When reviewing the majority of fishing tackle, here at Angling Times we like to get hands on. Our entire team and outside sources are experienced anglers in a variety of fishing disciplines and therefore see and use tackle regularly in their own fishing. Outside of that, our esteemed Tackle Editor Mark Sawyer is regularly sent the latest products to test and give his opinion on. But how do we review a tackle product?
Testing
We believe the best way to give a valid opinion on any item of tackle is to get out and use it on the bank in a fishing situation. There are some things you simply can't understand about a product without putting it through its paces.
Rods
When testing the latest and best fishing rods, we like to visit venues where we know they will see some action. This allows our team to evaluate the fish-playing performance of a rod and see how it really copes under pressure.
It isn't all about how a rod performs when attached to a hooked fish, however. Casting performance is a vital aspect too. If the rod is designed as a casting tool, we will often test them on larger stillwaters and really push them to their max.
If a rod range has only received a small modification or improvement, either in aesthetics or performance, we may review these based off previous or similar models we have tested.
Poles
A fishing pole is a serious investment for any angler and therefore these items of tackle receive our most rigorous testing. Angling Times Tackle Editor Mark Sawyer and Tackle Tester Dan Webb are both pole fishing experts and have used everything from the highest priced to the cheapest budget poles over the years.
Mark's thorough testing on poles is well known in the industry and he's not shy to test every element, from the lightness and responsiveness of the pole, right down to ease of shipping and the strength of the joints. He's also not shy of pointing out design flaws like the absence of side pullers on top kits.
Reels
Spotting a good fishing reel is generally something that comes with prolonged use and that is why we rely on contributors, readers and our staff's independent reviews to evaluate and rate a fishing reel. Every reel can feel great out of the box but it is only over time you get to experience the benefits or flaws in a particular product.
Does the gearing work efficiently? How easy does the line come off the spool? Is the clutch reliable? And are there any irritations like line getting caught under the spool? These are all the types of questions we are looking to answer when reviewing a fishing reel.
Accessories
We review all manner of fishing accessories here at Angling Times and this is where our testing procedure can vary depending on the nature of the product. There are some smaller items of tackle, clothing and general accessories that our team don't need to see to be able to understand and promote the benefits of, based on their many years of experience. But, this is where our contacts in the wider industry, expert and professional anglers, as well as customer reviews help inform our decisions.
Our team may be able to evaluate some accessories simply from a quick visit and play with a product in a tackle shop, this is particularly true of things like seatboxes, chairs and clothing, where our experienced team can make a decision and rating of a product very quickly without prolonged use.
How we choose products to review
At Angling Times we want our readers to be exposed to the very best fishing products, so they are armed with the best kit possible when going fishing. For this reason, our team only looks to review what we believe to be the best or highest standard items in any given category.
We don't do negativity at Angling Times, but that's not to say we won't point out the 'cons' of a product if we encounter any. What it does mean, however, is we won't look to review a product just to point out how bad it is. If you can't find a review of a product on our website therefore, it means either we haven't had a chance to really test it yet, or we don't consider it worthy for testing when compared to the other tackle products on the site.
There are a small amount of reviews on the site that may be 'advertorial' or sponsored by the manufacturer, particularly around newly released products. Regardless of any commercial relationship, our editorial team always maintains integrity to give both positives and negatives of any tackle product, so our readers know what to expect when they make a purchase.
