Leaderboard

Got down Fri night about 8pm, 3 of the swims down the windard end were taken and I didn't fancy fitting in between. I thought they might push them out anyway and with cold night temps they might make their way up the other end. Saturday 11am I see the first of around 15 - 20 shows over the course of an hour, some over the rods so wasn't a complete surprise when the left hander pulled up at 1pm. A low double common 12.4lb, female still full of eggs (fish are so behind due to the influx of cold water), so I was made up, another swim caught from and a spot found back in March. Sunday morning, they arrived at 10.30 with one crashing out against the island, then 3 subtle rolls at 11am just short of the rods. 11.15 I'm on the phone and notice the left hangers off and line out the clip but no bleeps whatsoever (no idea), pick up the rod and there's a weight on the other end and weeded up short of the spot, I pull it out and gain 10-20 yards and it's off, hook pull - damn! Interesting it was the left rod both times especially as the fish arrived from right to left. It was the only yellow bait - with corn in the mix so I'll take that forward next session, all 3 on yellow.

This is the one I use it does have maize and maples, in it so I soak it and give it a good boil also.

Sorry for the confusion, Hook bead would be if I just mounted the hook swivel on the shank and didn't use a slip d (just being lazy really trying to keep it quick change) just looking for a good one that doesn't slide up the hook. slip d would be free running I am just trying to avoid shrink tube really just makes it more of a faff, I guess the solution to both is a decent kicker, one that keeps the hook at the angle you set it.

Good work mate, great descriptive writing. And that is a lovely photo.

Why do you need the hook bead? Isnt the slip d free running up and down

Or @elmoputney can beat me to it with a good picture. Lots of choices for pigeon and chicken feeds

Pigeon conditioner is full of aniseed, it is used to 'detoxify' after racing and as a 'trapping' mix. You can get Chicken mix, chicken corn or chicken conditioner which is aniseed free, or Wild bird seed. My advice is to head into the, local animal feed suppliers and have a look around, it's obviously carriage free. If you can't, I'll try to give you a decent link.

If you have a local feed place nearby go and have a look, I usually get a aniseed free one, I am out kids swimming now but I will have a look what it is called when I get home.

Thanks Kev , Nick , and Elmo . That's lots of very useful information for me to think about , much more than I was hoping for . Many thanks . 😃