The best and the worst carp gear

[paul80]

Hi guy

Just wondering who makes the best and the worst carp gear.

I know every seems to hate Korda, not sure if that's a hatred of the gear or of DF.

How do you rate some of the other popular gear makers like

Nash
Fox
ESP
Korda
TF-GEAR
Any other make you like

Thanks

Paul

[sam vimes]

All the different manufacturers make good, indifferent and, occasionally, bad kit. Even TFG, which I generally wouldn't touch with a bargepole.

My carp kit consists of bits and bobs from Nash, Greys, Shimano, Fox, Korda, Gardner, Solar, Delkim, Korum, ESP/Drennan, Daiwa, Trakker, Angling Intelligence, Pestige, Thinking Anglers and Chub (and probably others).

[barbelboi]

I've been using Harrison rods for most of my carp/specialist angling for many years - plenty of variety there and haven't felt the need for change.
Jerry

[Peter Jacobs]

The Best:

Older rods were Century 2½lb T/C

Newer rods are Greys X-Flite's 2¾lb T/C

Landing Net is a Greys X-Flite to match the rods

Reels are Diawa Infinity 5500's - Main lines are Shimano Technium

Rod Pod is a Solar Worldwide

Bite alarms and remote are Delkim Txi Plus - purple haze

Other bits and pieces from all different manufacturers, Nash, Fox, ESP etc., but all of my hook length materials are from Kryston.

I tend to use whatever brand suite a particular purpose regardless of associated 'names'


and the Worst:

Nearly forgot, my Bait Boat which is a Viper Mk 3 P.O.S.

[mol]

Originally Posted by paul80

Hi guy

Just wondering who makes the best and the worst carp gear.

I know every seems to hate Korda, not sure if that's a hatred of the gear or of DF.

How do you rate some of the other popular gear makers like

Nash
Fox
ESP
Korda
TF-GEAR
Any other make you like

Thanks

Paul

I'll echo what has already been said, every tackle company makes some good stuff and some stuff that shouldn't be sold.

Nash - I will not buy anything from Nash;
Fox - Love the lead clips and carp sleeves, illusion is good stuff too. Hate there feature finder leads, backleads and marker floats;
ESP - Use the big T's alots, the funnel mesh is good. Hate their unusally sized lead clips;
Korda - Widegapes, long shanks and throwing stick. Not much else, I find them expensive for what they are;
Kryston - Most of my hooklinks are from them, expensive compare to others but faultless;
Ebay - shrink tube

I used to fish with all the bells and whistles but I don't believe the hype anymore, I find I catch more and spend less if I fish 'basic'.

90% of my fishing is done with a combi link made from supa nova and illusion, widegape hook if I'm fishing over gravel or a big T if not. I always aline with a bit of shrink tube. Thats fished either as a leadclip if I think I need to drop the lead, or running rig on a slack line. Nothing complex

[Jim Crosskey 2]

I tend to grab whatever I need on a trip by trip basis... I'll generally go with ESP for terminal kit when possible, otherwise I'll look for a name brand. However for "best", my definition of this tends to be "effective and bulletproof" - i.e. does it perform the job you purchased it for well and does it last a good amount of tiem thus delivering good value for money. In this category, special mention goes to:

NASH - 4play Outlaw 2-rod pod. Rock steady, Easy to set up. Adjustable rod length (so works with two carp rods on a lake or two avons on a river). Lightweight. Happy in the soil or on gravel or even concrete at a push.

FOX - Micron ES bite alarms. Tells me when I've got a bite (yeah I know - but friends of mine have had alarms that have failed in this most basic requirement!) Had them for six or seven years now and they work today as well as they did the day I bought them. Use standard PP3 batteries too, via a compartment that doesn't need a screwdriver. Easy to set up. Inexpensive. With the plastic snap on case, totally rugged.

[waggler]

The worst from the big brands...TFG (Total Fishing Garbage)

[Ron The Hat Clay]

Originally Posted by waggler

The worst from the big brands...TFG (Total Fishing Garbage

Hey just hang on a minute.

Matt Hayes says that TFG is the best carp gear on the market, because he's the best carp angler in the world and he uses TFG.

So it must be the best - right!

[Berty]

Originally Posted by Ron The Hat Clay

Hey just hang on a minute.

Matt Hayes says that TFG is the best carp gear on the market, because he's the best carp angler in the world and he uses TGF.

So it must be the best - right!

Watch out for the all new, singing, dancing............Fladen carp gear, endorsed by non other than Matty!

[caesarson]

Originally Posted by Peter Jacobs

The Best:

I tend to use whatever brand suite a particular purpose regardless of associated 'names.

Could not agree more