For the past 12 months Foxs team of in-house CAD-engineers and leading carp consultants have been working tirelessly to produce a new range of Fox Carp Accessories. Immediately youll notice the high-impact new packaging used throughout. But this launch isnt just about redesigned packaging. Within the vast range youll be introduced to many new products designed to help you catch more sh. Expect to see new items such as Fox Maggot Clips, Adaptive Camo Leadcore, Arma-Mesh and Illusion Soft to name just a few. All products that are truly different to anything currently available on the market. We have also worked hard to improve products where possible, utilising camo colours to further conceal our end tackle when in water. Take our new leads and Safety Lead Clips, for example, that all now come in camo green and brown colours. Put simply, the new Fox Accessories will make a huge impact on your shing and this book is designed to help you make the most of these accessories, with top tips from our leading anglers to ensure you catch more sh than ever before. Enjoy and good luck. Fox International
Whether a blister pack of rig beads or a top of the range bivvy, each new item is the result of exhaustive research and development. At the sharp end Foxs team of consultants get involved at every stage of product development, from concept through to on-the-bank testing. Regular meetings at HQ ensure feedback from samples is collated and improvements or design tweaks are suggested to guarantee that products perform as well as possible. Test periods for potential products vary, from a few months for small items like swivels and beads, up to 12-18 months for more complex products such as reels and alarms. Because of the sensitive nature of product development many items cannot be used on sheries where other anglers can be aware of them, helping to keep new items under wraps until ready for launch. Not all new product testing is glamorous, but must be undertaken thoroughly to ensure the angler buys the very best product possible. With new mainlines and hook length materials, consultants might need to repeat hundreds of breaking strain and abrasion tests before their performance is approved as satisfactory for a new Fox product.
The Creative Team at Fox are the brains that get the job of transforming ideas, coffee stained sketches and primary school level doodles into computer aided designs ready for manufacture. Because Fox uses skilled in-house CAD-engineers, changes to existing products or new ideas can be transformed into virtually complete designs very quickly, often while consultants are still discussing products around the table. All design work is overseen inside Fox HQ, giving complete control over the performance and quality of a nished product.
Hands-on is the best way for anglers to appreciate the benet of the highest quality tackle. Fox puts maximum effort into showcasing new and existing products, whether at annual shows or our own Fox Experience that offers the chance to see everything from carp, sea, predator and match tackle all in the same place. You might want advice on bedchairs and bivvies, to spend time casting spods and leads to see which rods suit you or take advantage of our consultancy teams immense knowledge to pick up the latest rig tricks and end tackle advice. Fox recognise the value in giving you, the customer, time to talk tackle and test tackle before committing to buy.
The new range of Fox accessories go through months of thorough testing before being launched into the tackle shop.
LINE CONCEALMENT
HOW obvious is your line to a carp? The sight or feel of line running through a swim is one of the biggest danger signals to sh, especially on heavily pressured venues. Appropriate choice of line and care taken to conceal it from carpy eyes is a key factor in bringing more bites. Fluorocarbon reel lines have been the biggest step forward in line concealment. Foxs Illusion is considered the very best uorocarbon mainline available, being both supple and easy to cast with genuine knot strengths and accurate diameters. Fluorocarbon has a light refractive index close to that of water, making it much less visible than more conventional monos. Fox also leads the way in camouage for monolaments. Fox Soft Steel Camo is a favourite for many carpers in the UK and overseas. It features repeated camo shades along its length to help break up the continuous line. Follow our steps to better line concealment and hopefully you will reap the rewards.
Fox Downrigger Backleads work by a camoagued weight being attached to your mainline by a clip that can be opened with one hand for ease of use. If the lead becomes trapped in snags, it will pull free, putting the angler back in direct contact with the sh. Its available in 21gr (0.75oz) and 43gr (1.5oz) sizes.
Fox Sliders are basically ying back leads aerodynamically designed to slide back up the mainline during the cast to help pin down the line whilst shing, reducing the chance of the line spooking sh. They now come in camo green and brown colours.
Captive Back Leads are a unqiue system from Fox designed for the effective recovery of a Back Lead. A hinged line gate releases on the strike, with the Back Lead cord and winder attached to the pod to aid recovery. They come in four sizes - 35gr, 56gr, 84gr and 112gr.
Mould small slugs of Fox High SG Tungsten Putty at two feet intervals behind the lead to help pin down line in the area carp are feeding.
Here you can see how different types of mainline are seen when in water. On the right is Fox Illusion, braid is in the middle with traditional monolament on the left.
The Fox Downrigger Backlead pins the mainline to the lakes bottom. This drastically reduces the chances of line being seen, or felt by sh in the swim.
RIG CONCEALMENT
CARP have incredibly keen eyesight and in strong light and clear water are able to see the tiniest objects with ease. Well concealed leads, end tackles and rig components are an essential ingredient for catching carp consistently - if a carp is unsettled by the appearance of your end tackle and rig components its unlikely to stick around long enough to get caught! Although there are times when carp are nowhere near so reliant on their eyes such as in coloured water, attention to detail camouaging rigs will always pay off in the long term. The more effectively you conceal tackle from wary carp the more condently they tend to be in their feeding and the more likely you are to catch. Fox has developed Adaptive Camouage, which uses repeating colours to disrupt outline and disguise terminal tackle. Carefully chosen following exhaustive testing from dozens and dozens of shades available Fox rig bits are supplied in translucent green and gravel brown simply disappearing when on the lake bed whether over polished gravel bottoms, amongst silkweed or in soft silt. The acid test is to put your end tackle and rig in the lake and have a look at it. Seeing a rig disappear on the lake bed in front of you does wonders for your condence!
Pull back the polyester outer and snip off around 8cm of the inner lead wire. Where the lead ends and the hollow inner starts, push a Splicing Needle into the centre of the polyester sheath.
Push the needle 1.5-2cm down the centre of the polyester outer and then push the needle back out through the side of the polyester.
TOP TIP
If you nd splicing Leadcore tricky, Fox Ready Spliced Leadcore Leaders come supplied with Ring Swivels at one end and a spliced loop at the other.
Trim the end of the leadcore so the bres are neat. Insert the end into the Splicing Needle and close the lip to secure it.
Hold the section where the needle passes through the centre of the polyester between thumb and nger and gently pull the needle back, trapping the end of the leadcore back through it.
Once the needle emerges keep pulling the tag end until you begin to form a small loop. Keep tighening until the loop is around 5mm. Trim the excess leadcore tag.
To create the other end of the leader repeat the process, threading a ring swivel on the leadcore after the inner is removed and before the splice is formed.
ARMA-POINT
THE moment that denes success or failure is how readily a hook point nds a hold when your target carp tightens a hook length making critically sharp hooks your most valuable presentation advantage. Widely accepted as the most comprehensive range of carp and specialist hooks ever produced, Fox Arma-Points offer deadly hooking efciency whether presenting pop-ups on stiff links, particles over spod mix, zig rigs or oaters. Designed from a blank canvas, every aspect of each Arma-Point pattern has been tailored to suit the varied requirements of modern presentations. Whether looking for precision out turned eyes to provide maximum rig efciency with stiff hook length materials, curved and extended shanks to improve anti-eject qualities or razor sharp points that defy the harshest gravel bottoms, there is an Arma-Point that has been designed to perform in every carp catching situation you might encounter, whether in the UK or across Europe.
MACRO BARB
Perfectly proportioned macro barbs produce rock solid hook holds.
NON-REFLECTIVE COATING
Slick non-reective coating ensures sticky points and anti-glare nish for rig concealment.
EYE
All eyes feature 100 per cent closure for knot and rig reliability.
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A Fox Hook Sharpener is essential for all serious carp anglers. It features a coarse nish on one side for heavy honing of big hooks, and a smooth nish on the other for ner imperfections.
Use Kwik Change Swivels and Sleeves to remove carefully constructed rigs to maintain their hooking efciency and avoid blunting hooks when moving swims or rebaiting several rods.
STAYING SHARP
RIGGING up with the sharpest hooks possible is the single biggest and easiest improvement that most anglers can make to their carp shing fortunes. The sharper a hook the more easily it nicks into esh and nds a secure hold when a sh tightens the hook length to the lead. Sharper points penetrate further than less keen patterns, making them much less readily shaken out by pressurised carp, converting more pick ups to carp on the bank. Fox Arma Points have been CAD-designed with needle sharp points that are so sticky they catch hold of anything they come into contact with, resulting in more takes. Arma Points derive their name because of their incredibly sharp but amazingly robust points, staying razor sharp even after several captures. However even the toughest and sharpest points need looking after, and getting into the routine of checking hooks and their points pays huge dividends.
Pre-tie your rigs and store them on a Fox Rig Rack. This ensures the hooks stay razor sharpe and dont risk them becoming damaged or blunt in transit.
How big? The strength of the Arma Point patterns allows smaller sizes to be used condently even with big sh and demanding swims. Smaller hooks are lighter and less easily detected by wary carp.
Many sheries still insist on barbless. Make sure you have your favourite patterns in both barbed and barbless to stay within the rules and shing condently.
The high density foam insert of Arma Point boxes protects each hook and stops them moving around, ensuring they are as sharp as possible when rigging up, avoiding dulled points.
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LEADS
EXOCET
NEW for 2009, the Exocet is an out and out distance casting lead, capable of reaching the most distant feeding areas in the hands of the most accomplished casters. Carefully CAD-designed and rened through lengthy testing, Fox has produced a weight forward, nose heavy bomb that ies long and true without any of the instability or wobble of more slender zipp style bombs. Available in (oz): 3, 3.5, 4, 4.5, 5
KLING ON
UNIQUE to Fox, the Kling On grips the bottom like no other design, using pronounced studs to position on the most severe bars, marginal shelves or in turbulent ow. Kling Ons are popular for long range boating when dropping baits at extreme range, guaranteeing rigs stay exactly where they are placed. Offered as both swivel leads and in-lines all offer unrivalled hooking, the largest sizes standard issue amongst big water carpers across the UK and Europe. Available in (oz): 2.25, 2.75, 3, 3.25, 3.75, 4, 4.25, 4.75, 5, 6, 8, 10 Plus additional 12 oz swivel version
LEAD meets Method feeder, the Paste Bomb is a CAD-generated three sided shape with slimline cavities, allowing Method mixes or pastes to be securely moulded around the lead, yet retaining the camouage and hooking advantages of a lead over a feeder. The aerodynamic prole offers accurate long casting and with similarities in design with the Elevator also rises quickly to the surface on the retrieve. Paste Bombs have quietly brought numbers of extra sh for thinking anglers, both carp and specialist. Available in (oz): 1.5, 2.5, 3.5
TOP TIP
All Fox swivel leads feature a large eye rubber coated swivel for improved camouage and ease of use with lead clips. Fox in-line leads have integral safety sleeves, allowing leads to easily discharge over lead core leaders and shock leader knots. Weights are imprinted on all Fox leads, ensuring you know exactly what you are using and when. Three carefully chosen rubberised non-reective coatings offer unbeatable camouage options over any lake bed.
HORIZON
WITH a six sided weight forward shape, the Horizon provides excellent long casting performance with increased stability and resistance to rolling, ensuring optimum rig performance when you need to hit long range hotspots. Smaller Horizon leads splash down quietly, making them a great choice for thinking anglers on small venues. The in-line variant is the choice when direct contact is required in heavy weed but good aerodynamics are needed to hit distant marks accurately. Available in (oz): 2.25, 2.75, 3, 3.25, 3.75, 4, 4.25, 4.75, 5
TRI-BOMB
VERSATILE all-rounders, Tri-Bombs concentrate weight forwards to increase bolt effect. Swivel Tri-Bombs are effective with running rigs, safety clips and helicopter end tackles. Choose the in-line versions for hard gravel bottoms or amongst weed to reduce chances of carp becoming snagged. Despite their dumpy design Tri-Bombs cast excellently without wobbling or losing stability, allowing them to be used at well over 100 yards with suitable tackle. Available in (oz): 1.25, 1.75, 2.25, 2.75, 3, 3.25, 3.75, 4, 4.25, 4.75, 5
ELEVATOR
CAREFULLY designed with a uted three sided prole Elevator leads aqua plane up through water instantly when retrieved, making them essential on venues with sunken snags and dense weed. Their low prole also makes them an outstanding choice in owing water, holding position well. Boating hook baits out using the smaller Elevators also works tremendously well. Available in (oz): 4, 4.5, 5, 6, 7
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The simplest running rig is a Flat Pear threaded on the mainline. Use a Fox Knot Protector Bead pushed securely over size 7 swivel to buffer the lead on the cast. The Bead has been designed to house a size 7 swivel and comes in Camo Green and Brown.
At short/medium range a running rig can be shed without tubing or leadcore as long as the hook material is semi-stiff like Fox Coretex or Illusion and you watch for tangles when the rig is in ight.
RUNNING RIGS
WITH the majority of carpers religiously using semi-xed leads, running rigs offer a very different set of circumstances for carp to deal with when they pick up a hook bait. A semi-xed lead uses the resistance of the lead to pull the hook home when a carp tightens the hook length. Brought up around bolt rigs from day one, most anglers nd running rigs unlikely candidates after all how does a running rig help hook carp when theres no inertia of a lead to drive the hook point home? Hooking carp isnt as straight forward as the lead does the job for you, and often simply the hook inside a carps mouth will prick into esh and be enough to panic a sh without the hook length tightening. Where running rigs really score is in making life very difcult for carp to get rid of a hook once theyve picked up the hook bait. When feeling a hook carp tend to shake their heads violently to bounce a rig out using the weight of a semi-xed lead. With running end tackles theres no lead to bounce the hook out, just steady resistance as the line is pulled through the swivel of the lead. Its so simple, but really catches carp out, behaving differently to almost all other end tackles carp encounter. Indication from running rigs is also unrivalled. One of the beauties of running rigs is that if a carp picks up your hook bait youll always get a positive indication on a Hanger or Swinger telling you much more about what is going on in your swim than using semi-xed leads.
Adding a small PVA bag or stick to the hook length always guarantees tangle free presentation, the weight of the bag helping to bounce the hook length away from the main line.
Run Ring and Bead Kits use speed links to allow different size and shape leads to be substituted in seconds. They come complete with everything you need to create a running rig!
Although not as friction free as a running lead direct on the main line, leads can be set up free running on leadcore or tubing end tackles, again using a knot protector bead as the stop.
Running rigs are the safest long range end tackle, allowing the lead to slide freely over a shock leader knot in the event of breakage. For distance work use a tiny PVA bag to prevent tangles.
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Dumpier lead shapes that concentrate weight in the smallest possible area offer the most effective hooking with Safety Clips. Fox Tri-Bombs are ideal, and can still be cast long distances.
Maximum bolt effect when a carp tightens the hook length is achieved if swivels are snipped off leads before mounting on clips. Fox Predator pliers are ideal.
SAFETY CLIPS
THE most versatile end tackle of all, so effective are Fox Safety Clips that if you left them on your rods all season you would rarely nd a situation where they cost you sh. Their key advantage is that the lead is only attached to the line via a tail rubber that slides over the retaining lug. In the event of a breakage a correctly constructed Safety Clip end tackle will allow the lead to discharge, preventing a carp from towing a lead that could potentially become tethered. When carp become bogged down in thick weed, lilies or nd the sanctuary of a snag or overhanging branch it is often the lead that is snagged. Safety Clips allow leads to drop off when under pressure, meaning many carp are landed that might otherwise be lost. The fact that leads can easily be removed from clips is also a huge practical advantage, allowing leads to be changed in seconds to suit different ranges and areas of a swim when rods are repositioned.
The Fox Safety Lead Clips use a T-bar design which securely xes and aligns the swivel inside the clip for trouble free lead ejection when shing snaggy swims.
Fox Safety Lead Clips come complete with swivels and Anti-Tangle Sleeves. With other manufacturers systems, you have to purhase these items separately.
Fox Tail Rubbers grip enough to allow PVA bags to be cast without ejecting the lead on impact with the water. When shing at range with PVA, clip up and hit the clip on the cast.
Its vital that no component of your rig sacrices the concealment of your rig when in the water. Thats why Fox Safety Lead Clips now come in Camo Green and Brown colours.
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IN-LINES
NUMBER one choice for efcient hooking over hard bottoms, in-line leads present the hook length so carp always feel the full resistance of the lead when the hook length is tightened, converting more pick ups to takes and sh landed. In-lines cast less far than safety clip or helicopter end tackles because the drag of the hooklength in ight pulls at the nose of the lead, reducing aerodynamics. In-lines also score in venues where carp need to be beaten through dense weed as there is no lead hanging from the line to get caught up. They are also rst choice for margin work over hard bottoms where the rig has to be shed on a very slack line to prevent spooking carp. Over soft bottoms in-lines offer less reliable presentation, tending to bury nose down into silt which can result in dreadful presentation with hook lengths often forced into very unnatural angles that can prevent carp picking up the hook bait at all.
Use the dumpiest in-line you can cast to the spots you want to sh. Fox Flat Pears and Tri-Bombs offer maximum bolt effect. Switch to the more slender Horizon in-lines when targeting long distances.
All Fox in-lines have an integral safety sleeve. Size 7 swivels semi-x perfectly in the front recess, but in event of breakage the lead slides easily from the tapered sleeve and over knots.
MOULDED LOGO & WEIGHTS SHOWN IN GRAMS & OUNCES FOR EASY RECOGNITION
The safety sleeve slowly tapers away from the rear of the lead preventing hook lengths catching behind it in ight. Anti-tangle tubing ts neatly inside the sleeve and leadcore can be used safely.
Flat Pear in-lines are ideal for solid PVA bag work. The lead is compact, tting easily inside narrow bags and their dumpy shape hooks carp that arent moving their heads much whilst feeding.
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RUBBERISED DULL CAMO FINISH
Using size 7 Fox Flexi Ring Swivels with in-line leads over hard bottoms prevents damage to the hook length when the lead touches down. Standard swivels can be bent and damaged.
To create a simple in-line set-up, purchase Fox Ready Spliced Leadcore or Leadcore Rigs. Thread your lead onto mainline, attach Leadcore and tie on hooklink (Warrior Ready Made Rig). Simple!
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HELICOPTER RIGS
THIS rig derives its name from the way the hook length revolves at 90 degrees to the main line in ight behind the lead, like a helicopters blades. Its a superbly efcient anti-tangle system and a very accurate long distance set up. On silty waters, and over soft bottoms is where the helicopter scores. Where the lead can bury itself from several inches to a foot or more the hook length can slide back up the leadcore or tubing presenting the bait on top of the silt rather than being dragged into it. Helicopters are perfect for the presentation of stiff rigs and booms the most popular of these being the chod rig. The rig can slide on the leadcore to prevent it being shaken out, making the helicopter the only choice for the chod. Never use shock leaders with this set-up it simply adds another knot that the hook length swivel would need to pass over for a carp to be free of the lead and leader.
All components needed to create a safe helicopter rig are provided in the new Fox Camo Leadcore Heli Kits. Splice a loop at one end of a length of Fox Adaptive Camo Leadcore and add a Speed Link at the other.
Leads should have the swivels removed before attaching to the speed link. Slide the camo heli bead over the link and eye for a tangle free, neat nish.
Thread on a 5mm length of 0.5mm Rig Silicone followed by a Camo Flexi Bead and a Flexi Ring Swivel. Follow it with another Camo Flexi Bead and a second 5mm length of silicone.
Use saliva to help slide the silicone into position on the leader and seat the Camo Flexi Beads over the top of each length of silicone to form sliding stops.
TOP TIP
Rather than make your own Helicopter Rig, buy the Fox Ready Made Heli Rig Kits.
The deeper the silt the further up from the lead the top stop needs positioning, allowing even short hook lengths to slide up the leadcore and settle on top of the silt rather than being buried.
In event of breakage the hook length swivel must be able to slide free of the leader. Under pressure the top Camo Bead pushes easily off the silicone, allowing the swivel to pass over the spliced loop.
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ARMA-MESH
Arma-Mesh is a tough nylon mesh similar in appearance to PVA, but does not dissolve in water. Supplied on a loading tube similar to those used for PVA mesh, baits are pushed through the tube using the supplied plunger and then tied off exactly like PVA mesh to produce armoured hook baits hence the name. Once meshed boilies and pellets are immersed in water and begin to swell the mesh almost disappears from view, making meshed hook baits appear identical to free offerings. Arma-Mesh allows you to present baits on the hair that simply arent possible to sh any other way, giving it a huge role to play outwitting carp that have been shed for and caught on the usual boilies and pop-ups for season after season. What will you put in yours?
Arma Mesh comes in 14mm narrow and 22mm wide, with ve metres on a tube. The wide mesh suits larger boilies, the narrow is ideal for smaller boilies and alternative hook baits.
The narrow mesh is brilliant for making durable pellet hook baits which cant be taken off the hair by small sh and dont dissolve. Use a Fox Mini Nut Drill to drill out a 14mm marine pellet lengthways.
Pellets in a dry state soon expand in water making the Arma-Mesh completely invisible.
Knot the Arma-Mesh and push the pellet through the loading tube lengthways and maintaining tension on the mesh on the outside of the tube, slowly push the pellet through the other end.
Twist the mesh above the pellet so it grips tightly, and then tie another overhand knot, drawing it down tight to the bait. Trim the mesh above the knot on the top of the pellet.
A large pellet soaks in water and expands, making the mesh invisible. This ensures nuisance sh dont attack the pellet over time.
Try a hemp, pellet and corn bag for a completely new type of hookbait!
Carefully offer the ame of a lighter to the loose mesh above both of the overhand knots. The Arma-Mesh will slowly melt down to the knot giving a neat secure appearance. Under 16s should seek help from an adult for this part.
Thread a lip close needle through the mesh and through the pre-drilled hole. Pull a Fox Pellet Peg into the hole to secure. The meshed pellet can be left out for long periods with total condence.
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Perfect for esh fans... SOFT and eshy baits can be shed with condence with Arma-Mesh, giving it broader appeal than just to carp anglers. But, dont overlook how fond carp are of a meaty or shy bait, and there are any number of options from various seafoods to tuna chunks meshed tightly and threaded on the hair. Ive used minced up sardines in stick mixes for many years and you can mesh a chunk of sardine and it catches a hell of a lot of carp theres a bait most waters havent seen.
Chris with the size of sh you can fool by using the new Fox Arma-Mesh.
TOP TIP
AS with meshed boilies there can be a slight chance the hook can get caught through the mesh surrounding the bait. Thread PVA bags down the hook length stick style to prevent any chance of hook ups on the mesh or use a stiffer hair material like mono to guarantee perfect presentation every time.
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New Fox PVA is available in two sizes, wide and narrow. Bags made from the wide mesh contain large amounts of feed and are ideal over baited areas and when action is coming quickly.
Narrow mesh produces smaller bags which are better when shing for one bite at a time and in colder weather when too much feed can be detrimental.
PVA
PVA has become an indispensable part of virtually every modern rig, allowing almost any bait to be accurately grouped around a hook bait. It would be simply impossible to feed a pinch of pellets or tiny chopped boilies so precisely at any range or depth using any other baiting technique. PVA bags of feed focus a carps attention on the area immediately around the hook bait, bringing bites faster than with a hook bait alone. Fox Fine Mesh has a fast dissolve time even in the lowest water temperatures, and allows the smallest or most difcult feed items like maggots, micro pellets or groundbaits to be used without them falling (or wriggling!) out of the bag before casting. Its tough anti-ladder construction resists damage and withstands day to day handling when shing. There are lots of ways to improve PVA bag traps, limited only by your ingenuity.
FOX PVA NOW AVAILABLE IN 10 METRES WITH 25 METRE REFILLS
A mix of different size pellets helps to keep carp guessing. Use small bottom baits like mini pellets, maggots, mini boilies and chopped down boilies rather than larger hook baits and pop-ups.
Nick the hook through the side of the bag away from the PVA knots. The knots are the last part of the bag to dissolve and a blob of PVA near the hook point can cost you sh.
In the warmer months cobweb bags containing pellets liberally splashed in a sh oil like salmon oil, Tackle Box ming oil or Mainline Fosoil outcatch bags of plain pellets many times over.
In colder water cobweb bags can be dunked in PVA friendly dips to enhance attraction. Transfer dips into Fox Glug Pots. They feature rubber screw top seals to prevent leakage in transit.
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PVA STICKS
A SIMPLE way to prevent tangles, leave a parcel of highly attractive feed around the hook bait and camouage your rig, the PVA stick gets you more bites. With so much going for it, if youre casting out without one youve got to stop and ask yourself why? The original stick concept used groundbait mixed with heavy doses of oils, compressed down a narrow cobweb PVA tube to produce a parcel of ne attractive feed. Using a latch key needle, the hook length is drawn back through the stick lengthways, the hook being pulled into the base of the stick. The beauty of the stick is that it guarantees perfect presentation, the hook point unable to be masked by weed or debris giving complete condence that you are shing effectively, even if you know little of the swim or venue youre tackling. Whether casting back to a baited area at night, in heavy crosswinds or ring rigs under canopies and tight to overhanging trees, a stick gives you complete condence that your rig will be landing and shing perfectly and they take just seconds to make and mount on a link.
Mix up your chosen stick mix and PVA friendly liquids (not water based). The mix can contain boilie chops, pellets, particles, the possibilities are endless and limited only to your imagination.
Take a small amount of the mix and push it down the PVA mesh funnel.
Tightly compress the mix using the plunger. This will ensure the mix explodes around the hookbait and hooklink when the PVA melts.
Twist the PVA around the top of the stick and tie off with a simple overhand knot. Trim the ends for neatness.
Pass a Stix Needle through the top and out the side of the stick. Tie a gure of eight loop in the end of your hooklink to pull the hooklink back through the stick.
Pull the hook point into the stick. Thread an anti tangle sleeve onto the hooklink and attach the loop to a Kwik Change Swivel. Now you are set to cast out the rig.
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THE COMBI-RIG
IF you were limited to one hook length to catch carp forever more, combi-link materials take some beating. A well constructed combi-rig is one of the most commonly tied but effective carp rigs of all, and rst off the rig board for many experienced carpers. The semi-stiff coating helps prevent tangles during the cast, and acts as a boom section to encourage the hook bait to fall away from the lead as the rig touches down. The camouaged inner braid can be exposed easily by breaking the coating between ngernails and peeling away. A section of exposed braid immediately behind a hook adds exibility to a presentation, allowing the hook bait to be taken more readily, and improving the free movement of a hook to allow it to turn and nd a hold. Arrived at after lengthy eld testing and numerous samples, Fox Coretex offers the perfect combination of properties. Available in weedy olive, gravel brown, silty black and sandy yellow and in three strains, 15, 20 and 25 lb Coretex offers total concealment whatever situation you are faced with.
Peel back 10cm of outer coating from your chosen colour and breaking strain of Coretex and tie an overhand loop in the end for the hair. Trim the tag end.
Thread your chosen baits on the hair and x in place with a stop. Leaving 1-2cm of exposed braid as a hair pass the unstripped end of the Coretex down through the eye of a size 8 Arma Point SSC.
Whip an eight to 10 turn knotless knot and pass the tag end down through the eye towards the point and tighten down. There should be 1-1.5cm of exposed braid behind the eye.
Thread a 5-7mm length of 1.2-0.8mm shrink tube over the hook to cover the whippings. Steam it over a boiling kettle and when the tube is still soft angle the hook length and blow on it to set it.
Thread on an anti-tangle sleeve and tie a gure of eight loop knot at the other end of the link. When under pressure coated links like Coretex tighten further so leave, dont trim, the tag end too close.
Use the combi-rig with any of your chosen lead arrangements. Use size 7 Kwik Change Flexi Ring Swivels to improve anti-tangle performance and allow links to be changed in seconds.
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Strip the coating from the end of a length of Coretex and tie an overhand loop to form the hair. Thread the bottom bait on followed by the pop-up and secure in place with a Boilie Prop.
Add your chosen hookbait and adjust the length of your hair to the desired length. Just off the bend is a good starting point. Carefully remove the bait to make the tying easier for yourself. Make sure you hold the hooklink material in the set position.
Attach to the hook using a knotless knot add an angled piece of Rig Shrink. Ensure that you leave a small section of exposed braid behind the shrink tubing to allow the hook to freely rotate.
Pass the tag end through the back of the eye making sure the turns dont unravel as you do so.
To critically balance the baits trim the pop-up down until the hook baits sink very slowly. Always test your rig in the margins to ensure they sit perfectly.
Moisten the knot and pull gradually on the tag end for a neat and tidy nish to your knot.
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Tie a knotless knot using stripped back Coretex and a Size 8 Arma Point LS, thread on a 0.5mm piece of silicone so the hair exits opposite the hook point.
Stretch a length of the supplied silicone into the central bore of a No.4 Kwik Change Weight. Trim one end tight to the weight, leave 2mm of silicone protruding at the other end.
The hook is pushed through the tag end of the silicone, xing the weight directly behind the point of the hook.
Leave 1cm of Coretex stripped back behind the eye of the hook. Mould a small piece of High SG putty around the eye to weight the back end of the hook.
Coretex is a sinking material but add a couple of small mouse dropping size slugs of High SG putty to prevent the link lifting up when carp feed around it.
Steve favours two pieces of plastic corn over spod mix. The hook bait needs to be buoyant enough to lift the hook upright with the Kwik Change weight and putty anchoring each end.
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Chod rigs need to be shed on helicopter end tackles. In-lines and lead clips dont allow the rig to settle slowly on to the lake bed the same way. A Fox Ready Tied Leadcore Heli-Rig is perfect.
15 lb Rigidity is the ideal hook length material. Although stiff for effective anti-eject properties it can also be curved after the rig is tied to create more aggressive hooking like a giant bent hook.
3 TOP TIP
All helicopter rigs need to be constructed so the stop beads on the Leadcore allow the hook length to slide off the leader in case of breakage. A 1cm length of 0.5mm Fox Rig Silicone with a Camo Flexi Bead pushed over the top works brilliantly. Leave several inches between the stop beads, and position the hook length 12-18 inches back from the lead for optimum rig efciency.
Arma Point SR hooks are designed for stiff presentations like the chod, the slightly out turned eye ensuring the gape iisnt reduced on the nished rig. Use size 7s for 14-16mm pop-ups.
Tie a four turn knotless knot with the Rigidity, thread a Rig Ring on the tag end then pass it down through the eye to form a D loop. The D needs to be kept small so the bait sits just above the eye on the nished rig.
Keeping the hook length out of harms way, carefully offer a lighter towards the tag end. When you see it start to melt remove the ame and blob the tag end.
Tie the link to the ring swivel on the lead core, leaving the nished link 2-3 inches maximum. Use a three turn blood knot and blob the tag end after trimming down.
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MAGGOT RIG
THE new Fox Maggot Clips make presenting bunches of grubs easier than ever. Available from 6 to 12mm you can produce hook baits from as few as three or four maggots to giant wriggling balls. The pyramid shape of the clips prevents maggots bunching up and exposing bare metal and requires less metal for a more balanced presentation. A specially designed Tweezer tool is available that allows the clip to be easily opened and loaded without bending the clip. Maggots bring a erce feeding reaction from carp, even in the coldest water, and large quantities of maggots, a gallon (eight pints) or even double that quantity can bring monster catches when little else is bringing a response. Its an aggressive approach, and an expensive one, but can produce quantities of carp you have rarely seen before. SIZE 12 Maggot Clips Actual Size
SIZE 10
SIZE 8 SIZE 6
A combi rig from Fox Coretex makes the perfect maggot rig. Strip back 5-6cm of outer coating then tie the maggot clip to the end with a grinner knot. Fox Maggot Tweezers have been designed to help open up a Fox Maggot Clip to aid threading maggots. Youll be amazed how useful these Tweezers are!
Maggot Tweezers
Whip a knotless knot to a size 9 Arma Point SSC leaving a 1cm hair between bend of hook and maggot clip. Add 5-7mm of shrink tube and steam down at an angle improve hooking.
When tackling pressurised carp that have been hammered on maggots use the size 12 clips and just three or four maggots, smaller hook baits catch best.
Fox Fine PVA allows small pellets and live maggots to be used in PVA bags without all the maggots wriggling out before you cast.
Add inserts to a TB spod when depositing large quantities of maggots. Add water for weight. Fox Bait Droppers will drop maggots directly on the lake bed and can be cast surprising distances.
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ZIG RIGGING
Changing air pressures, warm winds and bright sunlight see carp spend long periods well up-in-the-water. A zig rig presents a buoyant bait like a pop-up well off bottom, putting it in front of a cruising carp. Many lack condence in a single bait suspended on its own but some of the biggest carp in the country fall to zigs. Action can be very depth specic you might catch well on hook baits at half depth but not on baits close to the surface. Instead of tying different length rigs the Adjustable Zig Rig is essential for ne tuning depths and being able to net sh with ease, especially from deep water. Spodding over the rig has proved a devestating tactic on prolic waters.
Tie up a 1 metre hook length of 8-13lb Micro Plus+ to a size 10 Arma Point SSBP hook. Use a knotless knot and keep the hair short so the bait stays tight to the back of the hook.
Tie a gure of eight loop knot in the other end, this will enable you to quickly change your hook length after a sh when used with a size 11 Kwik Change Swivel and Sleeve.
Attach the lead to a Slik Ring via a Kwik Link. This enables smooth free running of the rig so that you can adjust the height of the rig in the water with minimal resistance.
An essential part of the rig is the stiff boom. It prevents the long hook length tangling on the cast. Cut the stiff boom tubing to 30cm and push on the large bead supplied with the Slik Ring Kit.
On the other end of the boom add a Paternoster Sunk Float from the Fox Predator range, the XLarge size is ideal and bouyant enough for use at range in deep water.
The oat will sit up against the swivel in the water. Fish your rods at different depths to start with. To adjust the depth of the rig let out line or reel it in until you nd a depth that the sh are feeding.
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FLOATER FISHING
SITTING behind rods baited with boilies is a mugs game when temperatures rise and carp can be seen actively cruising and basking in the upper layers. Only a tiny minority of carpers choose to sh surface baits, yet it is the most exciting tactic of all watching carp approach and engulf a hook bait. From March through to October opportunities to catch surface feeders arise on most venues, and with just a few accessories and a bag of oating pellets you are prepared enough to catch even difcult carp when they show themselves on top.
Use a 1.5mm Nut/Pellet Drill to bore a small hole through oating pellets or mixers and simply mount one or two on a hair rig.
Fox Bait Bands are ideal for mounting oating baits close to the hook shank. Stretch it around the bait and pierce the tag with the hook.
EXOCET KIT
Floating pellets and mixers can be glued straight to the hook. Create a groove in the bait with the side of a Diamond Hook File.
Fill the groove with Knot-Lok Rig Glue and set the hook into it. Hold the hook still in this position for a few seconds until the glue is dry.
For a presentation that will withstand nuisance sh and big casts tightly wrap the bait in ArmaMesh. Pass the hook through the knot and secure into position with a small piece of 0.5mm Silicone.
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Internal weights in the Fox Method Feeder means it always lands the right way up to ensure youre hookbait isnt lost under the feeder.
Fox Maggot Method Feeders have a central chamber lled with high density foam. Either soak the foam in liquid additives or remove the foam and ll the chamber with maggots.
THE METHOD
The Method works on a number of levels. When put in front of numbers of carp, they aggressively compete for the large ball of food around the feeder, attacking it and shaking fragments of food away. The more regular the feeder is cast, the more the carp home in on the sound of the feeder hitting the water, and carp can become frenzied in their feeding. Being a self-contained trap the Method can also score on less well stocked venues and a single loaded feeder in the right place has also tripped up plenty of notable UK carp. All Fox method feeders are semi xed to the line and are 100% safe. Dont forget that a rig is completely camouaged when a hook bait is buried in a Method ball. With the hook buried loaded feeders can be cast directly into weed. Youll be surprised how effectively carp sniff them out!
Load the feeder up with your method mix by compressing the bait onto the vanes.
The nished method ball should look like this. A neat compact trap full of carpy goodness.
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PLUMBING
MARKER oat work can be the key to catching more carp, but also cost you chances of catching. Plumbing helps us understand the nature of lakes beneath the surface, helping appreciate where sh might feed and where they might be found in different conditions. For many session anglers, plumbing is an essential part in deciding where to place hook baits every time they sh. But the nature of plumbing means a lot of disturbance, with leads landing repeatedly and oats being popped up to chart depths and pinpoint likely features. You need to recognise when and where plumbing is benecial and when it will see you catching less. Polarising glasses, feeling a lead down and watching where carp show and the routes they swim can tell you all you need to know to catch them without measuring depths. Learn to weigh up the odds a hook bait presented less well in front of feeding sh or in a swim full of carp will always have a good chance of catching. Knowing exactly the underwater layout of a swim in front of you, condent that you have hook baits in great spots is worthless if the sh are long gone by the time youve nished with a plumbing rod! You shouldnt be entirely dependant upon a marker oat to sh condently. Plumb swims in the winter or at the end of a session, recording what you nd to help you when you come to sh.
Fox Micro Marker Kits contain everything you need to plumb on most venues, unless very weedy or shing very long range.
Explorer Feature Finding Leads have unique prongs to transmit more feel from the lead when it is pulled back, readily identifying gravel, silt and weed. The stemmed Explorer is best in weed.
Micro Marker
Weed Marker
Fox markers are supplied with interchangeable sight tips. Use black when the water surface appears very bright. In shade or on venues with tree cover orange or yellow are most visible.
Braided main lines like Horizon or Submerge are a key part of any feature nding set-up. The zero stretch of braid exaggerates the feel of the lakebed as the lead is pulled back over it.
Exocet Marker
Purpose designed marker rods have responsive tips to register the nature of the lake bed. Depth markers allow you to accurately chart a swim to nd even the smallest variations.
Search depths methodically, fanning casts from left to right gradually to build an impression of a swim. Always straighten your braid to the lead before raising the oat.
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SPODDING
By Steve Spurgeon
ON any water containing good numbers of carp spodding is my main line of attack because it allows me to create a very condent feeding situation. By encouraging competitive feeding youre more likely to make multiple catches rather than nicking odd sh here and there. The biggest mistake is baiting at the start of a session and then sitting on your hands too long. With experience you can often read the signs that tell you carp are feeding over your baited area even if youre not getting takes. With a bit more work the indicators should start sounding. Carp are more aggressive feeders than many give them credit for, and will clean out a baited area quickly, often within
The nose cones of Fox Spods are extra bouyant, so that when the spod hits the water, the nose rises to the top helping to empty the spod. The cones are also supplied in three colours - black, red and yellow - to ensure they remain visible in all water conditions.
Fox Spods are available in three sizes to suit various amounts of feed and casting distances. TB1 Big Spod weighs 2.25oz empty, TB2 Stubby Spod weighs 1oz empty and TB3 Compact Spod weighs 1.25oz empty.
Full and half cylinder inserts are supplied with all Fox Spods for use with small baits like pellets, particles or topping up with water.
Dual Inserts
Tie the supplied Kwik Clip to your leader via a 5 turn grinner and simply clip the swivel of the spod onto it.
Aerodynamic Prole
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CAMO FLEXI BEADS Rubber bead now available in camo green and brown.
CAMO TUBING WITH LEAD CLIPS Safety lead clip with exi ring swivel mounted on camo tubing in green and brown. CAMO KWIK CHANGE RIGS ON TUBING A variety of Kwik Change rigs, now available in green and brown. LEADCORE LEADERS WITH LEAD CLIPS A variety leadcore leaders are available, all supplied with lead clips. LEADCORE HELI-RIGS Ready-made helicopter rigs mounted on Fox leadcore.
SILICONE TUBING Available in green and brown in two sizes: 0.5mm & 0.75mm.
RIG SHRINK HAIR WIDGETS A black rubber which allows the hair to be at any point on the hook. In two colours, clear & green and three sizes: 1.2-0.4mm, 2.4-0.8mm, 3-1mm.
BAIT BANDS Strong, expandable. Available in three sizes: small, medium & large. MAGGOT CLIPS New design to eliminate bunching up of maggots.
HI-SG RIG PUTTY One pack includes two colours: green and brown.
LEADCORE LEADERS WITH SAFETY SLEEVES Ready-made leadcore leaders with safety sleeves. KWIK CHANGE LEADCORE LEADERS Ready-made leadcore leaders with Kwik Change attachment.
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KWIK CHANGE LEADCORE LEADERS WITH LEAD CLIPS Leadcore leaders supplied with Fox lead clips. READY SPLICED LEADCORE LEADERS 45lb leadcore leader with exi ring swivel spliced in one end and a loop at the other. KWIK CHANGE SWIVELS & SLEEVES Available in sizes 7 and 10. CAMO HELI KIT Now comes in green & brown. PELLET PEGS Brown pegs in three sizes: 11mm, 13mm & 21mm. KNOT LOK RIG GLUE Clear, waterproof, quick setting adhesive.
ADAPTIVE CAMOUFLAGE LEADCORE Four tapered colours to create camo effect. Available in green & brown.
TENSION BAR Tool for tightening loops and straightening boom sections on stiff rigs.
CAMO KNOT PROTECTOR BEADS Soft beads to protect a knot from leads, available in green and brown.
KWIK CHANGE POP-UP WEIGHTS Available in these sizes: BB, AAA, SA, SWAN & Multi Pack.
KWIK CHANGE HELI SWIVELS & SLEEVES Heli swivel and sleeve, in sizes 7 & 10.
BOILIE PROPS In six colours: Red, Orange, Yellow, Pink, Brown, Clear.
BAIT NEEDLES Special Edition Needle Set: Stringer, Lip Close, Multi Bait.
KWIK CHANGE FLEXI RING SWIVELS & SLEEVES Flexi Ring Swivel and Sleeve, available in sizes 7 & 10. ANTI TANGLE SLEEVES Now available in green & brown.
SLIDERS Tapered weight with a camo nish to pin line to the bottom. Mixed colour pack.
BAIT FLOSS For attaching boilies to a hair or D ring in these colours: Yellow, Brown & Neutral.
DIAMOND HOOK SHARPENER Tool for ensuring your hooks stay super sharp.
SLIK RING & BEAD KIT Complete kit for creating a resistance free, quick change marker oat set-up.
STIX BAITING NEEDLE Lip close needle measuring 130mm for PVA Stix and Bags.
ILLUSION SOFT New soft uorocarbon in sizes: 10lb/4.8kg 12lb/5.5kg, 15lb/ 6.8kg.
1.5mm NUT/PELLET DRILL For piercing pellets, nuts and other hard baits.
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BRAID BLADES Ultra sharp blades designed to cut braid. SOFT STEEL 6lb/2.7kg 8lb/3.6kg 10lb/4.5kg 12lb/5.4kg 15lb/6.8kg 20lb/9.0kg 0.25mm 0.27mm 0.30mm 0.34mm 0.39mm 0.42mm GRAVITRON 250m spools: 15lb/6.8kg 20lb/9.0kg 500m spools: 20lb/9.0kg 25lb/11.4kg CONTROLLER FLOATER BRAID 150m spools: 15lb/6.8kg
6mm CORK STICKS For popping up baits like tiger nuts. CAMO SOFT STEEL 10lb/4.5kg 0.30mm 12lb/5.4kg 0.34mm 15lb/6.8kg 0.39mm
BAIT DRILL & CORK STICKS Create the perfect popped-up baits.
HORIZON BRAIDED MAINLINE 300m spools 20lb/9.0kg 25lb/11.4kg 30lb/13.6kg HORIZON SPOD & MARKER BRAID 300m spools: 20lb/9.0kg
CORETEX Available in Weedy Olive, Gravelly Brown, Silty Black & Sandy Yellow in 15lb, 20lb & 25lb. WARRIOR CARP LINE 12lb/5.4kg 0.30mm 15lb/6.8kg 0.35mm 20lb/9.0kg 0.38mm
REFLEX Neutral buoyancy hooklink in these sizes: 12lb/5.5kg, 15lb/6.8kg & 25lb/11.4kg.
WARRIOR CARP RIGS Ready tied rigs using Series 1, 1B, 2 & 2B hook patterns tied to Warrior Mono, Snare & Reex Braids.
ILLUSION 6lb/2.7kg 8lb/3.6kg 10lb/4.5kg 12lb/5.4kg 15lb/6.8kg 18lb/8.2kg 0.23mm 0.28mm 0.31mm 0.33mm 0.35mm 0.37mm
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Eclipse Dome
The ultimate in pram-hood systems, the Eclipse is undoubtedly the most versatile bivvy package on the market. Heres why... Ven-Tec fabric the most waterproof and breathable fabric we have ever seen on a bivvy Airow System front and back vents to let air travel through the bivvy Detachable Door the door can be left in place or completely removed 2-Way Door System open the door from the top down, or bottom upwards! Free Fox Dome Package the Eclipse comes with a heavy duty clip-in groundsheet, Frame Support System, over-sized carry bag, bivvy peg bag and pegs, Mosquito Mesh and removable PVA door all completely FREE Wrap available separately. One and two-man versions available.
Core-Lite Hanger
This revolutionary new Hanger system enables you to use one Core-Lite Hanger in a number of different weight congurations to suit all styles of shing. The Core-Lite package includes a light inner body and a heavy outer body, lightweight Dacron cord, stainless steel ball chain and two screw-on weights. This allows you to use as many or as few of these components as possible to create a hanger to suit all shing styles from light work in the margins to heavy, long distance shing. The Core-Lite also has an adjustable line gripper with a V groove and the facility to insert a Beta Light into the inside of the inner core. The new Fox Core-Lite Hanger is available in six, light reective colours clear, white, blue, red, amber and green.
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Fox Clothing
This year sees a new range of Fox clothing to suit all weathers. The range includes: Explorer Storm Suit - a lightweight, throw-over waterproof suit thats designed to be used over your usual carp clothing as added protection in wet weather. It comes in a small, draw cord bag in sizes from small to XXXL. Two Tone Cool Max T-shirts - made from a material that is designed to keep you cool, dry and comfortable in warm weather. It works by wicking sweat away from the body. Theres a normal round neck T-shirt and polo T-shirt available in sizes from small to XXXL. Lightweight Zip-off Trousers combat-style trousers with an elasticated top and adjustable belt. They can be zipped off above the knees to act as shorts in warm weather. They come in sizes from medium to XXL.
Ranger Pod
The new Fox Ranger is the ultimate in pod technology, designed to be used in a number of positions to suit European waters. It features CAD-engineered multi adjustments to allow extreme rod positioning to cope with the toughest terrain, together with a twin bar oval frame main body for increased strength and spirit levels to guarantee level assembly. The Ranger Package includes three pairs of legs, a carry bag and buzz bars.
Matrix-Z
The stunning Matrix-Z benets from a superb parabolic action that bends through to the butt when a big carp is hooked. It also has seven guides rather than the more popular six, which will suit many anglers style of shing. Also expect Fox SLIKS braid-friendly guides (40mm to a 14mm tip ring), soft touch CR18 reel seat and a classy 1k Graphite wrap gloss nish. There are four rods in the range: 12 12 12 13 2.75lb 2.75lb full EVA handle 3lb 3.5lb
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When the next sh you hook could be a personal best, you need to know your rig wont let you down. Thats why I use Fox Carp Accessories!
Ian Chillcott