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Tel uses hand rolled cork ball pop ups (he rolls them himsel). You can buy hand rolled pop ups.... they cost a fortune. I use different hookbaits for different applications. Some are expensive (e.g. cork ball pop ups). Some cost pennies (tigers). Use what you have confidence in.

I've managed to scale it back to point where I can move without issue, I've gone from 5 rods to 3, dropped the pod for bank sticks, camera bag, two bait buckets, hold all and cooler bag to just the holdall, cooler bag and 1 bucket, ditched the chair, just gone back to sitting on the bed lol. I got to the lake earlier and there was someone in the swim I wanted so setup somewhere else, they ended pulling off so quickly packed down and moved lol 👍all fits on one load and feels much lighter lol.

The other problem with taking too much gear is the length of time it takes to move if the fish show at the other end of the lake then you just can’t be bothered to move. theres a fine line between not taking enough and enough to cover everything. i also carried a bucket of spare bits in the van for that very reason. Mini weed rake, spomb, bank saw, gravel eater, even the gardener multi rake silly bits that could stuff you up if you didn’t have them

I’m gonna pop it in there tonight and see how we get on. I’ve had lots of water ingress issues with delks in the past so it probably has something to do with it

I try to have a declutter every year, it's amazing the amount of stuff we take that we don't really use. If I use the barrow I really try and minimise. Can be more carefree if I can park at the swim but the less I have to take the better.

As per topic, So much stuff a few years ago about otters, gone very quiet now, guessing it's not a big thing anymore??

I think it depends on which ones, I use proper job pop ups because they are really buoyant and I like the range of additives and ingredients they contain. I am yet to be convinced I need to pay much over a tenner a tub though. Although there are one or two baits I can understand why they charge more and can appreciate the effort and reasoning behind the cost, some do just seem like an expensive tub of hookbaits. And let's be honest the carp don't know they cost £40 for a tub, trick is to be confident in what bait you are using,then you are more likely to put it in the right place.

It's got to that point again where its starting to take me two barrow trips to get all my gear to the swim, to many "just in case" items that never get used 🤣 I've managed to thin my gear out a bit hopefully only one trip next time lol. Also took a laptop with me for the last 10 sessions or so to watch films on but haven't once took it out the holdall 🤷‍♂️🤣 Back to the bare essentials for me 👌

They had to fence the area in Norfolk that Springwatch was filmed on. Quite amusing seeing on television an otter raiding and killing a coot and it's nest on a bird reserve.

Best bit is the RSPB have also fenced some waters they also use terriers and shooters on their land otters are over protected think the longterm plan is to introduce a animal that will compete with the otter, same people that think foxes do vermin control by feeding on rats, the level of denial is frightening.

Got the letter from the breathing specialist doing more breathing teats as he doesn't think I have COPD also not pleased with the spirometry test done by the nurse at the GPs that's why more breathing tests. He had cat scans and x rays that showed mild emphysema but pretty much stated I'm as fit as a butcher's mut 99% oxygen in my blood, he was shocked at how bad and fast my chest infection was that started this, didn't tell him about going over in a hot tub outdoors I was in and out the tub all evening got a right nasty cold few days later.

Makes sense never thought of it like that lol 👍

The main point for me is i don't have to commit to a whole bucket at once and waste bait, and I can mix as much as I plan to put out, also the pellets would just turn to mush and it would end up a soggy mess, also it means to keep it all fresh I only need one bucket rather than 3 or 4. Good tip for carrying less on your barrow 😉

Finally filled them all up 👍 That's a kilo of corn would probably take 2 kilos I think

They're everywhere, I think we're just done talking about it coz nothing will change. Numbers will just go up and up and lakes will continue to be fenced. My syndi isn't fenced and obviously we have otters to contend with, it's a constant threat. I've fished two fenced lakes and both still had otters getting in and out, once they smell the fish they come back every night looking for weaknesses in the fence, it never stops! My uncle has a lake, stocked it with carp in the 80s, nowhere near a water course and now he has just a handful of tiny baby carp and small roach left thanks to Mr Otter. I'm NOT a fan - it's disgusting how land owners are being treated!

Seriously? Almost every decent water in the country has had to be fenced. Most that are not have been decimated. The effects of otters on carp fishing have been beyond comprehension.

Personal choice here, I have used a mix of both, other than looking better crushed up I dont know if there is any difference. I have some for hookbaits and tend to use one of each so have a few in the mix. If I order 10kg of normal tigers I will get a kilo of black to run through.

Never used black ones, but I'm not sure they are anymore effort to prepare, maybe Just slightly more expensive. But I guess being a bit different it could be an edge.