The Essentials Range - Product Focus

The Korda Essentials range has replaced the tackle that we used to make under the Basix label, as the items included are far from ‘basic’.

The new Essentials range includes all your favourite products from Basix, along with some new additions as well, and will initially co-exist alongside Basix until that is eventually phased out.

The whole ethos of Essentials is to provide good quality tackle, which can be used safely, effectively, and with confidence, to catch carp, but at the same time without costing as much, or requiring lots of other components that need to be bought separately.

Essentials is more than just a range aiming at newcomers to the sport though, and is ideal for anyone on a tighter budget or who only goes carp fishing occasionally, or even for anglers fishing very prolific waters where they want hooks with the most durable point possible, and where potentially being able to catch multiple fish on the same one is more important than absolute sharpness.

All of the products in the Korda Essentials range have been made to the high standards seen across the rest of our tackle, with the main difference being the use of slightly cheaper materials, which still do the job but keep the cost down; or by reducing packet or spool sizes – do you really need 20m of one particular hook link material when you are first starting carp fishing?

When you first start carp fishing or if you are only going occasionally, you don't need every item of terminal tackle, just the essentials that will allow you to catch carp.

The tackle within in the range is of a quality that even some of the Team Korda anglers, such as Rob Burgess, use some of it for their own fishing.

Over the coming months you will see more items of tackle added to the range, as it eventually fully replaces Basix. It is very easy to construct popular, effective rigs using the essentials items tackle.

Why Did Danny Fairbrass Want to Bring Out an Essentials Range?

One of Danny’s often stated and long-standing aims is to get more people out fishing for carp, as well as making it as accessible as possible, whatever background people are coming from, and this was why he originally brought out Basix, before realising it was far more than just that.

Danny explained: “Basix has evolved into Korda Essentials. Originally, I designed the range to go with the Back to Basix Masterclass, but in recent years, we've realised something. Basix isn't really basic anymore.

The range has grown so much, the kit is so good, that it was befitting a better name, and we felt Essentials was exactly it. It's all the gear you need and nothing that you don't. Whether you've just started carp fishing or you've been fishing for big ‘uns for 20 years, it will stand up to the job.” 

Essentials Wide Gape X Hooks

The Essentials wide Gape X is based on the original Korda wide Gape pattern, which is one of the most effective hook choices for a variety of rigs.

These hooks have been designed so that they can be used straight out of the packet and naturally create aggressive rig mechanics, thanks to their in-turned eye (much more so than on the original Wide Gape pattern), without the need to add additional components such as Kickers.

The Essentials wide Gape X is a great choice for rigs such as the spinner or Ronnie rig, various combi rigs, and simple rigs such as knotless knot hair rig, and will cover pop-up, wafter, and bottom bait presentations. If you are using ready-rigs where the hook can be changed, then when it needs replacing, you can simply add one of these, or any of the other Essentials hook patterns.

These hooks are made from our stronger, thicker X gauge of wire, and they have a very durable point that has been specifically designed so that multiple fish can be caught on the same one before it needs changing – obviously always check your hook point before you cast out, and change it if it doesn’t feel sharp.

This also makes this Essentials hook more forgiving when you are playing fish, and if you do make a mistake when a fish is under the rod tip, as it is less likely to bend out and cause a hook pull, without them being overly heavy.

They come with an unobtrusive black nickel finish, in packs of ten, in size 2, 4, 6, and 8, in barbed or barbless versions. 

Essentials Kurv X Hooks

This is the Essentials version of the renowned Korda Kurv X hook pattern, which has been a long-standing favourite due to its aggressive shape.

This is the hook pattern which became famous as Danny Fairbrass’ choice for his IQ D-rig, and it is also popular with some anglers for use with spinner rigs, and various other presentations.

The shape of the hook, coupled with an aggressive in-turned eye, gives the Essentials Kurv X great hooking potential when used straight out of the packet and without the need for any extra Kickers or shrink tubing.

The hook point has specifically been designed to be durable, whilst still being sharp, and to retain that sharpness to allow you to potentially catch multiple carp on the same hook before it needs to be changed – you should always check it and change the hook if the point feels at all dull, or burred over.

The Essentials Kurv X is a strong hook and suitable for most angling situations at home and abroad, and is less likely to bend out even under a lot of pressure, or if you make a mistake.

Available in barbed or barbless, in sizes 2, 4, 6, and 8, and with an unobtrusive black nickel finish, with ten hooks in a pack.

Essentials Krank X Hooks

This pattern of hook was designed for the Korda range years ago by Tom Dove, and he is still using it for most of his fishing today.

The Essentials Krank X has a very wide gape as well as an offset point, along with a short, curved shank, which gives it great hooking potential

It is renowned for use with the spinner or Ronnie rig – as you will have seen in many of the Korda films featuring Dovey and Spooner where they have used this hook pattern to land countless big carp around the world - but it is also a very versatile pattern of hook and can be used with lots of different rigs, for pop-ups, wafters, and bottom baits.

The essentials Krank is made from our X gauge wire, making it suitable for most angling situations at home and abroad, and it features a very robust hook point which means it can potentially be used to catch multiple carp before it needs changing, and it has an unobtrusive black nickel finish.

The Essentials Krank X hooks come in sizes 2, 4, 6, and 8, in packs of ten, and in barbed or barbless hook versions.

Essentials Lead Clip Action Pack

This has been designed to get you fishing quickly straight out of the packet, with enough lead systems for three rods.

It feature three complete lead clips, which are designed so that the lead can be dropped when you need it to be, or a fish can free itself from it if your line breaks, along with anti-tangle tubing, and all the components are easy to fit together, with instructions included on the packet.

Each Essentials Lead Clip Action Pack contains three lead clips; three tail rubbers; three lengths of sinking rig tubing, all in a camo green colour, plus three Quick Change swivels.

All you need to do is attach your chosen hook link to the QC swivel, add a lead to the clip and set the tail rubber - the lighter you push it on, the easier the lead will come off – and you’re ready to cast out.

Essentials Lead Clips and Tail Rubbers

A lead clip is the most versatile lead system which can be used in a wide variety of different angling situations.

As long as you aren’t fishing on a softer lake bed, it gives good presentation; it casts pretty well; has good hooking potential; and is relatively tangle-free, especially when used with some sort of fused or leadcore leader, or rig tubing.

The Essentials Lead Clips and Tail Rubbers provide you with everything you need to set up five lead clips, and you can add tubing separately if you wish to. Any size 8 swivel will fit into the nose of the lead clip, including QC swivels, which allow you to quickly change your rig when you need to.

Each pack contains five lead clips and five tail rubbers, which come in a camo green colour that blends in well with the lake bed.

Essentials Shrink Tube

All of the Essentials hooks can be used straight out of the packet and have aggressive rig mechanics, but if you want to enhance that even further, then the addition of a piece of shrink tube achieves that.

It is ideal for making your own purpose-length kickers, bent to whatever angle you choose, or for line aligner style rigs.

Simply cut off a piece of Essentials Shrink Tube to your desired length, add it to your rig, then carefully use steam from a kettle to shrink the tubing down around the hook eye – or a swivel if using at the other end of your rig – to hold it securely in place. You can shape the shrink tubing as you steam it, and it will hold its shape, but will straighten when playing a fish, reducing the risk of mouth damage.

Two sizes are available – 1.6mm and 2mm – in camo green colour, and with eight 45mm lengths in each packet.

Essentials Braid Needle

This is specifically for use with braided hook links, or coated braid that has been stripped back.

It has a strong, sharp tip that will easily pierce baits, whilst being a fine enough diameter that it won’t split them.

A braid-friendly barb allows you to easily secure the hair loop in place whilst threading your hookbait onto it.

Essentials Splicing Needle

This is purpose-designed for use with leadcore leaders, such as our Kable range, and makes it easy to attach it to rig components or to form a loop in the end of the material.

The essentials Splicing Needle is fine enough that it can easily be pushed through the side of the leadcore outer woven braid, and features a fine gated latch to hold the tag end of the leadcore in place as you pull it back through. It is strong enough that you can apply enough pressure to easily form a secure splice.

When splicing is done correctly, it forms one of the strongest connections, and is also the neatest.

The splicing needle is an essential addition to the tackle box of anyone who is planning on using leadcore leaders.

Essentials Heavy Latch Needle

This is perfect for use with harder baits where more force is required to push the sharp tip through them.

The gated latch will hold a hair made from any material securely in place whilst you thread the bait on, and then releases cleanly once your hookbait is in position.

Whilst it is designed to be strong and robust, it is still of a fine enough diameter that it won’t easily split hard baits when you push it through.

Essentials Stik Needle

This is an essential baiting tool for anyone who uses PVA mesh sticks or bags threaded onto their hook link, or who uses stringers.

The Essentials Stik Needle is extra long, so mesh bags can easily be threaded onto it, or enough baits to form a stringer on a piece of PVA tape.

It is strong and robust enough to push through baits as well as bags or sticks, and the gated latch holds the loop at the end of your hook link securely in place when threading a bag on, or secures the PVA tape for a stringer, and then releases cleanly once you’ve finished.