The stalked mirror from the New Forest Water Park
Well respected carper James Armstrong was quick to recognise the key advantages of the new ESP Cryogen hooks and has been putting them to very good use so far this spring, catching some absolute crackers along the way. Good angling Jimmy!
‘Three of biggest factors in my angling – location, bait and rigs…more importantly a rig with reliable end tackle.
I am not one for harping on about specific end tackle items, so when I do it is for a reason. I have been using a certain pattern for a number of years now and have recently switched over to the Cryogen after hearing so much about them from my friends Gareth Fareham and Dave Ellyatt, both anglers who I hold in high regard and respect. Consequently, I decided to try them and boy am I happy with the results.
To me, no hook is as sharp out the packet as it is when honed with a file. Consequently, this is something that I pay particular attention to and do with ALL my points no matter what the pattern or make. I have tried all sorts of patterns and types over the years and have never really found anything as hard in the metal, or reliable, as the Drennan Continental…until now!
I met Kev Hewitt over on the banks of Manor at Linear to shoot an article (me behind the camera). He shoved a packet of Cryogen Grippers in front of my nose and said have a look at these. Immediately, I was impressed with the fine beaked point and overall feel to the metal. They just looked hard as nails and when he mentioned that they were finished using a special tempering process to ensure increased strength I just had to give them a go. I just hoped that they would stay strong once honed with a sharpening stone. For me this is key!
My first outing was on a guest over to the New Forest Water Park. I was stalking within close quarters in a cheeky overgrown swim. After crumbling up a few Pacific Tuna baits I soon had a few chunks ghosting in and out, dipping down onto the bait. A few strokes with the file and I had my Cryogen Grippers, size 5, looking like hypodermic needles. I removed some of the beak by doing so, but the point was incredibly sharp. I did a few like this and placed the point into a stone I had found on the floor. I scratched it against the brittle side of the stone trying to burr it over and it really took some force to do so…spot on!!!! I had never experienced such a hard point and already my confidence in them was sky high. Don’t get me wrong, they are mega sharp straight out the packet, but I always like to increase this further.
I lowered in a rig and a few fish silently dipped down onto the hook bait. I watched intently, my palms were beginning to sweat as a big old mirror upended and sucked in the rig. All panic set in as it shook its head, powering into the depths as my clutch spun with anger. A mega fight ensued, and eventually I netted a wonderful fish ounces under 30. A new hook was born into my armoury, and later I was to add the Stiff Rigger!
As it is made using the same process, I just had to try this pattern too. Generally, I have two rigs in my attack – a bottom bait rig and a pop-up, generally a hinged stiff. As a result, I got to work with the Stiff Riggers. I employed the size 5’s on a number of venues over the past month or so with some staggering results. A few strokes on the long straight point, I had them looking dangerous and was so happy with the strong nature of the point, even though it was so thin. I managed an unbelievable 46.4 uncaught mirror from a very demanding, snaggy pit, plus others.
A Milton Abbas stunner
I then popped over to Milton Abbas in Dorset and winkled out a 33 in some heavy weed. In fact it took me around 20 minutes to land as I netted a huge weed bed…needless to say the hook held firm the whole way. I then moved onto a little forgotten pond in Cambs and managed fish of 32 and 33, two originals and fish that I have been after for a while. All on size 5 Stiff Riggers.
The hooks have found a place in my tackle box and will do for the forseeable future – they’re ultra sharp (even more so when honed), retain a very very strong, hard point, and very reliable. I am rather excited about using them on the surface too as I just know that I can get away with a tiny hook, yet feel confident of it being ultra strong when used in weed for bigger fish’.