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Thinking of planning a carp fishing trip to Spain next year. Heard some amazing things about the reservoirs and rivers there. Anyone got any experience fishing in Spain? What are the best locations for big carp? What kind of bait and tactics work well in those waters? Any advice on licenses or permits needed for fishing in Spain? Also, any recommendations on local guides or tackle shops that can help me out? Looking forward to hearing your experiences and tips!

Just wondering what everyone's favourite bits of fishing tackle are at the moment? I'm looking to upgrade my reel and rod setup for carp fishing this season and I'm keen to hear recommendations. What reels are you finding reliable and powerful? What rods offer good sensitivity and casting distance? Also, interested in hearing about any new gadgets or gizmos you've discovered that have made a difference to your fishing. Things like bite alarms, line, hooks, or even just handy tools that make life easier on the bank. Let's share some knowledge and help each other find the best gear! Tight lines!

Yes be a manual to stop it closing on the cast my big reels are the same, glad of it nothing worse than the bail arm closing on a distance cast.

My new reels turned up and first I thought they were faulty as the bail arm is manual return only ! Is this a common feature in big reels I think it’s to prevent the bail arm closing in error on the cast and reducing line twist

We all need joggers and hoodies got no issue with that but we also wanted technical options, thankfully we are starting to get some. I do feel partly responsible tbh thank me later lol

The Carp companies I think were catering to 'chav fashion' with the joggers. I'm not sure on hoodies as I do find a hoodie quite useful though. I much prefer combat or cargo trousers; a few weeks ago one of my pairs of combats died, finally worn through after 20 years, or is that the problem? I do get a fair few years out of combat clothing, it resists rip, tears and brambles. I avoided tackle shops for most clothing to be honest, much preferring outdoor and army surplus stores. There are exceptions, a few decent tackle brand hoodies, (not all are good) and an ESP fleece. Craghoppers use natural repellant. I had to look as your comment got me interested as I'm wary of things like DEET. https://www.craghoppers.com/nosilife/https://www.craghoppers.com/technologies/nosilife/?gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=10157901071&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI7bWx3dGdjQMV66JQBh3CYg6dEAAYASABEgIrl_D_BwE

Cool - I was looking at the Craghoppers stuff last year and nearly purchased tbh, might be wrong but think the fabric is too closely woven to be penetrated on the stuff coming out so maybe doesn't need chemicals, we'll have to wait and see on that, I spoke to the main guy at a show - gave him the lowdown on what anglers really need technically instead of the joggers and hoodies the tackle companies kept spewing out. You shouldn't have to look to mountaineering, safari or European predator fishing for tactical clothing - carp companies were so far behind I just didn't understand their mindset tbh.

There is a fair bit of 'insect proof' clothing about already. It is standard for British Army combat trousers and jackets, but there are other sellers including Craghoppers. The standard permethrin impregnated clothing lasts for 70 washes, but you can do your own which lasts about 6 washes.

Just ordered the Korda long sleeve SPF Factor 50 shirt for those swims where you have no shade or you're up floater fishing all day. Hopefully money well spent. Fortis look to be bringing out mozzie proof summer clothing - deffo buying this when possible! 👍

Just put a order in for some light weight gear went with two Drennan Specialist rods a 1.25 and 1.50 TC two daiwa reels one for float and floater fishing on the 1.25, a 3000 size and a 4000 size for the 1.50 both the ninja reels one a front drag the other a front drag with bait runner. Getting ready for some day ticket fishing will use a waggler on the lighter rod and a single bite alarm for the ledgering rod got some nice little day tickets venus near by.

Another 3 night blank, new swim, position seemed good for traffic, only one stuck it's head out the whole trip. Did hours of swim improvements/clearance for no reward, out again Thursday night for another go - same conditions 🤦‍♂️ Still nice view lol

Lol, no I'm OK with the oil car runs better than ever

You didn't put water where the oil goes did you? 😱

Must admit to nearly messing up the engine such an idiot, when I replaced the coolant I refilled the expansion tank thinking it would pump around the car from there, razzed it round the block and nearly overheated the engine, got back and filled the through engine cap, engine was bone dry it gulped it down giving out big burps as the air was forced out, my mobile mechanic would of never trusted me again, if it's an easy job he tells me what needs doing, with a very confident 'you could do that' added here and there.

My Jalopy is sorted, had to box off the rear pipe work in the end the corrosion spot is in a bracket area of the pipe work so no chance of sealing it, if I can be bothered at some point I will grab a whole new, from the scrap yard, rear pipe system easy to fit that why they corrode completely exposed to the under spray.

And black well done !! lol

Okuma, because they are worth it 😎

You’re spoiling them reels 🙄

2 x PB products hit n run lead clips and tail rubbers (half price deal) Korda balancing weights 10" matrix black out adjustable buzz bar, spotted a deal and thought I am fed up slumming it with a fixed rear buzz bar. So with a tenner off I thought today is the day. Not purchases but today I have respooled my reels with 15lb gt80+ 0.40mm tow rope, and added my s'wet bands to the spools so my line can stay in tip top condition between sessions.

That's kind of why I only use one rig these days, every now and again it might need a tweek, I'm currently looking at a beefed up version for snag fishing, but that's pretty much a change of boom material. And so far from the coated ones I have the bank tackle or PB jelly wire seems the strongest 😱 korda ones broke way too easily on a puller test. I will give them a whirl next time and see how they cope,

Been doing quite well on tigers nuts recently and this one is the best so far at 33lb 5oz.

I'm positive we often overthink what we do, although I really try not to, preferring to spend time watching the fish if possible. At Taverham Mills I used to spend a lot of time up trees watching the fish over baited areas. There were times when the carp definitely avoided pop-ups, and I am positive after going out to my baited areas that the fish have twigged my pop-up, yet a switch to a lower sitting or even bottom or snowman bait later catches on the same spot. It's on hard bottoms, gravel and sand I really don't like using pop-ups, that's where I have seen fish avoiding them like the plague when there is plenty of bait out there.

Dave lane is now using Gardner CVR Like above. That was his Gardner phase version of the rig. I nearly always use a pop up regardless of what I am fishing over tbh, sometimes a wafter if its really firm and clean, but I never worry too much, I think they often either avoid the pop up or make a beeline straight for it.

I bet that went like a rocket,love commons ,especially old skool looking versions

In Tim Paisley's More From The Bivvy is a short piece on the 360 rig and his preferred pattern. I have a feeling Dave Lane was using JRC Connect hooks when he passed it on to him. I don't like the curved hook with it, as I have the mini swivel eye on the lakebed. The Incizor is a big hook with a fairly wide gape, and is heavy. The hook is equal and balances the the pop-up, so no additional putty needed. I do know it didn't work so well with a Solar 101! I wonder if my version didn't work because it is presenting the bait above the fish feeding on the lakebed. I know it's only a tiny difference in height above the lakebed, but would be above the background maize I caught over.