Stow Indicators

The original Stow indicators were invented by anglers fishing on the famous Elstow lakes several decades ago, but the principle of them is just as effective today and they are the method of bite detection favoured by many of the Team Korda anglers.

The original version was handmade in very limited numbers and achieved cult status amongst carp anglers at the time, so Korda took all the best bests from that original design, added some improvements, and a commercially available version of the Stow was born.

KORDA STOW INDICATORS BASED ON A CULT DESIGN

The focus was on retaining all of the functionality and uniqueness of the original Stow, but making it from top quality components, such as stainless steel, to ensure that they will continue to perform as intended for many years.

More recently we have also added a Mini Stow version, via the Basix range, which retains all the attributes of the original which made it such a big success, and the main difference being the use of cheaper – yet still effective – components so that it can be priced at a level more suitable for people just getting into the sport, or who are on a tighter budget. It will still do exactly the same job when you get a bite, but instead of stainless throughout, it features a moulded hockey stick, a ball chain, and a moulded plastic attachment at the base of the bobbin.

WORKS WITH ANY CONVENTIONAL BITE ALARM

The whole idea of the Stow is that once it is clipped onto your line, via a line-friendly clip, it will remain attached to exactly the same spot on your line – unlike a ball-style clip that allows the line to pass through it and the bobbin to move up and down your line.

This means that once the Stow indicator hits your bite alarm, when you get a take, it will fall off of the line (as long as you’re using the correct length of chain).

It can also be fished with slack lines, as the relatively short length of the chain, and fact that the bobbin clips to the line and doesn’t allow it to flow freely through the clip, means that is doesn’t have to be on the ground in order to work effectively (like a conventional bobbin needs to be).

Not only are both the original Stow and the Basix Mini Stow very effective bite indicators, they also really look the part as well.

Neil Spooner says:

KORDA STOW INDICATOR

It can be used with any type of bite alarm, thanks to the magnetic hockey stick attachment which it comes supplied with – that also allows easy attachment and detachment of the indicators at the start and end of every session, should you wish to pack them away separately.

The Stow comes with two different lengths of chain (although it is actually the ‘stick’ which varies in length, with the longer one being suitable for smaller buzzers) so that you can always ensure that it is set just right, whatever type of buzzer you are using (the shorter one is the perfect length for a Delkim), such that when the bobbin pulls up against your buzzer, the chain becomes taut and the bobbin pings free of the line.

The body – which is available in high visibility translucent green, red, yellow, blue, white, purple, orange, or black – is lightweight and very sensitive to even the smallest of movements on your line. The clip holds your line – it can be used with mono, fluorocarbon or braid -securely against the body, but is line-friendly and won’t cause any damage or flattening to your line.

A range of accessories are also available including spare heads; additional weights; spare hockey sticks; isotopes; and even a case to store them in when not in use.

The Stow Lite isotopes have been designed to fit these bobbins and are available in a range of colours.

KORDA BASIX MINI STOW

This is a smaller version of the original Stow bobbin, but works on exactly the same principal, with a line-friendly clip that attaches to the line and doesn’t allow your line to freely flow through it.

It comes supplied with a stainless steel ball chain, featuring a detachable connector system that allows you to adjust it to just the right length (it comes set at the correct length for a Delkim), whatever type of buzzer you’re using, and thus ensuring that it will ping free once the Stow bobbin pulls up tight when you get a bite.

The lightweight body comes in a choice of high visibility, translucent, green, red or blue, with the built in stainless steel weight making it heavy enough for many angling situations.

Or if more weight is needed, then additional weights can be purchased separately.

It fits below your bite alarm via a strong moulded hockey stick attachment, and can be unscrewed without the need to remove the hockey stick – such as when packing away inbetween sessions.

The Basix Mini Stow can be fitted with the Mini Isotope, which is available in a range of colours. These indicator kits represent real value for money if you're on a budget or new to the sport.

STOW AWAY

The Stow Indicator is very robust, but if you want to keep it in the best possible condition, then it should be removed from your buzzers inbetween sessions – easily done via the magnetic bayonet attachment at the hockey stick end. The easiest way to store them is in a Stow Away case – which has been purposely designed to hold and protect either two or three Stow Indicators.

This tough, hard plastic case has been cleverly designed with a magnetic base to retain the extension chain end of the indicator, and the heads clip neatly into a purpose-made slot, ensuring no damage can occur to them during transit.

STOW HEAD

If you fancy changing the colour of your Stow Indicators there is no need to buy a new one, you can simply purchase a different Stow Head to replace the existing one.

These lightweight, high visibility, translucent indicator heads are inter-changeable with the ones that come supplied with the Stow bobbins, and you can choose from green, red, yellow, blue, white, purple, orange, or black. Simply unscrew the old one, and screw on the new one.

STOW OVER WEIGHTS

The Stow Indicator is a very sensitive bite indication system, but in some situations – such as fishing at long range or where there is undertow, bits of debris suspended in the water, etc, additional weight is needed. Given the way that the Stow Indicator works, the overall length of the indicator head needs to remain the same, so screwing extra weights to the base of it wasn’t an option, and hence why we designed the Stow Over Weight.

These weights come in a choice of 6g or 8g and fit perfectly over the Stow Head, with a shoulder to keep them in place and prevent them from sliding up and down. They are made from stainless steel and come in packs of either two or three – so you can choose the right quantity for however many Stow Indicators you are using.

STOW-LITE

These high power isotopes are designed to fit perfectly into the body of any Stow Indicator (not the Basix Mini Stow though – which need the Mini Stow Lite), and will also fit the Black&Whites (medium, large or XL versions).

The Stow-Lite has an extremely long life and is available in a choice of colours so that you can pick them to match your Stow heads – they come in red, green, yellow, blue, white, purple or orange, with one in each pack. They are 3mm x 25mm in size.

MINI STOW-LITE

These high power isotopes are designed to fit perfectly into the body of any Basix Mini Stow indicator, and will also fit the small Black&Whites bobbins, as well as the Distance Sticks.

The Mini Stow-Lite has an extremely long life and is available in a choice of colours so that you can pick them to match your Basix Mini Stow heads – they come in red, green, yellow, blue, white, purple or orange, with one in each pack. They are 3mm x 15mm in size.

STOW EXTENSION

The chain that comes with the Stow Indicator is a bare stainless steel, but if you want something a bit more understated, then this black anodised version is what you need. It does exactly the same thing as the original, with a screw thread at one end which fits into the Stow Head, and a magnetic adaptor at the other end that will fit into the original hockey stick, or if you want to go all black, then you can opt for the Black&Whites Hockey Stick which is also sold separately.

The Stow Extension comes in either a long or short version – the same lengths as those which comes supplied with the Stow Indicator – and the chain is made from black anodised stainless steel.

MAGNETIC HOCKEY STICK

This Magnetic Hockey Stick is exactly the same as the one that comes supplied with the Stow Indicators, and is designed for if you want to switch them between different set-ups – for instance, you have different sets of alarms on Singlez, single banksticks or a pod.

They mean that you can quickly detach your Stow Indicators, via the magnetic attachment inside the stainless steel hockey stick, without having to unscrew your buzzers. If you lose the hockey stick, there is no need to buy a new Stow Indicator, just one of these spare ones.

BLACK&WHITES HOCKEY STICK

If you prefer a black hockey stick attachment – rather than the bare stainless steel one that comes as part of the Stow Indicator – then this gives you that option. It allows any Stow Indicator chain with the magnetic bayonet fitting to be quickly attached to it – including the black Stow Extension chain, that is sold separately.

It is made from black anodised stainless steel, and also comes complete with a 2BA magnetic screw thread, which makes it compatible with many third-party chains. This Hockey Stick can also be used with the Black&White bobbins as well.