Gardner Tackle
Barbel/Specialist Pan Net &

Specialist Extending Landing Net Handle

If you’re the type of angler who like to target big bream, tench and carp from your local gravel pits but also like to dabble in the pursuit of big chub and barbel from you local river. Then a reliable strong and versatile landing net and handle are two pieces of must have equipment that you simply just can’t do without. With a field testing trip planned for the second week of the river season to the tidal river Trent near Newark. We had a good look around the internet to see what our beloved tackle manufacturers had on offer for the serious specialist angler.

After an hour or so of looking at the same old thing, we visited the Gardner Tackle website and discovered their barbel/specialist pan net and to accompany it the specialist extending landing net handle. So after a short but sweet conversation with Gardner tackles marketing and development head honcho Lewis Read, the review was set and the products sent, time to put them to the test. So when they arrive a couple of days later, off we went to the awesome river Trent to see how these hardcore pieces of fish landing equipment would hold up.

Barbel/Specialist Pan Net

This is an out and out dedicated big fish river pan net that can handle fish of all sizes with comfort. The huge 85cm high by 65cm wide pear shaped head is 60cm in depth and we found it much easier to carry around than the conventional big round nets, making the movement of fish up steep awkward banks far easier. Thanks to the robust spreader block and the high grade aluminium used in the construction of the nets rigid frame. This helps makes the barbell/specialist pan net strong enough to be used when confronted by dense thick marginal weed situations.

Considering the huge size of the barbel/specialist pan net, it is exceptionally light weight and easy to manoeuvre even in real hard flowing and tidal waters. We noticed that when attempting to land big barbel and chub from hard flowing rivers that are paved with rough edges boulders and rocks. The chances of snagging or ripping the net when using big meshed nets in fast water are very high. When testing we found the finer soft mesh used on the barbell/specialist pan net cut through the water with total ease and never snagged or caused any problems when netting.

Specialist Extending Landing Net Handle

The specialist extending landing net handle is the perfect companion for the barbel specialist pan net. Designed for out and out big fish situations when fishing on hazardous high river banks or landing fish in marginal weeds or reeds. The two tubes that form the handle are made from stiff twin layer carbon composite tube that is both hardwearing and very strong. The specialist net handle incorporates a solid threaded twist-lock locking mechanism that comprises of a robust metal collar and 4 tab compression mechanism which makes the mechanism much stronger than handles with smaller, thinner locking tabs.

The specialist extendable landing net handles internal pole has a standard 3/8 BSF thread securely attached that is compatible with all popular makes of landing net heads and angling attachments including baiting spoons, weed cutters etc. weighing in at only 440g makes it very easy to manoeuvre around even with the huge barbel/specialist pan net attached. This superb handle is 1.75m in length closed but extends to an impressive 3m whilst still retaining its strength. When closed to its shortest length the specialist extending landing net handle will comfortably fit into a standard specialist rod holdall or quiver system for ease of transportation

Final Thoughts

I hate to admit it but Gardner tackle have got this one spot on, everything about this net and handle combination oozes quality but at a very favourable price. The barbell/specialist pan net will only set you back £19.99 which for the quality of product is a meagre price to pay. Add to this the £35.99 for the specialist extendable landing net handles and for less than £56.00 you have a net that will cover virtually every big fish landing situation you are likely to encounter from a British river or lake. A well balanced combination that any serious specialist angler will enjoy using.

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