By Dominic Gabriel
@greasemonkeyzangling
The back end of 2025 saw me properly putting Commando Tackle through its paces after meeting the team at the winter carp show. Straight away I was impressed: razor‑sharp hooks straight out of the packet, solid packaging, and terminal tackle that simply felt right. I stocked up on a few essentials and, not long after, things started to click.
For those that don’t know me, I work full-time as a mechanic and at weekends I’m a single parent. My time is limited. Most of my fishing consists of short overnight sessions arriving around 6 p.m. and leaving at 5 a.m. to get straight back to work. That means I have to be organised, efficient, and confident in what I’m using. There’s no room for guesswork when you’re fishing in darkness with only a handful of hours to make something happen.
The Venue: The Windfarm
For the 2025 season I’ve been fishing The Windfarm, a 20‑acre syndicate water in Kent run by Chilston Fisheries. With just 50 members it’s intimate, but far from easy.
In summer it’s heavily weedy, and even in winter it demands watercraft and subtle presentation. You can’t just pile bait in and hope. Signs are limited, especially when you’re predominantly fishing through darkness, so every decision counts.
Christmas Window “The Lin”
Over Christmas I found myself with a rare couple of days free. High pressure (1035 mb), a bitter north wind, and plummeting temperatures made for tough conditions. After 36 hours of nothing, I was preparing myself for a festive blank.
Then, just before dark, I noticed some subtle bubbling to my left, slow-moving and concentrated. It could have been a bream or a tench, but I trusted the instinct.
I quickly switched tactics:
- a small Commando PVA bag
- 2.5 oz inline lead
- 4” Commando Anchor Link soft braid
- Size 6 Wide Gape hook
- bright pink pop-up trimmed into a balanced wafter
A single rod went out into the area at roughly 40 yards.
A couple of hours into darkness a single toner sounded. The adrenaline hit immediately and I was in.
The fish kited hard across my other lines before calmly surfacing. As soon as it rolled, I knew. One of the A‑team, distinctive, with an almost perfect linear row of scales.
My previous PB was 28 lb. I don’t fish purely for size; I choose venues for the quality and character of the fish. But in that moment, watching the needle creep past 29 and settle at 30 lb 10 oz, was something truly special. My first ever 30 a Christmas present I won’t forget.
After photos were taken and a couple of minor scars treated with Commando Field Dressing, I slipped her back safely. The adrenaline rush meant I’d completely forgotten about the cup of tea I’d made earlier, now stone cold. A fresh one was definitely on the cards.
Nothing else happened that session, but the confidence had shifted.
After‑Work Session: “The Fully”
A couple of weeks later, at the start of 2026 and after a few blanks and more horrendous weather, I spotted a short window and headed straight from work to the lake with the dog in tow.
Fishing off the back of the wind, I set up three stiff hinge rigs:
- Commando Anchor Link semi-stiff braid
- Zip Wire fluorocarbon
- Size 6 Dagger Suture hooks
- match‑the‑hatch 15 mm pop‑ups
All three rods were positioned on a single spot at the end of a reed line 50 yards out, with a small spod of crushed boilie and pellet over each. Less is definitely more at this time of year.
The rain hammered down all evening, turning the peg into a swamp.
At 4 a.m., just as I started packing away for work, two single bleeps came from the middle rod. I turned to see the bobbin slowly tighten to the blank. The line was tearing right, and by the time I caught up with the fish it was already at least 60 yards off its original spot.
Tired but focused, I guided her through some lively runs along the reed-lined margin and eventually over the net cord.
When I lifted her, I saw a stunning, almost fully scaled mirror with a distinctive broken scale.
Another Windfarm A‑team banger. This time the scales settled at 32 lb 10 oz another PB, so early into the New Year. Get in!
As I sorted the camera gear, a fellow member arrived and kindly helped with photos, even making me a coffee while I packed up. That’s syndicate fishing at its best.
I went to work that morning exhausted but buzzing. Proof that you don’t need week‑long sessions to make it happen. A single overnighter, the right decisions, and full confidence in your bait and tackle can make all the difference.
Final Thoughts
The past few months at The Windfarm have been a proper learning curve refining watercraft, staying mobile, and trusting subtle presentations over heavy baiting.
For me, fishing short sessions means every component matters. Hooks must be sharp. Rigs must reset perfectly. End tackle has to be dependable.
That’s exactly what I’ve found using Commando Tackle.
Two PBs, two A‑team fish, and a winter I won’t forget anytime soon.
Roll on the rest of the season.
