Product Review

Rollover Bite Indicators by Zandavan Productions

I have had a passion for eels for as long as l care to remember and each season spend countless hours’ bankside in search of a monster. Over these years l have tried numerous types of bite indicators, from the humble washing up liquid bottle top hanging on a long drop, too monkey climbers along with the more commonly used drop of indicators, however although l have been happy with most aspects of my set up, bite indication has always been a problem. Drop of indicators set lightly have been what l have used for the last few years, yet having a relatively tight line running down to my rig isn’t perfect. This combined with a mono mainline, which has stretch when taught has seen to many dropped runs, and although my list of big eels is impressive, l still think that it could have been so much better.

These days l have even less time to spend targeting this mysterious species, so when l get a run l want to know that l am going to maximise my catch rate, and that means only one thing, reducing the amount of drop runs.

I briefly saw a zander angler at Old Bury Hill using a set of Rollover Bite indicators last winter and made a mental note to investigate further, so when l was asked by Tight Lines to catch an eel for the cameras, l just had to buy a set.

Barry Mconnell, one of the countries most acclaimed eel anglers produces these under the name Zandavan Productions so l searched the internet and located his website, www.zandavan.co.uk. Purchasing a set of two, which set me back just £36.98, l headed out one night to test the product and that night managed four runs, three were from eels, the other from a carp. I have to say, what a mistake I’ve made leaving it this long to buy a set as on a previous session l had at least a dozen runs and only converted two, yet looking back this was due to coiling mono more than the indication set up.

These indicators are easy to set up and allow the angler to use open bail arms, yet the line isn’t stretched or tensioned in anyway as it simply loops over the end of the indicator arm. If tension is needed, due to drift or undertow, then the arms have a weight that can be slide down to increase this, along with a chain that can be attached in severe conditions. When a take develops the arm simply lifts up and a sliding weight within the arm drops to the back, allowing the arm to fall backwards, releasing the main line. Another brilliant advantage over drop of indicators is opposed to just one bleep from the alarm, with these you will get at least four before the line falls free.

To be honest, l can’t see how, when having to use an open bail arm any other indicator can beat this and with a few months left before my eel fishing stops, and then the zander season kicking in, lm going to enjoy testing these out further.