Big Carp News

A “Quick Look Review” of the Sonik SK-Tek Carryall! check out this video as I talk you over the solid and well made item of luggage from Sonik Sports, SK-Tek range. Its outstanding quality to value, really puts this item of gear high on the list of items to check out. … Read more

With winter now starting to show the end of its self, we all start looking at our gear and…then it happens, the light goes on! Got to prep the gear for the spring sessions. well… I do like to take some time to go over my gear pre-spring and that’s… Read more

Gardner HydroSink Braid is a fast sinking braid with low stretch and great handling characteristics. It is a combination of Dyneema and Kevlar with a Teflon coating which is certainly a top of the line (pun intended!) combination. Unlike many lines on the market, the breaking strain of the line… Read more

Heli-Safe Tubing Kit System stands as an exceptional product, widely embraced by anglers globally. Now, owing to a strategic refinement, an even broader audience can reap its benefits. Previously, its application in certain waters faced substantial limitations due to bans on leadcore and leaders. Setups not conducive to being fished… Read more

Korda Kaizen Platinum Rods – The Kaizen Platinum range has been under development for more than four years, and came about as Korda felt that they could develop something even better than what was already on the market – despite this being the first foray into rods – using the… Read more

Sweetcorn – it’s more than just a classic; it’s a timeless legend in the world of carp fishing. “No matter the season, those golden grains are an irresistible temptation for our finned friends. When Simon Scott boldly declares it as the “best carp bait of all time,” you can’t help… Read more

There are a lot of tungsten putties on the market, but they are all not the same. The Gardner Critical Mass Putty is really a premium product, and not just some repackaged product that is sold by many. It is sticky and holds well to hook links and swivels. It… Read more

A review of the Century Stealth Pod after a year of use. A really great and versatile pod. Available in the USA from Big Carp Tackle via special order. Enjoy!     Read more

I’ve been using the Avid Lok Down Buzz Pod for over a year now, I’ve found that I’ve used it more and more due to its convenience. What would be the scenarios you would use it? I personally use it in place of a pod, when you get into the… Read more

Ridgemonkey Modular Bucket – Everyone has those few items that you ‘can’t leave home without’ when setting off fishing. A few of those items for me are the Ridgemonkey Modular XL bucket and a couple of the Ridgemonkey collapsible buckets. Where to start, there are so many positives for me… Read more

  Rod Hutchinson Big Kipper II Sleep System Rod Hutchinson Big Kipper II Sleep System,  Big Kipper II Systems combine all the advantages of the Extreme 5 II Sleeping Bag with the Big Kipper II Bed chair to create the ultimate sleeping combination. Featuring improved double hinge mechanism for easy… Read more

Over the winter I was in the market for 3 new reels to pair up with my long-distance rods for the new year, over the last few years I’ve started to favor Daiwa for my reels, just personal preference. For this year I settled on the Daiwa Emblem 45 SCW… Read more

Daiwa GS LTD 4000 – If you’re like me, and you use retractable setups for short sessions, small venues and you’re in the market for a new reel, look no further than the Daiwa GS 4000 Ltd which can been found over at Big Carp Tackle. I’ve been using this… Read more

Today we are going to be taking a look at the A1 3 rod pod and a few of the items that Solar Tackle offer in the A1 range. For many years Solar Tackle has been producing the industry standard for rod pods, with the Globetrotter and the hugely versatile… Read more

Not having enough time while on a session to tie up new rigs due to hook points not being sharp enough is never a good thing! Especially if the session is going off and you want to stay on the fish! This is where the rock… from PB Products, comes… Read more

Cygnet Sniper Weigh Tripod Mk2 Overview: Cygnet Sniper Weigh Tripod Mk2 – Safe and accurate solution for weighing big fish also offering a solid metal block with threaded top for buzz bars. The Sniper Weigh Tripod MK2 is Supplied with a threaded bubble level to balance weight distribution; this can… Read more

Rod Hutchinson DMX Rods The new technologies and materials gradually filter down from the aerospace and Formula One industries to the fishing tackle industry. This has enabled us to entrust our concept of ‘the perfect curve’ to another range of mouth-watering rods that feature improved recovery for enhanced casting performance.… Read more

The Sonik Tournos, like all other items from Sonik, boast outstanding quality to value. Along side it a list of features almost as long as my arm… it puts these reels way up high on the quality to value ratio. If you are in the market for a new reel,… Read more

PRODUCT REVIEW – FOX EOS BARBEL SPECIALIST ROD 11FT 1.75LB In my last article I went into my approach to winter fishing, specifically using a feeder method and approach. To fish this method effectively you do require a few specialist items, the first being a good rod, that is not… Read more

Let’s face it, a successful day of carp fishing stinks! The end of the day you are packing up wet, slime covered gear. The smell can be quite overwhelming and may forever be imbedded in the fabric of your vehicle. To solve this issue and keep the depreciation of my… Read more

If you don’t like the weather wait ten minutes, it will change. It was a beautiful fall day in Colorado.  We were landing carp left and right. We were having so much fun that we didn’t notice that the storm predicted for the next day had begun to roll in.… Read more

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… Read more

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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Combining comfort with functionality, the Lounger Chair features a pair of moulded clips on the rear frame allowing the chair to be set at three preset angles removing the need for awkward cams. With arms for added comfort, this chair offers the excellent head and back support required, especially if… Read more

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 outside of the Gardner Pop-Up/Bait Bag is a durable material with both handles and a strap… Read more

  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… Read more

The Outreach landing net from Gardner is a well thought out and durable piece of essential equipment. As the name suggests the handle is a bit longer than normally seen with the addition of an additional section that can be added on. Read more

There are so many lines on the market – and so many make fantastic claims about their abilities. So what about Gardner’s Pro line? It is a fairly limp line and behaves it’s self very well. There are so many claims about line being limp and tough and this line… Read more

There are lots of bait alarms on the market and I have tried some of them. While I started off wanting all the knobs and buttons and adjustments, I realized that none of these things really matter as much as reliability. Having the ability to change the sensitivity of the… Read more

While the principal behind visualbite indication is fairly simple. If you get a run the indicator moves upwards, upon a dropback the indicator will drop or sag.  So why have things gotten so complicated, and furthermore what else does a bite indicator need to accomplish?  When I began Carp Fishing… Read more

Gardner has a few different marker floats on the market, and each has a slightly different set of benefits. The Deluxe Marker float is a classic take on the marker float: balsa wood construction and the “pencil” design. It is available in two sizes, with the smaller size being well… Read more

In the late 70s, when I first fished for carp, the most common method of weighing my captures was with a plastic bag and bar spring scale. These scales are still sold in huge numbers for anglers. Their popularity being due to a very low cost and widespread availability. Their… Read more

The Gardner Mugga Hooks are an example of a hook that has gotten it right in just about every way. The metallurgy is spot on, the finish is great, and most importantly they are really, really sharp. Read more

Some tools are for the casual user, some are for those who use them often, and some are for those who understand that their passion demands the best. Century rods are in this last category. Nothing about these rods is done in half measures and it shows. For anglers who fish tournaments,… Read more