Recent content by Tim Marks

Signature Pro is a good call - excellent rods. Maybe a Tricast XS; but that is only available in 14ft. Slower action but more powerful than a Sig Pro or Acolyte Plus.

I’ve never used a 1m rig for barbel in my life (apart from maybe using maggots once or twice 30 years ago; and I didn’t catch many then either). Mine are now usually between about 7 and 15”. Occasionally shorter. For context I’m fishing very low stock venues with few anglers on them.

There is a recent 3 page thread on unhooking mats if you use the search function or scroll down a couple of pages…..

The ABS one is good as is the Handcraft nut bait. I’m sure there are others as nut baits are ‘in’ at present. The loose texture would probably suit a barbel bait and the base ingredients would work well with a confectionery type flavour - maple, cream etc etc. But at the end of the day any...

I own a 36” Chris Brown net and don’t use it anymore because I have a Westlake 36” triangular net from Go-Outdoors. Metal spreader block, sensible strong arms with metal ferrules and a 35” deep mesh (I have just measured it). Obviously it does not fit on the CB handle - I use a 20+ year old...

Maui Jim prescription lenses will be the wrong side of £400 retail. Especially if you have ‘readers’ fitted for knot tying. But in my opinion they are the best. Here is a salutary tale of thriftiness gone bad….I had some MJ prescription lenses and they were great. But my eyes deteriorated...

Try a Krey loop (aka non-slip mono loop). In my experience it is by far the best (most efficient) loop knot, I nicked it from saltwater fly fishing where knot tieing is almost a religion. I have used it for decades for most of my fly fishing and that includes using fluorocarbon tippets. It is...

So good; you read it twice !

I would echo JM’s thoughts - a coated braid is more abrasion resistant and Jelewyre is good stuff. For ‘real’ braid either Gardner Trickster or Bank Tackle Kevlar infused. The latter is a reasonable price….

I’ve just discovered the ‘Carper tackle’ speed flex cradle mat. Silly name - as it’s a mat with sides, rather than a cradle. It’s a folding 36”x 18” well padded base with pop-up sides. Weighs 1kg dry. It is a little bulky when folded but a good size for a big fish when operational. Std price...

Make your own and put spirulina in it. It is actually very dark green.

Not a lot wrong with the Okuma 6000’s that you already have.

Cadence supply rods in really nice narrow oval tubes.

Same here. I have 2 lightweight tubes. I takes 1x trotting rod, the other takes 2x for the few occasions I want to take 2 rods. Either goes in an old Nash super basic quiver.

Same here. Hydrotuff or Gt80+ for me. I tried Synchro XT (not loaded) after all the hype and didn’t like it at all.