Leaderboard

I thought that is what brolly spokes were for... You haven't seen some of the swims at Nazeing! This is normal, at least this one has a platform

Of course I'm complaining about the bream but the same method did bag me a 10lb ish fish and a perfect little single so truth me told I'm having a splendid day really Sent from my HTC 10 using Tapatalk

Maybe thinking a bit outside the box??? Move a swim or two down and fill it in with pellet. Then fish your original spot with your rods. Being only a swim down, you can keep an eye on it for any carp activity and move onto them if needed!

The best pod I have ever seen:

Funny you should say that, Father in law finally had a take but lost it. But it was very close in so now I've brought a rod in close too. Not fishing a bag on it and just feeding boilies and chops loose. Now I sit and hope that the carp get to it first Sent from my HTC 10 using Tapatalk

I can only really speak of this water at the moment, I have fished a lot of other gravel pits in the past but every one I have found slightly different. I spent the first few sessions fishing all around the pit whilst gathering info from those in the know. All of these sessions I had the same feeling, I should if been in the area I am now. Just looking at the geography of the water from a birds eye view made it stand out. To be any where and fish it properly and confidently I never go on one aspect, I suppose it's a bit like science in that respect. When you get a number of different points, pointing to an area then a picture starts to emerge. A number of points came to fruition, it's location and the areas present, the weather, ie how this area is influenced by different weather fronts, wind and sun. Angling pressure played a role at last of all, information. Put it this way, I'd need a really good reason to be anywhere else. The water has thick weed beds, Canadian and silk to name but a few, you know when you've landed in something that's just thick full of weed and you also know when you've landed in something that allows a decent presentation. The stepped up gear means heavier 4oz leads which I find I really get on with, and makes feeling much much easier even at a great distance. When I first got a marker rod years ago I had no idea how to use it, so I set about dragging a lead over different surfaces like grass, sand, concrete and all manner of materials. Eventually I learned through shear hard work and I've also learned I need to be sure. If im unsure, it's gets a recast, simple as that. I do use a sea break away lead, so if I am ever unsure, I'll cast that out and see what it brings back in. I believe once you have gotten used to your rods and all the gear associated it becomes almost like an extension of your arm, again making things easier and more defined. I'll go out on a limb here, I used to fish with solid pva bags, for years I used these, and when you use a specific method it eventually becomes yours, you know it inside out. I could even tell whether a bags had burst on the surface just by feel, and the rate it sunk. Sounds mad but true. This is what I mean about making fishing your own, take what ever your confident in doing and hone your skills around that, soon enough you'll know how everything should feel and you'll fish better as a consequence. It took me a while to get back into distance casting and im not claiming to be and expert, there are far better casters out there than me, but I've made it my own and im now completely confident in what I am doing

One thing I will say, and it's something I've honed lately, it's feeling for a donk, once you've cast out. My water has been fished for many a year by some very good anglers, the clear areas are absolute bird targets, so your not really feeling for a clear donk on the end, more a settled donk, if that makes sense. There is a lot of weed present and I always feel the lead down on a tight line, it's hard to explain the feeling and im sure somebody else will explain it better, but it's like the lead has settled onto a thick rug, you still get that bounce transmitted, and your rod tip will shoot up a little. Over a clear area you'll feel a clear donk, as the lead hits a firm substrate. What I'm trying to say is you don't always need that clear donk to be fishing effectively. If I don't feel any kind of touch down on the end, I recast, and I won't settle until I get it right.

shhh no shouting , i think your spot on about late spring , thats my initial thoughts as well ! but youve got to have hope and dreams to keep you going ,and all the time i can spend on the water this season/year will stand me in good stead for the spring i fish against myself and the water as ive said before so any fish i eventually do get is a step forward for me , plus there is always the possibility of a very good fish .no rush !, no panic ! and no publicity ! its all just for my own personal pleasure as it should be

I love mine, it's the Gardner Black Shadow with cygnet bars,