Articles - Gardner Tackle

Gardner Tackle’s articles. Written by our team of highly experienced carp and specialist anglers.

Carp Fishing – House of Commons Part 1 – James Chisnall

Carp Fishing – House of Commons Part 1 – James Chisnall

Much to our amazement it was 39lb 14oz! Wow, an early Christmas present. My friend did me some great shots and we returned the fish. I sat drinking a tea thinking “this is awesome”. The only issue was once I had written about this epic adventure it was going to be even more like Piccadilly Circus. The rest of the night past with zero action, but I did not care, a December 39lb’er, and a new lake record…

January 20th, 2020|Articles, Carp Articles, Carp Catch Reports, Catch Reports, James Chisnall Articles|

Carp Fishing – Christmas Crackers – Louise Bowes

Carp Fishing – Christmas Crackers – Louise Bowes

I stood poised over the rod then as the line pulled out of the clip, I lifted the rod to find myself into another carp, but this one felt a bit bigger. It was slower, more plodding, and stripping line as it went on a solid run. As I looked around for the net, I realized my dilemma. I had the handle at my feet, but the mesh was by the mat...

January 9th, 2020|Articles, Carp Articles, Carp Catch Reports, Catch Reports, Louise Bowes Articles|

Carp Fishing – Bobbing Around – David Gaskin

Carp Fishing – Bobbing Around – David Gaskin

Early in the afternoon Dave repeated a demonstration of his tactical supremacy and landed one of the longest commons I have ever seen, weighing in at over 50lb! Luckily, I got in on the action with a 48lb mirror before the end of play! The following day we managed another 3 bites before the weather took a turn for the worse and the fishing slowed.

January 2nd, 2020|Articles, Carp Articles, Carp Catch Reports, Catch Reports, David Gaskin Articles|

Carp Fishing – Solid Gold – Rick Golder

Carp Fishing – Solid Gold – Rick Golder

I could see small clear gravel patches very close to the snag tree, a matter of feet from the bank. In no time the excitement was back, not only was I fishing, I was also on the fish!

December 27th, 2019|Articles, Carp Articles, Carp Catch Reports, Catch Reports, Rick Golder Articles|

Carp Fishing – A Year Of Two Halves – Carl Udry

Carp Fishing – A Year Of Two Halves – Carl Udry

2019 has been a year of two very different halves. The first half saw the inevitable running down of the final 6 months of a wonderful three years angling on the awesome Wellington Country Park (aka Welly). I have written a comprehensive account of my time on this special venue that will be published in the New Year...

December 23rd, 2019|Articles, Carp Articles, Carp Catch Reports, Catch Reports|

Carp Fishing – What a Year! – James Hutton

Carp Fishing – What a Year! – James Hutton

The following weekend I turned up on the Friday after work and saw a carp show on the plateau around 80 yards out, in front of a swim known as The Wind Tunnel...

December 22nd, 2019|Articles, Carp Articles, Carp Catch Reports, Catch Reports|

Carp Fishing – No Holds Barred – George Benos

Carp Fishing – No Holds Barred – George Benos

It was early February, and as the days were starting to draw out that little bit longer, there were the first very subtle signs that spring was just around the corner and everything was starting to come to life once more; and I found myself once again hatching plans for a full on no [...]

December 21st, 2019|Articles, Carp Articles, Carp Catch Reports, Catch Reports, George Benos Articles|

Carp Fishing – Rocket Lockett’s 2019 – Matt Lockett

Carp Fishing – Rocket Lockett’s 2019 – Matt Lockett

I stood there for several minutes in utter awe of this true giant. I called my friend to come and help me get her out of the water do some pics. We got her up on the scales and they read a massive 54lb 10oz. I was truly blown way and I had landed two PB’s that day!

December 20th, 2019|Articles, Carp Articles, Carp Catch Reports, Catch Reports, Matt Lockett Articles|

Carp Fishing – Craig Clumps ‘Em – Craig Smithson

Carp Fishing – Craig Clumps ‘Em – Craig Smithson

I fished for three nights and over the course of the weekend I landed two 20lb mirrors to 27lb 10oz. I was due back down the following down the following Thursday for another 3 nights and that trip I had 4 bites losing one and landing, a 24lb 14oz mirror, a 41lb 14oz mirror (a repeat from June) and a 13lb 8oz stockie.

December 19th, 2019|Articles, Carp Articles, Carp Catch Reports, Catch Reports, Craig Smithson Articles|

Carp Fishing – Plenty In The Tank – Ian Lewis

Carp Fishing – Plenty In The Tank – Ian Lewis

It’s no coincidence that many great anglers have surrounded themselves and learnt from other successful, educated anglers, so this is exactly what I did. It’s been a long learning curve that’s forever evolving, but during this period I’ve gained so much knowledge and memories...

December 13th, 2019|Articles, Carp Articles, Ian Lewis Articles|

Carp Fishing – The Big Carp Mind Set – Nigel Sharp

Carp Fishing – The Big Carp Mind Set – Nigel Sharp

After being a carp angler for 35 years I've a fair few years of winter carping under my belt and I choose my winter waters carefully. Gone are the days of me sitting on a low stocked, deep weedy waters that's for sure. I prefer to fish weed free waters with a decent head of carp to go at and preferably a fair few big'uns amongst them.

December 11th, 2019|Articles, Carp Catch Reports, Catch Reports, Nigel Sharp Articles|

Carp Fishing – Jimbo’s Travels – Jim Chisnall

Carp Fishing – Jimbo’s Travels – Jim Chisnall

I’ve managed over 70 fish so far this year, which has made for another great years angling. The quest for the Coconut Common will continue in the spring. Many thanks to Gardner tackle, Lewis Read, and Alan ‘Norma’ Stagg, for their ongoing support and hard work; it never goes unnoticed by me and I’m always humbled to be part of such a great firm...

November 22nd, 2019|Articles, Carp Articles, Carp Catch Reports, Catch Reports, James Chisnall Articles|

Carp Fishing – The Ultimate Edge – Ash Bailey

Carp Fishing – The Ultimate Edge – Ash Bailey

Finding good spots is definitely key. Whether you take a night off from fishing or if you can spare a couple of hours in the week after work, this extra effort can really pay off. I often spend hours on end in swims leading around for those all-important small hard spots, that fish visit on a regular basis...

November 15th, 2019|Articles, Carp Articles, Carp Hints and Tips, Hints and Tips|

Carp Fishing – Ringing the Changes – James Chisnall

Carp Fishing – Ringing the Changes – James Chisnall

After three harsh frosts and sightings dwindling to a minimum, I’d decided that my autumn campaign in search of the Coconut Common had come to an end. Having fished the lake before with no cold-water bite, I felt like my chances were realistically slim to none...

November 11th, 2019|Articles, Carp Articles, Carp Catch Reports, Catch Reports, James Chisnall Articles|

Carp Fishing – When The Stars Align – Tommy De Cleen

Carp Fishing – When The Stars Align – Tommy De Cleen

My plan worked and I had another very good fish in the net. I took some shots, did a bit more filming, got him back in the water and then let him go. Once more I was feeling great with an amazing experience with a very old friend. Man, I love carp fishing all on my own. These are memories that will last a life-time.

November 8th, 2019|Articles, Carp Articles, Carp Catch Reports, Catch Reports|

Carp Fishing – Pinned Down – Carl Udry

Carp Fishing – Pinned Down – Carl Udry

The carp we all fish for are often under constant pressure so I personally choose to take every possible opportunity to disguise my trap, all the way from the rod tip to the hook bait. However, to what level I go is also dependent on several key factors that change from swim to swim.

November 7th, 2019|Articles, Carl Udry Articles, Carp Articles|

Specimen Fishing – My Life in Pike Fishing – by Jamie Martin

Specimen Fishing – My Life in Pike Fishing – by Jamie Martin

By the age of 5, I was bugging my dad every weekend to go fishing. Rain or shine, snow or hail, it didn’t matter to me I just wanted to be outside next to the water. I still remember what he used to say to me “when you can swim, then I’ll take you” so I learnt to swim pretty sharpish...

November 1st, 2019|Articles, Catch Reports, Jamie Martin Articles, Specimen Articles, Specimen Catch Reports|

Carp Fishing – Fully Primed – Mark Betteridge

Carp Fishing – Fully Primed – Mark Betteridge

We are all guilty of setting up in a swim and hoping it will happen at some point in the day, but sometimes it doesn't. Therefore, it is not always best to put all your eggs in one basket. One key technique for maximising opportunities is to bait a few margin spots around the lake, on the off chance an extra opportunity appears.

October 2nd, 2019|Articles, Carp Articles, Carp Catch Reports, Catch Reports|

Carp Fishing – One Chance – One Barb – Louise Bowes

Carp Fishing – One Chance – One Barb – Louise Bowes

The fish took a bit of line on solid runs that I wasn’t going to even try and stop, even if I could. I gained a bit of ground before it took off again. As the fight drew nearer to the bank, I lowered my other two rods to get them out of the way and after one final burst I slid the net under the fish before taking a look inside.

September 12th, 2019|Articles, Carp Articles, Carp Catch Reports, Catch Reports, Louise Bowes Articles|

Carp Fishing – Birthday Bonanza – Ian Lewis

Carp Fishing – Birthday Bonanza – Ian Lewis

At the beginning of July I started catching a few over at Welly and after having held the ticket for a month or so I started to piece the puzzle together. One of the highlights was a new PB ghost carp which weighed 46lb that I landed on my birthday (12th July).

September 4th, 2019|Articles, Carp Articles, Carp Catch Reports, Catch Reports, Ian Lewis Articles|

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