2023 Gear
So lots has changed this year. I moved into a new house with a garage so no more storing my gear with someone else, which means i can buy more things!
After going to the ‘Big Show’ i decided i need to go full sonik SK-TEK…so i did
-Sonik SK-TEK Rucksack
-Sonik SK-TEK Carryall
-Sonik SK-TEK Rig Wallet
-Sonik SK-TEK Cool Bag
-Sonik SK-TEK 9ft 3 Rod Holdall
-Sonik SK-TEK Cradle
-Sonik SK-TEK Weigh Sling
-3x 9ft Xtractor Rods
-3x 5000 Xtractor Reels
-Subsonik line in Camo for my 8000 Reels
-New Direction water pump
-Wolfe Bug Zapper
-Trakker Bivvy Light
-RidgeMonkey toastie maker
I am testing and trying some different rigs - the hinge rig will always be perfect but i am using Slip-D, Spinners and even starting on the solid bags using one of them Nash rapid bag tools which has made it alot easier
Reviews
So with 2023 and my visit to the big show, I got home and purchased all the SK-TEK gear i could get my hands on (still missing the stink bag).
my original plan was to share my Sonik Vader 8000 reels between both sets of rods, but after using the big reels on small rods (even though it looks cool) was too awkward to use and balance on a single front rest with the backs on the floor or a small bait bucket.
This caused me to go out and buy the Sonik Xtractor 5000 reels so now things all fit together and balance well.
Sonik Vader bite alarms - Even though i was happy with the purchase over my Lixeda alarms, the blue alarm in my vader set seems to be intermittant in sending the signal to the receiver which caused me to lose atleast two fish (on different sessions) as when laying the rod down and testing the receiver was working but after seeing the rod fly off with no sound (usually only my receiver has the sound on).
Also in France I was told my blue alarm went live in the night and i didnt wake up which seemed wierd as the receiver is next to my head. Now i am 100% sure the alarm receiver didnt sound.
I have done the usual and changed the batteries on both devices but it did not make a difference after testing it again and again.
so looks like i am in the market for a new set of alarms, i am looking at the ATT Gardners as they are small and silent. its fully reliant on the receiver but i cant stand my alarms being noisy on the bank after the loudness of the lixeda alarms.
12ft Sonik Vader Rods - do exactly whats needed, i can get the distances i need and see no reason to replace any time soon
Sonik Vader 8000 Reels - they work as expected but i do find the drag to be different between the reels so i cant do a quarter turn on all reels and get the same result
Sub-Sonik Line Camo - after being so happy having this line on for the season. I was really dissapointed with the results after a few casts. the line looked like it was 5 years old and had lost its smooth feeling when on tension coming through the eyes and through my fingers. It spooled really nice but it just become stretched and tired after day one of use in France. by day three i was tempted to put my purple wychwood spools back on, i didnt but i think next year they will be respooled with another vendor.
Sonik Cradle and Weigh Sling - they do whats needed and get back in the sleeves just as easy as they come out. the cradle has enough room to fit bottles of drink and a bivvy table in to reduce the room being taken up in other places
RidgeMonkey Toastie Maker - please buy one! I live off noodles but this little pan adds so much more flavour to my dull fishing diet. yes its an annoying square pan with a massive hadle but if you balance it well (i have found a way) then its perfect. you can still fry your other stuff in it but the toasties are just great on the bank.
