Fishing Tackle Reviews - What's Your Go-To Gear?

[gluhunt54]

Just wondering what everyone's favourite bits of fishing tackle are at the moment? I'm looking to upgrade my reel and rod setup for carp fishing this season and I'm keen to hear recommendations. What reels are you finding reliable and powerful? What rods offer good sensitivity and casting distance?
Also, interested in hearing about any new gadgets or gizmos you've discovered that have made a difference to your fishing. Things like bite alarms, line, hooks, or even just handy tools that make life easier on the bank. Let's share some knowledge and help each other find the best gear! Tight lines!

[salokcinnodrog]

On 12/05/2025 at 13:07, gluhunt54 said:

Just wondering what everyone's favourite bits of fishing tackle are at the moment? I'm looking to upgrade my reel and rod setup for carp fishing this season and I'm keen to hear recommendations. What reels are you finding reliable and powerful? What rods offer good sensitivity and casting distance?
Also, interested in hearing about any new gadgets or gizmos you've discovered that have made a difference to your fishing. Things like bite alarms, line, hooks, or even just handy tools that make life easier on the bank. Let's share some knowledge and help each other find the best gear! Tight lines!

Hmm!

There are so many differences of opinion on tackle, rods, reels, line, hooks and alarms.

What I use has changed over the years depending on personal choice, some of my tackle deals or 'sponsorship', even water to water, or personal ethical reasons.

For years I used Century rods, SP and NG's were the last, but then got a deal on Rod Hutchinson The Ones in 3.25lb TC and Enduro's in 2.75lb TC. What rods I use depends on how far I need to cast, and at the moment 100metres is the limit.

Reels I don't think that I have used any other reel manufacturer for freshwater fishing than Shimano since the days of Abu Cardinals, the original Aero GTE Baitrunners, Aerlex's, DL10000's and 7000 XTA Beastmasters. 

Line, again personal choice there are so many out there, Gardner Pro is the current.

As for hooks, currently Gardner Muggas and Incizor's because annoyingly my other favourite hooks became difficult to get hold of.

There is no magic answer, because every uses what they find works for them.

[commonly]

I've tended to go middle of the road price wise.

Currently using,

Rod -free spirit Helical (13ft for my old reservoir ticket)

Reels -Shimano 10000 xtr baitrunners (going strong after 11 years)

Alarms- ATT's with deluxe receiver 

Line -Gardner Hydrotuff 18lb (for very snaggy res)

Bivvy - JRC 2 man 2 skin (nearly good as new after 11 years)

Hooklink -Rigmarole hydro link or flurocarbon.

Hooks -Korda Krank, Kurv, chod & wide gape, in all sizes from 8-2. OMC Lock in 4, seems OK but not had them long. 

Barrow - Carp porter mk2

Bedchair - Lidsters xl. Not long had it, but seems well built. Had a few cheap ones, which are a waste of money. Nash indulgence gave up after about 3 years. I'm on the large side though.

Scales -Ruben Heaton

Sling and stink bag -Shimano

Net- Sonik 2 piece. Handy for stalking. Had this a few years now, it's out lasted Trakker, Greys & JRC ones.

There is loads to choose from different manufacturers, all pretty similar in their offerings & price range, it can be confusing. I try to keep everything simple....

A good tackle shop should set you up with reasonable kit if you tell them what kind of waters you're on

 

Good luck

[Carpbell3]

Usually try for the mid range gear 

My carp rods are 10 ft fox torque 3lb test with dawia 25 mini big pits nice solid set up had carp to 39lb on them.

Just setting up some lighter rods same again the mid range rods from Drennan a 1.25 test for waggler fishing and a 1.50 test for a lead rod fishing one or two swan shot as the ledgering weight.

[elmoputney]

Rods free spirit helicals 12ft 3.5lb tc, great all rounders 👍

Okuma 8k reels, I've had quite a few sets of reels over the years and these have been better than all of them, still as smooth and reliable as the day I got them 

Atts bite alarms, love em. 

Matrix blackout buzz bars and bank sticks 

Bivvies:, 2 man fox eos TT for when the kids come 

Sonik axs shelter and cyprinus bunker for winter 

Gardner net, fox and trakker retainers, wychwood oval mat 

Thermocell backpacker,  ridgemonkey bivvy light, 

Wychwood spod rod and aerlex spod reel (which is pants) and currently testing a £20 temu rooblinos spod reel which is going to get a serious test this weekend. 

ESP trig hammer XT hooks, or J precision Lg's or a wide gape by ESP or J precision 

Line Gardner GT80+ but also recommend hydrotuff. 

Trakker x trail compact barrow, which is a pretty great barrow, wychwood comforter rucksack and tackle pouch and a korda tackle box 

Korda kontainer bucket is also a great bit of kit. 

 

[kevtaylor]

Favourite bit of kit is deffo my Jag 2+1 buzz bars and Fox RX+ alarms 👍 Reliability and carpyness all in one package 😂

[kevtaylor]

Also switched over to Daiwa reels from Shimano as not happy with their recent offerings, again reliability the issue.

 

Edited yesterday at 12:50 by kevtaylor

[kevtaylor]

I'm now happy to recommend this reel (Daiwa Spod) - spotted currently at £115 as I've been using as the main casting reel - spot finding and baiting for maybe a year or more now.  Compact, lightweight, smooth and reliable - a bargain IMO.  Bought the same thing, same price range (150 - 200) from Shimano and it ceases up overnight if there's any moisture about let alone rain.

Daiwa 18 Emblem Spod 35 SCW QD Big Pit Spod Reel

Edited 5 hours ago by kevtaylor

[yonny]

1 hour ago, kevtaylor said:

Daiwa 18 Emblem Spod 35 SCW QD Big Pit Spod Reel

I nearly bought a set of these to use as fishing reels for my distance rods. I ended up going for the Emblem Pro, which is basically the old Emblem Spod (predecessor to the 35 SCW QD) but grey instead of black. Absolutely love them and I'm sure the 35's are equally as good.

[salokcinnodrog]

15 minutes ago, yonny said:

I nearly bought a set of these to use as fishing reels for my distance rods. I ended up going for the Emblem Pro, which is basically the old Emblem Spod (predecessor to the 35 SCW QD) but grey instead of black. Absolutely love them and I'm sure the 35's are equally as good.

I loved the Emblem 'baboons' and the gold 5000's they did. I was seriously considering them years ago. They were fetching big money secondhand.

[kevtaylor]

1 hour ago, yonny said:

I nearly bought a set of these to use as fishing reels for my distance rods. I ended up going for the Emblem Pro, which is basically the old Emblem Spod (predecessor to the 35 SCW QD) but grey instead of black. Absolutely love them and I'm sure the 35's are equally as good.

Yes I'm well impressed mate, I'd have a set for fishing - deffo good enough, look great too 😎

You could buy a set of 4 of these for less than one Basia!

The new Basia I've got look very similar and both reels have the new cross wrap technology, it's almost like they are supposed to go together as a set 👍

Edited 3 hours ago by kevtaylor