TACKLE GUIDE
Mark Sawyer discovers how Nytro’s new rod range has benefited from the input of one the sport’s greatest match anglers – Tommy Pickering
WHEN match fishing legend Tommy Pickering takes time out to tell you about the rod he uses for 99 per cent of his commercial feeder fishing, chances are it’s going to be something a bit special.
That’s exactly what happened to me a few weeks ago at The Big One Show, when I managed to grab a quick chat with Tom, who was holding court on the Nytro stand.
He and I go back a long way, and have known each other as bankside adversaries (think Barnsley Blacks and Essex County) as well as work colleagues, for donkey’s years. I’ve never told him this before, but I’ve always been in total awe of him – his angling prowess and match fishing track record are off the scale. Oh yes, a class act is our Mr Pickering, from his Embassy Pairs win on Skanderborg Lake, to being crowned World Champion in Bulgaria in 1989, not to mention countless domestic titles including UK Champs, Parkdean Masters, Fish O’ Mania runner-up and more national team honours with Barnsley than I could shake a stick at.
His record as a manager on the world stage is equally formidable. And I’ll let you into a little secret here… having spoken with many of his chosen team members over the years, I can tell you that they rate Tommy P as the greatest manager in the world! No wonder he’s a hero of mine.
It turns out that Nytro commissioned Tommy to develop a rod range aimed squarely at the journeyman UK match angler. But rather than just trot out your bog-standard feeder and pellet waggler rods, he has come up with a totally new concept spanning a wide range of fishing styles, tactical applications and venue types.
The nine-strong TPS Marvelist family features both carp and all-rounder rods.
Indeed, the range will cater for all seasonal needs and applications.
Allow me to explain further – the 9ft, 10ft and 11ft two-piece Marvelist Carp models are also available in a Light Carp version best suited to winter carp and F1s, although Tommy was keen to point out that, being so versatile, they are also ideal for summer bream and skimmer tactics.
The standard carp rods are out-and-out bag-up machines, and perfect for use with bigger hooks and heavier mainlines and feeders.
To that you can add the all-rounder models that come in longer 11ft, 12ft and 13ft lengths. All have three-piece builds and are dressed throughout in oversized guides, enabling them to be used with shockleaders if and when needed.
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