate and since it is insulated, cold.

The bottom insulated compartment.

The bottom compartment is big enough to hold a couple of kilos of bait, or you can fill it with more hook baits as it is large enough to accommodate full size pop-up tubs and dip containers. It also has a smooth coating that is super easy to clean.

Overall this is a quality item and extremely handy for keeping baits organized and in good condition.

To purchase this bag, click HERE!

 

NGT 6 Pot Green Glug Bag

by Frank Kessler

 

I have been looking for a quality bag not only for glugs but to put my jars of corn and tiger nuts in. The best part about this bag is you can lay them down to see the actual flavors on the labels. I have to say this bag is the same quality as the ones of a different name brand that are more expensive.

I was really impressed with this as the handle is really strong and has foam padding. The zippers are quality on this as well. As you can see in the pictures on the inside cover there are slots for baiting needles and the jars of bait fit very well. I have a second one of these and a few friends have also purchased for the same use.

This comes with six clear glug pots which I am not using but are nice as well. All in all, a very simple but nice piece of kit!

 

Gardner Braided Hair Needle

by Evan Cartabiano

I have used a lot of hair needles over the course of my carp fishing career and I can easily say that the Gardner Braided Hair Needle (standard size) is my favorite. There are a few reasons for this but the biggest is that they are versatile. As my baiting needles seldom serve as only baiting needles but rather as multi-function rig tools, I find that the barb on this needle is perfect.

The Gardner Braided Hair Needle comes in two different colors. They both work great but the green one is easier to find in a black rig box.

Since it is not like the barb on a hook but rather more of an indent, it can be used for pulling line through various rig bits without snagging up while doing so. The sliding design is also surprisingly useful as it allows you to push the bait onto the hair just the right distance from the bait but it also keeps the it from snagging on stuff while being stored or in your pocket. While you might think that a needle without a barb might be at somewhat of a disadvantage when using monofilament, it really works just fine on just about all material.

This hair needle is not sharp and has a rounded end – which makes it much safer than the normal ones!

Unlike most baiting needles, this one does not have a super sharp point. I have found that this even works on really hard air-dried baits and had the added benefit of being much safer to use than a normal baiting needle as the lack of barb and sharp point really help to keep it from sticking in your hand!

The construction is durable and the only issue I have had is the two parts of the slider will separate if abused – however they can be easily snapped back together. The hole in one end can be used to put it on a key ring or to tighten knots which is what I often use it for.

So, if this sounds good to you, head over to Big Carp Tackle and get one!