Here at Angling Times we pride ourselves on being anglers first, calling on decades of knowledge through testing and using fishing tackle from every branch of angling to help you make the best decisions on what tackle to buy! We have built a solid reputation on providing the best information about all items of tackle and advice to help you make an informed choice.
When you read a review on Angling Times, whether it's one of our Buyer's Guides or a single product review, you can trust that you're getting an honest opinion from our expert tackle testers. We test our products in real-world scenarios for the purposes they were designed for and should a product impress us, we’re confident it will impress you too, similarly if we aren't too impressed, we will make it clear to you. The products we include in our Buyer's guides are there because we either use them ourselves or genuinely rate them—not because they are sponsored.
To maintain transparency and keep your trust, this page serves as a simple guide to explain how we choose and test the tackle we review, and why we give the products the rankings and scores that we do.
How do we get tackle to review?
Company Submissions: A company may send us items they believe will interest both us and you as consumers. If we find the product useful, we’ll review it, and it will often appear as a standalone review on Angling Times or in the magazine.
Industry Insights: Thanks to our contacts in the trade, one of our testers may hear about a product before or shortly after its release. In such cases, we often publish a 'First Look' review on Angling Times to give you our initial thoughts and key information ahead of its market debut, to help you make an informed decision.
Buyer's Guides: When creating a Buyer's Guide featuring multiple products, we frequently include items we use ourselves. Only the best products make the cut, and if our tester hasn’t personally used an item, we rely on honest feedback from our trusted Angling Times team. We won’t feature anything we haven’t seen, used, or formed a strong opinion on.
How do we test fishing 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. Commercial rods get abused by lots of big carp, barbel rods are taken to popular stretches of river, while more delicate float rods are put through their paces with a variety of species.
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, often going above recommended casting weights and lines to really see what they are made of, breaking a few along the way!
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.
How we test fishing 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. Well regarded on the match scene, both anglers have been there and done it, with Dan fishing internationally as a junior. They are regularly using high end poles they own every weekend, and they know what to look for when testing out new poles.
Mark's thorough knowledge on testing 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, flex in the joints or how well balanced the pole is!
How we test 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. It is only when a reel has had to play fish, had grit and grime penetrate it and had to wind in thousands of times can you really see just how good it is.
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. We will test to see if the retrieval rate is correct, how much they line they really hold and if they are fit for the species and style of angling they were created for.
Thanks to our extensive knowledge, years of experience, brand awareness and multiple contacts, we can often spot a potentially amazing reel from a poor one faster than most!
How we test fishing 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.
With clothing we have put Mark in an industrial freezer and allowed thermal imaging to see how much heat he loses to deduce which is scientifically proven to be the warmest. Similarly Dan has been jet washed in clothing sets to see just ow waterproof they really are.
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.
Who tests the tackle?
At Angling Times, we’re fortunate to have a team of highly knowledgeable and experienced anglers, with around 200 years experience between them to call upon! Our reviewers are versatile all-rounders, with many specialising in specific areas, ensuring expert insights across various disciplines. Whether you're into match fishing, carp fishing, barbel fishing, or enjoy catching a bit of everything, we have the right expert to review the products you're interested in. If you'd like to learn more about the Angling Times team and their specialist areas, head over to our 'Meet the Team' page.
Do we physically test every item of tackle?
No, due to the sheer number of items out there we can't, but we like to think we make that clear. What is for certain is, no product that makes it into our guides will be there to fill a gap, as we only include items we know have a great reputation, have been used by trustworthy anglers and/or we have seen physically used.
Everyone at Angling Times is an experienced angler and we know what to look for when suggesting good products that will make a difference to your fishing. Thanks to our superb contacts, the majority of the tackle we recommend has been in our hands, but on the rare occasions it hasn't, we know it is worthy of the mention!
We do not accept payment for product reviews, and our writers completely control their articles, advice and recommendations. Products are chosen to best meet the needs of our readers. Though we may receive a commission or other compensation from the links on this website, we never allow this to influence product selections. These links allow us to keep doing what we love: creating meaningful and valuable consumer product advice. We never allow potential compensation to influence our reviews.
Why can you trust us?
As we’ve mentioned, our testers have years of experience and a deep passion for angling. We are experts when it comes to fishing gear—true tackle enthusiasts! While knowing the ins and outs of carbon grades, reel seats, ball bearings, and line diameters might not win us any cool points in most circles, it certainly makes us the ideal candidates for reviewing fishing tackle.
What truly sets them apart, however, is that they live and breathe angling, just like you. Whether it's running a float for chub, patiently waiting behind carp rods for hours or catching bass on lures from the coastline, we love every aspect of fishing and are dedicated to helping you get more fish on the bank. Our goal is to ensure you have the best gear within your budget for the most enjoyable experience possible.
Despite a combined experience of over 200 years, we’re only human and may occasionally make mistakes. If you spot any inaccuracies in our reviews, please don't hesitate to let us know politely, and we’ll correct them where appropriate.
How we choose tackle to review
As avid anglers, we can't wait to get our hands on the latest tackle to see if it is as good as the manufacturers make it out to be. Thanks to our strong relationships with many of the top brands, we often get to see and test new tackle before it is released.
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. We will always make it clear if the page is sponsored too, so you can make an informed choice!
Our star scores explained
You may notice some of our items and guides including a star-system to score each item of tackle on an individual basis. These are based on factors like performance and value to help you decide if it is right for you! Here is what they mean:
1-2 - Very poor. Most, if not all, elements fail, making this product one to steer clear of as it isn't fit for purpose. If something is this poor, we pass it to another team member to ensure we all agree and aren’t overlooking anything and if we agree, it will get this low star rating!
2.5 - Poor. Below-par, some basic elements are weak or poorly constructed and we wouldn't look to recommend these kind of products.
3 - Good. Does what it’s meant to and will function well, but there isn't anything particularly exciting about the product nor will it e packed with features.
3.5 - Above average. Everything that should be included is, with often a few nice features added in too. Above average, but trying to be better which we take into account.
4 - Great. Exceeds the standard in a few helpful ways, with enhanced attention to detail to help improve the overall usability. In short, we’d gladly spend our own money on these products and probably already use them .
4.5 - Excellent. It surpasses expectations in almost every way, with only minor drawbacks preventing it from being perfect, often this is personal touches which will appeal to others, so we will mention that as you may love what we disliked. A product of this caliber will meet the needs of 99% of users.
5 - Perfect. Remarkable and without fault, the only product of this type you’ll ever need. It’s worth every penny and is usually something we are using, have used and will continue to use!
