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It's worth sacrificing a day sesh just to mark up swims mate. It can mean the difference between a great year and a terrible one.

Thanks @yonny & @salokcinnodrog. Need to buy some braid then I'll be doing as you both suggest n spending a day or two annoying everyone casting a lead n float around

Went to a local days only park lake yesterday and in 8 hours had 7 fish including 2 x 18lb'ers and a PB common from that lake of 19lb. It really was a case of "buying your fish" as I used about 8 litres of spod mix and about 2kg of boilies. Every time I topped up the swim, the bites would immediately start and then go quiet about 15 minutes, which was the cue to top up. I had to ease up about half way through as I was starting to run out! I'm sure I would have caught more if I had knocked up another pressure cooker load. I chatted to a couple of blokes on the way out and they had struggled but they did say they didn't put in many freebies. This time of year, the fish really are up for a good feed. I'm sure that if I had gone down the "PVA bag and one bite at a time", I would have struggled.

Before I fished Virginia at Earith I spent 2 days feature finding and pre-baiting. I mapped out the whole lake for myself and @brucelait, I know I had a hand drawn copy, I think we had one each. Over 2 years I had a total of 4 blanks, and 2 of them were when the lake froze over while I was fishing. I can't remember how many fish we had, but it was hundreds and many were over 20lb. It's not that hard. If you want full depths and distances then a float and lead, if you are happy with just 'rough' then a lead alone. Use braid to a 30lb mono ( Amnesia) shockleader for a better feel, with a run ring and 3 or 4oz lead (maybe a lead link), and a marker float at the end. Obviously cast out and feel around; gravel feels 'bumpy', sand is smooth, clay often a bounce as the lead comes free then slides smoothly, silt is the lead pulls free, but slides slowly. Weed almost pulls back, jams, comes through, sticks, and repeat. Hold the line tight down, then pull a foot of line off the reel at a time until the float reaches the surface. Weed might stop it, even with a lead link. If you use just a lead you are counting it down from the cast, I've always used roughly a metre a second, but it won't 'donk' on or in silt or weed. You then have to clip up once you find the spot and get the distance on sticks or walking it out. I can't remember who said it, I think Dave Lane, mono is a smoother cast, and on distance sticks I think recommended taking a wrap off for the fishing rods. So if you got 15wraps with the marker rod and braid, go 14 with mono on your fishing rods.

Decent waders pretty much stay open without this contraption imo. For me the risk (of losing fish) is pulling them up and onto your shoulders with rod in hand. This doesn't fix that. I'm out 😁

I only use a head torch if I need to and that’s usually on red or green as either don’t ruin night vision ihave found

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.

I barely used my light last night. If at all tbh just attracts mosquitos and other flying pests,

I had the sonik sk set, hated the light everytime I got a run in the night it would go off as I woke up it would dazzle me and I wouldn't be able to acclimatise to the dark, gimmick if you ask me. Just have a head torch and a light for when you need one.