Gardner Intensive Carp Care Pack in DPM Pouch

Contents & Coverage

Inside the zipped DPM pouch are a 30ml bottle of Intensive Care Gel, a tube of applicator swabs and a 60ml bottle of Intensive Care Spray.

The spray is an antibacterial and antifungal treatment for all freshwater fish, and it's the quick option for fresh hook holds, lifted scales and minor grazes.

The gel is where the pack earns its keep. It's for deep hook holds, ulcers and wounds where a surface spray on its own isn't enough, and it's made to fill the wound, improve sterilisation and form a protective seal.

The gel and spray are designed to be used together, which gives you a fuller treatment on the worst damage.

For me, the Korda Carp Care Kit's pairing of an antiseptic cleaner and a propolis sealant is slightly more rounded, which is why this scores 8.5 rather than 9.0. Even so, the gel, spray and swabs cover pretty much any damage you're likely to see on a carp.

Ease of Use

The spray has a pump atomiser cap, so for a minor graze or a fresh hook hold you shake the bottle, spray the area directly and the fish can go back. Keep it well away from the gills, as their membranes are delicate, and wipe the nozzle afterwards so it doesn't clog.

Deeper wounds and ulcers take a little more care. Gently dry the affected area first, then use one of the applicator swabs to work the gel into the wound, keeping the rest of the fish wet on the mat while you do it.

It's more of a two-handed job, but with the pouch open and ready, it shouldn't add much time.

How does it compare with a one-bottle treatment? It's a touch slower, simply because you're choosing between two products and using a swab for the gel.

To be fair, having the right treatment for each kind of damage is worth a few extra seconds, and I think most anglers will find it straightforward.

Portability

The DPM camo pouch is compact and zipped, and it holds both bottles and the swab tube together, so nothing goes missing in the bottom of a rucksack. It's small enough to live in a carryall side pocket or a bait bag and only come out when there's a fish on the mat.

The 60ml spray is the larger of the two bottles, and it makes the pack slightly bulkier than a kit with two 30ml bottles. It's still a small pouch by any standard, though, and the camo finish blends in with the rest of a carp angler's gear.

Overall, I think it's very easy to carry, and you'd hardly notice it in a well-packed bag. Having all three items in one place matters more than saving a few centimetres, especially when a fish is waiting on the mat.

Is it good value for money?

Is it good value? It's a mid-priced pack, and you're getting three items plus the pouch, with the gel and the spray each sold on their own as well.

If you only want the spray, the Gardner Intensive Care Carp Spray is the cheaper way in, while the full pack makes sense once you want something for deeper wounds too.

Next to the Catfish Pro Fish Care Kit, which pairs a 100ml antiseptic gel with hand sanitiser and swabs, the Gardner pack gives you two different treatments rather than one, and I'd lean towards it for carp anglers who see a mix of shallow and deep damage.

Overall, I'd recommend the Intensive Carp Care Pack to carp anglers who want a spray for everyday hook holds and a gel for the more serious wounds, all kept together in one tidy pouch that can stay in the bag all season.