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1 week ago | 
anglingtimes.co.uk | Jonathan Longden
The 'Lift Method' is a perfect way top catch big fish on the float. A float slowly rising from the water can be mesmerising. A calm, purposeful lift that clearly says fish on, with total certainty. Thats the lift method, one of the most elegant and effective ways to fish in the margins.
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2 weeks ago | 
anglingtimes.co.uk | Jonathan Longden
These tips will help you catch more from your local snake lake!At first glance, a snake lake doesn’t look like much. They're narrow, and can feel like there is little room, but underestimate it at your peril. These canal like venues, often no more than 11 to 16 metres across, initially designed for matches, are seriously productive in summer. Get things right, and you’ll be hauling from the first put-in to the last.
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2 weeks ago | 
anglingtimes.co.uk | Jonathan Longden
This simple guide will help you choose the perfect carp rod... With a sea of carp rods on the market all claiming to be the next best thing since sliced bread. Carbon this, shrink-wrap that, 50mm butt guides and laser-etched reel seats, it’s enough to make your head spin, especially if you’re just starting out. But really, choosing the best carp rod for beginners isn’t that complicated when you break it down.
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2 weeks ago | 
anglingtimes.co.uk | Jonathan Longden
We explain the differences in rod actions in this simple and helpful guideEver wondered why some rods bend to the butt and others feel like broom handles with a reel seat? That’s the rod action, not some jargon, or marketing, but the actual way the carbon responds under pressure. It’s what gives a rod its character. Understanding it, isn’t just for tackle tarts or gear geeks, it’s the first step to picking the right tool for the job.
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3 weeks ago | 
anglingtimes.co.uk | Jonathan Longden
Let’s be honest, tying spade end hooks by hand can be a right fiddle. Get it wrong and you’ve either kinked your hooklength or left a weak spot that’s bound to let go when it matters most. That’s where the the humble hook tyer comes in. The matchman hook tyer is a pocket-sized gadget that brings consistency, neatness and speed to your prep, and once you’ve nailed the process, you’ll wonder how you ever got by without it.
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4 weeks ago | 
anglingtimes.co.uk | Jonathan Longden
Learn how to create perfect uniform loops every time!When it comes to tying pole rigs and hooklengths, a consistent loop isn’t just for show, it plays a crucial part in performance, presentation and reliability of the rig. That’s where the humble looptyer come in. It’s one of the simplest gadgets in the tackle box, yet once you’ve used one properly, you’ll wonder how you ever managed without it. No more guesswork, no more loops that slip or end up different sizes.
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4 weeks ago | 
anglingtimes.co.uk | Jonathan Longden
This helpful guide will ensure you always choose the right fishing hook... Not all hooks are created equal. In fact, choosing the right hook pattern is one of the most important things you can do as an angler. Get it right, and everything just works. Get it wrong, and you’re left wondering why your beautifully presented bait is getting about as much attention as a wet sandwich. It’s a detail beginners often overlook, balancing the right hook and bait choice for your target species.
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1 month ago | 
anglingtimes.co.uk | Jonathan Longden
This is the best way to attach a bait band to a hair rig!Some knots are essential to learn how to tie, and the knotless knot with a bait band is one of them. Whether you're fishing shallow for F1s or chucking a Method to the horizon, this simple knot puts the bait exactly where you want it, right below the point, hanging naturally, in the perfect position to hook fish. But there’s a right way and a wrong way to tie one, and it all starts with the bait band.
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1 month ago | 
anglingtimes.co.uk | Jonathan Longden
These excellent rods will help you catch more carp off the surface!There’s something incredibly exciting about catching carp off the surface. As soon as the weather warms up, using floaters becomes incredibly effective for carp and seeing those lips break the surface to slurp down a mixer is about as excited as fishing can get! A few hours after work, a handful of floaters, and a bit of stealth is often all it takes to put a bend in the rod.
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1 month ago | 
anglingtimes.co.uk | Jonathan Longden
Learn how to tie the incredibly effective helicopter feeder rig. Sleek, tangle-free, and built for performance, there are few rigs that match the helicopter when it comes to fishing over silt, weed, or debris-strewn bottoms. Whether you're after bream, tench, roach, or carp, this clever setup gives you a serious edge when bites are hard to come by and presentation matters the most. OUR EXPERT PICKS OF THE BEST SPECIMEN RODS ARE IDEAL FOR FISHING A HELICOPTER RIG.
