I start with the quote:

“There is tackle that catches carp and there is tackle that catches the carp angler”
This is a saying that I heard from my dad many times during my teens as I came back from the tackle shop with all new different bits of carpy equipment.

But what constitutes calling someone tackle smart or a tackle tart?
I still maintain that every item in a fishing tackle shop has a purpose. It may seem an extremely pointless purpose but to someone else it might of just been the thing they have been looking for. I have lost count the amount of times I have come out of the tackle shop with a new size bucket that I can fill with another mix of particle that I have got to try and balance on the carp porter I must also admit I was a clothing and luggage tart in my teens when it came to the shimano tribal range.

I know  that every carp angler will have many different views when deciding if they are a tackle tart or not as everything that we buy has a purpose, well so it seems at the time.  When it comes to end tackle I have the opinion that you can never have enough
end tackle because if you fish various waters that need different tactics. Although I can remember back when I used to just have the lead running on the line no clip, no anti tangle tubing and a normal six inch hair rig (a technique that has caught me some very nice fish I may add). I remember thinking when seeing all these new bits coming into the shop dads going to call me a tackle tart!!! But now we swear by them lead clips for safety and anti tangle for presentation of the hook bait.
The picture above for me defines the true meaning of being a tackle tart. Now I can understand if your are fishing a very tight swim then these buzz bars could be very helpful. But when you are in a massive swim I ask the the question what is the point?

Here are my points backing up my argument.

When I get a run I want to be on the fish as soon as I can. So if I have to unfold the reel handle tighten up the front drag it is all precious seconds wasted purely because the rods look good on the bank. Now during the day I suppose it is not too bad going through this but in the dead of night you get a screaming run. Half asleep you pick it up mess up unfolding the handle and you
have lost the fish. Also as they are so close together you have a chance of knocking the other rods off the rests that could cause unnecessary damage.

I wanted to get people’s views on this subject so I put it out to twitter and
got a good response to a couple of questions that I put out there.

I am going to document the responses below and try and argue for and against.

@gonecarping:  Rods unnecessarily close to each other?

This was the first response I got and I was so happy because confirmed to me
what I had just written about previously was not just me!

Decision Tackle Tart or Tackle Tart?

Tackle Tart

@MAF79 Spirit Level On The Buzz Bars?

I understand that people like the buzz bars level and everything neat and
tidy. But going to the extreme of putting a spirit level on my buzz bars wow!
When I am fishing I hate it when my eyes are off the water so all little things
like this waste previous viewing time on the carp you are fishing for.

Decision Tackle Tart or Tackle Tart?

Tackle Tart

@JohnClaytonMA:  anything matching! Why? I ask myself. Surely
variation is superior.

Now I am a bit unsure on what you mean anything matching? But if you mean
anything I’m not sure if I agree. I think it is good to have certain things
matching such as rods, alarms and reels. When it comes to luggage I buy it
because it is useful to me not just because it adds to the set.

Decision Tackle Tart or Tackle Tart?

I’m going to sit on the fence on this one and say Tackle Smart and Tackle
Tart.

@_carpmaddave people say my nash monster cradle is a tart but its
down to fish care !! If you fish waters with forties you need to take
care

Anything to do with fish care and fish safety is up there in my book. I go
back to a point I raised earlier regarding to the lead clips and tubing first
started coming out it was seen as tarty because its new.
I can guarantee that
in a few years time those exact people who called you a tart will have something
similar for their unhooking mat.

Decision Tackle Tart or Tackle Tart?

Tackle Smart

In conclusion people have very varied views on who or what you would call a tackle tart ????

If I could summarise I would define a tackle tart as some one or some thing that does an action or method that takes their mind off either the water craft or getting there tactics perfect.

Do you agree?

Until next time stay productive