Press Release
Greys are pleased to announce the launch of their brand new and exciting Predator fishing catalogue. With the aim of revolutionising predator fishing, Greys are proud to bring you this 27 page consumer catalogue from the Alnwick-based fishing tackle manufacturer.
Featuring an array of 90+ exciting new products under the name Prowla, each product in the range has undergone comprehensive research and testing across Europe by specialist predator anglers.
With rods in mind, the Platinum models are the flagship of the range and include the Platinum Lure/Spin rods. Four rods compose this range, all completed with a well balanced blank and smooth fast action for great casting distance and safe fish playing.
The Platinum Drop Shot and Vertical Jigging rods have been designed to make the best use of the latest lure techniques, featuring an exclusive Greys D-Tecta reel seat that enables the user to trap braided line directly against the blank. This enhances the feel you experience when a fish takes. All models have the perfect sensitive tip actions required to inject life into lures.
The Greys Platinum Bait and Boat rods offer fantastic versatility and are designed with progressive through actions. They are powerful enough to set hooks at distance yet absorb close range lunges with ease.
All Platinum Jerk Bait rods have sensitive tip actions, essential for working lures of all types. The range consists of 5 models, in various lengths and casting weights, covering every fishing situation you might encounter.
In the Luggage category, the new Prowla luggage has been created with organisation in mind. Items in the range include the Specimen Quiver, Coolstyle Bait Bag, Trace Tube and Tool Roll – each designed to help you fish more efficiently.
Greys also present their first line of terminal tackle including everything a predator angler would need. Along with these items, Greys have developed a range of accompanying tools.
Category Manager, Andy Charlton said “The Prowla range offers everything that a predator angler would expect from a quality brand and Greys are proud and excited about its launch.
“We have developed over 90 products for the launch, and with many more on the way we are looking forward to seeing the ongoing success of the range.”
Tackle Preview
Just before my trip to Ireland I bought quite a few bits and bobs from the local tackle shop and the name that leapt out at me from his stocks of predator gear was – Prowla. This is Greys range name for all of it’s predator equipment be that rods or traces and all the tools and materials and most come in a very distinctive red and black packaging.
The stuff I bought was really to do some deadbait fishing (livebaits are banned in Ireland), but this is a style I haven’t done for a good few years now. Luckily things haven’t changed that much, we still make traces up in pretty much the same way, but the items to do it with have come on quite a bit. I managed at the time to have the nouse to sort out as much as I needed, but I was very interested when Greys sent me the above Press Release.
The new catalogues does look very nice indeed and well laid out with plenty of advice and illustrations to help explain the purpose of the various components. That really is the most helpful bit.
I do have a Prowla 10’ 6” Boat rod that I took with me to Ireland as well and I’ll do a review of that in due course. I like it so much I’m now considering buying either another to match it or the slightly longer bait rod, but for now, let me take you through some of the smaller items that you might want to try out this winter.
The Fledger Boom.
Once you worked out what this does, there is a diagram on the back of all the packets, it is quite a clever two piece contraption. One part sits on the bottom and the foam bit then floats up where your line passes through and into a longer tube at the end of which is your trace with snap tackle. It’s all intended to keep everything from tangling up.
Quick Change In Line Sinkers
These in-line sinkers allow you to swap weights without the needed for breaking your line. There are 4 different weight sets available, to balance all the Prowla floats, each coming fitted with easy release quick-change stems. Also included are soft rubber adaptors allowing you to push the sinker onto a swivel giving a semi-fixed presentation.
Anti Tangle Tube Sinker
Prowla Anti-Tangle Tube Sinkers can be fished with a float rig or on a straight ledger. Simply thread your main line through the tube, tie on your trace and pull the trace swivel into the rubber tube. This gives a semi-fixed weight and helps to prevent over wraps and tangles when fishing in deep water. The tube sinker offers the same quick-change ability working in exactly the same manner as Prowla Quick Change In-Line Sinkers.
So good were these when I used one in Ireland that I even thought of barbel, it’s the way they sit on the bottom that I like along with the anti-tangle boom-like properties. Perhaps a slightly more refined tube for barbel though?
Trace Wire
This wire is available as 7 or 49 strand in stainless steel. Gravel brown in colour and available in a low diameter 30lb breaking strain, the wire is easily twisted or crimped when making your own traces. It is extremely durable and copes perfectly with all aspects of predator fishing. However, I like a coated material and sometimes a stronger one for lure traces and I’ve mentioned this to Greys already, I hope something is done.
Treble Sleeves
Prowla Treble Sleeves (pictured right) are available to fit the most common treble hook sizes (8, 6, and 4) used for predators and come in black or red, the red providing an additional attractor at the hook. They are manufactured from soft rubber and can be slid onto the shank of the treble hook, encasing the twisted wire of the trace and keeping everything neat and tidy. I’ll show how to use these later in a separate article on making snap traces.
Crimp Cover Large (Black) or small (Black or Red)
The larger of the 2 Prowla Crimp Covers has been designed and manufactured with an inner stepped bore giving 3 internal diameters to perfectly encase the wire, crimp, and barrel of the swivel. This creates a mini-boom effect when used at the top of a trace to prevent tangles during casting. It also improves trace presentation whilst fishing and prevents debris and weed from attaching itself to the trace. The covers is already much in use in carp fishing, but it’s a very welcome addition for pike anglers.
The smaller size of crimp cover has 2 internal bore diameters and should be slid down to the bottom treble hook, covering the crimp and keeping the trace neat and tidy. It should be left resting on the eye of the treble to allow hook movement so as not to impede hooking potential, but can be slid down onto the shank if required. Now this is neat and the red coloured ones add a further attraction and target area for pike in many waters.
Troll Grip Float
The Prowla Troll Grip float has been designed to allow you to fish baits in fast flowing rivers, or behind a boat. The bent inner tube grips your line and prevents the float from being pushed towards the trace by the current if you hold back when ‘trotting’ a swim, this would normally cause your bait to be raised upwards from the set fishing depth. The floats are available in 4 sizes, each of which can be perfectly balanced with one of the quick change In-Line Sinkers.
Dead Bait Pop Up Float
Unlike conventional floater sticks which are made from balsa wood and need to be forced into your dead bait, Prowla’s Dead Bait Pop-Up Floats feature a threaded point enabling you to easily screw them into thawed or even semi-frozen baits, allowing you to change presentation and critically balance your dead baits. They must be attached to your trace with wire to avoid loss (see diagram), and are available in small or medium sizes to work with baits up to 3oz and 6oz respectively.
Pop Up Pears
These are perfect for lifting, or critically balancing your baits, and act as a visual striking point to a predator. The eye of the stem should be attached to a length of Prowla 7 Strand Wire and pulled through your fish dead bait using a baiting needle, so that the foam pear sits in the bait’s mouth. Attach the opposite end of the wire to your main line to avoid loss when playing a fish. I took some of these to Ireland too, but never really got to try them. The idea is different to the more usual pop-up sticks, though.
Supa Sight Dart
The Supa Sight Dart is ultra buoyant and has visibility where you need it – just above the water. It can be seen at long range even in rough and wild water. Thread your main line through the eye of the swivel, which prevents line twist if the float spins when it’s windy, and set your required fishing depth using a sliding stop knot and bead. Supa Sight Darts are available in 3 sizes each of which can be perfectly balanced with one of Prowla’s quick change In-Line Sinkers.
These are just some of the items I have and have used so far. It is just a small selection of the many different items in the catalogue and available at most Prowla tackle dealers. In time we’ll do some fuller tests and I’ll also show you how to make up those lure traces and snap tackle traces should you wish to make your own. Yes, you can also buy them ready made up from Prowla and though I don’t wish to do Greys out of any profits, there’s a certain satisfaction acquired from making up your own.
The Greys Prowla Fishing catalogue is available from your local dealer or as a download from www.greysfishing.com
