Best tackle buys

[Aknib]

Yep, on the back of Steve2's worst tackle buys thread what is your best tackle buy and why?

Was it an out and out bargain, maybe one you didn't necessarily want but saw an opportunity to sell it on at a gain or something you just liked the look of, or maybe an outdated work horse that's seen weathered years of service and repaid its cost many a time over?

I've had some bargains in my time and travelled through a phase of waving fourteen metres of very expensive carbon around whilst sat on an equally expensive match type seat box on a regular basis but my trusty wicker basket, which I acquired and renovated last year, is sitting pretty so far.

I've got others, including one which I hade made for me, but this one just fits the bill and, at the expense of a full set of Hardy Marksman luggage which has been gathering dust ever since, it hasn't left my side since on practically every session.

It's become my angling comfort blanket and epitomises everything to do with angling to me.

But then I've always been a bit weird like that

So, more a sentimental than practical undertone to mine but all are valid reasons, beauty is after all in the eye of the beholder.

How about you?

 

[sam vimes]

In terms of bargains, a Fox Kevlex Barbel. In terms of long term ownership and use, a couple of Daiwa Tom Pickering Matchwinner float rods.

 

[rob48]

Rive r-waggler 390
Shimano Ultegra 390R

 

[Mark Wintle]

A Normark Avenger 2000 has done well for me; I've owned it since 1998 and caught many big fish with it.

Some Nash holdalls, rod and bait, have also lasted over 30 years; looking a bit battered but still in use.

My aluminium landing net pole has had replacemebt thread in 1985 and screw collar in 1990 but still in use after 48 years despite being run over and bent by a horse...

 

[peterjg]

Mark Wintle, you reminded me of Trig - they don't make 'em like that anymore! I've had that broom for 25 years, new head and new handle ........

 

[108831]

A 12ft Normark titan 2000,purely a rod that is perfect in the hand and light enough to fence with holding the butt between thumb and forefinger,try holding your float rods thus as a test of lightness,lol. And my Brennan and Hickman rod holdall,something mentioned on another thread but a treasured item.....

Another item,which came out in conversation with my old mate Des Barker yesterday was the redicat,i didn't know that he used them(he cant now,hasn't got spares),but it turns out several of the guys we know from match fishing used them and had a big moan to angling reps(Des worked in a t.shop)to no avail,well I still use mine,I bought four frames(ebay),I got all the spare elastics, pouches and 'v' shaped pieces of plastic that hold the pouch open from my grandfather in law's tackle shop,these cattys never tangle and the pouch is always open to recieve bait,plus they dont hurt your hand if you inadvertently catch it.....brilliant.

 

[wetthrough]

Best buy by choice would be the Greys 10'6" although it was more by accident than choice. I needed a shorter ~11' rod that would fit in my rod bag! I just dropped lucky. The Stradic Ci4+RA comes into the same bracket, I use both regularly. Best buy in terms of cost, usefulness and longevity would be my tackle box which is just a Faithfull FAITB20 toolbox. I haven't regretted buying the JRC Stealth recliner chair. I've had several chairs over the years and it's definitely the best although I had to extend the legs as soon as I got it, too low.

 

[mikench]

KRe: Best tackle buys

All of them. I do like my Abu 501 and Normark Avenger. My Hardy Marksman Supero 11' feeder is also a favourite as it was a bargain price. It was a good price and then because the owner of the shop thought the bag and cordura tube had gone awol, he knocked a further £20 off. At the till the guy serving said he knew where they were and duly found them.

I have items bought by my kids which I will always treasure.

 

[flightliner]

Re: KRe: Best tackle buys

My Mitchell reels, particularly the matches that I enjoy using when stick float fishing.

 

[markcw]

Re: KRe: Best tackle buys

A job lot of tackle bought blind for cheap price,
I made my money back by selling one of the poles, then the rest that was sold made me a top 3 figure profit, I kept 6 main lots for myself, 11 interlastic topkits and spare long and short number 4 sections,and tourney cupping kit,. An unused new model tourney pro extension to take pole to 17.5 metres, a preston innovations 4000 reel..and 2 new preston speed pole rollers, Gave a couple of rods and reels away to people who had youngsters wanting better tackle..

 

[steve2]

Re: KRe: Best tackle buys

My Rapidex centre pin now over 50 years old and still in use.
Drennan 14ft Ultralight now 15 plus years old caught fish ranging form dace to double figure carp and Barbel on this rod. The last time I used this rod I used it for Tench fishing and caught Tench to around 6lbs.
My 7ft Shimano Beastmaster lure rod, it’s been my go to lure rod for over 10 years.
My bulk spools of line, still got enough for the next few years.

 

[Steve Arnold]

Re: KRe: Best tackle buys

I bought a Daiwa Phantom 12' match rod in a closing down sale close on 30 years ago. Went well with my little ABU 501 for roach and grayling. Still have them both but little used in recent years.

That outfit still feels right to me!

ABU 8000c bought 2nd hand, proper original Swedish built ABU. I have had plenty of boat and heavy shore casting multipliers but this is the only one I have kept!

North Western 12lb class carbon kevlar boat rod - absolute classic! Caught blue shark, many tope and some very good cod, pollack and coalfish off Plymouth.

Over 60 years fishing they are some of the very few items I have held on to. Remember selling quite a few rods and reels that I regret parting with now!

 

[S-Kippy]

Re: KRe: Best tackle buys

I'd be hard pressed to look beyond my pair of 11 foot Darent Valley 0.75lb tc. Not the greatest fittings in the world but a brilliant rod for the smaller species and unspeakably good value at around 45 nicker a pop. Best rods I've bought in a long, long time.

Of those still in use the DV's win hands down. For sheer longevity has to be my 13ft Daiwa GF53. Older than both my kids by a distance and still in use until a couple of years ago. Cost me £85 back in the day and that was an awful lot of money then. I liked it better than my Normark which was the other float rod I had at the time. Good pair though.

 

[chevin4]

Re: KRe: Best tackle buys

I would say my best buys have been various Harrison and Drennan rods. Particularly the Harrison Chimera 1 lovely action and very versatile and some old 2 25 Multi Carps which I got cheap from Leslie of Luton which are very forgiving and use them for short range tench fishing where there is a big head of 20lb carp.

The best of the Drennans have been the 12ft 10 Drx feeder and the original IM9 14ft. Bargains wise would be a pair of Fox Duo Specialists although the test curve is said to be .50 ? I have used them for float fishing for perch up to 3lb 12oz and even caught a double figure barbel on one whilst perch fishing.

I think they where about £59 each from Climax tackle.

 

[rayner]

Re: KRe: Best tackle buys

Tackle I've purchased since stopping fishing last October have been A MAP pellet waggler rod, Matrix accessory chair with the accessories I need, Diawa Ninja reel, with plenty of sundries.
I have no idea if the rod and reel is any good coz they've yet to be used. I hope they are what I need.
Best buys have to be Mitchell reels, still, in excellent working order, I have centre pins that were good buys at the time, haven't used them for over 20yrs with no chance of ever using them again.

 

[Keith M]

Re: KRe: Best tackle buys

I have lots of newer rods and reels that will eventually become classics I’m sure, but as far as older tackle that is still going strong and can still compete very favourable with them in my view are:

My old 13 ft Diawa Amorphous Whisker ‘Harrier’ Light Match rod (AMW13L) which I bought around 20 years ago. It’s balance is spot on for me and weighs only around 5oz.
It is still looking and performing like new, and I can cast a small waggler tight to the far bank of a canal with ease using it.
It compares very favourably to my 13 ft Drennan Acolyte Ultra float rod for light waggler fishing with light lines and hooklengths down to 8oz, and it’s blank is just as thin as my Acolyte Ultra despite of its age.

Another oldish rod that I have a soft spot for is my old 12ft 2lb Tc Diawa Powermesh Carp rod which I often use when I’m surface fishing for Carp together with one of my old Abu Cardinal 55 rear drag reels; which is also still going strong.

Keith

 

[steve2]

Re: KRe: Best tackle buys

Forgot to mention my 2 TFG Compact Carp Rods the most used pike rods I own.