Pike are the most exciting freshwater fish in UK waters thanks to their size and powerful, but surprisingly brittle nature. Here's what you need to get started.
The Environment Agency has put in place legislation that makes coarse fishing in the close season illegal. But that doesn't apply to every body of water and ...
Unless you're solely a saltwater angler you need a license to fish in the UK. England Wales are covered by the same government body, whilst Scotland and ...
Our roundup of the very best saltwater spinning reels on the market. Regardless of whether you're after a 2 or 20lb bass these reels have got you covered.
Berkley's Vanish Fluorocarbon is an almost invisible fishing line that outperforms the competition in almost every aspect. With a refractive index nearly identical to water, this translucent line is virtually undetectable, giving you an advantage over skittish fish. Its versatility shines through with a wide range of breaking strengths and lengths, allowing you to tackle various fishing conditions.
£12.17Original price was: £12.17.£11.35Current price is: £11.35.-7%
Seaguar's Blue Label Fluorocarbon is the ultimate choice for anglers seeking a high-performance fluorocarbon leader. This Japanese-made, low-visibility line is trusted by top fishermen globally, and it stands out as the most abrasion-resistant option available. Fusing two 100% fluorocarbon resins together results in unparalleled tensile strength. While fluoro is known for its suppleness and resistance to abrasion, Seaguar's Blue Label takes it to the next level.
Berkley's Big Game Fluorocarbon Line has almost unrivalled tensile strength and exceptional abrasion resistance. This line can handle the toughest saltwater and freshwater predators. Its low visibility, near invisibility underwater, and excellent stretch reflex make it the perfect versatile line and leader. Enjoy heightened sensitivity, precise bite detection, and reliable knot strength, this corrosion-resistant line is ready to tackle any fishing adventure.
Sufix's 832 Advanced Superline is a braided line that sets the bar high for strength, durability, and performance. Engineered with precision, this line withstands tough salt and freshwater conditions thanks to its water-repelling hydrophobic protection. Made from eight woven fibers, it delivers exceptional tensile strength, while its thin diameter provides sensitivity and friction-free long-distance casting.
Berkley's FireLine Braid has a fine, smooth construction and is popular in both fresh and saltwater fishing, delivering high-level performance. Its eight-strand thermally fused design offers up to five times more abrasion resistance than standard braided lines, making it ideal for rugged conditions. Casting like a dream with its impressive strength-to-diameter ratio, FireLine Braid is engineered for excellence.
Spiderwire's Stealth Smooth Braided Fishing Line is designed for reduced wind knots and quiet performance, this soft and supple line features eight or 12 tightly woven PE strands, delivering exceptional tensile strength and shock resistance. With breaking strains ranging from 6lb to over 100lb, this micro-coated line excels in long-distance casting and challenging conditions, making it a superb choice for sea fishing.
Unleash power, value, and reliability with Hercule's braided line. With excellent abrasion resistance and impressive tensile strength, it conquers the toughest fish. Detect subtle bites with high sensitivity and enjoy optimal control and responsiveness. Available in diverse colours and breaking strains, Hercules equips you for any adventure.
With an extensive range of breaking strains, colours and diameters, this Japanese-made braid stands out as one of the best and most easily accessible lines on the market. The J-Braid X8's eight tightly woven strands create a smooth, round profile that effortlessly glides through guides and delivers precise casts. Its unmatched sensitivity-to-power ratio sets it apart, allowing you to feel the slightest nibble and easily handle smaller fish.
With the tagline "stronger, smoother, thinner," this line surpasses all expectations of quality braided fishing lines. Its near-zero stretch construction delivers exceptional strength and durability, making it ideal for battling formidable saltwater predators. Say goodbye to line breaks caused by snags and damaged guides thanks to its innovative abrasion-resistant design.
Daiwa's Emcast BR is one of the go-to reels for beginner and intermediate carp anglers. Its Bite 'n' Run lever-operated freespool system allows carp to run with your bait before engaging the handle for solid hookups. Perfect for large bodies of water, it boasts snag-free, anti-line twist technology for any coarse conditions. With 8 ball bearings and a 4.6:1 gear ratio, the smooth and powerful Emcast reel offers flexibility for long days on the bank. Comes complete with a spare aluminium spool.
Experience precision and power with Preston's Magnitude Reel. This high-quality, slow-oscillating coarse fishing reel combines strength and accuracy while reducing line knots. With a fast 5.0:1 gear ratio and three size options (320, 420, and 520), it's great for match and feeder fishing, particularly at the £100 price mark. The reel features an aluminium spool (complete with a spare), dual line clip, and CNC machined body for durability.
Shimano's Aero XR Fishing Reel is a fantastic quality choice for match and feeder fishing. With its lightweight body, cold forged drive gear, and S ARB ball bearings, performance, is smooth and designed to last. Say goodbye to tangles with Longcast spool technology and enjoy silent casting thanks to the SilentDrive system. Choose from three sizes - 3000, 4000, and 5000 - catering to various fishing ranges.
Sorry Gary this went into the spam folder (albeit an excellent comment). Where did you go in the end? Dursey’s cable car was broken when we were there, but Crow’s Head has some of the best marks we’ve ever been to. They can be really challenging to reach however!
I’m very glad you thought so Dougie. I would class myself as somewhere above novice, but not an intermediate so hopefully the advice was useful, albeit not perfect. Just good to get out there and give it a go. Arguably my favourite thing about bass is that they aren’t fussy. Always handy.
Excellent comment. This is a two-part response that I will preface by saying I love Tailwalk rods. I haven’t experienced the full gamut of Japanese lure fishing rods, but Tailwalks have really impressed me. So I am a fan.
When I originally wrote this page – around a year ago – it was really hard to find these rods. And I don’t like referencing gear that sells out too quickly or is really hard to find / prohibitively expensive. Secondly, I thought my content would take a little longer to rank in Google than it has. As such I wrote this as a first draft with a plan to update it about this time. Things have moved slightly quicker than I thought, so none of these pages are perfect. All a part of the process.
As my second part of a response. The way my website works is by integrating with product feeds to get product information. It speeds up the process and means I get real-time access to prices, sales, voucher codes etc. And it’s very time-consuming. So if I don’t have access to certain product feeds, it’s unlikely I would add products in from that website. The Art of Fishing is a good example.
If you check back in in a couple of weeks you’ll notice some Japanese rods making the grade. I wouldn’t put them above the SGS8 for me, but that’s purely down to the fact I haven’t used them as much. Although I am aware of the influence the Japanese models have had.
Interestingly your experience with HTO rods is that they’re fragile. I’ve had the Lure Game for a couple of years and have stress-tested it with big pollock and incredibly snaggy conditions and – IMO – it’s great.
An opinion steeped in more knowledge than my own I believe, and I appreciate it!
Hey Cal. Interesting – I’ve never actually owned the 5500 C3, but have heard a lot of good things. Another item to add to the list! Pike fishing is on my list to take more seriously this year, so I’ll let you know how it goes. Thanks, Harry
Well the SGS8 is arguably my favourite to of all time. It’s so well rounded that it’s a no brainer to have.
However I’d say that on balance Japanese rods are the most sensitive on the market and the Dialuna is slightly more sensitive than the SGS8. The 10 – 45g Dialuna is still very good with 10g lures too. But if you can find a version with a lighter casting weight that will be best when it comes to sensitivity
Thanks for the nudge Dave and well aware of the geographical borders. All updated and glad you had a good time x
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Harry
That is music to my ears Roger, thank you. Hopefully I shared enough without giving everything away!
Great to hear, thanks Jamie. I love and hate bass with equal measure. Glorious little bastards
Very kind Robert thank you! Something different about pike. Almost prehistoric!
Sorry Gary this went into the spam folder (albeit an excellent comment). Where did you go in the end? Dursey’s cable car was broken when we were there, but Crow’s Head has some of the best marks we’ve ever been to. They can be really challenging to reach however!
I’m very glad you thought so Dougie. I would class myself as somewhere above novice, but not an intermediate so hopefully the advice was useful, albeit not perfect. Just good to get out there and give it a go. Arguably my favourite thing about bass is that they aren’t fussy. Always handy.
Hi Billy,
Excellent comment. This is a two-part response that I will preface by saying I love Tailwalk rods. I haven’t experienced the full gamut of Japanese lure fishing rods, but Tailwalks have really impressed me. So I am a fan.
When I originally wrote this page – around a year ago – it was really hard to find these rods. And I don’t like referencing gear that sells out too quickly or is really hard to find / prohibitively expensive. Secondly, I thought my content would take a little longer to rank in Google than it has. As such I wrote this as a first draft with a plan to update it about this time. Things have moved slightly quicker than I thought, so none of these pages are perfect. All a part of the process.
As my second part of a response. The way my website works is by integrating with product feeds to get product information. It speeds up the process and means I get real-time access to prices, sales, voucher codes etc. And it’s very time-consuming. So if I don’t have access to certain product feeds, it’s unlikely I would add products in from that website. The Art of Fishing is a good example.
If you check back in in a couple of weeks you’ll notice some Japanese rods making the grade. I wouldn’t put them above the SGS8 for me, but that’s purely down to the fact I haven’t used them as much. Although I am aware of the influence the Japanese models have had.
Interestingly your experience with HTO rods is that they’re fragile. I’ve had the Lure Game for a couple of years and have stress-tested it with big pollock and incredibly snaggy conditions and – IMO – it’s great.
An opinion steeped in more knowledge than my own I believe, and I appreciate it!
Thanks,
Harry
Added in. Never been but like the look of it John. Will have to visit sometime!
Harry
Hey Cal. Interesting – I’ve never actually owned the 5500 C3, but have heard a lot of good things. Another item to add to the list! Pike fishing is on my list to take more seriously this year, so I’ll let you know how it goes. Thanks, Harry
Hey Lamine
Well the SGS8 is arguably my favourite to of all time. It’s so well rounded that it’s a no brainer to have.
However I’d say that on balance Japanese rods are the most sensitive on the market and the Dialuna is slightly more sensitive than the SGS8. The 10 – 45g Dialuna is still very good with 10g lures too. But if you can find a version with a lighter casting weight that will be best when it comes to sensitivity
Thanks
Harry
Thanks for the nudge Dave and well aware of the geographical borders. All updated and glad you had a good time x