Preston Innovations ICS Swivel Stem Kit

Preston Innovations ICS Swivel Stem Kit

Preston Innovations’ InterChange System (ICS) completely transformed how match and coarse anglers adapt to shifting conditions. But while inline setups are devastatingly effective for creating self-hooking bolt rigs, there are days when the fish demand a traditional, free-flowing, or hanging-paternoster presentation. The Preston Innovations ICS Swivel Stem Kit provides the ultimate mechanical solution, instantly converting any inline ICS product into a conventional, hanging-boom style setup—all while preserving the quick-change modular freedom that makes the ICS ecosystem legendary.

A Quick Note from the Team at Gerry’s: If you’ve spotted the description floating around online mentioning a “70cm” long version, unless you’re planning to attach a three-foot-long radio antenna to your feeder, rest assured that’s just a classic print typo! The long version is a perfectly balanced 70mm (7cm), giving you the ideal stand-off length on the bank.

Technical Specifications

Key Features & Construction

• Instant Inline-to-Conventional Conversion: Designed to slide natively into the central tracking slot of any existing Preston ICS feeder or lead weight. It instantly transforms a standard inline configuration into a hanging boom setup without requiring you to disassemble your entire mainline rig.

• Heavy-Duty Integrated Barrel Swivel: Built with a premium, smooth-rotating marine-grade stainless steel swivel molded securely into the nose of the stem. This ensures frictionless 360-degree rotation under load, completely eliminating line twist during rapid retrieves or when winching empty feeders back from distance.

• Shatter-Proof Polymer Architecture: Forged from an advanced, resilient plastic matrix engineered to easily withstand the high-impact shock of heavy water entries, as well as the aggressive compression forces experienced when loading packed cage or maggot feeders.

• Total InterChange System (ICS) Cross-Compatibility: Requires zero tools or rig adjustments. Simply slip your inline feeder body off its current stem and slide it directly onto the Swivel Stem to completely alter your presentation in under three seconds.

Where to Use: Recommended Scenarios

• Natural Venue Skimmer & Bream Matches: The ultimate arena for the Long 70mm stem. When targeting cautious wild fish on deep reservoirs, canals, or rowing courses, a hanging-boom setup prevents fish from feeling the immediate static inertia of an inline feeder, prompting bolder, more confident bites.

• Fast-Flowing River Feeder Sessions: Highly effective when paired with an ICS In-Line Cage Feeder or Maggot Feeder on moving waters. The swivel stem allows the feeder to hang naturally in the current, keeping your line tracking cleanly above bottom debris and dramatically reducing bottom snagging.

• Cooler Months with Cautious Bites: Perfect for winter or early spring sessions when fish are incredibly sluggish. Converting an ICS In-Line Match Cube into a free-running bomb setup with this swivel stem ensures that the absolute lightest pick-ups register instantly on your fine quivertip.

The Gerry’s Fishing Verdict

The Preston Innovations ICS Swivel Stem Kit is an ingenious piece of modular engineering that completely multiplies your existing tackle inventory. Instead of carrying twice as many feeders to cover both inline and conventional setups, a couple of packs of these conversion stems give you total tactical flexibility. It cuts down on luggage weight, saves you serious money, and lets you react to a changing venue dynamic with lightning speed. It is a mandatory addition to any modern match box.

Gerry’s Pro Tip: To tie an absolutely flawless, anti-tangle running rig using the Long 70mm Swivel Stem, always pair it with a twizzled loop or a braided boom on your mainline. Thread your mainline through a high-quality buffer bead, attach it to the swivel eye of the conversion stem, and leave a 4-to-6 inch “twizzled” line section just above your hooklength connector. The rigid 70mm polymer stem acts as a fantastic mechanical stand-off arm, keeping your heavy feeder pushed well clear of your supple hooklink during the cast, entirely eliminating messy mid-air wrap-arounds!

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Will these swivel stems work with the micro-sized Preston ICM feeders?

No. The ICM (InterChange Micro) range is scaled down to high-finesse proportions and features a significantly finer internal tracking bore. These standard ICS Swivel Stems are designed exclusively to fit standard-sized Preston ICS products, including standard Method, Banjo XR, Pellet, Cage feeders, and Match Cubes.

What are the main benefits of the Short 35mm version over the Long 70mm model?

The Short 35mm stem is highly favored when you want a highly compact, low-profile conventional rig that keeps the feeder relatively close to the mainline, maximizing standard bite registration speeds. The Long 70mm stem is the ultimate tool when fishing in weedy or silty conditions, as the extra length acts as an extended stand-off boom that prevents your hooklength from getting dragged down into the muck with the feeder.

Is this conversion setup fully legal on commercial fisheries with strict safety rules?

Yes, absolutely. Because the feeder body simply slides onto the ICS Swivel Stem via friction fitment, it forms a completely safe configuration. If a mainline snap-off should occur, the weighted feeder body can easily slide off the stem channel, allowing the fish to swim free without towing a heavy weight, fully satisfying modern fishery welfare standards.