Leaderboard

I've got a cheapy dehydrator..... Firstly , they are bigger than they look in the pics and the stacking shelves are fairly shallow,(on my one) around 1 inch deep on my one, the top shelf with the lid on, being about 2 inches deep...…. I don't see why you couldn't use it to air dry boilies, although it may not hold as many as you'd like, but it could certainly get them started off...…. I haven't used mine for this purpose, but to dry out some fruit matter to produce fruit powders at low temps.....Pineapple, papaya and strawberries to be exact...… Although you can use them to dry out meats for the same purpose, which I haven't done yet,,,(Had liver in mind),...…. TBH, if it was to just help dry out some boilies, then I'd save your 20-25 quid and use some air dry bags or mushroom trays (which you can pick up for free at a green grocers)…….. As far as dehydrating fruits...….. 1 whole pineapple plus one whole green papaya, which takes up all the trays on my one, will take a good 48hrs on a low setting to get everything dry enough to powder up in a seed mill and will yield a massive... half a pop up tub of powder...….. The intense fruity flavour is to die for and at low temps the enzymes should still be entacted ..... But a lot of effort for a little amount...….. If you are having trouble finding affordable air dry bags...…. Just look for "mesh laundry bags" on Ebay, or grab some trays from your grocer...….🙂

The lengths we go to!! Some might say your mad!!

This is where I'm probably feeling most comfortable, if I'm not using a heli rig.. You still have some resistance to help the hook stick, but the lead can move away from the fish on a take, initially, Not sure if you've read it yet @Brutus, but there is a rotary thread on lead set ups, very informative opening post from @greekskii and some good tips on the follow up posts..... I found it very useful for a few pointers. Worth a read if you haven't already. 🙂

I must be the only bloke on the planet that's had this problem with the Gardner GT-HD, plus a lot of crinkling...…….. It gets rave reviews from some serious anglers, Nige Sharp for instance. But I just haven't gotten on with it...(Twice..lol.)….. This is what I've had to do with the GT-HD...…. Pain in the butt at 3am when it's chucking down and you just want a quick re-cast, and unnecessary torch light on the bank, one of my pet hates.....🙂.

My biggest leads (5oz) I only use in the margin, under the tips. Weight is not necessarily just for casting imo bud.

The Tackle Box in Kent do a test of different lines each year (diameter vs. BS). It's a real help in determining what line you might need for a given water. You can find it here: http://www.tacklebox.co.uk/tackle-box-line-test.html

I tend to rate Korda stuff but I'm not a huge fan of their lines. They're nothing like each other buddy. The Carp Line is imo the best one Korda do, it's much thicker than the GT-HD for BS, stronger, better abrasion resistance, a work-horse carp line.

Personally I don’t bother with salt at all or fermentation. Tried both and neither have done me any better than plainly prepared maize used fresh (1-2 days after boiling). For me I found it works better, and all particles I’ve used to be honest, with 2-3 tablespoons of sugar during boiling. Just my way of doing it. Simple, easy and cheap!

My mistake I have the medium one 👍

Having a look at a couple of waters sometime before Sunday.... Reduction in ticket prices at this time of year (if there are any left) and with recent Winters being fairly mild for the most part, I think you can get a bit of value in Winter tickets these days.... Least ways, either place has got to be better than the last debacle I joined...…. Both about 1hr away on a clear run. Wanting to make a day of it really, if I can free up enough time. Good 3 to 4 hours wandering the banks on each and hopefully a quick chat with anyone fishing...…. Fingers crossed for a new water...🙂

Hoping to be out this weekend for a Birthday night sesh...(if the wife has nothing planned??) Not been on the bank for a good 6 weeks 😭😭

I'd like to hope that this has been taken into account. Most of the time I've fished with it, it's taken a battering and been alright - I honest to god couldn't see a fish swallowing it whole, probably mouth it for ages and then spit it, the feel of the nylon "I think" would be enough to arouse curiosity and mouth it rather than swallow it whole. But then again I'm not a carp so this is all theory and not worth the words I've written lol. if you cant get any arma mesh or in a bind, bagel bread is a bit tougher and I've used that on the surface with success.

I use 15lb subline (Korda) mainly to satisfy syndi 0.4mm rule. It's very weedy & I have confidence in it, sinks like a brick, but can go springy. I always cut off 2-3 rod lengths, more if I've had a good scrap! I must admit though, it's pure laziness that I use it, as it's the only line in the local tackle shop, that meets the diameter rule.

Yes, Arma mesh. It has its uses, I tried it for a sesh at my syndi, with luncheon meat, trying to be different! Had a mid double, angry pike. The mesh stayed on the hair even in the mouth full of those gnarly teeth!

Arma Mesh?? It could potentially be deadly I'd think. There should be no way that can come off the rig, it'd be dangerous. I started using those bread bombs from Nash this year, they're brilliant. I really like them for wandering about chucking big old lumps of bread at carp milling about in hot weather.

I like the GR60, it's one I've gone back to a couple of times if I've ever strayed or been sucked in by the marketing on other gear.. Now that the weed is clear and the water will be getting clearer as the weather cools, I have some Carp-R-Us Flouro that I might give a go through the winter on a small water I fish...….. Must of had it over 2 yrs and it is still in the wrapper... Not a massive fan of flouro's, but this one is supposed to have a little stretch in it.... Reason I steer away from them most of the time, is that my waters have become so weedy over the years, flouros tend to sink right into the weed and resemble a washing line with weed hanging off it when you are into a fish. And , being stretched, they are a bit brittle imo for fishing in and around weed. Some guys I know use it in heavy breaking strains of 18-20lb to avoid cut offs, but, tbh, imo, a fish trailing 20lb flouro, if it does break off,... Isn't far off trailing lead core.

Thanks very much for your input guys a bit to think about now. I ike the sound of the rig morale braided tubing ill give that a look over. Gaz

Lol, no mate nothing like that, I just like to know what I'm using. I tend to do plenty of research on the stuff that matters and it can only benefit us all if I share what I've learned over the years.

Some things, you just can't buy...……… Good to have a few lads on here willing to share their knowledge for the benefit of everyone...……..

This is a realy good insight to lines...i can tell you have very good knowledge of a lot of tackle Yonny...surely you must have been a tackle advisor or something or is it just personal knowledge gained through the years...

I guess if chods are for nods then ronnies are for yonny's😂

I see a lot of confusion over mainlines. Guys seem to compare lines that are intended for completely different uses. There are numerous different types of lines and each have different advantages/disadvantages, and I'm only referring to mono here.... not fluoro, braid etc..... Pre-stretched lines: These are your casting lines like Fox Exocet. They obviously have very low stretch and fine diameter vs. BS and they have a super smooth finish. The result is a line that casts really well. Unfortunately the abrasion resistance is what suffers. Hence in a weedy lake you want to avoid pre-stretched lines. Semi-stretched lines (I made that name up, not sure what they're actually called): These are the latest in line tech and include Gardner GT-HD and Shimano Technium. They are pre-stretched but to a lesser extent than the casting lines. This means they cast very well but maintain other qualities (so they can sink well for example). They beat the pre-stretched lines for abrasion resistance yet still cast a long way. All-rounders: These are the more traditional mono's, the meat-and-two-veg carp lines. they include stuff like Gardner Pro and ESP Synchro. Just because they're not high tech lines doesn't mean they're not very good indeed. They'll not cast as well as the stretched lines but they are hands-down stronger, with better abrasion resistance. If weed is an issue I'd not look past this group of lines. Snag lines: Brute lines, thick with immense strength and serious abrasion resistance. You'll struggle to cast these past 100 yards without casting lessons but if there's snags about this is what you want. Stuff like Gardner HydroTuff and Rig Marole SLS Specimon Tough. ***** Now I see guys comparing lines from different categories all the time. Just the other day I saw a thread on another forum asking if GT-HD or HydrTuff was best. They cannot be compared imo - the GT-HD would be best in a lightly weeded lake requiring big chucks, but with snags or heavy weed in the water the HydroTuff wins hands down. Therefore you can only decide what is best for your angling situation. You need to look at how far you need to cast and what kind of challenges your water presents (weed, bars etc) and choose a line to suit. I always err on the side of caution i.e. STRENGTH. What I mean by that is I would rather be a few yards short of the carp and be in with a chance of landing them, than being able to cast on their heads but lose them all to snags/weed. I have used pre-stretched lines on French trips to huge silty waters with no weed/snags, waters where you need to cast 150, and they've been great. But there is no way I'd choose to use them on the weed choked waters I fish in the UK. I think a lot of guys pay to much attention to castability. If you need to cast 150 then fair play, go for pre-stretched lines, if you don't (and most don't), go for a proper carp line, an all-rounder or semi-stretched line at least, one that will land you everything you hook. So next time you see a "what's the best line?" thread we need to stop and think before we go shouting out the name of what we're currently using. What is best depends entirely on the individual and his/her angling situation. If the angling situation varies, then it is logical that the all-rounders are best (the best of which imo is Gardner Pro). I'm currently suing HydroTuff due to a minimum diameter rule on my syndi, which is normally very weedy. It's been great, never let me down.

Making a bread paste and using fox arma mesh or some fine netting is another trick I've used.

Floating bread is very likely to get taken even if they are cagey about mixers and surface feeding. Also slow sinking flake is an absolute winner on the right water, cast a few yards in front of cruisers and they will often follow it down and take it. My first carp came on ledgered bread, nearly pulled the rod in - epic!

Bread is massively underused in carp fishing and it's more effective than any ground-bait you can buy off the shelf imo.

As tommy cooper would say “just like that” 😆😆😬

welcome to the forum Ryder i use a set of 3 fox warriors of which one was sold as a dedicated marker rod, two main at 2.75 Tc and the marker is 3.25 Tc, believe me when i say that marker rod is always used as my distance rod, i can chuck between 75-100 yds with the 2.75s without trying and that is usually about my range for fishing accurately but then when i have set my traps the marker rod gets pub chucked at a distant feature (just for luck ;)) and 150+ is nowt,, saying that it shed an eye ring last weekend as the braid frapped round the eye and i had a loaded spomb on at the time, nearly wrenched the damn rod out of my hands when it locked up