Leaderboard

Just whack them in a tub with your chosen glug mate. The best method is to glug lightly on a regular basis rather than drown them once. Shake the tub once a day. They'll be ready to use after a couple of weeks but the longer you leave them the better they get. I have hookbaits that have been glugged for 2 years +. Eventually the glug will get through to the very middle. I also use unflavoured pop ups regularly. I use them to suspend alternative hookbaits such as naturals (maggots, worms etc) when I want absolutely no synthetic or processed attractors on the spot. Almost anything that gives off aminos (fishmeals etc) has an inherent flavour so I wouldn't consider any food bait to be unflavoured, even if there are no artificial flavors added. The OP refers to wafters so if he means an unflavoured food bait those aminos/attractors will be reduced by the inclusion of ingredients intended to provide the buoyancy. He might however be referring to a standard pop up mix wafter (none food-bait) which is what I would truly consider unflavoured. It will mate. But it takes a looooonnnggg time👍

I love winter fishing... the rivers are flushed through and the chub want to play and all the fair weather carpers are tucked up at home, I'll be on the bank...

Like that mate - I've seen some of the results of that level of thinking - top man! 😎👍

Couldn't agree more, Phil. It's verging on cruelty to land a fish and use an unhooking mat or cradle in these current temperatures. Do all the necessary while still in the water and as quickly as possible. Ian.

True mate, I'm at an age where my kids are grown up, I can do what I want and fishing is what I do. I had the same pod for 25+ years so a long overdue upgrade is how I saw it - no regrets. You only get one life as @thecarpcatcher would say! Good luck hiding your goodies 😂

That’s how I’ve been looking at it as well . At least that and making sure all this stuff iv been buying arrives on my early (shift) week so I’m home before the Mrs ☺️.

The lines dry get some sweat bands and soak the line before you go the curls will drop right out it’s just memory

I did use them on Bluebell, landed fish good hook holds - no issues, the only reason i'm not using them regular is that my multi rig just seems perfect with a choddy hook. They are sharp and strong and stay in better than a pure barbless would - which I guess may be why some venues chose to ban them?

I'll be doing some short evening session when I can, since the summer is my best opportunity to fish - I'm on call all through winter, so not as much chance, and I don't like sitting in the cold anyway. I think the fish will warm themselves then go to a comfortable depth, so still feed and be about, but more likely over drop offs etc. The key for me is safety, both fish, and fisherman. Make sure you're protected - hat, sun cream etc. Avoid the heat of high noon. Use a bit of common sense. Fish safety - obviously minimise time on the bank. Make sure nets and mats are well wetted with fresh, cool lake water. Take pictures, weigh and return as quickly as possible. I get everything prepped while the fish is in the landing net, then it's a matter of minutes at most to weigh, picture and return. All that said, it is hot, but let's try and enjoy it as much as we can. We'll all be moaning it's too cold when there's inches of snow around!

Main thing to remember through out the summer & especially in these current temps , is to limit the time any capture is out the water, or best of all do all the work in the water if possible. Should think DO levels are getting on the low side ... which will make the fishing tough going & be the cause of many a blank .

There is a school of thought that believes larger, older, more experienced carp may hang back and let the young ones bust into any concentration of bait while they wait for bits to wash down in the current and they take those because they know they're safe. In the past I have been rewarded by imagining my bait as a comet on the bottom, and aiming my rig near the end of the tail, or just beyond it.