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Around the year 2000 I would have said Shimano top range reels were the best to go for, but I don't think quite the same any more and the better value Shimano reels are in the lower price bracket. I can't remember exactly when I bought my Beastmaster 7000's, but it was when I was fishing Nazeing on the Central and South Lagoons so around 10years ago, maybe a bit more. They were around £85 each and I bought 4 at the time. 2 years ago on Ebay they were selling for around £80, so I bought another 3. I've got them on my 2.75lb rods and my 3.25's, and they have handled a fair number of fish. The current Beastmaster incarnation is the 14000XC and is around £90. I can give you the link via Johnson Ross: https://johnsonrosstackle.co.uk/shimano-big-pit-reels/27133-shimano-beastmaster-xc14000.html As a tackle shop either mail order or going in personally, Johnson Ross are good people to deal with.

Okuma 8k.

I’m looking for a couple of reels and the Aerlex 14000 ATC looks like a decent reel. It is at the top of my budget £120. What other reels would people suggest at or below this price.

I must admit one of the things I miss since is wind ups. After 40 years in total in the Army and Prison service where wind ups were a daily incurrence.

That's only part of it, we are good at occasional wind-ups as well... Not always intentionally!

Hi Rugby, welcome amongst us. Ian.

Thank you. I’ve had a general look around and like the look of it. I’m sure that I will gain a lot of useful information.

Welcome to carp.com

Welcome in

I am returning to Carp fishing (at 76)after quite a few years. I will no doubt have a lot of questions on different subjects.

This 👆 I tend to split my baits into kilo bags before freezing. When I take them out I'll put in a healthy glug of this stuff, enough to coat them plus a bit extra, and let them soak it up during defrosting. The stuff is stacked so full of salt it actually acts as a preservative so the baits will last a little longer on the bank. It's also a good method of giving the baits that softer washed-out consistency without compromising on attraction.

I found August is usually the same until the back end of the month

We had that yesterday, my mate caught a new pb and his first on a zig, I had a couple of bleeps on them but didn't get a bite before we had to pack up. Well worth sticking a zig out just incase.

I would just coat them in a bucket so they have a good glaze, then let them soak it all in and repeat as necessary. I think I overdid it in my spod mix this weekend. I probably put half a bottle in and it made it honk. And smell a bit sour.

It doesn’t matter as it’s a natural product and can’t be overdone I would just put a slug of it in

Interesting mate, I'm gonna have a look and see what I can find on it 👍 Just bought a bottle of this Any suggestions on how much to put with a kilo of boilie?

I know one of the bailiffs on Brackens used to use solar powered 'rock lights' to light the trip hazards in his swim, and had a Solar panel to charge his powerbank and laptop.

No true, I had never seen mobile solar farms next to bivvies though until this weekend.

That’s not only day ticket fisheries lol

Night view Morning view complete with still glowing green light. You gotta love day ticket fishing.

@B B is your man for Inc6000, he has nice reels btw, I love my Okuma 8k but that wasn't the question 😂😂

Yeah that's the ones mate, I was thinking of the wychwood reels while writing this 🤦‍♂️🤣 Sadly my only had the one reel in stock so ended up getting a set of fox eos 10000fd reels. Cheap and cheerful tbh, they will do for the river 👍

Gerry Savage ,also a noted winter pioneer ,his famous Carp in the snow pic ,and 100 doubles in a season on PYM,also a follower of the early HNV theory ,Fred Wilton etc. ( I fished a couple of times with Gerry ,he passed on the LP...B ,philosophy which I still use to this day )

Along Fisherman's Paths is a nice read. Sadly, Mike Winter passed away some years back. He was one of the original winter carp fishing pioneers.

I'm hungry now ...!