Over the last few years Calcutta fishing products have slipped quietly onto many shop shelves and into many anglers tackle boxes. Calcutta products, originating in the USA, appeal to anglers all over the globe and are distributed in the UK by High Octane Angling.

When it comes to purchasing tackle you have three choices.

1. Buy crap. This involves spending the least amount of money, for the cheapest product on the shelf, despite not knowing if it will work or not, let alone last the pace that true angling will put it through.

2. Buy medioca tackle at a fair and affordable price. There are plenty of Tackle Company’s out there that produce medium quality gear at a medium quality price. This suits most occasional anglers who understand they need real gear, but at a compromise of cost; and lets be fair, cost effects us all.

3. And lastly we have our third choice. Top end, high class, whatever you may call it, but extreme quality tackle, and this is where Calcutta products come into a league of their own!

Calcutta products were invented for predator anglers the world over. The Calcutta boffins at their headquarters in the USA understood that certain brands produced great items. They then chose to study these items, learning about the strengths and weaknesses of each product with a view to redesigning them to produce better versions; and yes they are better! This gives us anglers an array of high quality, consumable items all under one roof. Calcutta produce a high end (but value for money) range of quality lures, luggage, tools, clothing and lines including their famous Ultra Braid!

Lines have come a long way in the last decade, and now most anglers, freshwater and saltwater use regularly, or exclusively, some form of braided mainline. And there are many to choose from! Tuff Line, Spider Wire and Power Pro are probably some of the most famous of the last few years and for good reason – they are all created using Spectra Fibre. For those not in the know, braids created with Spectra Fibre are the best there are; and Calcutta Ultra Line is the latest in super braids created with this super fibre. Calcutta Ultra Braid is an advanced braid that will not fail to impress any sea angler. Once you’ve used it once, you’ll never turn back. Honeywell USA’s patented Spectra Fibre process creates the world’s strongest, lightest and thinnest fibres which pound for pound are fifteen times stronger than steel.

Calcutta Ultra Braid is a 6 strand, gel-spun, polyethylene spectra-fibre braid formed in a perfectly round shape. This helps it pack better on reels and thus aids casting if needed. Its ridiculously low diameter will cut tide. It’s little or no stretch will exaggerate bite detection. And its superior strength gives better abrasion resistance than other braids when fishing the roughest wrecks and reefs! And if that wasn’t enough, Calcutta Ultra Braids custom formulated coating ensures that this braid lasts longer on the reel, making it not just pound for pound as strong as steel, but pound for pound good value for money.

I have been fishing with 30lb green (300 yard) Calcutta Ultra Braid on my 3 carp rods, on my 15lb class down-tide outfit and on my plugging rod for the last 3 years. Over the five reels I have loaded with this braid, none have been changed and still retain the original braid which is still in good condition and fit to last a few more years. When used it has never parted and never been the cause of any lost fish. But the best thing is that with Calcutta’s special coating, I have suffered less wind-knots and bird nests than I have in the past with other braids! You can spend big money on fancy rods and reels, but never forget - the only two things that keep you connected to a fish are good hooks, and obviously a good line!

Calcutta Ultra Braid comes in two colours, low-vis green and high-vis yellow, and five pound classes – 10, 15, 20, 30 and 50lb. The 10lb braid is the same diameter as 3lb mono, the 20lb is the same diameter as 6lb mono and the 50lb is the same diameter as 12lb mono. Calcutta Ultra braid is the thinnest and strongest Spectra Braid on the shop shelf and is also available in smaller 150 yard spools.

For more information on Calcutta Ultra Braid can be found at the High Octane Angling web site www.highoctane-angling.co.uk or by calling 0845 055 1989.

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