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Last weekend, same swim, same baiting - all 3 on the yellow, similar conditions. Took the baitboat in case I wanted to fish upto the island and find fishable ground with the sonar, but all this showed me was that my normal spots are deffo the one so left them there for the duration of the session no recasts just a bait top up for the 2nd night. Just a couple crashed all weekend - no feeding activity, got it wrong again lol Need these fish to spawn and be normal - taking forever with this weather. Maybe next time

Finally should be getting the boat out this weekend if the weather stays good 👍 so will be getting some peelers if there’s any fresh ones about but I have some frozen ones if I can’t find any. Hounds are about..

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.

A set of Fox RX+ alarms, finally given up on the Delks, after no bleeps on a take last week it was the final straw - no more worrying about rain, humidity or them just not feeling like working. Hopefully less false bleeps too - win win 😁👍

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.

Excuse the legs 🤣 Been feeding a pair of Robins on the last few seasons and I'm sure they've been taking the food back to a nest 👌 its got to a point where they come to the door and wait for me to give them something 🤣

I've lost fish due to putting on waders, struggling - not keeping up the right tension and fish shakes the hook. Probably the mistake that sticks with me the most, did I even need waders on really, could I have just gone in and dried the clothes after, did I have spares anyway - these were potentially special fish and I was only doing the night - crazy to even look at the waders in hindsight, much quicker to takes trousers and shoes off and go in. So angry with myself still years later - poor decision making!!! and those devices are so expensive for a piece of plastic, you get similar holding new slippers together for free - talk about carp tax, good idea but rip off.

The theory of carefully putting chest waders on before striking the run goes right out of the window when you actually get a run. The number of times that I've stepped into my trainers on waking up to a run without thinking, struck then realised I need chesties to play the fish, so play twister trying to sort myself out...

Glad it's not just me seemed like mission impossible last night 😂 Might try some and see waders/barrow are an edge at the moment 😎

2nd night a bust still no fish down the other end so a move today after trying floaters on the small lake for an hour. Can't get the swim I really want on this new easterly, but this is the nearest one, 2 rods very close to the point, 1k of mix over the top, one close on a single pink. New swim to me, had to open it up as noones bothered - hours work before setting up, deserve a fish for that, last night so fingers crossed 🤞

Not a view from the bivvy door, but I just love how natural and neglected this pit is 🥰

Back out, another 3 nights, taken a swim that's unfished so far this year due to high water, on the end of the wind, feels banging, rods out, baiting done - come on Mr carp.

Fab weekend on the syndi - chose the windward end on a easterly and felt confident but by dawn I'd only heard one fish crash through the night deep working the bay on my left. I sat it out until 9am but couldn't believe they weren't having it elsewhere so I reeled in and drove to the other end (back of the wind) to see if they had popped up on top after eating down there at first light. After a quick walk about and speaking to the one guy down there it seemed they weren't there so I hurried back vowing to make the most of the spot I had, they just had to be there at some point. Walking back in the swim late morning I see one straight away passing my rods along the margin going into the bay, then another going the other way, I'd made the right choice afterall. I shot up a climbing tree to be greeted by many fish - basking in the sun, some of them proper units - right down the end of the bay sitting in a 5 yard gap between overhanging trees. Over hours I fed mixers into the scum that had gathered up against the reeds and waiting for my chance to wade into the reeds and cast out my hookbaits but fake mixers and cut down boiles were either being rejected or just missed completely. At a loss I went back to the bivvy and got my bag of bagels, a size 4 hook and off for another go. The fish had all but gone by this point but I tried for one in the scum line but quickly lost sight of the bait and that fish drifted away, I felt gutted all those hours feeding and having little casts here and there have lead to nothing. I was about to get out the water when I see one more fish drift in and under the scum line so I put on some fresh bagel and make a cast a couple of feet from the scum. A head pops back out then moves at speed for the bait, smashes it so I guess he's got it, strike and hang on for dear life as it tries to power away but I can't let it go anywhere, it tore through the right tree line but thankfully I just pulled like a mad man and got it back somehow, was lucky as I could feel it crating on the branches several times, proper heart in mouth stuff. Epic battle 26.14 Common in the net, made up. The next day was a real slog waiting all day for that one chance, somehow after not getting it right several times I finally managed to hook one of the stragglers like the day before but sadly lost it to a hook pull just when I felt that I was getting on top of what had been an epic and scary battle. Gutting but loved the trip can't wait to get back - I'm having em FACT - so buzzing for it this year. Best thing of the trip I saw my target fish, must be 4ft long, jet black linear, old as the hills, he's alive and kicking, and he's got some very large friends, more than I knew about. 👀

Had a run and got soaked 🙄

Sunrise out the bivvy

Me too - once you start with the technique it's cemented in the brain. I started after trying to get it to drop in a thin gulley but the lead would either stick in the far bank clay or swing too far back.

Good tip that. I actually use this method regardless of the size of the spot, makes it easier not having to adjust for small spots surrounded by weed. Just remember that the spod will have to be wrapped up slightly shorter to accommodate the pull-back (if that makes sense).

Just to add to find the drops in weed you will only do this if you alter your leading technique or how you get the lead to drop down more vertically, it's no good going down in the usual arc you'll just hit the weed either side of the tiny gap, hang up in the weed and you'll think theres no gaps. Hit the clip, pull back instantly (rod up verticalish) so the lead is pulled back up towards the surface if you like or scimmed accross the surface, then follow it staight down, reducing the arc massively. If you can get a drop like that every time and whip the rig back out clean it's perfect. Hope that makes sense.

I'm not looking for big holes or clean spots as such, just a drop every time and a tiny amount of pull back and you're fishing. In my mind at the moment I'm not looking for clean spots anymore, if only to avoid and find the drops in weed nearby. Every venue is different but I think on lower stocked venues with wary fish clean spots are treated with extreme caution and hold little natural food e.g. gravel spots. How many people pick the same obvious far bank markers, find the obvious clear spot, pile bait on it and are surprised when nothing happens, wheres the natural food, wheres the thickest weed, what are they showing over? I'd rather set up and watch all day for them to show me where to put the traps than rush in crashing leads everywhere, not always possible I know but once you've seen them feeding in an area you dont have to wait next time as everything is written down and measured up.