I’ve been using Stonze ledger weights for two years, mainly for inconspicuous presentation for summer barbel or fishing over soft silt, where the flatter profile is a real boon.  But it was only last season, when I first met Simon, that I really appreciated the full extent and quality of Pallatrax products.

It came at a time when I was looking for a good quality bait in my carp fishing particularly, to replace one that was becoming difficult of supply. Simon immediately recommended his Jungle boilies and paste. Initially, I was hesitant as the carp water I am on sees nothing but dark fish meals.  But Simon was adamant that I would not regret the choice and so I went with his advice.  The very first session proved the point in spectacular fashion. In a period when the fishing was extremely patchy, I fished a 48 hour session in the company of three other syndicate members. The only carp caught were those that I netted. Using jungle 14mm boilies, paste wrapped and glugged, I had 6 fish, including mirrors of 31lb 10ozs and 40lbs 8ozs and a common of 34lb 6oz. In two subsequent trips, again I caught when others blanked, taking four more big fish, the top two being  38lb 8ozs and 39lb 4ozs. It goes without saying that I am totally sold on the Jungle formula.

Another real plus has been the Pallatrax hooks.  By the end of last season I was running out of my all time favourite big fish hook for carp, the original Au Lion D’Or, size 2.  I liked the look of the hooks that Simon showed me and so far I’ve hooked ten carp and landed all ten. The same goes for the tench, bream, chub and barbel I’ve taken so far on the pattern.  I’ve yet to pull out, and I do play fish hard.  So, experience to date shows Pallatrax hooks to be a winner. They certainly satisfy my requirements.

Moving on to my tench and bream fishing, I have been using Stonze weights as simple method feeders.  The flatter profile has terrific holding properties for the bait ball and is not as horribly conspicuous as some of the bulbous method feeders currently on the market.  I’ve had good results using the Pallatrax method mix coupled with ground Vitalin and crammed with corn and casters. Lastly, one venue I fish for exceptional chub has received serious attention from fishmeal baits, the chub responding particularly well to mixes containing Robin Red.  In sessions at the end of last season and one session this season, I used a home made paste utilising the Pallatrax Crave base mix.  So far, that paste has given me a dozen good chub, with six over 6lbs, plus a bonus 9lb 4oz bream.

The one bait I haven’t used personally yet is the Elixir, as my fishing this summer has been very carp based using the Jungle.  But my good friend Matthew has started to use Elixir and has reported success with shelf life stick wrapped in paste and glugged.

In summary, my relationship with Pallatrax products is still very new, but I couldn’t have wished for a better introduction. The quality is obvious.