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Baiting poles seems such a faff to me. OK if you are fishing very short but any sort of distance and you're like a plumber on a big job! Add a slight breeze and the thing is snaking around like a good 'un and the chances of getting close to your spot are pretty low. I know you hate boats Yonny but the stealth, accuracy and tight baiting they provide can't be beaten in my opinion. When they first came out I was apprehensive but I've embraced the positives they offer and I don't think it's a co-incidence that my catch rates have improved dramatically in the last few years. Cheating? Maybe but are you still using par boiled potatoes and silver foil for indicators? If the technology exists and other people are using it, you are putting yourself at a disadvantage if you don't use it Just my opinion, of course..

He's right though, noddy move, this one will stay with me for a long time. I had a feeling I was on for a big-un and the power of the take suggests it was just that!!! Fishing is cruel at times, the losses haunt me! I remember the worst losses more than the successful ones

Well Jack doesn't need to say anything for you to see he is not impressed with your decision to be in your bivvy at bite time ! .

If it's for a freshwater boat I'd just do it in 304..... half the price and more than up to the job.

Well that’s torn it lost the threaded part of a shackle for the boat last week lol now need to make a new part 316 stainless is expensive lol

Looks awesome; know how you feel..

Moody one from the weekend..

I was on it for a couple of years but struggled to find anyone with stock earlier this year so went with the HD instead, seems it's back in stock now. 👍 What about the splash mat, would you carry that around the big pit? 🤣🤦‍♂️ Might end up being as pointless as the ridgemonkey bivvy I bought during lockdown - deffo my worst buy ever!!! Cant give it away!

The best line out there imo.

Bought 2 spools of Hydro Tuff and found one was enough to do the 3 reels - so got a spare for next spring. Wasn't going to try the 3rd reel as I didn't want to have to strip it all off once it became apparent it wasn't going to fill the last reel but went for it anyway and it did it with a little to spare. On that basis I've deffo got enough HD left to do 3 reels on the 2 spools I bought earlier in the year as I did 2 reels off one spool and one off the other spool. Ordered another 75 leads from Riverside Leads - not heard anything back on those yet so jury is out. ESP stalker boilie pouch to help with baiting up Fortis - large brimmed hat Cotswold reel splash mat, this will prob never get used - but needed to spend more for free delivery so it kind of made sense lol Is this an illness?

I spotted something odd in the edge at Bluebell and pulled out a Fox Bivvy and later spotted a landing net and handle in the reeds - gave both to my mate which he still uses now. This was months after a big storm where people obviously lost tackle 😀

WHAT?!?! now that's dedication right there 🙌

I have one! Thing is it's miles round this lake so taking everything isn't really an option. In fact I'm taking as little as I can get away with! I'm even leaving the brew kit at home 😧

I used my baiting pole to get them out nice and quiet this trip, might have worked in your situation, I know you don't like tech but it's only a stick with a cup on the end lol I was pretty amazed to find I was fishing an easy underarm, turned out to be 24 metres, looked more like 10 max

It is mate. I actually found the carp this time too... chilling out not 30y out in a weed bed. Unfortunately I only had 4oz leads on me and the carp weren't to fond of them crashing onto their heads. Schoolboy error. Got straight on the phone to order a bunch of 2 and 2.5oz for next time. I was convinced they'd be back the next day but they didn't show up. To rub it in I found them all in the shallows on my trek back to the car to go home.

Place looks mega!

Saturday morning at the big pit. Big blank to go with it.

An overnighter sat/sun felt that I was on for a big-un, 9pm a big fish rolled on the right tree line which got me going. 7am a take and I cant get out the bivvy quick enough coz of a dead arm and it manages to take line off a very tight clutch and makes the trees resulting in a cut off - absolutely gutted tbh, should have been up sat by the rod as I knew 7am was bite time! Oh well next time I guess.

I use the ESP bait screw and haven't noticed damage, but that makes good sense, will keep an eye on that. Also got the Korda ones which are plastic screws moulded onto a metal swivel - these are buoyant so no affect on the po-up itself 👍

Thanks , Nick

I almost always do this nowadays, albeit with a micro ring swivel. Even for chods. Dead easy.

A fair few ways to use rig rings on pop-up rigs: Tie a rig ring onto the end of the hooklink material and then do basic knotless knot. You have the pop-up close to the shank and bend of the hook. Again, a knotless knot leaving your tag end, but thread the rig ring, tag end through the eye, and you have a basic D-rig. I frequently slide a rig ring onto the shank, hookbead fixed on the shank opposite the barb to point. That can be used on various rigs; Ronnie's and Spinners, Reverse combi-rigs or plain and basic straight on the hooklink and counterbalance.

Yes , I guess I have , Yonny you wise old owl . I'll start of with a basic plastic screw , and maybe then upgrade to a small rig ring and attach the pop up with floss . 😃

If you have seen that with your own eyes, I think you've answered your own question!

I don't know whether it is amusement or annoyance, but one of the fish in the syndicate has picked up the name of a Darwin Award winner to its name or features. Last year in June I had a really nice linear at 33lb, part of a 2 fish catch, with an 18lb mirror on an overnight session. Really nice fish, beautiful, and while I enjoyed catching it, returned it unnamed, and put pictures on our FB page. Going through the captures this year, that Linear has put on 4lb and been given the additional moniker. One of the grievances I suppose for me is I know how much stroke pulling this person did in the background, yet despite being friends with the fishery manager kept it hidden from him. No rule breaking as such, but just sneaky...