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My grandson has autism When we go he’s ok for about an hour or 2 at the most then he starts to fidget so we stop and have a bite to eat and a walk around then he’s ok for another hour then it’s time to go home. he wants me to take him Night fishing lol might just have to camp in the garden first before I lug all that gear around for an hour

Some of my earliest memories are from when I must have been 4 - 5 - 6 years old... crammed into a Mk4 Escort, windows down with an Oasis cassette blasting through the speakers, buried under a metric ton of carp gear for hours on end on the way to spend what felt like an eternity - bored stiff - in a bivvy on the banks of one massive lake or another... repeatedly being told to "sit down" and "keep the noise down", confused... baffled... as to why my Dad seemed to actually enjoy it as I was just so excruciatingly bored. These days they are my most cherished childhood memories. I never did follow my old mans footsteps into carp angling, I must have by scarred by the experiences 😅 - but I was always an angler, I'm 30 now, but as a kid mainly mixed species float fishing in early days - as you do, but I do all sorts, in recent years my favourite flavour has mostly been Ultralight / BFS lure fishing, and bobber fishing on ultralight spinning tackle for Perch and Trout, importing Japanese Domestic Market tackle made of spider webs and magic that costs its weight in £20 notes. I've been mostly into deviating from the tried and tested, experimenting with new ideas that I'll think up for myself, my latest being importing a Kokanee Rod from the US, Eagle Claw 8' 100% fibreglass ultralight trolling rod (2lb - 8lb), and using that with a BFS reel (Bait Finesse System / a Japanese concept involving specially designed reels with feather-light spools and finely tuned brake systems made for casting ultralight <5g tackle on bastcasting gear), and using that stuff to trot jigs under a float for Brown Trout on rivers, US Steelhead style but scaled down to ultralight gear, good stuff. I've been around carp fishing all of my life, it's in my blood - I don't know why but I've just never had to urge to buy the gear and get behind a set of delks... until recently I started watching some youtube content from the likes of Alan Blair and Alfie Russell, and I was absolutely captivated by one of Alfie's fish... It looks like it lives in a volcano, of all the thousands of fish I've seen over the years, this one just had me absolutely gobsmacked, it came with a 40min film about his fishing and personal issues in recent years, and his quest for this particular fish, great watch... All of a sudden, out of the blue - it has taken many years, but I'm absolutely DESPERATE to get fishing for these majestic creatures. I'm building up my gear at the minute and getting ready for my first campaign come autumn, I do like doing things proper (in my own way) - I know what I like when it comes to gear, for me it's all about compact, lightweight, tidy and organised, no 12ft / 6ft rod sections, 700g 14000 reels for me, not my style... I'm definitely a 2 rod man, and the Shimano Tribal TX Lite 4pc rods looked like the were designed for specially for me, I love a bit of marketing spiel (4pc but 2pc action / you'd never know it was 4pc), drilled styling on the carbon woven reel seat, foam rings on each joint - nice touch, nice thin carpy handle on a forgiving 10ft 2.75lb progressive blank - I've got over 20 rods and usually always buy online, so it's always hit or miss when I get them out of the tube and wobble them around for the first time, and I must say - I'm OVER THE MOON with my pair of TX Lites, first impression shaking them around in the house... full to the brim with confidence in these rods, and the best bit? £180 each RRP? Nope, Uttings supplied a pair for £90 each on sale, couldn't be happier. Next was to be the net - Sonik Xtrator Recon, full 42 inch net, packed down to 30 inches (matching the length of my packed down TX Lites) thanks to telescopic net arms, I'll have some of that, got that brand new for under 50quid - it's going well so far. A few other bits I've gone with is a Korum Aeronium Supa Lite - lightest proper chair on the market at 2.3kg, I do have one of those 1kg camping chairs that go into a 30cm bag but they're unstable and uncomfortable. My Korum Aeronium clips onto a Korum transition Ruckbag (hard back version) for all the bits, another fantastic bit of kit I'm feeling happy with. Pod - I've bought a New Direction Carbon Compact pod, 2 rod version, nice light low compact modern carpy pod, I've also picked up some ND T10s bobbins which look the part and some of their Magnetic butt rests. An Advanta Protector Quick-Cradle for 37 quid on sale - and 2 hours later it was back to the regular £50 so I got that by the skin of my teeth. I've already got 2 Delkim Ev-D's, but I do see a couple of Txi-D's in my future, need to sneak them onto the bank statement somehow... I'm gonna be starting with day sessions for a few months, so I've not thought about much else, bed chairs, proper bivvies or any of that stuff - I think I'm going to pick up a Fox easy shelter+ to tide me over (the one that backs down into a small bag, and instantly pops up and pegs down like a kids argos tent 😁), as I said, it's all about easy, light, compact gear for me and that looks the part, I'm allergic to the sun and immune to the cold so I'd have no trouble in that even in the winter. This won't win me any friends in the modern day - but I love a Baitrunner - I've got a few around intended for deadbaiting and barbel (namely my pair of 6000 Baitrunner OC's, amongst a few others), I don't have my reels fully decided yet but I'm leaning heavily towards Ci4+ medium longcasts, I'm considering the Ci4+ 5500 Ultegra's but I don't fancy QD, we'll see in the coming weeks. I'm hoping to have everything that stays above water for day sessions sorted in the next week or 2 - even down to a bottle of carp care, then it's onto the exciting wet stuff, researching / learning, doing up some rigs, bait selection and then I'll be selecting a venue for the first session hopefully in September - probably a local pool or potentially a commercial to begin with. I've not told my Dad yet, I'm waiting to get one on the bank and show him that first picture of a carp, he'll be godsmacked, I've rinsed him for 15 years about camo-camping behind his shiny solar pod - looking like it has been perfectly aligned with a spirit level and splashed with holywater, can't wait to tell him I've come over to the darkside. So I'm just here to take part, share my fishing, and learn from people who know better than me, I'll be around 👍

This is what I did for the hole....maybe same for the stitching ?... It was a strip of repair tape....

slightly different experience but similar subject and an experience i want to share here, i was having a cheeky day session on my local water and towards the end of the day a young lad possibly mid teens and his dad turn up. i was the only person on this small lake but they set up opposite me (30m) and the dad looks my way and waves sort of apologetically as his lad starts throwing a line in (float) and begins flinging it about like an excited toddler. i see what is going on and from the looks of things this is a lad that has suddenly taken to fishing with all the hyperfocus i have encountered with my friends kids and also from what i do for a living and is diving all over their side of the bank with such enthusiasm flicking his line here and there every time he sees a fish leap or show on the surface. the dad is a supportive spectator of all of this action and keeps looking my way to sort of say sorry and i tell you now this was one of the most beautiful and heart warming things i have seen in a long while. the pure enjoyment radiating of this lad was wonderful and i thought if this works for him and his dad then fair play as it was a joy to watch, when i wrapped up they were still there and after several thumbs up to the dad i shouted good luck and really just wanted to stay and watch as this whole thing had me quietly cheering the lad on the whole time. i was desperate for him to land something but from what i could see this was something both had done before and the support and encouragement from the father was something i thought as wonderful. i think fishing is something that all can enjoy and would and have never had any problems sitting and explaining what i am doing with inquisitive children and have accompanied chldren of friends with very very short attention spans and often have just reeled in and walked around the venues with them chatting away then back to the rods and a few more minutes of intense fishing before another short break. hats off and respect to anyone that starts this hobby/passion/life as it brings its own rewards with memories and time away from pressures in life, i remember when i started taking my kids it was instant results that were wanted to hold thier interest so it was a whip pole and red maggots all the way just so they would catch something, now me and my daughter can sit peacefully for a while before the wandering and focus loss kicks in but then as she is older a quick walk around with a camera taking pics of wildlife works for her and we are then back fishing again. sorry if off topic but this experience has stayed with me and wanted to share it and wish good luck to everyone that wants to share their passion with their children but worried about what others may or may not think, if you ever encounter me on a water in Suffolk never worry about your kids enjoying the hell out of a hobby i love and want others to feel the same way.

Yeah mate comes with a full front and clip in groundsheet. Didn't even know you could get repair tape, I will have to look into it 👍 I'm not sure once you've broke them all down if there was a way of folding it all up neatly. I've done what you've done just rolled it up and wrapped them strap around it all. I'm sure after a few goes it will be easier 👍

Good price that...Full System too ?...Should be OK with that stitching, probably had it abit tight when up?.. what about some tent/bivvy repair tape, then seal over it ?... Packing away I think is easier....I undo tension strap, pull out the 2 peak poles and clip from top, fan all the poles back together, split each (5) ribs down 1 by 1, fold them over onto themselves, then wrap the tension strap around it all.

I can second that....just having a storm passing through now in Wigan.... Hoping to be on the Park Lake for a few hours in the morning before work.

As its been so hot ,i have pretty much lost all enthusiasm to go fishing, hence i haven't been on here in a while, nor on the bank , but now its cooling down i do intend to get out more .

If in any Doubt give it a Fabsil, but only once on my AXS it dribbled in, but that was due to a scewiff seam on the inside near the Door, Sonik replaced for me no questions. With the Wrap on you get that extra space space and is Pitch Black when on.... Before I got the Camo Wrap this 1... 2 Mates also have an AXS and they love em...

After going through some reviews I'm gonna go for the axs bivvy. Hopefully it will stay water tight without an over wrap. I may look into purchasing one in the future, but I'm lazy, if I can get away without using one I will 😂 I'm mad I had to pull away from my session but hopefully pick the Bivvy up this evening and get back to the reservoir tonight or for first light tomorrow morning. Need to be off the reservoir for 8am Sunday 👌

When do overnight/24hr....I always use the wrap and take the front off, gives about 2 foot extra room. On days I take it just in case.

Just looking for that sort of design, looks really easy to set up. I will check out the sonik axs now 👍

Unless your stuck on those 2, have a look at the Sonik AXS, lots of sales with Overwraps now also...just seen 1 on Gumtree for £150....plenty around for £200/250

KIR

It's a tuff juggle I can tell you but I've kind of taught myself fishing is a hobby, the family has to be no1, plus if they are happy then I am too and I get to fish guilt free, for me nothing spoils a good days fishing more than guilt

Excellent stuff , the both of you . I wonder which gives you the most satisfaction , TJ enjoying himself , or you catching a " monster " ? . 😃

Of course , now he wanted more . A few ‘monsters’ followed along with a couple of Roach along the way . Culminating in what I’m pretty sure is a new personal best for him (only one I weighed on his insistence lol) of 7lb 4ozs. im incredibly proud of him for the way he stuck at it and proud of myself for having the patience too 😊 Couple more pics including the 7lb fish .

Finally out again for the first time in months after another little lad arrived and moving homes, hopefully some catch pics to follow.

Hi Guys.... CHICK PEAS.....any good ? (Frozen)

Arrived at club lake about 2pm... Had 2 so far...a scraper double and a 15lb 6oz common (on mates rod 😬)

So some of you know I love quiet waters, by quiet I mean I'm on my own. I have found many untouched hidden gems in my life, he a a sample of unfished[before me] waters.

Smallest fish in the lake!

Zombie sheep back to haunt me! managed to catch one though (carp not sheep - they’re too fast! 😳)

in fact I’m at zombie sheep lake right now! 😁😁

From bivvy, and at the bivvy...

all set up for another overnighter on zombie sheep lake

Saturday evening 😍

Got to Park Lake at 5am this morning....set everything up and had to nip off to a footy game with little en at 9am, kick-off was at 11am in Manchester....mate watched all mi gear while he was fishing too. Got back about 5pm....all set for night now, had a takeaway, mate has lost 2 fish already.

Here are a couple I found in Poland, unfished.

Got one !!! It hovered about the rim of the net for ages then just flew into the net 😳

Iv clacked it. Iv solved the old age conundrum of how to dunk your digestive biscuit in a empty pva tube filled with coffee because you forget your mug …

Up silly o’clock again for a almost dawn start. Looked lovely with the blue sky then the fog came in now that’s burning off blue sky again