If you ever ask a carp angler what his worst fishing experience is, he’ll most likely tell you of the one that got away while he was snoozing in his bivvy, or of one that took his bait while he was walking back from the toilet block. The reason for this is obvious: no matter how much concentration and dedication you have, there’s no way you can keep your eyes glued to your rod tips for sixteen hours a day. This is where bite detectors came in, going from luxury item to absolute necessity for any serious angler.

But not all detectors are created equal, and what makes one detector more worthy of your time and money than another is something worth knowing if you plan on putting serious time on the bank.

Tone, Memory, and Why They Matter

Here we have a slight divide in opinions. Tone differentiation. Most multi-rod anglers want to know immediately which rod has taken a fish without having to look at the lights or try and work out which rod is in which position. Each rod can be set to a different tone, so even if you are half asleep, you know whether it is the rod positioned towards the island or the one out in open water.

Ridiculous fuss, say some. Well, perhaps these individuals have not had the experience of fishing a large water in the dark with three rods out. Those few seconds of confusion over which rod is out can mean the difference between landing a fish or losing it.

Memory for Baitrunner – or anti-theft, as it is sometimes known – detects if someone is pulling line off your spool in the opposite direction. Not always useful on a private day ticket water, perhaps. Useful on public water or abroad, where tackle theft is a problem.

The Receiver Question

Do you need a receiver? This depends entirely on how you fish. If you’re never far from your rods, then you don’t need a receiver. However, if you want the flexibility to move around while fishing, cook meals, and sleep in a proper bivvy miles away from the water, then a receiver can prove handy. These modern marvels now have an incredible range – far beyond what you’ll ever need.

The better ones will tell you which rod has been activated, provide drop back, and mirror the tone settings used with the detector. Receiver battery life varies considerably so make sure you do your homework here – don’t assume they’ll last as long as the detector.

The bottom line with all bite detection kit is reliability when it counts. That moment when you feel a tug on the rod may never come during a session – or may never come at all! However, when it does come, you want kit that will tell you straight away and accurately. Everything else is just background noise. So if you’re in the market for a useful and practical fishing accessory – let it be a bite detector.