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Terminal tackle · Line aligners · Our take
Gardner Tackle Covert Tungsten Kickers
Long and XL
A proper handy way to sharpen up your presentation, improve hook turn and keep the gape doing its job — without faffing about with shrink tube.
- Available in Long and XL sizes, with 10 kickers per packet.
- Long is 24mm long and generally suits most size 4–6 hooks.
- XL is 25mm long and generally suits most size 2–6 hooks.
- Made from a dense tungsten polymer compound, with a slow taper that can be trimmed to suit different hook patterns.
Make sure it’s the right one. This review covers the Gardner Tackle Covert Tungsten Kickers in both Long and XL sizes. The two versions differ in length and internal diameter, so picking the right one for your hook pattern matters.
Tackle Index Score
Tackle Index score
A well-thought-out, easy-to-use rig aid that earns its keep when you want a strong hook-turn and a low, tidy presentation.
- Product Quality9.1/10
- Performance9/10
- Impact on Fish Catching8.9/10
- Ease of Use9.4/10
- Value for Money8.6/10
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Who it suits
Is it right for you?
Great for
- Carp anglers tying bottom-bait and wafter rigs. The curved kicker and 90-degree exit help create a positive turning action while keeping the presentation tidy.
- Anglers who want repeatable rigs without lots of faff. Slide one over the hooklink and hook, trim the taper if needed, and you’ve got a consistent alternative to fiddly shrink-tube work.
Maybe skip if
- Anglers fishing rigs where the hooklink must leave the eye in a very specific non-aggressive position. The 90-degree exit is the point of the product, so it may not suit a presentation that relies on a more neutral line angle.
- Anyone using very unusual hook shapes or extremely fine hooklinks. The kicker may need careful trimming, and the Long or XL internal diameter might not give you the snug fit you’re after.
The lowdown
Introducing the Gardner Tackle Covert Tungsten Kickers
A proper handy way to sharpen up your presentation, improve hook turn and keep the gape doing its job — without faffing about with shrink tube.
- Available in Long and XL sizes, with 10 kickers per packet.
- Long is 24mm long and generally suits most size 4–6 hooks.
- XL is 25mm long and generally suits most size 2–6 hooks.
- Made from a dense tungsten polymer compound, with a slow taper that can be trimmed to suit different hook patterns.
Quick verdict
A cracking little rig upgrade
Gardner’s Covert Tungsten Kickers are a simple, tidy way to create a more aggressive hook-turn without adding loads of bits and bobs to the rig. The 90-degree hooklink exit and curved section do the clever work, while the tungsten polymer helps pin everything down.
They’re not magic dust, mate, and you still need the hook, boom and bait arrangement working together. But for a quick, repeatable improvement to bottom-bait, wafter and certain pop-up presentations, these are bob on. Choose Long for most size 4–6 hooks, or XL when you need a roomier fit around bigger patterns.
A well-thought-out, easy-to-use rig aid that earns its keep when you want a strong hook-turn and a low, tidy presentation.
- Product Quality
- 9.1/10
- Performance
- 9/10
- Impact on Fish Catching
- 8.9/10
- Ease of Use
- 9.4/10
- Value for Money
- 8.6/10
The tungsten polymer, clean shape and two-size choice make this feel like properly considered terminal tackle.
The 90-degree exit and curved section are designed to create a quick, positive hook-turn and the geometry is easy to repeat.
It can improve the mechanics of a rig by helping the hook turn and penetrate while preserving the gape, provided it’s fitted and trimmed correctly.
It’s quicker and less fiddly than building a line aligner from shrink tube, although trimming needs a careful hand.
Ten per packet and plenty of rigging flexibility make them fair value, though cheaper sleeves can create a similar basic effect.
Head to head
How it stacks up
Side by side with the closest kit we've reviewed. This updates as we add more reviews.
Gardner Tackle
Gardner Tackle Covert Tungsten Kickers (this one)
Top scorer
Top scorer
Scores are our own, out of 10. Best in each row is in green. Prices change, so check the latest before you buy.
The full rundown
Everything you'll want to know about the Gardner Tackle Covert Tungsten Kickers
There are loads of ways to make a hook turn faster, mate. A bit of shrink tube. A line aligner sleeve. A cleverly tied knot. Or, if you fancy keeping things simple, a tungsten kicker. Gardner’s Covert Tungsten Kickers are made to give your hooklink a sharp, repeatable exit angle without turning your rig into a full-on science project.
The basic idea is dead handy. The kicker slips over the hooklink and hook eye, then forms a straight section followed by a curve. Once everything is seated properly, the hooklink exits at roughly 90 degrees to the shank. That creates a more positive pivot when a carp mouths the bait and moves off. In plain English, it helps the hook point find the bottom lip quicker.
They’re made from a dense tungsten polymer compound, so the finished rig sits close to the deck rather than waving about above it. That’s useful on clean, firm spots where you want a low-profile presentation, and just as useful when the carp are having a proper nose around your hookbait. It’s not a substitute for balanced tackle, but it removes one more bit of unwanted lift and movement.
There are two sizes in the range. The Long version measures 24mm and is aimed at most size 4–6 hooks. The XL is 25mm long and suits most size 2–6 hooks, with a roomier 1.45mm internal diameter at the eye end compared with 1mm on the Long. That extra space can be useful with larger hooks, thicker hooklinks or bulkier coatings.
Don’t just grab the XL because bigger sounds better, though. A kicker needs to sit neatly and securely. If it’s too loose, the rig can look scruffy and the angle may not stay where you want it. If it’s too tight, you’ll fight it onto the hook and risk damaging the sleeve or your hooklink. The Long is the sensible starting point for common size 4 and 6 carp patterns.
The slow taper is one of the better details here. You can trim the kicker to suit different hook patterns and sizes, which means you’re not stuck with one fixed profile. Use sharp scissors, take tiny nips and keep checking the hook gape. You want enough material to create the turning effect, but not so much that it masks the point or makes the rig look like a bit of garden hose.
That hook gape point is important. A lot of aggressive hook arrangements can get a bit carried away, especially when you’re fishing a small hook or a compact bait. The Covert Kicker is designed to improve hook-turn speed while preserving the gape. Set up properly, it gives you a positive angle without filling the open part of the hook.
In practical bank terms, these are a tidy option for bottom-bait and wafter rigs when you want something repeatable. Tie your hooklink, thread the kicker over the hook eye, ease it into position and check the exit angle. A small blob of bait floss, a little steam from the kettle or a careful tug can help everything settle. Don’t steam the tungsten kicker like shrink tube, though — it isn’t the same job.
The packet contains 10 kickers, so you’ve got enough for a handful of rigs plus a few replacements after snags, pike interference or the usual tackle-box carnage. They’re not the cheapest way to create any kind of line aligner, but they are quick and consistent. When the rods are off and you need to rebuild a rig without a load of faff, that counts for plenty.
Overall, Gardner has kept the Covert Tungsten Kickers nicely focused. They don’t try to be a universal answer for every rig in the box. Instead, they give you a clear hook-turning angle, a low-down material and some trimming flexibility. Pick the right size, keep the point clear and they’re a proper useful bit of terminal tackle.
Specifications
The nuts and bolts
- Sizes
- Long and XL
- Length
- Long: 24mm; XL: 25mm
- Hook compatibility
- Long: most size 4–6 hooks; XL: most size 2–6 hooks
- Internal diameter at eye end
- Long: 1mm; XL: 1.45mm
- Material
- Dense tungsten polymer compound
- Pack contents
- 10 kickers
Specs checked with Gardner Tackle, Oct 2026.
Spot a model or spec change?
Our take
Why the hooklink exit matters
The useful bit here is the way the hooklink leaves the kicker at a 90-degree angle. That helps the rig pivot as a carp mouths the bait, encouraging the point to turn towards the bottom lip rather than simply being dragged around flat.
The long straight extension, curved section and slow taper give you plenty of scope to trim the kicker to suit different hook shapes. That means you can keep the hook gape open instead of burying half the hook in a bulky sleeve — a small detail that can make a big difference when you’re trying to nick a bite from wary carp.
Closer look
A simple sleeve with a proper job to do
The Covert Tungsten Kicker combines a long straight extension with a curved section. The hooklink exits at a 90-degree angle, creating a more aggressive turning action as the carp picks up and moves away with the bait.
The dense tungsten polymer compound helps the rig sit low, while the slow taper lets you trim the kicker for different hook shapes and sizes. Keep the trim neat and leave plenty of the hook gape open. That’s where the benefit is — positive movement without choking the hook point.
Worth knowing. Long and XL aren’t just different names. Long is 24mm with a 1mm internal diameter at the eye end, while XL is 25mm with a 1.45mm internal diameter. The Long suits most size 4–6 hooks; XL generally suits most size 2–6 hooks.
Who it suits
A handy mate for everyday carp rigs
These are best suited to anglers tying tidy bottom-bait and wafter rigs who want a reliable hook-turn without messing around with shrink tube. They’re also useful when you’re tying several rigs before a session and want each one to behave in broadly the same way.
On a hard spot, a clear margin area or a lightly pressured lake where the carp inspect everything, the low tungsten profile and open gape make good sense. They’re also a decent option when you’re switching hook patterns, as the taper can be trimmed rather than forcing one bulky size to do every job.
They’re less of a natural fit for rigs that need a neutral hooklink exit or a very unusual hook arrangement. If your presentation depends on a choddy curve, a hinged boom or a deliberately relaxed line angle, this kicker may push the rig in the wrong direction.
FAQs in full
The bits anglers usually want to know
For most standard carp hooks, start with the Long. It covers the common size 4–6 range and has the smaller 1mm eye-end diameter. Move to XL for size 2 patterns, chunkier hooklinks or hooks with a larger eye where the Long feels too tight.
Trim carefully. Slide the kicker into place, look at the gape from above and make sure the point is clean. If you’re fishing a coated hooklink, check the coating and kicker aren’t creating a stiff lump right where the hook needs to move.
A kicker won’t rescue a blunt hook, a poorly balanced wafter or a hooklink that’s far too stiff for the situation. Tie the basics right first, then use the Covert Kicker to sharpen the turning action and keep the rig sitting nicely on the lakebed.
On paper
Pros & cons
What we like
- Encourages a quick, aggressive hook turn and helps promote penetration.
- 90-degree hooklink exit gives the finished rig a consistent angle.
- Tungsten polymer helps pin the rig down close to the lakebed.
- Slow taper can be trimmed for a neater fit on different hook sizes and patterns.
- Ten per packet gives you enough for several rigs and a few inevitable bank-side casualties.
Worth knowing
- You’ll need scissors or snips to trim them neatly, and over-trimming can leave a scruffy or loose fit.
- They won’t suit every rig; some hinged, chod-style and very short hooklink presentations need a different approach.
- The correct size matters, especially if you’re using a larger hook or a chunky coated braid.
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Your questions answered
What anglers want to know
The stuff you’d ask your mate on the next peg. Straight answers, no waffle.
01Which Gardner Covert Tungsten Kicker size should I use?
Which Gardner Covert Tungsten Kicker size should I use?
The Long version is aimed at most size 4–6 hooks and has a 1mm internal diameter at the eye end. The XL is a touch longer at 25mm, has a 1.45mm internal diameter and generally suits most size 2–6 hooks. Match the kicker to the hook pattern and hooklink material rather than choosing purely by hook size.
02Can you trim the Covert Tungsten Kickers?
Can you trim the Covert Tungsten Kickers?
Yes. The slow taper is designed to be trimmed for different hook patterns and sizes. Take a little off at a time with sharp scissors or snips, then check that the kicker sits neatly, doesn’t cover too much of the gape and grips the hooklink securely.
03What sort of rigs are they best for?
What sort of rigs are they best for?
They’re especially useful on straightforward bottom-bait and wafter rigs where you want the hook to turn quickly and the hooklink to leave the eye at a strong angle. They can also be used with some pop-up presentations, but always check that the kicker isn’t upsetting the bait’s balance or masking the point.
What anglers say
The word from the bank
Our read: a cracking little rig upgrade. The strongest reasons to choose it are encourages a quick, aggressive hook turn and helps promote penetration. and 90-degree hooklink exit gives the finished rig a consistent angle.; the main trade-off is you’ll need scissors or snips to trim them neatly, and over-trimming can leave a scruffy or loose fit..
Our take on the feedback
Why it appeals
Checked Sept '26 — “Encourages a quick, aggressive hook turn and helps promote penetration.”
Best fit
Checked Sept '26 — “Carp anglers tying bottom-bait and wafter rigs: The curved kicker and 90-degree exit help create a positive turning action while keeping the presentation tidy.”
Worth knowing
Checked Sept '26 — “You’ll need scissors or snips to trim them neatly, and over-trimming can leave a scruffy or loose fit.”
Tackle Index’s take from the product details and fishing fit we checked. We haven’t found enough independent public feedback to call this an angler consensus yet.
Angler score
What our readers rate Gardner Tackle Covert Tungsten Kickers
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