Fishing Bivvys today are an essential part of the modern day fishermans armoury. They allow an angler to camp out on the lake or river bank for days or even weeks at a time usually while specimen hunting for hard to catch fish such as Carp or Catfish.
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What is a Bivvy ?
A Bivvy is essentially a dome shaped tent which has been specially designed for the angler in mind. The word Bivvy comes from the word Bivouac - which means 'to set up or camp in an improvised shelter', often from natural materials (see picture right). Commonly the Bivouac shelter would consist of two sheets - one for the roof and one for the groundsheet where the roof would usually be tied up between two trees. Another type of Bivouac is the Bivouac sack, which is a thin waterproof fabric shell designed to slip over the top of a sleeping bag often used by climbers, mountaineers and hikers.
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Development of the Fishing Bivvy
The Fishing Bivvy was introduced to anglers commercially in the UK in the 1970's. It was essentially a dome shaped tent that was thrown over the top of a large fishing umbrella, which was then pegged down for stability. This was known as a Brolly Camp or later 'Bivvy'. The wrap around bivvies or brolly camps are still available today, but there are also stand-alone versions that do not require an umbrella for the structure of the camp. The stand-alone bivvies consist of a collapsible all-in-one structure that can be 'popped-up' and constructed in seconds.
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Manufacturers have strived to find better ways to build fishing bivvies over the years by making them more waterproof, stronger, breathable, easier to access and quicker to erect. In fact the latest models of bivvy such as the TFG Force 8 Extreme Bivvy can be erected in less than 15 seconds.
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Some Bivvies are not just designed for anglers wishing to fish overnight, there are day bivvies known as a day session shelter - these are designed as the name states for day sessions to protect the angler from the elements.
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There are bivvies designed for 1 or 2 man, with the 2 man bivvies obviously being larger. Usually a specimen carp angler for example looking for a carp bivvy will buy a 2 man bivvy so that he has more room for all the extra equipment and accessories that he needs to take on a long fishing session.
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Bivvy Manufacturers
There are several top fishing tackle manufacturers in the market that supply fishing bivvies and day shelters including Daiwa, JRC, Korum, Nash, Pro Logic, TFG (TF Gear) and Trakker.
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A good bivvy needs good accessories such as lights, tables, rig stations etc.. The Fox Halo Elite Bivvy light for example can actually be programmed to switch on when you get an indication from your bite alarms.
Other bivvy accessories available include stoves, kettles, pans, pots, plates, tables, torches, towels, headlamps, and many others - everything but the kitchen sink really!
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More Bivvies from the Store
Trident is the all new bivvy from Trakker. The perfect solution for anglers wanting the freedom of an openfaced bivvy but without compromising the security and protection you get from a fully enclosed bivvy. Like our Armo range of bivvies the Trident is made from groundbreaking Aquatexx material that's over 40% stronger than conventional nylon fabrics. Those who know buy Armo. New 3 section two break pole system. Allows much quiicker erection/breakdown Now fits easily into a quiver Removable peak Removeable (zip off) front Trident is a 1 man bivvy, size 2.3m x 2.8m Compatible with all existing Armo 1 man wraps Can be used as a day shelter, or with the addition of a super extended wrap, an emergency 2 man bivvy. Trident image shown with frame support sold separately
£379.99
Ingenious retractable porch feature prevents rain incursion when finishing with door open New groundsheet arrangement gives better protection against water incursion Erected in two minutes Non-expandable/contractible Aquatexx fabric results in a more stable shelter Super strong captive frame, will withstand all weather conditions 1 Man (FC-ARMO2-1MAN) 2 Man (FC-ARMO2-2MAN) 1 Man Overwrap (FC-ARMOOVER-1) 2 Man Overwrap (FC-ARMOOVER-2)
£359.99
This new Double Top Extreme has been designed by a team of leading carp anglers and has been field tested in the harshest conditions imaginable. This deluxe bivvy has an array of impressive features including new porch/door canopy, this canopy properly maximises doorway coverage to eliminate rain ingress and provide shade. The 1 man version has the capability of housing 2 bedchairs (fitted sideways), whilst the 2 man is exceptionally spacious and is ideal for long sessions shelter, and simply perfect for those who enjoy extra comfort. Waterproof outer Integral inner mesh to achieve rapid set up and break down set up in half the time of other twin-skinned bivvies Totally sealable, inner mesh capsule to optimise comfort and to eliminate intrusion from mosquitoes Rear vents to enhance air-flow and comfort New in-line speader bar system to optimise rigidity Front waterproof, zippable panels to expose mosi windows and storm door Manufactured to last, year on year, for extreme conditions
£269.99