Introduction: Let’s Talk About Money (Briefly, We Promise)
We get it - no one visits a fishing site for financial chat. You’re here for lochs, lures, and that beautiful moment when a float twitches just right. But since honesty is part of the iPike DNA, we think you deserve to know how this site keeps going: the petrol, coffee, and web hosting don’t pay for themselves, sadly.
So here’s the plain truth: sometimes, when you click on a link and buy something, we may earn a small commission. Tiny, really. Like “enough for a pasty at the petrol station” tiny. But it helps keep iPike.co.uk afloat (pun intended).
Background: Why We Use Affiliate Links
When we started iPike, we were just a few anglers with opinions and more rods than sense. We wanted to write about fishing in a way that felt real, no corporate fluff, no pay-to-play nonsense. But as the site grew, so did the costs: travel, hosting, and occasionally replacing the laptop someone left on a wet car bonnet.
Affiliate links became a simple way to cover those costs without selling our souls or plastering the site with flashing ads for crypto apps and miracle bait powders. We recommend gear, services, and insurance providers we actually use (or would use ourselves), and if a few pennies come our way when you click - all the better.
Core Details: How It Works
1. Some Links Are “Affiliate Links.” That means if you click a link to an external site and make a purchase, iPike may earn a small commission. It doesn’t cost you a penny more, it just means the retailer shares a slice of their profit with us for sending you their way.
2. We Only Recommend What’s Genuine. We’ll never promote a product, service, or company that we don’t believe in. If it’s rubbish, we’ll say so. If it’s great, we’ll shout about it. That’s the deal.
3. Transparency Always Comes First. Whenever a link or article includes an affiliate connection, we’ll make that clear: either within the text or near the link itself. You’ll never need a magnifying glass to spot it.
4. No Hidden Agendas. We don’t do paid placements, fake reviews, or “sponsored opinions.” Everything here is written because we think it’s useful, funny, or just plain interesting to fellow anglers. If it ever becomes an advert, we’ll tell you straight.
Human Experience: We’ve Been on Both Sides
Once upon a time, before iPike existed, one of us bought a rod online because a blog said it was “the best ever.” It wasn’t. It was the flattest noodle this side of the Tay. That moment stuck with us. We vowed never to recommend anything we wouldn’t trust on a windy day in the Highlands.
So when we link to gear or services now; from reels to roadside insurance: it’s because we’ve tested it, argued about it, and probably sworn at it. That’s the iPike promise: earned opinions, not bought ones.
Why It Matters: Because Trust Is Everything
The internet’s full of affiliate schemes and hidden kickbacks. We’re not fans of that. We built iPike.co.uk to be transparent and community-driven - a place where readers trust what they read because they know where it comes from. So this disclosure isn’t just a legal requirement; it’s a handshake between us and you.
And honestly, we’d rather earn your respect than your clicks. But if a click helps us cover a tank of fuel on the next loch-hopping trip, we won’t say no.
Our Partners: A Quick Word on Who We Work With
From time to time, we may partner with companies who share our love for fishing, travel, or the great outdoors; like insurance providers who understand anglers, or tackle shops that know a jerkbait from a jigsaw. Those relationships help us keep creating quality content without cluttering the site with pop-ups and nonsense.
All such links are clearly marked with rel="sponsored" or rel="affiliate" tags for transparency. We follow the UK Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) guidelines to the letter: and probably overthink them for good measure.
Legacy: Why We’ll Always Keep It Honest
We don’t plan to get rich from affiliate links. We’d need a lot more clicks for that; and frankly, we’d rather be fishing. But we do plan to stay honest, independent, and readable. That means telling the truth, even when it’s awkward, and disclosing every partnership openly.
If we ever mess that up, call us out. We’ll fix it faster than you can say “strike.”
Conclusion: Tight Lines, Clear Conscience
To put it simply: if you see an affiliate link on iPike.co.uk, it means we’ve tested it, trust it, and think it’s worth your time. No secrets, no strings attached, just a few honest anglers trying to keep the site ticking whilst chasing that next big pike.
Last updated: October 2025