The Carp Spirit Blax Low Chair comes under the beady eye of Angler’s Mail tackle editor Richard Howard. He’s the No.1 product inspector, checking out loads of quality kit every week. Description: fishing chair. Specifications: powder-coated steel frame; four fully adjustable legs with auto-lock adjustment; four swivelling mudfeet; foam-covered mattress; weighs 3.9 kg. Dimensions: 50 cm width, seat height can be adjusted from 33-43 cm. My verdict: whether you’re fishing the whole day or just an evening, I expect this value-for-money chair will sell well. Light, portable and with four ad ..read more

The Sonik Insurgent Carp Rods come under the beady eye of Angler’s Mail tackle editor Richard Howard. He’s the No.1 product inspector, checking out loads of quality kit every week. Description: carp rods with a retractable butt section. Specifications: 9 ft (2.75 lb and 3 lb) and 10 ft (3 lb, 3.25 lb and 3.5 lb) models; 9 ft rods pack down to 44 in., 10 ft to 50 in.; Toray high-modulus carbon blank; lite-ply, 1K-armoured carbon weave throughout; super-light M-Series DL black guides; anti-frap tip guide; 18 mm Fuji DPS reel seat; slim Japanese shrink handle; anodised, laser-etched butt ca ..read more

ROSS FARNES kept away from the pressurised area of the lake – and was rewarded with this 50 lb 2 oz mirror carp. Ross caught the biggest in the lake at Elphicks Fisheries.The 36-year-old told Angler’s Mail how he enjoyed big carp success at Elphicks Fisheries in Kent. “I had a quick chat with the bailiff, who said a few good fish had been out over the weekend from the deeper part of the North Lake,” said Ross. “When I got to the lake I found five anglers fishing this area, so after a quick walk round and a check of the weather forecast, I decided to jump in a swim between two islands. It was ..read more

TRIBUTES have been paid to the pioneer who helped the carp fishing bait industry become the huge enterprise it is today. Bob Baker caught many specimen fish, especially carp. This 85 lb giant was landed at Graviers in France.Boilie pioneer Bob Baker passed away aged in his early 70s, and there was huge praise for his achievements – and  the man himself. Bob and his wife, Eileen, owned Richworth for 34 years, after they bought out founders Clive Diedrich and Malcolm Winkworth. Bob took control of the firm in 1982, and put it under parent company Streamselect. It became the first company in th ..read more

The Dynamite Wowsers come under the beady eye of Angler’s Mail tackle editor Richard Howard. He’s the No.1 product inspector, checking out loads of quality kit every week. Description: highly visible, dumbbell-shaped hook baits. Specifications: 7 and 9 mm sizes; Purple, White, Pink and Orange colours; formulated with four ‘secret’ flavours. My verdict: in contrast to the washed-out Dynamite Washters, Wowsers are highly visibility in the water, aimed at attracting carp, F1s, tench and bream. You can mount these firm baits on a bait band, spike or hair-rig. Dynamite recommend matchin ..read more

The Carp Spirit Magnum Bedchairs come under the beady eye of Angler’s Mail tackle editor Richard Howard. He’s the No.1 product inspector, checking out loads of quality kit every week. Description: bedchairs. Specifications: Magnum Air-Line comes with a self-inflating mattress with locking valve; Magnum has hollowfibre filling; Standard size measures 210 x 85 x 33.43 cm; XL 220 x 105 x 37.47 cm; fold-flat frames; low-profile neoprene pillow; lightweight aluminium frames; strap and buckle for secure transportation; fully adjustable legs with auto-lock adjustment; 360-degree, articulated mu ..read more

CARP ace Craig McEvoy is in the form of his life, landing his seventh UK 50 in 11 months, this PB 58 lb 8 oz mirror. Craig McEvoy displays Sweet Cheeks – the highlight of another fantastic carp fishing session.Named Sweet Cheeks, the giant carp was the highlight of another epic session for the 40-year-old operations manager. Craig also landed other mirrors of 44 lb 4 oz, 44 lb 2 oz and 42 lb 12 oz from Shropshire’s The Avenue. “It was hair-raising at times in a mega storm, but worth it,” said Craig, from Wednesbury, West Midlands. “It’s crazy that it’s February, and to have a 100 lb brace in ..read more

A ROGUE has ended up with a whopping £1,723 penalty after being caught by an Environment Agency fisheries enforcement officer, aided by a member of the Angling Trust’s Voluntary Bailiff Service. Catching the rogues – the Voluntary Bailiff Service, along with EA and Police, are doing their best to make a difference.Rod licence dodger Nigel Hilden was convicted at Hastings Magistrates’ Court of the offences, after being caught at top Kent venue Hawkhurst Fish Farm. Hilden, 50, from Ashford, Kent, had pleaded not guilty to charges of unlicensed fishing and using threatening, abusive and insultin ..read more

The Kodex Titanium Flexi Bait Screws come under the beady eye of Angler’s Mail tackle editor Richard Howard. He’s the No.1 products inspector, checking out loads of quality kit every week. Description: bait screws. Specifications: lightweight titanium construction; matt black, non-reflective finish; 15 per pack. My verdict: you might find it easier to attach firm baits to a hook by using one of these bait screws, especially if you struggle to thread a bait stop through a small loop when securing baits with a hair. These are useful for attaching boilies, pop-ups and plastic baits, and I li ..read more

The Carp Spirit Zig-Master monofilament comes under the beady eye of Angler’s Mail tackle editor Richard Howard. He’s the No.1 products inspector, checking out loads of quality kit every week. Description: monofilament for zig and floater fishing. Specifications: available in 8 lb (0.23 mm), 10 lb (0.25 mm) and 12 lb (0.28 mm) breaking strains; low visibility; neutral buoyancy; low stretch; high knot strength. My verdict: zig or floater rigs often require long hook links, so I reckon it makes perfect sense to use a low-stretch line, as it will ensure that fish are hooked quickly. A line t ..read more