It started with a forum thread about travelling light and then progressed to a new thread here: ‘Travelling Light – Carbon Banksticks’ when Stuart Bullard told us about a product being sold by his local tackle shop, A & I Fishing Tackle in Orpington, Kent.
I’d never heard of carbon banksticks, and judging by the reaction of some of my pals and the other comments on the forum, neither had many other anglers.
Expense apart, they are one of those products that make you wonder why someone hasn’t made and marketed them before.
Right, so what do I look for in a bankstick?:
- Strength
- Rigidity
- Lightness
- Simple and easy extending
- Solid locking off at the right length with a locking device that doesn’t bring tears to your eyes in cold and wet weather.
- A thread that is neither too tight nor too slack
- A point that is sharp(ish) and doesn’t crumple up the minute it hits stone
- Unobtrusive – no shine or bright bits that could frighten fish.
These bank sticks have the lot. No kidding, they ‘re great. The longest one weighs just 2 1/2 oz and I’ve really tried hard to break one, to the point where it was getting stupid, and that’s where I gave up. Okay, if you hit them with a sledge hammer they would probably shatter, but I don’t know anybody who would want to do that.
They are very well made and I can’t find fault with them. Pricey, but you definitely get what you pay for in this case.
They’re a must for the roving angler where the weight-saving is immense.
They come in two sizes, 18 1/2 ins (46cm) and 14ins (35cm) and cost respectively £ 20.00 and £ 18.00.
Available only from:
A & I Fishing Tackle
33 High Street
Orpington
Kent
BR6 6BG
Tel: 01689 862302
Fax: 01689 856294
Email: service@aandifishingtackle.com
Website: www.aandifishingtackle.com
More carbon products from A & I will be reviewed shortly.
A & I Fishing Tackle sell a full range of tackle, including rods, reels, etc, all of which can be purchased mail order.
