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That is the reason I nearly always make mine fresh just before casting. I do use a mix of pellets for bagging and meshing; halibut, CSL, bloodworm, koi/coarse and GLM in various sizes. Note, the Crafty Catcher bloodworm and GLM seem to be oversprayed. I managed to leave some Nash bags in my trouser pocket once, I was quite surprised that they were still undissolved after an hours 40⁰ wash. The plastic bag they were in had allowed water in, but the bags themselves were still almost intact.

My funnel webs are pretty round like golf balls and I piece through the sides so I'm not going anywhere near the 2 knots, works well

I've reeled in my rigs in the morning and the funnel web bag was fully intact, complete waste of a nights fishing lol Then it was winter and the bags had absorbed oil from halibut pellets doh 🤦‍♂️

Tnank Thanks for the heads up, i'll give that a try.

I use both PVA bags and meshes of boilies and 'bits', and I hate blobs of PVA on the hook. When I use bags, I push the hookpoint out of the bag in the corner so it doesn't catch on the contents. With mesh I often don't knot the end and use the hookpoint to close it and have noticed I don't get a blob of PVA as it was the knot that took longer to dissolve.

Is it the GLM content then more than the fishmeal?

Bought a camping gas refill cylinder yesterday for cooking my particles - I'm banned from doing it in the kitchen because of the smell and an accident many years ago where the pressure valve on my pressure cooker came adrift and I managed to "paint" the ceiling! I haven't bought one for a few years but thought I paid about £35 last time, this time it was over £45. I put it down to the "Trump tax!" The price of diesel is going to have a massive impact on all prices and they are only going one way.

Thanks for the tip, It probably doesn't matter either way like you said.

Still £337.50 over at Trent Baits.

My bait company has put the price of my fishmeal and GLM bait up from £337.50 per 50k to £412.50, only that bait has gone up in price. Was a bit shocked to say the least 👀 Anyone else seen companies doing this?

I don't think it matters, but it also winds me up. I don't use bags a lot but when I do I protect the hook between a couple of little bits of corn starch packing peanuts (what most people call PVA nuggets). The corn starch is released more easily than PVA, and tends to keep the hook/barb free of debris. It also protects the hook point from penetrating the bait(s) in the bag.

Hi, I'm using small PVA mesh bags of boilie only, (2 x 15mm and 6 x 12mm baits ) with a match the hatch pop up on a Ronnie rig, barbless hook with a supple hook link on a lead clip. When using barbed hooks, does it matter if you have PVA residue on your hook where the barb is? I've tested the rig several times in a pan of water and most times there's a large visible amount of residue stuck on the underside of the barb that rarely completely melts. If I use barbless hooks the residue always slides off past the hook point. I'd rather use barbed if possible. Thanks

No worries mate, I was referring to the syndi on the naturals 👍 Bluebell is just bags of crumb and pellet with halibut pellet wafter hookbaits.

Maggots not allowed at Bluebell mate so keep them hidden if you do 😉

Well I actually went back Tues to Thursday armed with particles including tigers, same swim, not a touch. Could see fish in the swim opposite, two anglers went in and both failed, watching them I figured I was pretty close and went long after them but same result. Was kicking myself for not getting maggots instead of the particle choice as they are clearly on naturals in the areas still containing surface weed or where that had recently cleared. Found 3 fish on the back of the wind on the 2nd afternoon and said to myself I'll move down here if no action for the 2nd night, with one being a good sized common, but the following day no fish in that area so a move turned into a go home early. Social at Bluebell this week but then back to the syndi end of Oct armed with maggots, worms and/or casters. Always disappointing to blank but have to remind myself it's 2 fish per acre at best so never easy.

As said before mate, good luck with the business. However, there are so many well established people offering this sort of thing, and as you are probably aware a few commercial fisheries do it too. Trouble is now there is sooo much stuff on line for 'how to do it', suspect carp fishing is probably the most available now? Additionally, there are very few options for parents who are seeking one-on-one lessons for their children. Actually the Angling Trust has been running this scheme for a long time: https://anglingtrust.net/getfishing/ And many angling clubs have a similar thing for children too. On a serious note, and not my concern and obvioulsy up to the mods on here, but didn't think advertising a commercial company is a good idea on forums? Guessing that is why your post was removed from another forum?

Thank you for the replies, gents. I've been running Next Level Angling for around eighteen months, and there is plenty of demand for angling tuition services; hence why I'm seeking additional tutors to fulfil the demand. The price of our services reflect their bespoke nature - the day, location and targets tailored to the client. We intentionally target more discerning clients who are looking for this kind of service. Additionally, there are very few options for parents who are seeking one-on-one lessons for their children. Thanks, James

Supply and demand guys. If people are willing to pay it, fair play to the chap.

Not being funny, but I don't think that it is worth the effort. Various anglers have been offering this type of guidance for years. As someone who has given talks and tuitions for pike fishing, and taken mates on one-on-one pike trips specifically and for other species, I know how tough it is. That's a joke right? Sorry not many people can afford that, and I would not charge that. One on one myself, my expertise, or my location is worth no more than £150 a day.

Looks like you already have some sort of web site going mate: https://nextlevelangling.co.uk/ Plenty of 'companies' and one man bands have been offering this stuff for years tbh. Good luck with the business venture, but suspect you won't get a lot of interest on here. Maybe you will on the 'other' forum you posted on tho? Hold on: https://nextlevelangling.co.uk/services/specimen-fishing-tuition From £325 per day on the bank?? 😕

Hi all, I run Next Level Angling, a UK-based angling tuition and guiding business, and I’m looking to add a small number of experienced carp anglers to our tutor network. We’re particularly interested in anglers based across the Home Counties, Oxfordshire and surrounding areas, although I’d be happy to hear from good people slightly further afield too. This is paid freelance work and is intended to fit around existing jobs, family commitments, sponsorships and your own fishing. Typical sessions may include: one-to-one carp tuition feature finding and watercraft casting, rigs and baiting helping anglers progress onto more challenging waters venue-specific coaching junior or father-and-son sessions where appropriate longer guided sessions I’m not looking for big social-media profiles or sponsored anglers specifically. What matters more is that you are an experienced, credible angler who is patient, reliable, approachable and able to explain things clearly. Ideally, tutors would already have, or be willing to obtain, relevant first aid, safeguarding and insurance where required, particularly for junior sessions. If you’re interested, send me a PM with a little about your fishing background, where you’re based, and any coaching or guiding experience. Cheers, James Next Level Angling

That's almost how I managed to pick up the second set of Beastmasters, although in my case it was Ebay. Someone selling a set of 3 for around £50 each, when new they were £59.99. I knew that they were decent reels having used them for years. Not that I am in a hurry to sell them, but I still wouldn't lose money if I did. Possibly the best of the budget range Shimano reels, better than many more premium reels from them.

Honestly, I'd be using your Aviators! But to answer your question, if you're prepared to spend whatever the Telos cost for this particular water/swim, then I'd absolutely be prepared to spend on downsizing the reels. There's a set of as-new SS2600s on FB Marketplace for 250 notes. Bargain. You could use them on this lake then sell them for 300 I bet. You'll probs save as much weight on the reels as you have on the rods too. Likewise. In fact I'd be taking the 13's. As most on here know, I am completely anal about mobility when it comes to angling. All my tackle is chosen to enable me to get where I need to be quickly and easily. The trick is to reduce the size/weight of all the supporting kit... brolly, bed, sleeping bag, sticks, net, etc etc. I do not mess with the bits that put the bait in front of the carp. The way I see it I'd rather be fishing way over-gunned under the tips with 13s, than walk 2 miles to get on the fish and find I can't reach them. I do love a short rod on a small water but the reality is I hardly fish small waters. There is a little 4 acre lake in the Valley I visit now and again but even on there I like to use a nice soft, slow-action set of 12s. It just makes everything so easy.

I'll probably do just that, save a few quid.

Hello Everyone . I've been looking at the NGT Weighing Tripod as it's got 2 piece legs that take away my problem with my Cygnet Tripod where I'm fiddling around trying to equalise the height of the legs ; and sometimes I find that the screws aren't quite tight enough . I also like the look of the mud feet on the NGT . Any opinions please ? . 😃