The reveal of a unique new tackle product has caused a mix of excitement, anticipation, uproar and fierce debate in the carp angling community, with some of the UK's fisheries banning the item before it has even been released.
One More Cast's 'Magic Twig' was finally revealed in a video from the company on YouTube on Sunday, after much teasing in recent weeks from brand CEO and celebrity angler Ali Hamidi that a game-changing product was coming for carp anglers.
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The device, which clips into lead clips commonly used by anglers, triggers an internal spring when a fish picks up the bait, setting the hook in the mouth of the fish. This in theory eliminates the false indications and bites anglers can often get from clever carp, and holds the hook in place better in the mouth so the fish can be safely landed.
So what's the debate been about? Whilst anglers want to catch fish on every trip, part of the joy of angling is the challenge and adventure, often leading to jokes from non-anglers about "fools on seatboxes catching nothing." Some in the community fear a device like this risks making it "too easy" for the angler to outsmart the fish and is an "unfair advantage" if the product works as effectively as claimed. An interesting debate for sure, as anglers are continually developing methods and baits to increase the likelihood of them catching more regularly.
Questions have also been raised by fishery managers over the product design itself too, with many banning its use because of potential fish safety concerns. It's important to mention, however, that fisheries the product has been tested on have thus far approved it and believe it to not cause any safety issues for their precious and expensive stock.
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One such manager is Paul Ward, owner of perhaps the UK's best carp venue, Cambridgeshire's Grenville syndicate, a water many believe will produce the next British record carp.
"I have no issues with this product at all, a lot of fisheries seem to be banning it without seeing it," he told us.
"Ali caught 30 fish here testing it and I witnessed 20 of them. I couldn’t see it not being fish friendly. In fact, I was impressed by some of the flawless hookholds the bungee system was getting."
Like many fishery owners, Paul cares greatly about protecting his rare and special big carp. Not only are they expensive in their own right, but anglers desire to catch fish that are not only big, but in perfect condition too, and will pay large sums of money to do so.
"I look after my fish like they are my kids," he says.
"Angling is a great thing when done right and when the fish are respected like all nature should be, which is why I'm strict with my members.
"I've banned certain types of hooks before, I have no issue banning products that are unsafe. If I believed this would cause any unnecessary danger to my fish, I would not allow it to be used here."
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Such is the popularity of carp fishing globally, that it is not just in the UK the product has hit the headlines, with some commercial venues in France restricting use of the device until more evidence of safety to stock can be confirmed.
Thousands of anglers visit the famous Gillhams Resort in Thailand each year, which is home to monster fish of many species, a venue which has also publicly come out to support the product after seeing it in action.
"It is 100% safe," said owner Stuart Gillham on social media.
"OMC would never bring out something that would harm fish. Gillhams Fishing Resorts support this product, you are welcome to use it at our fishery. In the end, people will see this product is fish safe and certainly a game changer."
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Ali himself has been quick to try and settle the debate, hosting video calls with fisheries up and down the country demonstrating the product and providing reassurances that thorough testing was carried out in the development process.
It seems a lot of the concern is centred around the extending arms on the Magic Twig, which open once the device has been set off. In a conversation with Angling Times, Ali confirmed the dimensions of these arms at full extension is a mere 1.3-1.5cm, something that is perhaps not obvious from images on social media.
Regardless of where angler's opinions sit on the product, all eyes will be on OMC's social media pages and tackle shops for the potential release date. An overreaction or a genuine concern from some anglers? Only time will tell. However, nobody can debate the dedication of fishery managers to protect their stock, rightly or wrongly in this instance, with some changing their mind and reversing bans once safety concerns have been relieved.
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