In reply to Post #1
Hi Luke.
NGT has been slated here so just for balance I've had their medium carryall for several years now with zero issues. Possibly not quite so well built as my sonik stuff but it does the job and it's a lot cheaper.
Seriously consider Okuma reels or Penn if you want to spend a little more.
I've never found a secondhand reel I've been totally happy with, so I would suggest you avoid secondhand unless you are very sure what you are looking at.
Perhaps do some days first to avoid buying the camping gear until you are certain which way you want to go.
Hi Luke.
NGT has been slated here so just for balance I've had their medium carryall for several years now with zero issues. Possibly not quite so well built as my sonik stuff but it does the job and it's a lot cheaper.
Seriously consider Okuma reels or Penn if you want to spend a little more.
I've never found a secondhand reel I've been totally happy with, so I would suggest you avoid secondhand unless you are very sure what you are looking at.
Perhaps do some days first to avoid buying the camping gear until you are certain which way you want to go.
In reply to Post #1
I've recently decided to start again after 6 years or so away, luckily I kept most of my gear apart from rods and a few other bits, I've just bought the blackwidow G50, haven't used them in anger yet but first impressions for the price seems good, I think I payed around 108 quid for all 3 but there was 15% discount too at the time. Think it was total fishing tackle I got mine from
I've recently decided to start again after 6 years or so away, luckily I kept most of my gear apart from rods and a few other bits, I've just bought the blackwidow G50, haven't used them in anger yet but first impressions for the price seems good, I think I payed around 108 quid for all 3 but there was 15% discount too at the time. Think it was total fishing tackle I got mine from
In reply to Post #1
Hi there, just thought I'd add my two penny worth. I had 3 hand built rods on Harrison blanks and Shimano big bait runners but lost them when the rod bag saw fit to fall off my van on the M25. Replaced with Sonik Vader X rods and reels to get fishing quickly. The reels were good enough to catch 50s 60s and a 75lb leather from a lake in France and were not bad for the money but the clips and washers etc. were not up to the job long term. The rods however are, I think, terrific value for money. I replaced the reels with shimanos but am absolutely happy with the rods and will not upgrade to more expensive ones. I'm also a believer in Fox alarms. I have 6 of them and have had no trouble whatsoever for years. So, my advice would be new Sonik rods, and second hand Shimano reels with a second hand set of Fox nxr alarms with receiver.
Happy hunting.
Hi there, just thought I'd add my two penny worth. I had 3 hand built rods on Harrison blanks and Shimano big bait runners but lost them when the rod bag saw fit to fall off my van on the M25. Replaced with Sonik Vader X rods and reels to get fishing quickly. The reels were good enough to catch 50s 60s and a 75lb leather from a lake in France and were not bad for the money but the clips and washers etc. were not up to the job long term. The rods however are, I think, terrific value for money. I replaced the reels with shimanos but am absolutely happy with the rods and will not upgrade to more expensive ones. I'm also a believer in Fox alarms. I have 6 of them and have had no trouble whatsoever for years. So, my advice would be new Sonik rods, and second hand Shimano reels with a second hand set of Fox nxr alarms with receiver.
Happy hunting.
In reply to Post #17
Not much has changed in 6 years, rods have got shorter , carp have got bigger , and tackle shops staff are all in red, baiting poles are getting longer, and we can now see the carp farting from the comfort of our living room, never had it so good.
Not much has changed in 6 years, rods have got shorter , carp have got bigger , and tackle shops staff are all in red, baiting poles are getting longer, and we can now see the carp farting from the comfort of our living room, never had it so good.
Been doing a little research taking on all your advice.
Found someone local to me selling 3x Sonik Vader X RS 12ft 3lb TC for £90 (for all 3)
Also found another fella willing to post 2x Shimano ST 10000 RB reels for £80
Both rods and reels look in very good condition, are these good deals?
Found someone local to me selling 3x Sonik Vader X RS 12ft 3lb TC for £90 (for all 3)
Also found another fella willing to post 2x Shimano ST 10000 RB reels for £80
Both rods and reels look in very good condition, are these good deals?
In reply to Post #21
My starter carp reels for getting back into carp fishing were very similar shimanos. Personally think the baitrunner is a great feature for someone who is new to carp fishing.
My starter carp reels for getting back into carp fishing were very similar shimanos. Personally think the baitrunner is a great feature for someone who is new to carp fishing.
In reply to Post #21
be careful buying S/Hand by post
DO NOT PAY BY BANK TRANSFER OR PAYPAL FRIENDS AND FAMILY unless you really know the person as you will get scammed and you cant get your money back
you can pay by normal paypal and if the goods dont arrive get your money back but thats the only way
be careful buying S/Hand by post
DO NOT PAY BY BANK TRANSFER OR PAYPAL FRIENDS AND FAMILY unless you really know the person as you will get scammed and you cant get your money back
you can pay by normal paypal and if the goods dont arrive get your money back but thats the only way
In reply to Post #23
I think I'm going to be collecting most of it, like you say, bit skeptical with postage of second hand stuff.
What would be your main problems to look out for with tackle?
I think I'm going to be collecting most of it, like you say, bit skeptical with postage of second hand stuff.
What would be your main problems to look out for with tackle?
In reply to Post #21
If he's local to you pick them up have a good inspection deal sounds good
Make sure check all rings have not been damaged and there's a gap on the spigot
And that clutch and baitrunner all work
The most important thing is never drive far to collect tackle as you will have to buy it to justify to yourself the journey buy local and never be frightened if not happy to walk away
If he's local to you pick them up have a good inspection deal sounds good
Make sure check all rings have not been damaged and there's a gap on the spigot
And that clutch and baitrunner all work
The most important thing is never drive far to collect tackle as you will have to buy it to justify to yourself the journey buy local and never be frightened if not happy to walk away
In reply to Post #24
Reels could look nice feel OK quack like a duck, but the insides could be worn out
Reels could look nice feel OK quack like a duck, but the insides could be worn out
In reply to Post #26
Could be a lot of things might be hardly used like new same as anything buy a car a house might be problems or anything that's the gamble of buying second hand
Could be a lot of things might be hardly used like new same as anything buy a car a house might be problems or anything that's the gamble of buying second hand
Another vote for Sonik rods - I've got Xtractors in 8ft and 10ft and they've been great.
I agree that the Sonik reels aren't up there with high-end Shimmys or Daiwas, but they're more than good enough. I've had a pair of the gold-spooled 5000 sized reels for a year now, and they've been really good in the UK and in France - definitely not dodgy, bargain-bucket reels. I'd say they're great value.
On NGT...I can't agree with all the slating on here, but I think you've got to be selective. My son has a pair of their 4-piece Profiler rods matched with their small, Nash Scope-clone Profiler reels, and for the money they're absolutely fantastic. The action of the 4-piece rods is really impressive, and the reels are great quality and outstanding value...and if they satisfy a tackle tart like my son, they must look okay as well.
On another note, if it's new rather than second-hand that you want and you're not bothered by brand, have a look at the Ultimate kit on the fishdeal.uk website. I've just taken a punt on their 10ft extendable rods and mini big-pit reels as a cheap birthday upgrade for my son, and they're very good indeed. Very similar quality, and probably slightly better value, than the Sonik kit. The wider Ultimate range is, I suspect, similarly good value for money.
Edit: definitely agree on Fox alarms, I've used them for years, but my son's Prologic alarms are really good at a fraction of the price. I think they've got a far larger following in Europe than here.
I agree that the Sonik reels aren't up there with high-end Shimmys or Daiwas, but they're more than good enough. I've had a pair of the gold-spooled 5000 sized reels for a year now, and they've been really good in the UK and in France - definitely not dodgy, bargain-bucket reels. I'd say they're great value.
On NGT...I can't agree with all the slating on here, but I think you've got to be selective. My son has a pair of their 4-piece Profiler rods matched with their small, Nash Scope-clone Profiler reels, and for the money they're absolutely fantastic. The action of the 4-piece rods is really impressive, and the reels are great quality and outstanding value...and if they satisfy a tackle tart like my son, they must look okay as well.
On another note, if it's new rather than second-hand that you want and you're not bothered by brand, have a look at the Ultimate kit on the fishdeal.uk website. I've just taken a punt on their 10ft extendable rods and mini big-pit reels as a cheap birthday upgrade for my son, and they're very good indeed. Very similar quality, and probably slightly better value, than the Sonik kit. The wider Ultimate range is, I suspect, similarly good value for money.
Edit: definitely agree on Fox alarms, I've used them for years, but my son's Prologic alarms are really good at a fraction of the price. I think they've got a far larger following in Europe than here.
In reply to Post #26
Vv true, I had/have a thing for the old baitrunners, the gtes and suchlike, for barbel and tench fishing mostly, you just can't tell until they are in use, been caught more than once, and the old 'they just need a good service ' has been another waste of money for me.
Vv true, I had/have a thing for the old baitrunners, the gtes and suchlike, for barbel and tench fishing mostly, you just can't tell until they are in use, been caught more than once, and the old 'they just need a good service ' has been another waste of money for me.
In reply to Post #28
but my son's Prologic alarms are really good at a fraction of the price. I think they've got a far larger following in Europe than here.
Yes thats very true !!
sadly in the UK far to many people think as they are so cheap and the earlier versions were not so good these Prologic Bat3 Plus cant be a good alternative to Fox or Delkim but in reality they are superb
whats that saying ? you can lead a horse to water but you cant make him drink
but my son's Prologic alarms are really good at a fraction of the price. I think they've got a far larger following in Europe than here.
Yes thats very true !!
sadly in the UK far to many people think as they are so cheap and the earlier versions were not so good these Prologic Bat3 Plus cant be a good alternative to Fox or Delkim but in reality they are superb
whats that saying ? you can lead a horse to water but you cant make him drink