I tend to make my food up in advance, freeze it in single portions and then get them as I need them. However, on several occasions I have been short of grub and have used these instead. They’re surprisingly good quality and pretty tasty – much better, in fact, than most ready meals. The Chicken Tikka Masala is a particular favourite, and the meat actually tastes like chicken too! My only gripe would be that the portions are a bit on the small side, but they’re probably perfect for people with average appetites, unlike me.
Although coated hook links do not feature heavily in my fishing, I quite like this one over the period that I’ve played around with it. As the name suggests, it is very easy to strip the coating away from the inner braid, which is both supple and colour-matched to the outer. In all, I like this stuff, especially the green 25lb version, a spool of which I have retained for future use!Marc Coulson RRP: £11. 99Website: www.
The combination of the Climatex outer shell and Thermatex inner lining means that the jacket retains heat when needed and is breathable too. Because of this, it suits my needs on mild winter days and through to cool summer nights, as opposed to dedicated winter jackets, which are too warm for most of the year. I really like the fact that, as well as being breathable, for a relatively thin and lightweight jacket it also shields well against chilly winds. The collar is nice and high when fully zipped up, which protects the neck area from similar draughts.
I’ve long been a user of Muddy Waters gear and must declare at this point that I am a massive fan. Muddy’s were the first indicators that I saw featuring a clip specifically designed to aid slack-line fishing. They work perfectly well in all circumstances, but Muddy’s Kipper Clip was designed to actually grip the line and show the tiniest movement in the line, no matter how slack. Many companies have copied these but they’re yet to be improved on, in my opinion.
An assortment of nutritional pellets in different sizes, shapes, flavours and colours. RRP: 3kg £7; 10kg £21. 99Contact: 01202 487922 or www. kentparticles.
Black boilies containing fermented shrimp, pre-digested fish protein, micro sea snails and ‘Ninja’ additive. RRP: £6. 99 per kiloContact: 01491 834911 or www. blakesbaits.
Soft, fluorescent, hookable pellets, available in all the Nash Bait flavours and a range of colours. 40g tubs. RRP: £1. 99 per tubContact: 01702 233232 or www.
High-leakage hook baits, available in various flavour combinations in 12mm, 16mm and as dumbell wafters. RRP: £5. 99Contact: 01430 448322 or www. stickybaits.