Leaderboard

I've just realised I've owned my Okuma 8k reels for over 4 years now. Firstly where has that time gone? Secondly they are still as smooth and brilliant as the day I got them. Normally I get bored with tackle or fed up with it limiting my angling but these reels do it all. The simplicity of the drag, the line lay is perfect and they are a joy to use. Even with 0.40mm line the line falls of the spool with ease when casting. I can honestly say they are the best reels I've ever owned and have no desire to change them. You know what I might even oil them as a treat for being such loyal servants.

48 hour social at Bluebell lakes. Sandmartin Lake. Managed one on the first evening but despite looking good for more the following day no more bites.

Chub 12ft spod rod off ebay for 15 quid. That will keep me ticking over for a bit, collected it today, looks hardly used bargain.

I got into some nice perch yesterday also made lots of mistakes in regards to waggler fishing, set up on a wooden decking peg that was OK but a bit awkward with two rods, moved to a bankside swim with a nice wind blowing towards me, I spent most of the time clearing pond fluff off the line, had a few roach, but I really was struggling to keep the bait on the hook, no joke I could barely get my hook down before a team of baby perch had stripped the hook bare, try again Friday maybe try a water that isn't three meters deep a rod length out, lol.

Yes I got some after my mate did, rods are lovely but you have to expect a decent wait. Got blanked after when I asked him to do me a matching landing net handle. I'm having these re-built at The Tackle Box, changing reel seats, new rings, the lacquer has gone so the whipping is clouding up overnight. A lot of love for the Torrix TE Specials so they're getting a makeover. ❤️

Went with the kids this weekend. Blanked the first 24hours. Then we got focused. Decided I wasn't happy with my main spot, so I put my big boy pants on and went for it 18.5 wraps, 2 rods or the horizon and one on the edge of some reeds where I had seen some bubbles, I had prebaited my daughters spot the night before with some boilies and left it, naturally that one was the first to go at 10pm, she cast it and felt for the drop herself and we baited it with 5 x spods and a few extra boilies she pulted into the zone, it ripped off when we were tucked in and listening to a book on audible. The summer I robbed a bank by David O'Doherty, if you have kids it's a great book. And naturally it decided to wipe out all my other rods, but we got it in and I cleared up the mess it made. (yes I was done in and a bit sun rouged) We lost her rod in the carnage and she wanted to sleep so one of mine went onto her spot, one to the long spot and one to the left. We were awoken to a savage take from the long rod. This came in like a ball of weed until it got in range of my other lines. Took the right one out. During the photos I had an out of body experience. Then I ditched the right hand rod spot and went long, so with 2 on the spot I whacked out another 10 X spods and had breakfast. Then the right hand long rod was away,we had spotted them all showing in the middle the evening before and this spot gave me the best shout not being able to move, this one came in well and we moved the other rods out of harms way, fought hard close in but without hassle, and although the smallest of the trio of commons but finished off the trip nicely. Lovely weekend with the kids, had lots of fun and caught 3 and lost none, we did some bird spotting, saw some fish on the other lake spawning and caught some fish Happy days.

Just My take on prebaiting. If I can or think it's worth it I will do it, if I do it's tough if someone else fishes that swim, what I've been doing recently is baiting whole areas with handfuls so I always have a back up and can slot in wherever. would I tell them I had baited it? No I don't want to ruin their buzz, would I want someone to tell me they had been prebaiting if I caught on it? Course not. Neither would I want someone to tell me where they have been baiting. "Let me stop you there mate, I don't want to hear it because then I won't be able to fish any swims if everyone tells me their plans" If I see fish fizzing will I stick a rod on it. You bet your sweet bippy I will 😎 I think the moral of the story if you want to prebait, do it off your own back, don't rely on the kindness of strangers,and don't tell anyone. Be covert, be a secret squirrel. Oh yeah and don't be a Richard about it and ruin everyone else's fishing.

It's 100% regeneration from otter attack ,I seen it lots of times on ALL the local waters.. From being bitten it takes around 15 months to get the stage in the pic.. Some heal better than others..,