• You need to be a registered member of Barbel Fishing World to post on these forums. Some of the forums are hidden from non-members. Please refer to the instructions on the ‘Register’ page for details of how to join the new incarnation of BFW...

A Christmas Puzzle

Paul Bullinger

Senior Member & Supporter
A few years ago my wife and I decided to limit our Christmas present buying for each other to £100. A sensible decision given how many family presents we end up buying!
So my question is this: with a £100 budget, what item (s) of fishing gear would YOU ask for this Christmas?
 
For me I’d be looking to put it toward terminal tackle replacement and bait throughout the season…so an envelope with the cash would be the present
 
I've got all the tackle I need so a Baitworks gift voucher would be perfect. For use when the 20% offer comes in Jan.

Failing that, I've always had a hankering for a Kelly Kettle. Be great for winter piking.
Funny you should mention the Kelly Kettle Joe. I fell in love with the concept of a Kelly Kettle after watching A Passion for Angling. You'll recall Chris Yates using one.
I bought one (this was years ago) and took it on my annual barbel trip, which in those days was always at Mike Taylors (Red Lion) stretch at Bredwardine.
I have never received so much stick from my mates (who can be brutal at the best of times) over the Kelly Kettle!!
I still have it, hidden away at the back of the garage!! 😂
 
I've got all the tackle I need so a Baitworks gift voucher would be perfect. For use when the 20% offer comes in Jan.

Failing that, I've always had a hankering for a Kelly Kettle. Be great for winter piking.
Great minds.......

Our lass has just bought me this

I've always fancied one and couldn't think of anything else, I'll be piking down the syndi' with it during the holidays👍
 
Great minds.......

Our lass has just bought me this

I've always fancied one and couldn't think of anything else, I'll be piking down the syndi' with it during the holidays👍

Mrs Baldwin bought me one last Xmas, marvellous bit of kit!
 

Attachments

  • 20241110_201914.jpg
    20241110_201914.jpg
    94.1 KB · Views: 69
I’ve never drunk tea made from a Kelly, but I’ve always imagined it tastes somehow better. Either way, tea always tastes better brewed up in cold weather, in the great outdoors and from a tin mug. Beats the pants off bone china in some quaint village tea room. Unless, of course, there’s clotted cream, scones and strawberry jam…..
 
Superb thread Paul!

For me a Kelly kettle is the kind of thing that sounds brilliant but would probably end up being a pain in the (my) ‘Arris. £100 is a weird amount. It could easily be plenty or not enough. A few bits and bobs and that’s your money gone. Or it’s a new reel or half a new rod. Like the idea of club books. I need a new unhooking mat.

Ooh… books! That’s what I’d buy 👍🏻
 
A club membership
That what I have been doing for a few seasons now Graham . I have more than enough tackle , could probably equip a small army at a pinch .
And even then I bet I only use the same 4 coarse rods for most of the time anyway , same with reels etc .I have a Kelly, used it lots in the past ten years but must he getting lazy, I find a flask is as good and far less faff .

David
 
It’s the size and weight that puts me off: one flask with integral cup vs Kelly, mug, large bottle of water, dry fuel - when it’s pi55ing down.

I’ve become so obsessed with weigh reduction in the past few years, well, since having major heart surgery, that I now even have three different flask sizes depending on the duration I’m likely to fish and distances likely to be walked. I think a Kelly is probably an itch that is likely to remain unscratched for me now.
 
For me fishing related pressies need to be useful but also items that I'm not likely to buy due to being overpriced for what they are / surplus to actual need / expensive variants of what I already own eg

Jag Self Take Kit
Jack Prolite Storm Poles
Jag High Toppers
Jag Weigh Bar . . . . . infact most of the Jag range I don't already own so I can revel in its shininess as I blank . . .

A couple of bulk spools of PB Products Ghost Dragonfly Flurocarbon mainline

Several packs of Gardner Mugga Hooks in all sizes hand sharpened by Jason Hayward

Custom Angling Solutions Modulus River range eg - River sticks / Rod rests / Butt cups / Trotting River Bar etc

Best 'unwanted' pressie last year was a Trakker Powerflo Tap attachment for my water carrier (non carp anglers may indeed scoff) . . . .perfect easy single handed no mess water dispensation for endless cups of T . . . . would never have purchased this by principle alone however its actually a good bit of kit for session fishing :cool:
 
Last edited:
For me fishing related pressies need to be useful but also items that I'm not likely to buy due to being overpriced for what they are / surplus to actual need / expensive variants of what I already own eg

Jag Self Take Kit
Jack Prolite Storm Poles
Jag High Toppers
Jag Weigh Bar . . . . . infact most of the Jag range I don't already own so I can revel in its shininess as I blank . . .

A couple of bulk spools of PB Products Ghost Dragonfly Flurocarbon mainline

Several packs of Gardner Mugga Hooks in all sizes hand sharpened by Jason Hayward

Custom Angling Solutions Modulus River range eg - River sticks / Rod rests / Butt cups / Trotting River Bar etc

Best 'unwanted' pressie last year was a Trakker Powerflo Tap attachment for my water carrier (non carp anglers may indeed scoff) . . . .perfect easy single handed no mess water dispensation for endless cups of T . . . . would never have purchased this by principle alone however its actually a good bit of kit for session fishing :cool:
Sounds like you have already written your pressie list Chris !
 
A good pen knife is a valuable item to have at home or the bank. This is the one I have or had more accurately. Lost the bloody thing but will be replacing it with the same model.
 
No presents in my family, we’re very lucky to have everything we need. Lots of food and drink does the job !
 
A good pen knife is a valuable item to have at home or the bank. This is the one I have or had more accurately. Lost the bloody thing but will be replacing it with the same model.
I have an old Swiss army knife (huntsman) that my son found in the street over 25 years ago, he wanted to give me it, the small blade was snapped but everything else is still perfect. Brilliant bit of kit that has proven very useful (even the snapped blade) over the years!

One of these would certainly make a very good gift!
 
Back
Top