After three decades on the bank, there’s not much tackle I haven’t tried, some of it’s come and gone, while others have been with me since the beginning.
I’ve fished club matches on canals, commercials in the depths of winter, huge natural reservoirs, and big open matches where every ounce counts.
But no matter how much tackle I own or how far the sport moves on, there are a few things I won’t head to the bank without. They’re not flashy or gimmicky - just dependable bits of gear always within arm’s reach, when I’m on the bank.
Here are my five essentials that have earned their permanent spot in my fishing.
Method feeder – Always has been, always will be
This is the one constant through all my years fishing.
Back in the day, it was the old Emstat frame feeder packed with stodgy, over-wetted groundbait to bind it into a solid ball.
These days it’s a flatbed Method or a Hybrid feeder, loaded with micro pellets or a fine fishmeal mix. The feeders have evolved, the materials have changed, but the principle is identical, a short hooklength creating a rig that hooks the fish for you.
Whether I’m targeting carp on commercials or bream at distance, I keep coming back to it. There’s no fuss. It’s direct, efficient, and hard to beat. If in doubt, get the Method out!
THE BEST CARP FEEDER RODS ARE PERFECT FOR METHOD AND HYBRID FEEDER FISHING.
Groundbait bucket and riddle – Gets rid of the lumps
Groundbait plays a massive part in my fishing, whether it’s going through the feeder, cupped in down the edge, or balled in by hand. Getting the mix right is crucial – too dry and it won't bind, too wet and it’s useless.
A solid bucket and riddle might seem like background gear, but they’re vital. The riddle breaks up any lumps that could fill fish up too quickly and gives you a consistent base mix, and from there, I can tweak the texture or binding strength depending on how the session develops.
It’s one of the most important bits of prep I do.
DISCOVER HOW AND WHEN TO USE A FISHMEAL GROUNDBAIT IN THIS EXPERT GUIDE.
A rigid landing net handle – Easy netting
You only need to lose one good fish at the net to realise the value of a proper handle. I’ve used plenty over the years – some that flex, others that wobble – and none of them lasted long.
Now I won’t use anything that isn’t rock-solid. A rigid landing net handle makes netting quick and accurate, especially when you’re fishing deep venues or landing big carp.
When every fish counts, you want to be in control, not chasing them round in circles with a handle that bends and becomes cumbersome.
CHECK OUT MY PICK OF THE BEST LANDING NET HANDLES.
Banded hooklengths – Hard pellets on the hook
Hard pellets have changed the game. Over the years hard pellets have become a staple in my fishing, whether I am pinging pellets on a pole line or raining them in on a pellet waggler or bomb. One thing remains constant and that’s a hard pellet on a hair-rigged band.
I tie my own banded hooklengths, pre-tied ones have come a long way, but by tying my own gives me confidence. I know they’re to my spec and if something were to go wrong I only have myself to blame.
Having them tied in a range of hook sizes and line breaking strains means I’m prepared to adapt to the conditions and whatever challenges the peg may throw up.
What I like most is their flexibility. Yes, they’re perfect for pellets, but they work just as well with wafters, bits of meat, even a soft grain of corn.
It’s a fast, reliable way to present a bait that gives me confidence.
TAKE A LOOK AT THESE EXPERT TIPS FOR USING HAR RIG BANDS, STOPS AND BAYONETS.
Catapult – Creating an impact
This might seem basic, but a good catapult is one of the most important tools I own. Whether I’m feeding a pellet waggler line, pinging pellets over a pole line, or just trying to keep fish interested in a swim, a well-placed pouch of bait can induce a bite.
It creates noise, spreads bait naturally, and gives you control over how much and how often you feed. Pole pots are great for accuracy, but when it comes to feeding while fishing a running line – the catapult is king.
THIS BUYERS GUIDE LISTS THE BEST FISHING CATAPULTS.
