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The camera i use can be linked to a VTX for FPV, at present its just for recording. The hopper is a flipper and dont like ejecting wet particles like corn, a fair bit sticks in the hopper but dry bait like boillies fling out just fine

Everywhere is packed out these days and the more large carp waters are getting a bit too controlled via the online booking and peg selection before you arrive, really depends what part of the country you are in, south east Midlands has great choice where as it's more match pleasure venues near me.

Saying that I did do a reccy last week to see if I could see any signs of the larger ones said to be in hiding I found this little tank mooching about, if you can make out the dark shape not a good pic.

Any weekend fishing is pretty great but it is nice share it sometimes. I think my eldest is slightly more keen though. Her casting is getting better, that's what she enjoys most tbh. I think I like casting too, satisfying when it's bang on,the best when it ends in a bite 😂

Not sure but it looks like I'm giving it a try, what looks like brown feeder line is more a red colour I would of more than likely got something else if I noticed before loading the reel, was going to get the Daiwa sensor but they had sold out. of sensor? It's 10lb bottom line so should be up to the job. Got some 8lb float line as well the David Harrel brand I would definitely use it as a floater main line in a higher BS I'd say it's less supple than the Drennan double strength and very similar in colour.

Not what I'd call bit like trying to inflate a balloon to airship proportions, probably the only form of fishing/hunting most do so it gets the full on game approach can be a bit awkward when you don't share the same level of enthusiasm in targeting specific.

I wonder if I draw the idiots then? Nazeing being the exception. I must admit that I didn't like the club waters, not because of the idiots, but because I don't like crowds. On Alton I found on 2 occasions that someone had followed me into the swim I was fishing, although to be honest I don't think that they were catching. I did found out someone spent a month(!) in the bridge swim I'd been fishing and caught nothing, where I had had 8 fish over 3x 2night sessions.

Very good, i didn't see the point of a boat camera until I watched this but I can now see I was wrong, could be useful for identifying far bank snags. would be interested to see how the hopper works 👍

Yeah same, even on the syndicate if its busy, most people have respect for one another, when i pitched up Friday I was next to one guy I'd never met, he had forgotten his kettle and stove so I lent him mine, we got chatting and all was good, i asked if he minded me setting up next door and he didn't. I walked round with the family bumped into some other members and had a good chat, no one was stepping on one another toes and everyone was friendly. Can't ask for more than that really.

I actually disagree. Yes you'll always come across an idiot now and again but on the whole anglers are a good bunch. Even on day tickets I tend to engage with the lads next door and 9 times out of 10 I hit it off with them and respect is shown mutually. There's the odd idiot in all walks of life but you can't tar everyone with the same brush. On syndi's with big fish (i.e. circuit waters) you'll always have some anglers more driven than others, that's normal. Some are happy to pick a nice spot and sit behind the rods for 48 hrs. Others won't sit down until they've done everything they possibly can to get a bait in front of whatever carp they can find. Different approaches but neither can say the other is wrong as long as rules are respected. On day tickets it's often inexperience rather than a lack of etiquette that causes problems. In these cases some tactful education can go a long way. Club waters are a mixed bag. In my experience they do less to vet members so the % of idiots is higher. But that doesn't mean 9 out of 10 aren't good lads. I was on a popular day ticket water on the last bank holiday. It was rammed. I found some carp and first thing I did was ask the nearest angler where his rods were so we didn't interfere with each other. Next morning another chap showed up and went the other side of me. First thing he did was ask me where my rods were so he didn't interfere. You can't ask for more than that. Respectful lads enjoying some fishing on a VERY busy water. Id' say this is the norm, and the horror stories in this thread are not. Spot on. You pays your money and you take your chances. As long as it's kept respectful everyone is in the same boat.

Elitist?

Sounds like a great weekend 😃👍

Fox don't make reels... they use contract manufacturers in China. Shimano are one the most established and reliable reel manufacturers in the world. Take from that what you will!

Hate to say to Elmo but I was expecting this post! There is no substitute for well engineered gear! 😔

Popped along to this venue early Sunday morning 7am only to find it rammed ! Very scruffy looking place with the ground riddled with goose 💩everywhere ! Not my idea of a days fishing so I left and I won’t try here again Might be ok but just not for me

Carp angling has always been light on etiquette for some strange reason it is approached with a one winner attitude like a game of darts, what can you do but pick a empty peg and wack the rods out, even then you may here remarks about being in no carp corner, every lake has one of those, chances are I would end up in no carp corner on a empty lake.

Sounds like you had a perfect weekend mate, well done on the fish 👍… Can’t lie the matrix glitch on the second pic freaked me out a bit

I used to love Bromeswell for that. I'd frequently get the fish feeding under the rod tip with dog biscuits and freeline a surface bait just touching the water with the screech of the centrepin acting as the bite indicator. I think that sums up a lot of anglers now. Years ago in the 1980's and 90's, anglers were far more genteel, then came magazines and onto social media and carp and even barbel fishing went downhill.

Easy enough to replace a tip ring. Gently melt the glue under the tip ring with a very hot hairdryer or a continually moving lighter flame and remove. You can hot melt or superglue a new ring on.

Went with the kids this weekend. Blanked the first 24hours. Then we got focused. Decided I wasn't happy with my main spot, so I put my big boy pants on and went for it 18.5 wraps, 2 rods or the horizon and one on the edge of some reeds where I had seen some bubbles, I had prebaited my daughters spot the night before with some boilies and left it, naturally that one was the first to go at 10pm, she cast it and felt for the drop herself and we baited it with 5 x spods and a few extra boilies she pulted into the zone, it ripped off when we were tucked in and listening to a book on audible. The summer I robbed a bank by David O'Doherty, if you have kids it's a great book. And naturally it decided to wipe out all my other rods, but we got it in and I cleared up the mess it made. (yes I was done in and a bit sun rouged) We lost her rod in the carnage and she wanted to sleep so one of mine went onto her spot, one to the long spot and one to the left. We were awoken to a savage take from the long rod. This came in like a ball of weed until it got in range of my other lines. Took the right one out. During the photos I had an out of body experience. Then I ditched the right hand rod spot and went long, so with 2 on the spot I whacked out another 10 X spods and had breakfast. Then the right hand long rod was away,we had spotted them all showing in the middle the evening before and this spot gave me the best shout not being able to move, this one came in well and we moved the other rods out of harms way, fought hard close in but without hassle, and although the smallest of the trio of commons but finished off the trip nicely. Lovely weekend with the kids, had lots of fun and caught 3 and lost none, we did some bird spotting, saw some fish on the other lake spawning and caught some fish Happy days.

Sounds like a don’t bother lol

Yep it did it all the time. Not sure why, the spool was really shallow, maybe the braid wasn't right for it, dunno, but had the same braid in the aerlex and it was fine. Always wetted etc. Sweat bands worked well, was nice having moist line from the off.

One of the clubs I'm in have known 40's and a poss 50 in the water so pegs are at a premium on those waters, there are rules regarding stays, 48 on 24 off etc, but it still doesn't stop idiots taking the pee... and if there are swims available, better make sure you are a 100mt runner to get one, I've seen buckets chucked up the bank and fights break out. Hence my secession from the big carp hunt... I'll be on a tiny water tomorrow where the fish don't get much over 10lb so nobody's interested, and I'll be fishing with cane and glass rods with small pins, and I won't get the bum ache if I blank and blame a moody water or the price of elephants for my own ineptitude... tight lines

You not blaming the reel for a wind knot are ya?? Was just going to ask for an update on these reels and saw this

might a late reply but Matt Collins has a video on this exact topic