Rumour has it that rubber sandeel imitations started life with anglers experimenting with elastic bands and banana skins. Whether or not this is true, I would not know! Ever since I started sea fishing 20 years ago, rubber lures have always been available.

I’m glad I live in an age of purpose made lures, specifically made for the job I want them to do. Bananas are better eaten! And although rubber bands can be handy for stop knots etc, I have no desire to cut one and to mount it on a hook!

Redgills come in many styles including Threshers, Ravers, Rascals and Afterburners and in various sizes including 115mm, 178mm & 210mm - all come with appropriate sized fitted hooks. The shape and detail to these lures, in their day, revolutionalised UK lure angling and their oversized paddle tails not only brought life to a simple bit of rubber, but also gave off loads of disturbance which is attractive to a fish which uses its lateral line to detect prey in distress. Strong hooks, mounted in the lure, stand proud, meaning almost guaranteed hook-ups should a fish decide to close its gob around one.

Of all the rubber eels available on tackle shelves today, Redgills have been around the longest and have accounted for many great catches, and I’m sure a few British records too! For many years, many companies have tried to copy and better the Redgills success, but none have come close, that was until now.

SideWinder Sandeels have taken the lure angling world by storm over the last year or so! Just like Redgills they have a realistic eel shape, good detail, realistic movement and pre-fitted hooks! Made from a completely different materiel, softer and more latex like, Sidewinders have been doing the business they were designed to do – putting fish in the net and I’m sure they could account for a new British record given the chance.

Sidewinders, like Redgills, come in various styles, colours and sizes including 4inch, 6inch & 8inch and the key to this lures success is the same as the original Redgill. Yes, these eels may look more realistic off the shelf, but both lures, Redgill and Sidewinders success comes from their realistic tail movements and the fact they are critically balanced. When either lure is retrieved through the water, they swim upright, and this is a great way to test a quality lure. Many poorer lures lack action and some, I’m sorry to say, will not swim continuously in an upright position, which isn’t much cop.

The main difference between the Original Redgill and the Sidewinder is that the sidewinder has a pre-fitted weight inside the lure, meaning this lure can be specifically fished tight to the seabed hopper-rig style, where the Redgill  has to be continually retrieved upwards to impart movement.

The Verdict
Having fished both lures many times, this year, I decided to experiment with Redgills and Sidewinders over four winter wrecking trips. On my first trip, white 4 & 6inch sidewinders were the best lure on the day. On my second trip, if you didn’t have a 178mm orange Original Redgill - you would have had a blank day.

On my third trip afloat, black Redgills or after burner Redgills that are black with fluoro coloured tails, accounted for more fish than any other lure. And just a few weeks ago (on my fourth wrecking trip this year) real-fish patterned sidewinders in 6inch, did the business above all else.

The score was equal!

Any angler who goes lure fishing should always take a good selection of artiifical's in as many, colours shapes and sizes as he can fit in his tackle box. Without doubt, this should include a good selection of the new sidewinder lures (4 & 6inch) in real-fish colours, and a good selection of Redgills (178mm) in the faithful colours orange, red and black (including Fluoro after burners).

Rubber eels, both Redgills and Sidewinders, are great for wreck and reef fishing targeting pollack, cod, coalfish ling and bass. They will also catch any other predatory species available that takes a lure both at home and overseas.
Sidewinders are distributed in the UK by Kiddy & Son. Redgills are now distributed in the UK by Swift Tackle. Both lures should be available from all good tackle shops and online.

The sidewinder range continues to grow daily, and now Redgill, under new management by Swift Tackle, has big plans to release many new lures over the coming year. Keep your eye on both brands.
Redgills and Sidewinders are two types of lure every UK angler should have in their tackle box!

http://www.redgill.co.uk/

http://www.sidewinderlures.co.uk/