The annual DHP organised, Tackle & Guns Trade Show, is the spotlight showcase of the year for the main manufacturers in both the angling and shooting world to show and demonstrate their new products to the industry for the first time. UKMA were in attendance for the latest show to have a good look around the various stands, and to bring you first online, our pick of the new products that caught our eye.

We cannot obviously list or describe every single new product that we looked at as it would be time for the 2010 show by the time we had got through them all, so this article is focused at what we think will be huge sellers for the upcoming year and what impressed us the most.

Daiwa Sports.

Daiwa Sports need no introduction to anglers, so we shall skip that part, and being a forward thinking company, Daiwa had a number of new products on display ready for the new catalogues.

Obviously with the success over the years of Daiwa poles, when Daiwa announce a new high end pole, people sit up and take notice. New on the market is the Dawia Tournament Pro X that is available in a couple of different packages.Anglers always comment that the original Tournament Pro pole was arguably the best pole on the market during it's life, but where it stumbled was on the finish and the way it didn't flow through the hands when shipping in & out with damp hands (something that was solved with the release of the Airity pole). The Tournament Pro X pole has now been given a new finish that Daiwa are calling "Diamond Satin" which is applied to the the larger sections from the number 8 through to the butts. Another addition is the ITS taping system that has been applied to the 5,6 & 7 sections. Daiwa have also changed the spares package to include the new Multi-Bore topkits, and are offering the pole as a complete 16m package (including spares) at £2500, a 13m only version (inc spares) at £2100 or if you have a load of spares from the old Tournament Pro pole, a basic 16m pole only at £1999.

On the reel front, Daiwa have revamped the supremely popular TD-R range with the new TD-X range. These reels are all seriously smooth in operation and the clutch is second to none. Available in either double handle or single handle version, and with a push button release front drag spool system, these reels will be serious sellers in the coming year and will be seen everywhere on the bank, even with the £200+ price tag! On the specimen side of reels, Daiwa have launched the WindCast range of reels that incorporate functions and designs from much more expensive reels, but are at a price point that most anglers could afford. On first impressions, the reels look nothing different until you pick one up and spin the handle. Even the cheapest WindCast-S feels like a reel that is far greater in price with no noticable wobble with the long spool and large handle (something that some top end reels suffer from). As the WindCast-S is the budget reel in the range, it has the basic functions with front drag and standard style handle, where as the WindCast-X & Z models have the Daiwa QD spools that enable the angler to go from fully locked up to free spool in a fraction of a turn of the drag knob as well as having the same design handle as the Basia (something that most anglers loved about the reel). The difference between the reels is the aforementioned, and that the X & Z models use CR bearings (with the Z having more than the X) and the S has standard bearings in the gearing. We were impressed by them and will be keeping our eye on them over the next year.

Rods were also not left out at the show either, with the more budget concious angler being kept in the loop with the launch of the "Black Widow" range of specimen rods. These rods are very well designed and should sell in shed loads through the dealers. The main rods for 2010 are the Infinity Advanced DF series. Most anglers will know that have seen the Korda Underwater DVD's or seen the Korda product DVD's that Danny Fairbrass has his own rods custom made using the Infinity Advanced blanks, and anglers have been trying to get the same builds but falling short in some cases on some of the fittings. Daiwa have noticed this and bought to the market, factory built versions of the rods using the high standoff Fuji rings and full Duplon handles that Danny is synonymous for using. These rods are not cheap, but top end design and quality never is, and the Infinity Advanced DF actually improves on the original versions that were very popular with anglers.

Nutrabaits

Bill Cottam and his team at Rotherham based Nutrabaits have been hard at work over the past year with the G-Force baits, and have been putting a lot of time into making this into one of their all-time classic baits along the same lines as Trigga and BFM. UKMA looked at this bait earlier in the year and found it to be an instant bait that has long term qualities, and have been catching a fair few fish whilst using it. Nutrabaits have also thought about bait sizes, and have launched a 25mm bait in several of the existing baits for those anglers that want a "donkey choker" bait to ward off Bream and Tench or to use overseas on the Continental waters. UKMA are sure that these larger baits will find favour in the UK with anglers that like to trim down baits, but still require a larger bait than usual. UKMA also checked out the match range from the company and their hooker pellets are simply spot-on for the angler that likes to carry a selection of different colours and flavours with them. All the traditional flavours are there and are well worth a look if you want something a little different to the norm.

Sonik Sports

One company that has been creating major waves in the angling industry over the past year or so, are Sonik Sports. Sonik have done what very few companies have managed and that is to go from nothing to a major player in their first year of business, and the success will continue without any shadow of a doubt if the products that were on display are a sign to go by.

Sonik have increased their successful SK3 and 4 ranges of rods by adding dedicated Spod, Marker and Stalking rods to the range that perform to the same high standard as the other rods yet are at affordable price points. We have no shadow of a doubt that existing owners of Sonik rods will be itching to purchase the matching utility rods to complete their setups. Sonik have also launched a landing net to match the rods, which will not break the bank and perform as the angler desires.

Sonik also had prototypes of their new range of specimen multi-top rods that are bound to open many anglers eyes, especially those that fish for a variety of species. UKMA had a good look at these rods and felt that everything about them was just about perfect, and with each combination felt like the rod had been built as a single purpose tool rather than multi-purpose. This is definately one to keep an eye out for in 2010.

Also on display at the show was the new range of specimen luggage that has been well thought out and designed to be functional as well as hardwearing. Carryalls and rod holdalls have all been thought through from the ground up, rather than simply copying everybody elses existing products.

We are very excited about the Sonik Sports new products, and cannot wait to be able to put them through their paces for review on the site.

Gardner Tackle

With the launch of the ATTs alarm system at last years show, Gardner Tackle returned to the T&G show this year with some new products that we had heard about but not actually had our mitts on, as well as some that we have.

Not really a new product, but Gardner have launched their highly successful TLB alarms in a matt black finish as well as the original stainless finish. These are going to be very big sellers as anglers have been impressed by the TLB's for many years being as they are hand made in England, but some anglers prefer a dark finish over the bright finish of the stainless. One of the UKMA team has been using the black TLB's for the past couple of months (as well as using the stainless versions for the past 2 years!), and his review of them will be on the site in the very near future.
Also on the bite indication front, Gardner have also launched a new design hanger bracket for their highly popular "Bug" indicators, which allows the angler to slide a specially designed holder that holds the indicator body off the ground when fishing with slack lines but does not interfere with sensitivity of the hanger itself. This was something small and relatively minor that we are definately going to be fitting to our setup's when fishing slack lines as it also will virtually eliminate any false bleeps caused by the wind.

Not willing to rest on their laurels, Gardner were also showing off a new range of leads that they have designed which are different to the vast majority that are available. The main patterns that caught our eye were the Gripper style leads and the slightly modified "Roger & Kerry" leads which offer the perfect all-round pattern, but has been neglected by many of the main lead manufacturers. These are bound to be a huge seller in the new year, and something that we will be adding to our own kit without any doubt.

Lines are something that Richard Gardner has always had a major vested interest in and has vast knowledge of what is required from a line that is not going to let anglers down at critical times. In addition to the range of existing lines that Gardner distribute, 2 new lines have been added to the catalogue that are at the top of the tree with regards to line technology without being gimmicky. The first is the Mirage fluorocarbon mainline. Most fluorcarbon mainlines are notorious for being poor casting lines with 80m being about the maximum that can be expected from them, but Gardner have worked in conjunction with the worlds leading flourocarbon line manufacturer and come up with a true flourocarbon reel line that casts like a mono, without losing some important characteristics of flourocarbon. Mirage has a light refraction index of 1.42 compared to 1.33 of water, meaning that it is virtually invisible in water, sinks like a brick and lays flat on the bottom without being too heavy to sink in the air when casting, and also does not deteriorate in sunlight. When we pulled a length off the spool, it came off straight rather than curly (which some other fluorocarbons suffer from) and the lower amount of stretch compared to mono, means that Mirage is a superb compromise between using a sinking braid reel line and a mono. The second line which is new is HydroFlo. HydroFlo is a "next generation co-polymer" reel line that has been formulated and engineered to perform flawlessly. HydroFlo has been marketed so that the breaking strain on the spool is the lowest knot strength that the angler can expect, and has been constructed to sink fast yet stay super soft allowing for long distance casting. HydroFlo has also been spooled in a way that none of the coils overlap which virtually eliminates any flat spots that can be caused during the spooling process as well as allowing the line to come off the spool onto the reel with far less twists than traditional spooling techniques. By far the most staggering point is the RRP of the line! We don't know how Gardner have done this, but 300m of HydroFlo has a RRP of £4.99! We cannot recall ever seeing a line of this quality for such a low price!

Gardner Tackle certainly excelled themselves at this years show, and we cannot wait to put these products through their paces for reviews.

Pure Fishing (JRC/Shakeseare)

On the Pure Fishing stand , a lot of new products were on display and it would take us a month of Sundays to go through them all.

There was one range though that did catch our eyes, and that is the "Contact" range of specimen angling equipment. Priced at the lower end of the market, the range has a complete set of luggage, landing net, bivvy, bedchair, chair, rods and other sundry items and all are priced towards attracting the interest of the angler that has a low budget with regards to angling, but wants equipment that is not going to let them down after a couple of trips.
Pure Fishing have also updated the Mach 3 range of reels to the Mach 3 XT. Available in both front and rear drag versions, the pedigree of the Mach name lives on and the original Mach 3 reels have had an outstanding following since they were initially launched. The colour of the Mach 3 XT reels has been changed to a burgundy from the older grey & gold. If these sell as well as the original versions did, then they will be seen a lot on the bank. The Mach 3 range of rods have also been updated for 2010, with some new models and updated graphics.

UKMA are looking forward to checking out some of the new products from the Pure Fishing family of brands, and reviewing them for the site as soon as we recieve them.

Preston Innovations / Korum / SonuBaits

More and more anglers every year always look forward to seeing what new products Preston Innovations/Korum/SonuBaits are bringing out for the coming year, and this year is no exception.
Like some of the other companies, we are not physically able to list every new product that has been launched, so we will tell you about the items that UKMA think will be of most interest to the anglers.

Under the Preston Innovations brand, there has been a complete new range of top end rods released to the market, which if previous success with the Dream and CarbonActive ranges of the past, these will literally fly off the racks at all of Preston Innovations network of dealers. The Excel range was launched earlier in 2009, but for 2010 there has been a couple of additions to the range such as a 14' float rod and a 11' 6" feeder rod. Also new on the rod front are the Competition Feeder range, which comprises of 2 rods designed for the more traditional Bream angler that fishes overseas in places such as Ireland, Denmark or Holland that requires a rod that is different to the rods that the UK marketplace is demanding on the commercial fisheries. Available in 12' and 13', these rods should sell well even if the anglers don't fish abroad but fish the larger lakes up North and non-commercial fisheries where long distance feeder work is required with a fast pick-up of line instead of relying the fish to hook themselves. Under the Carbonactive Mini range, a 11' 2 piece float rod has been produced for those anglers that prefer a 2 piece rod over the existing 3 piece model.
On the seatbox front, the flagship Space Station has been updated to the XSII with a lower frame height so anglers can have more trays or drawers between the seat and the frame rather than have them underneath on the slide out section. Also new is the Space Station Compact that has the same benefits of the Space Station family, but has a height adjustable cassette style footplate so anglers can be comfortable whilst fishing without having to take umpteen trays with them if they are tall. Rather uniquely added to the range is the Space Saver. This is a hybrid type seat box that has the frame style of the Space Station but has internal legs to give a smaller footprint than other boxes of the same style. Thinking of the angler, Preston Innovations have also manufactured a special Off-Box block that will clamp around the frame allowing use of the full range of Off-Box products. Ingeniuous!

Adding to the existing Method Mould, Preston Innovations have now launched a Mega sized version that is colour coded to match the feeders of the same colour on the label.

Lastly but no way the leastly, Preston Innovations have launched a rig line that will find favour with match anglers on many fronts. Xceed rig line is an extremely hi-tech line that is extremely accurate in diameter, as well as being strong without losing anything on the suppleness or abrasion resistance front (in fact it is very soft indeed and suitable for all pole rig use). This is one product that UKMA are looking forward to puttin gthrough it's paces as soon as we can.

Under the Korum brand, almost the complete range of rods has been updated other than the super successful Neoteric Quiver and Twin-Tip, with the Precision range. Starting with an 11' 2 piece Compact Float rod designed to handle the larger fish as well as being at home trotting a stick float along a carrier stream, through to the 12' 2.75lb semi-parabolic actioned Specialist rod that is ideal for all but the longest of distance fishing for the Carp and Predator angler. These are well worth checking out if you are not familiar with the Korum rods, as you will be surprised how good these rods are compared to others on the market. To compliement the Precision range of rods, Korum have the new KXi FreeSpin reel. The 2 sizes of reels in the current range are perfectly suited to the specialist angler that does not need a true big pit reel for their angling requirements. Both sizes feature a balanced double handle, super smooth front drag, freespool facility, computer designed linelay system that reduces bedding in of lines, line safe line clip that has a rubber backing so there is next to no chance of the line parting upon hitting the clip on the hardest of casts, etc. UKMA are quite excited about these reels as they look to be perfect for our lighter use, and cannot wait to try these out on the bank. UKMA urge any angler reading this to take a long hard look at the full range of Korum luggage and transportation systems that are available such as the new barrow that has been designed to perfectly compliment the ITM luggage without needing bungee straps and utilising the existing handles and straps already on the products to hold everything stable and secure.

SonuBaits are rapidly becoming a household name on the commercial bait front, and now are creeping into the Specimen side of baits with their new range of tinned Hemp and Particles. Rather than sell tins of seperate particles alongside the Hemp, SonuBaits have launched tins of Hemp that also have mixed in already other perfectly cooked Particle baits such as Tiger Nuts, Maize, Maple Peas, etc. For most sessions, anglers might not use a whole tin of seperate particles, and end up either throwing them into the lake upon leaving (which is a waste) or taking them home to be frozen. With the tins containing the mixtures, there are almost perfect amounts of both Hemp and the other particles to use in a spod mix or as a perfectly laid trap, to which the particles can be taken out should a hookbait be required. UKMA think this is a superb idea and cannot understand why nobody has thought of it sooner? Also on display was the range of groundbaits that are definately worth a good look at.

Harrison Advanced Rods

UKMA were glad to see Harrison Advanced Rods at Tackle and Guns this year as their range on blanks and factory built rods are arguably the best in the industry. On display was the full range of products that Harrisons Advanced Rods manufacture from the top end Torrix carp and specialist rods through to the match rods and new beach casters.
The main item of interest to us was the ultra-cult 11'6" Match Special that was a massive hit amongst the canal and drain running line anglers. Through speaking to Dr Stephen Harrison on the stand, UKMA understand that this rod is set for a relaunch and will surprise a lot of todays match anglers with the versatility of the tool. One of the UKMA team can remember vividly using one way back in his youth on the Fen drains and Grand Union canal and the action and balance was simply perfect. If the relaunched product is the same as the original, then it will be worth the wait to see this Great British company back at the helm of the match scene.

Dynamite Baits / Ringer Baits

Dynamite Baits are well reknowned in the angling world for some of the most successful baits on the market on both the specimen and match circuits. The management board at Dynamite Baits have been busy in 2009 and have secured the distribution and brands for the highly successful Ringer Baits range and more recently, the Rod Hutchinson brand - which sees the classic highly successful baits bought back to the retail market.
Dynamite Baits are well known for thier range of tinned baits, and have researched and discovered wht looks to be the perfect Luncheon Meat for the angler. Supplied in larger than normal 345g rectangular tins, the shape is perfect for putting through a meat cutter for cubing. The texture of the meat is also not too soft nor too hard, which will stay on the hook or hair on the cast yet remain soft enough for the hook to pull through upon a bite. This will fly off the shelves once the warmer weather comes.
Under the Rod Hutchinson banner, all of the classic boilies and liquid additives from yesteryear have been bought back, including the highly popular Mulberry Florentine, Shellfish Sense Appeal, Chocolate malt, Monster Crab, Secret Agent and Scopex flavours. For those anglers that were around when the RH brand was at the forefront of the bait scene, these will bring back nostalgic memories and could possibly give the edge over the anglers that are not familiar with the baits.
Ringer Baits are constantly looking at improving both existing and new products for the range, and Phil Ringer has been busy on both the boilie and pellet front. On the boilie front, the highly popular White Shellfish boilies have now been put into a pop-up form with 8mm & 10mm baits being added to the range. More and more match anglers are realising that a popped up boilie can bring bites faster than a standard bottom bait, and these fit the bill perfectly. Pellets have also been looked at, and the synonymous Ringer Expander pellets have been given a slight tweak to make them more fast acting which make them perfect for all year round use.

A.C.E (Advanced Carp Equipment)

Arguably one of the biggest success stories since last years show, was A.C.E, who displayed their range for the first time at the T&G show 2008. The full range again was on display at this years show, along with the finished much talked about I-3 bite alarm system. The I-3 has been built up from a blank sheet to improve on existing alarms on the market, and A.C.E have certainly done the job with this system. There are way too many innovations and functions to explain in such a small piece within this article, but UKMA certainly liked the function that mutes the alarm for several seconds whilst the bobbin or other indicator is set. Hardly anyone admits that they have forgotten to switch an alarm back on after setting the indicator (it happened to one of the UKMA team on a recent session!) and this should alleviate that worry, as well as the speaker hole that is facing downwards rather than the traditional outwards to alleviate moisture ingress from rain etc.

UKMA have not seen a product from A.C.E that we would not use ourselves, and the alarms look to tick all the boxes that we look for in an alarm system.

Not happy to just sit back, Max Cottis and his team are constantly looking at improving current products and we expect a lot more products to be launched under the A.C.E banner in the coming year.

Snowbee

Snowbee is a name that a lot of anglers outside of the game fishing scene will not be too familiar with, but UKMA have looked at some of their products already (Chest Wader review can be found on the site), and we were not disappointed with what we saw on the stand. We were directed towards a pair of chest waders that have been designed to be virtually bulletproof, and perfect for the angler that may have to clamber over rocks or other rough terrain whilst wearing them, without worrying about them ripping. We thought that they would be ideal for the specimen angler as well who requires to be able to put a pair of chest waders on quickly without having to struggle with lighter material versions. We hope to be able to review these at a later date.
Also of note on the stand was a braid that has been designed to withstand constant casting and retrieving without "fluffing"up (something that a lot of braids suffer from after several uses). The TuffLine Duracast braid is a banana yellow in colour and feels quite wirey. This added stiffness is due to the manufacturing process in which a nylon core is coated with the braided fibres, and then heated so that the core melts and fuses with the external sheath. This produces a braided line that is very smooth and the melted core negates the chances of "fluffing" up. UKMA had the thoughts that this would make the perfect marker and spod braid as it is of a low diameter, perfectly round in profile and the slight stiffness would mean that tangles would be lowered considerably. First impressions of this are excellent and we hope to be able to put it through a long term testing process.

UKMA could go on for days (it already seems like we have already!) with all the items that we thought were very impressive at the Tackle & Guns show, and we will be reviewing as many of the products as possible, when they become available.