When it comes to terminal tackle in carp fishing, there is a lot of choice out there and rarely does a new range spark as much interest as this brand have recently! Wayne Box looks at a new range of terminal tackle and offers his honest opinion on their products!
CYGNET TERMINAL TACKLE
In case you have been hiding under a rock recently, Cygnet Tackle have launched a brand-new range of terminal tackle and I must say, I love it!
Cygnet Tackle are part of Cipher International, a family of companies that include Trakker, Frenzee and Aqua Products. All names that are synonymous with quality and highly sought after in the carp, specialist, and match worlds, so we were expecting big things from the Cygnet terminal tackle range, and I have to say, first impressions are extremely positive.
I have enlisted the help of Cygnet Tackle’s James McQueen who has caught carp to well over 50lb in the UK, he is going to give us his top three items in the Cygnet end tackle range and offer up some tips and tricks that might help you put a few more carp on the bank as well!
Thanks James, what is the first of the Cygnet products that you cannot live without when on the bank?
I would have to say the Cygnet range of leads. I have bounced between various lead companies, but I have never been able to get all the different types of leads that I need from one place. Cygnet have got their heads together and come up with all the popular lead types in all the right sizes and to cover all angling situations. The inline QC leads are unbelievable for solid bag fishing.
A top tip for everyone is to seperate your leads by the shape and intended use of the lead, rather than by the weight. I keep all my Square Pear QC inline leads in one small pouch, all my distance swivel leads in another small pouch, all my other leads are separated in the same fashion, and I leave most of them in my van, only taking a handful for the situation I’m faced with when fishing. It saves me carting round kilos and kilos of leads that I will probably never use. If I do need to change things up, I can nip back to the van and get what I need!
James, give us another product that you think our customers need to look at.
For me it must be the Cygnet Curve Shank hooks, they are a chemically sharpened, straight point, curve pattern that are razor sharp straight out of the packet! They are made from forged XC 80 Vanadium strong steel, and they are straight as an arrow and as strong as the bow that fired it! They are available in barbed and barbless patterns, in sizes 2, 4 6 and 8. Out and out confidence in a packet!
The Curve Shank Hooks have been phenomenal, and the feedback has been so positive, the team at Cygnet have knocked it out of the park with these hooks and these are all I use now for 99% of my fishing.
A good tip for everyone is to not be afraid to use a big hook! I see a lot of people still using size 8 hooks when fishing for big carp and although they will work, I feel so much more confident with a size 4 on the end! It is about balancing your terminal tackle and rigs. If you want to use a 10mm pop up then sure, a size 6 is better but where I can, I will always use a bigger hook. They go in and stay in!
That’s a great bit of advice! I think we are all guilty of taking too many leads, I know I am! Ok James, so let’s have your third item in the terminal tackle range that you cannot live without!
This is so hard! Ok, I’ll go with the Cygnet Mono Reel Line because it was such a big surprise as to just how good a product it is! I am mega fussy with the line I use for my reels, and I never thought I would deviate away from the brand I used to use. I was encouraged to give the Cygnet mono a go and I have never looked back. I will be honest and say that I do use a pure fluorocarbon for some situations but for 90% of my fishing, be that at 150 yards or 50 yards I am well happy with the Cygnet Mono. I have it spooled up in 12lb with one of the Cygnet snag leaders as well for all my distance work to far margins, and I have it in 18lb for my general fishing up to 100 -110 yards range.
It casts so well and sinks like a brick, the two things I really need from my main line. I have fished it over bars encrusted with mussels and in heavy weed, and it has never let me down. I just love it.
James thanks so much for your input, some great bits of advice there and we look forward to seeing your next big carp on the bank! You can follow James on Instagram @jamesmc_essential or on Facebook just search for Jamesmc_essential Carp Angler as he embarks on a new campaign this year targeting a UK 40lb park life carp!
You can check out the rest of the Cygnet range on our website and don’t forget to give them a follow on social media too!