Choosing the right bait for the right fish

If you are planning on starting fishing or attempting to catch another type of fish, you will need to find out which bait is recommended to catch the specific fish you want to land. There are two main types of bait; natural bait and artificial bait. Natural bait includes live bait, dead bait and prepared baits. The best baits vary depending on what fish you are trying to catch and the type of water you are fishing in.

The recommended baits for carp fishing are fluro pop ups, hemp, boilies, pellets, sweetcorn and groundbait. If you are looking for the best coarse fishing bait, try pellets, hookers, groundbait, maggot and pop-up boilies to land a monster fish. For sea fishing, the top recommended baits are lugworms, peeler crab, ragworm, sandeels and squid. If you are going fly fishing, use nymphs and stalking bugs . If you are predator fishing, you should try using predator liquid to increase the appeal of your deadbait.

These fishing baits also differ according to which specific fish you are trying to catch for example Salmon  and Trout lures can be used or flies depending on your method of fishing.

Salmon and trout should never be used as live bait. These fish promote the spread of a parasite called whirling disease.

SportsDirect.com, the UK’s number one sports retailer has a variety of fishing tackle. Ranging  from fishing rods and poles to hooks and lines, the fishing equipment made by great quality brands such as Shakespeare, JRC, Fladen, Mitchell and Silstar  will help you land a monster fish. Keep up to date with the latest fishing deals and information by following the official SportsDirect.com Twitter and Facebook pages.

The Backpacking Packing Guide

Whether you are backpacking to Europe or simply backpacking around the UK, you will need to pack your backpack properly with lightweight and essential items for a truly enjoyable trip.

What you need:

·         Clothing- you will need at least 5 pairs of every piece of clothing  depending on the weather, preferences and destination- 5 pairs of socks, 5 t shirts, 5 pairs of trousers, 5 pairs of underwear, 1 fleece, 1 waterproof jacket, 1 pair of shorts, 1 pair of dress shoes and 1 pair of walking shoes or trainers.

·         Technology- You will need to bring your camera to remember those spectacular moments, a cheap phone to make in country calls or international calls as well as the phone charger and camera charger.

·         Toiletries- Pack small tubes of toothpaste, shower gel, shampoo and deodorant. You will also need a first aid kit, hairbrush and toothbrush. SportsDirect.com has toiletry sets to take with you on your travels.

·         Travel documentation- Passports (and photocopies), visa, debit card, flight confirmations, vaccination card and drivers licence.

·         Miscellaneous essentials- luggage lock, duct tape, a daypack (daypacks can be used as hand luggage for the airplane), a travel towel and a lightweight sleeping bag. SportsDirect.com has Life Venture duct tape and soft fibre trek towels available. We also have Dunlop TSA case locks, Karrimor daypacks and Campri summer rectangular sleeping bags.

Tips on losing weight from your backpack:-

·         Laptops are not essential as most places have internet cafes to keep in touch with families and friends at home.

·         Get rid of clothing: Clothing can be washed while you are away so ensure you don’t take 6 weeks worth of clothing for the entire backpacking trip as this will weight you down.

·         Limit toiletries- Toiletries can be heavy and bulky so try to limit the amount of toiletries you take with you. Shampoos, conditioners, deodorants, moisturisers, sun screen and hand sanitizers can often be bought in local pharmacies once you arrive at your destination.

·         Forget about the bulky guidebook- You know that massive guidebook that you bought to find out about the country? Forget about taking it. Rip out a pages of places you want to visit on your trip and any essential pages you require but leave the rest at home.

How to pack it all:-

·         Heavy items such as food and water should be packed either at the bottom of your backpack or in the middle. The heaviest items can be surrounded by lightweight materials including towels.

·         Items that should be kept within easy reach are your first aid kit and waterproof jacket.

·         Remember to roll, not fold your clothing so your clothing is wrinkle free when you arrive at your destination.

·         Usually backpacks have a specialist section for sleeping bags, however if your pack doesn’t pack it at the bottom of your bag.

·         Pack your other pair of shoes in a plastic bag. This plastic bag can be used for dirty or damp clothing during your trip.

·         Keep your toiletries and technology in separate wash bags so they are secure and you can easily find them in your backpack.

The UK’s number one sports retailer, SportsDirect.com has a massive range of luggage to choose from for your backpacking trip. Get the latest luggage news and offers on the SportsDirect.com Twitter and Facebook pages.

Enjoy Your Festival Weekend With Stylish, Easily Assembled Tents From SportsDirect.com

When you are at a festival for the weekend, it is important to pick a tent that is distinctive, cheap and easy to erect. The last thing you want to be doing during your favourite band’s set is putting up the tent so ensure you choose wisely using our great festival tent guide.

If you are not a big camper, the festival tent and camping kit is great for your festival weekend. The festival camping kit provides you with everything you need to camp for the weekend in one small easy-to-carry case. The case includes a two man tent featuring a waterproof groundsheet and mosquito net, four LED pegs as well as two sleeping bags. You can get all this fantastic festival camping kit for only £20.

With a single layer design, the best-selling Campri pop up tents can be set up and packed away within seconds. Designed with stylish and funny graphic prints, the Campri pop up tents are easy to find in a festival field. The water resistant fabric and taped seams provide protection against the weather which is ideal for those colder and wetter nights at festivals. The bubbly and humorous Campri pop up tents start at just £19.

The simple to erect Campri scout tent includes a canopy for extra space in the warm weather and to prevent rain dripping inside the tent when the door is open in wet weather. Made in a dome design, the top-selling Campri tent also has ventilation panels to control the condensation formed inside the flysheet as well as a cheap £13 price tag.  

For passionate festival goers, the Karrimor Discovery 2 man tent has a distinctive tunnel design that is easy to pick out in a crowd of tents. The Karrimor tent has a two door access porch to store food and drinks throughout the festival. In addition, the Karrimor Discovery tent features a waterproof flysheet, a double zipper front door, lantern hanging hooks and ventilation mesh.

You can enjoy your next festival in a great quality festival tent from SportsDirect.com. With a big range of camping equipment stretching from festival tents to rucksacks. We have all you need to have fun on your festival weekend made by fantastic camping labels such as Campri, Regatta, Coleman and Karrimor. Check out the SportsDirect.com Facebook and Twitter pages for more news and offers.