Gardner Tackle’s articles. Written by our team of highly experienced carp and specialist anglers.
Over the last couple of years I have been targeting a large gravel pit, which calls for fishing at extreme range at certain times of the year. I had been happy with my 12lb Pro (Carp) for a lot of the time; but as time progressed and I found that I had to fish more [...]
After the loss of a decent fish during mid summer, I was keen to continue on the lake as much as my time would allow. The big one in the lake had come out in early June, and by now we were into August, and I felt that it could well be out again at [...]
Rig mechanics is a simple subject really! You don’t have to be an astrophysicist or brain surgeon to tie a rig that will catch a carp! After all, through a simple process of experimentation and tinkering it’s easily possible to create rigs that will adequately perform specific tasks in relation to how they sit on [...]
October has been a terrible month for me! Probably my worst ever for fish captures in all the years I’ve been fishing, with only a couple of losses to show for my troubles. With winter just around the corner I decided to change to my cold water venue, with a change came renewed confidence, and [...]
Experience: 28 years as a carp angler fishing a number of difficult venues Favourite lake: Longfield Road Lake All-time best bait…Essential B5 My number one rig is…Hinged stiff rig with 16mm pop up Weirdest thing you’ve seen a carp do? Play head tennis with free baits before deciding they were safe. Is there such a [...]
I started my last session on the southern syndicate in a swim that I had never fished before, having always shied from fishing it as it is such an awkward swim to fish from. Nevertheless, I’d always thought it would be a good spot to angle. Having got down to the lake just before dark [...]
On my second session I continued to get amongst the fish. I’d popped down for a quick overnighter and using the same tactics managed four mid-doubles and two tench. This time Meteor cork dust ‘wafters’ did the business on a rig incorporating 15lb brown Sink Skin and a size 8 Covert Mugga hook. The fish [...]
On Sunday the 27th of October l made a last minute decision to head to my local water for a quick overnight session. I had a good feeling that the biggest fish in the lake, known as Seven Scales was going to come out. She normally makes an appearance at this time of year and [...]
After a gruelling three months of concentrating most of my efforts on a river campaign, I have managed to fit in three short overnighters on my syndicate water. These have been short twelve hour sessions, which have led to some good results using a range of Gardner terminal tackle, CC Moore baits, good old trusty [...]
Last week I had a call from my mate Chris ‘Tinca’ Taylor, asking if I fancied a couple of days piking on Chew Valley Reservoir. Chris has offered me a place several times over the last few years and I have had to turn him down due to work pressure. This time was going to [...]
A lot of my angling involves short productive sessions after work or at weekends on waters, that truth be known, are not that hard due to stocking levels as long as you get your location right and present a bait they want to eat in a manner that the fish will find acceptable. Typically, these [...]
I have been having some very good success during the last month whilst predator fishing on the River Thames in my boat. I love the autumn on the Thames for perch fishing and my favoured style to target the species is to trot with sliding float tackle and a small live bait on the hook. [...]
There is one rig that I have found extremely successful when targeting perch on both still and running water and that’s a simple float paternoster rig. Being simple in design (as are many of my rigs) I hope you will be able to get as much pleasure from it as I have. I recommend a [...]
With the warm and rather late summer we seem to be having this year, I would imagine a lot of venues have suffered with bad weed problems of one sort or another. Certainly the waters I’ve fished have been particularly weedy and given me a little to think about in terms of both presentation and [...]
I favour a fairly simplistic approach when targeting barbel but by adding a few little tweaks and thought, simple rigs can help trick even the biggest and wariest of fish. All of my barbel fishing revolves around using a running lead set-up, with the idea of keeping as much of the line around the rig [...]
I’ve just come back from a 48 hour session on Linear Fisheries Hardwick and Smiths. I started the session by having a good look around and with there only being one angler on the whole lake, I was spoilt for choice. I had a good look around Smiths Pool and saw very little activity in [...]
I started a 72 hour session on the Small Lake, which I hadn't fished it in a while. I set-up in a swim called gravelly, an area I have great confidence as I have yet to blank in it. I had feel around with a bare 3oz distance lead on my spod rod to find [...]
I love all types of carp angling, the sport is so diverse, but I especially like the lakes that are generally over-looked because they are low stocked, with an unknown quantity of carp and difficult to fish due to topography and lake bed make up; for example weed and deep silt! Also getting to swims [...]
Small Changes That Make A BIG Difference by Tom Oliver I recently had a week booked off work and had planned a trip to my southern syndicate lake with the hope of getting amongst some of the larger residents as well as filming a few pieces for Gardner Tackle. I arrived at the lake on [...]
Hi, I’m John Holloway. I work as an agent for Gardner Tackle, Richworth Baits and a small wholesaler. I’m your average weekend angler (trying to be a good one) and have my highs and lows for success. Most of my customers have become pals over the years. Last April I was on a call to [...]
