A.C.E (Advanced Carp Equipment) Tackle

Review by Darren Wilson

A.C.E. was formed in August 2007 by Max Cottis & Stephen Tasker, both former Directors of Fox International who, between them have more than 45 years experience in the angling industry. Deciding to break away in the Summer of 2007 and put their extensive knowledge in the fishing industry to work for themselves, they set about developing a range of terminal tackle for carp anglers. Fifteen months later, after extensive work, not only designing and tooling the range but with thousands of hours testing their items on the bankside with a small trusted team of highly experienced anglers A.C.E launched their range of over 150 items to the tackle trade at the Tackle & Guns show this October.

Camo-Core Hooklink Material

Coated braid hooklink materials are having a vogue following at the moment, with more and more people using them as first choice for their angling. I like to keep a very open mind to the conditions in hand, so I am always happy to put a spool of a new or similar product from another manufacturer in my rig box just in case the other items I am carrying are not exactly what I want.

A.C.E. have launched their own coated hooklink material under the Camo-Core guise and it is on first impressions, very good indeed. The coating itself is of a multiple layered construction that is easily striped back using the company’s Strip-Ease tool or your thumbnail. Camo-Core is relatively supple though for a coated braid, but the coated section still leaves enough stiffness to make combi rigs effective without looping up off the deck.

Supplied on handy little spools which have a rubberised collar to stop the material from springing off in storage, Camo-Core is available in 3 breaking strains (15lb, 20lb & 25lb) and in 3 colours (Silt, Weed & Gravel). Each colour is broken up into multiple shades along the length of the material to give the camouflaged effect when in the water.

I am looking forward to getting out on the bank and putting the material through more rigorous testing.

Hard-On Leadcore Leaders

As a firm advocate of using leadcore leaders for as much of my fishing as I can, Ray thought it would be “best” (excuse the pun!) if I ran my beady eye over the ones that are in the A.C.E. repertoire.

Spliced Leadcore Leaders – Ready spliced leaders constructed from the Hard-On 45lb leadcore material with very neat spliced loops at both ends of the leaders. 36” in length and supplied in packs of 3 in 3 different colours (same colour per pack); Weed, Gravel & Silt. Handily within the packaging A.C.E. have supplied several different swivels (standard, flexi-ring and Quick Change) along with some Anti-Tangle mini sleeves. The spliced loop leaders allow for a multitude of different uses andare long enough for the majority of anglers.

Leadcore Helicoptor/Chod Leaders – Constructed again from 30” of the 45lb Hard-On leadcore material and looped at one end. At the other end is a Quick Change link that is designed to clip a lead onto and the “tadpole” shaped rubber sleeve which pulls down over the clip and lead connection (best to use leads with the swivels removed with these leaders or leads with swivels actually set into the lead itself) Above the “tadpole” rubber sits a Quick Change swivel with a larger than usual eye that the leadcore runs through. This allows maximum rotation of the hooklink during the cast as well as allowing the swivel to pull over leader knots should a breakage occur. Also in the packaging, A.C.E. have supplied a standard type Cyclops swivel (large eye at one end), anti-tangle mini sleeves, size 11 flexi ring swivels and additional beads for converting into a Chod rig leader.

Leadcore Lead Clip Leaders – Identical to the Spliced Leaders but incorporating a lead clip, tail rubber as well as including a selection of different swivels in the packaging for different uses.

I have had a good look over all the ready made leadcore leaders in the range, and they are of supremely good quality with neatly spliced loops and constructed using quality components as well as having some thought put in to what situations the angler may experience with the inclusion of the additional components supplied.

Good work A.C.E. & something that others should have thought of before this time!

A.C.E. Baiting & Rig Tools

Where would the angler be without a decent but comprehensive range of baiting & rig tools? All of the tools in the A.C.E. range have been well thought out and do not include gimmicks or un-necessary extras.

Stringer Needle – An extra strong gauge wire needle with a “shepherds crook” point specifically designed for creating stringers. A.C.E. have made this needle available with either a Fluoro Red handle or for the more secretive angler, a very carpy dark green.

Heavy Lip Close Needle – An extra strong gauge flat wire gated needle that is ideally suited for both boilie and particle use. Also doubles up as a very handy tool for tying small neat loops. Like the other needles in the range, it is supplied as a Fluoro (Yellow) or “carpy” green colour handle.

Braid/Hard Bait Needle – Another extra strong needle constructed out or round profile wire with an inline slot for attaching the hair loop to when attaching baits. This needle is also superb for use with smaller baits (with care). Available as before with a Fluoro (Orange) or “carpy” green handle.

Fine Lip Close Needle – Ultra fine wire gated needle that is perfect for delicate soft baits such as corn. Also perfect for splicing leadcore & for threading small pieces of tubing onto hooklinks. Available with either a Fluoro (Blue) or “carpy” green handle.

Stick & String Needle – Elongated heavy gauge flat wire lip close needle. Perfect for threading hooklinks through PVA bags or mesh sticks, and also perfect for using to create stringers with softer baits such as paste balls (ssshhh little tip here that has caught me more fish than I care to remember!!!). Available with either a Fluoro (Green) or “carpy” green handle.

Strip-Eaze – Now this is my favourite little tool in the range! Ingenious but simple design and does a perfect job of stripping back of ALL coated braids I have tried it with (and I must have 99% of the ones available in my box!). Can be used either way round (unlike some other similar tools available) and a clean cut is guaranteed every time without worry of kinking or bending the cutting edge. Every angler should have one or more of these little tools in their armoury! Available in one of 3 Fluoro colours (Green, Yellow or Orange) as well as the “carpy” green. This is going to be a MASSIVE seller in my eyes!

Boilie Hair Extenders – The use of the extension boilie stops is something that have been available for a while now, but anglers have had to buy 3 packs of them to get each size. A.C.E. have thought about this and released their versions with all 3 sizes in each pack (4mm, 8mm & 12mm). A.C.E. have also made the stops available in different colours (Clear, Yellow, Orange, Pink, Red or Brown) to match in with the baits you are using or to create a small visual attractor when used with dark baits.

Some anglers may not be aware of A.C.E. at this moment in time, but from the items that I have personally seen and used from the range, they are going to go from strength to strength constantly with the items that they are supplying.  A.C.E. could have released everything that the other manufacturers have in their catalogues, but they have chosen to launch small batches of items that are right first time, rather than to flood the market with items that may require changing further down the line and to potentially cause anglers to choose other items instead. Good work A.C.E. and I look forward to seeing more products from the company!