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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...

Like @InteraX I don't like them. I would prefer a bit of nylon or bait floss on the D or rig ring as I have found that bait screws can work free and drop the bait, no matter how much a swelled bait is supposed to grip better. It takes a big plastic one to grip properly! Incidentally, I save cut down used rig materials for that specific reason, to use create a hair or for mounting pop-ups. It doesn't matter whether it is monofilament, coated or uncoated braid. The only thing that doesn't lighter blob nicely is fluorocarbon.

I just walked Sky round the lake and to talk to the bailiff who was fishing. As we walked round I was keeping Sky calm, she likes James, so bounces, and because I thought he was margin fishing I called out 'hello' well before I got to him so he could come back to the main track past his swim, rather than me walk along the bank and possibly disturb his fishing, especially as I could see fish in front of him. We did stand talking fishery, syndicate and rules for around 30minutes, and the fish in front of him evading his baits. He was no more than 5metres from his rods even on the path. Hopefully it is respect.

I hate them! A bit of floss on the end of a micro ring swivel gives the bait a bit more movement.

Ah , ran out of time editing ! . Should I change from a Ridgemonkey Small Hook Ring Bait Screw as sometimes the screw seems to work its way through the hookhold and cause a bit of damage to the Carp's mouth ? . I'm thinking of a plastic bait screw with no swivel . 😃

H

Oh yeah. Went away for week and pulled out masses of it Ive tried a few treatments, but they dont seem to have much effect. Record temps maybe part of the reason. Well, I put 3 x 10cm grass carp in on Sunday. Haven't seen them since 😕

I was out Sunday as soon as my fishery reopened. Whilst it was still hot, it was overcast. The fish were a lot more active. From about 11 am, I had 8 bites and landed 5, all mid to upper doubles. I lost 3 in what I think was snags that were unknown to me. My mainline just parted which started to get concerning. Overall I used least thank 1/2 a kilo of boilies and packed up around 5. I think they're on the feed now. It's good to hear others are able to get out and are having good sport.