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9 pike today, 2 at 13lb, a 12, an 11, and the rest singles. One I estimated at 8 I decided to weigh, was actually 9lb. One feisty little jack caught me on the finger so didn't have his picture taken. Not the most comfortable swim, had to sit in chest waders all day

Gardner can’t go wrong.

Well one of my local lakes has done 4x20's already.... I had one in January so you can catch them all year round, but as for targeting them, I'd start on mild, low pressure days preferably with a south-westerly wind about now...

Angling Technics Microcat , excellent boat , fast quiet and can take alot of bait , around £350 and up second hand .

He had a damaged jaw, quite possibly snapped at as they group up for spawning

Well done

I had a really good run on the RN20 boilies from shimano last Autumn. Solely boilie fishing, caught my new pb common (32ib still a bit of a nod, so don't judge 😂) and had my biggest hit of fish on my local lake. 12 fish in as many hours. Would definitely recommend these. I used 18 millers on a blowback just FYI.

Well it's Friday and I've done pretty well so far this week,today I've managed to refuse point blank a kebab from the best kebab van in the world and I didn't go to the canteen for fish and chip Friday 😲😬😬😬 Willpower mode on 😣

He's a bit like Glenn hoddle this one Lots of ball control but a bit of a dribbler ⚽ 😂😂😂😂😂

No that's what I said but little ruder 😁😁

It works if you pee on a jellyfish sting 😁 probably though it's ammonia innit, will probably do it by accident anyway the aim isn't what it used to be 😁😁😁

Pee on the bite .... or is it pee on a sting 🤔

Found this on the eBay looks like the actor boat

Thanks all 👍 got a mate popping over with Fox submerge and he’s got the gardener one, il have a play with them. Going to use foot long leaders with solid bags. Loop to loop quick change style, give them a proper go only dappled a little with them in the past.

Thats mainly what I'm thinking, but a water we are both on has a few hidden overhanging trees and we know carp love under them, would be impossible cast, but a boat easy.

I ve already scratched it lol, it's swollen up like a good un I've put some bite cream and taken an antihistamine so hopefully will settle, I'm gonna get my bug zapper out tonight 😁

Easier said than done! Lol! After bite is good, I tend to use piriton (chloremphenamine) if the topical stuff doesn’t calm it, it’s an antihistamine that can make you drowsy though at times.

"Afterbite" is the best I've used. It's an ammonia type dab on pen, the key is not to rub/ scratch the bite if you can help it

I've put some bite cream on it that usually works, but might try that if it's still bad later

Put vinegar on it elmo neutralise what they inject into you works on horsefly bites too

I've used Korda Safezone leaders for years and they have never let me down. Being fluorocarbon based, they are heavy and near invisible. I remember Rob Hughes writing that when he goes out diving to find a rig and see how it's presented, he looks for the leadcore or tubing and finds the rig at the end. I'm sure that Carp must have started to suss it by now!

I found the avid and Gardner ones to be pretty good, the Nash unleaded leader is very thin and I found it fiddly to splice but it’s another option mate

Yes, I work outside and here in the South West I can definitely see nature on the move. Birds calling to stake their territory and even saw bees today. In sure after the recent cold snap this weeks warm temperatures will move things along at a pace

Every water is different. Deeper waters may take longer for the fish to start moving, or waters with low food stocks. No point in wasting energy looking for food if there is little about.... Or conversely the fish might be looking for food and constantly moving. Some waters will fish all the way through. Pretty much any water above 4degrees and somewhere a take is possible, be it on a zig, (hurgh, spit) or on a float fished or ledgered bait. Lengthening days might get them moving, but on some waters there is another factor. As the water warms up, the bottom 'turns over'. A layer of algae silty stuff floats up from the lakebed, hits the surface. You will see what looks like little patches of a thin layer of floating lichen covered in tiny bubbles. This can be the time carp start moving. The best way to find out, is to spend time watching and fishing.

Aargh! Schoolboy error: Get a pike close to double figures in the landing net, as I released the tension the hooks fell out, dip landing net as I lifted and pike swims out....😳🙄 Who wants dirty wet smelly hands anyway? 😂😉 Ended up with 5 in the end, nothing massive. I might have to start comparing pics for more recaptures

I get your point but shimano is just a word and a company. What's important is how good the bait is allowed to be and how it catches. They proberly order their production from another company's factory. Would be interesting to try them though.