Reels
Japanese Surf Reels for UK Beach and Continental Casting
Japanese surf reels for UK beach and continental casting: how they compare with UK models, and how to choose spool size, drag, braid and shock leader for winter cod and whiting.
Plain-English guides to Japanese tackle for UK waters.
Reels
What Is BFS? Japanese Baitcasting Reels Explained for UK Lure Anglers
What is BFS, and when should you choose a baitcaster over a spinning reel? A guide to Japanese baitcasting reels for UK perch, pike and bass: spools, brakes, gear ratios,...
Techniques
Winter Perch Fishing in the UK: Drop Shot and Finesse Lures
Perch feed all winter if you find them and slow down. This UK guide covers where perch hold in cold water, drop shot, Ned and free rigs, tungsten weights, hooks,...
Techniques
HRF and Wrasse Fishing in the UK: Rigs, Soft Lures and Tackle
HRF means hard rock fishing: soft lures on weedless rigs for ballan wrasse over rock and kelp. This guide covers when and where to fish, the Texas and free rigs,...
Techniques
UK Squid Season: When and Where to Catch Squid and Cuttlefish
When is squid season in the UK? Most shore squid are caught from October to December, after dark, from piers and harbour walls. Here are the months, marks, tides and...
Explainers
Japanese Fishing Terms Explained: Ajing, Eging, Mebaring and More
Ajing, eging, mebaring, tairaba, gō, PE: Japanese lure fishing brought its vocabulary with it. A plain-English glossary of the terms you will meet on JDM tackle, and what each technique...
Explainers
JDM vs European-Spec Shimano and Daiwa: What Actually Differs
A JDM Stradic and a European Stradic can be different reels. This guide sets out what really differs in range, weight, spools and gear ratios, what you give up on...
Lines
PE Line Ratings Explained: What #0.6, #1.5 and #3.0 Actually Mean
The PE number on Japanese braid is a diameter, not a breaking strain. See what each size from PE 0.5 to PE 3 really tests at, using 698 lines in...
Explainers
Japanese Reel Model Codes Explained: LT, C3000, HG, XH and the Rest
A Japanese reel is sold as 24 CERTATE LT4000-XH, not size 4000. Learn to read Shimano and Daiwa codes for year, body size, spool depth and gear ratio, with a...
Reels
Daiwa 24 Airity ST SF — Review, Specs & UK Buying Guide
The Daiwa 24 Airity ST SF is Japan's most specialised super-finesse spinning reel — a 130 g magnesium monocoque workhorse tuned with oil bearings and a stripped MagShield for maximum...
Reels
Best Japanese Baitcasting Reels for UK Anglers: Daiwa & Shimano Buyer's Guide (2026)
Baitcasters give UK lure anglers accuracy and control for bass, pike, perch and zander. This guide decodes Daiwa and Shimano spool tech, DC braking, BFS, gear ratios and hand, then...
Techniques
Drop Shot and Finesse Fishing for Perch and Pike (UK): The JDM Approach
A practical UK guide to drop shot and finesse fishing for perch, pike and zander — the three core rigs, choosing fine line, finesse reels and rods, small Japanese soft...
Lures
Eging for Squid in the UK: Egi Selection and Tackle Guide
A practical UK guide to eging for squid: how to choose egi sizes (2.5-3.5), sink rates and colours, build the right light rod, reel and PE braid setup, fish the...
Lures
Sea Bass Lure Fishing: The Best Japanese Lures and Setup (UK Guide)
A practical UK guide to bass lure fishing from shore, estuary and surf: the four key Japanese lure types, how to match them to conditions and venue, the right rod,...
Techniques
Shore Jigging in the UK: Metal Jigs, Gear and Technique
A practical UK shore jigging guide: how to choose metal jig weights for depth and tide, slow vs fast jigging techniques, retrieves, and the right rod, reel and line for...
Techniques
LRF Fishing UK: The Complete Light Rock Fishing Setup Guide
A complete UK guide to LRF (light rock fishing): what it catches, and where and when to fish. It covers the rod, the 500 to 2000 size reel, PE braid...
