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He’s had another! 38lb 2oz common, equals his common PB

Not my catches, but my boys! He’s getting to grips with the local park lake 32lb 2oz mirror (new pb) 30lb 1oz mirror - a double take and 2 30s on the bank! one proud (and envious!) father!

What a session. Well done to the lad. Yesterday I went for a walk around a water on which I have a ticket starting in June. It's an awesome place, nearly 90 acres of water in a massive nature reserve/SSSI/SPA. A proper big pit with everything that you could hope to see..... bays, islands, snaggy margins, massive sheets of water that go on forever, a really impressive place. I actually fished this water ~25 years ago when I was completely out of my depth. I caught one carp, to this day one of the best I've caught. Would you believe it..... I walked into the swim I caught from all those years ago, and there were loads of gulls diving on a huge hatch. I persuaded the Mrs and kids to stop for 5 mins so I could check it out. Straight away I spotted the carp popping there heads out feeding on this hatch, well within casting distance too. All that water and I found them straight away. Couldn't believe it. Law of the sod dictates I'll not find another chance like that once my ticket starts but it certainly got the blood flowing ready for June!

I have a fleet of models, but these are mainly 1/10th rc rock crawlers here is my most recent one an FTX Trooper based on a toyota LC71, i have added lots of scale parts, great fun to drive

It was shot because animals were ingesting them I believe. Not sure how much it was actually happening but that was the reason I’m sure. dropping the lead with rotten bottoms has been a thing for decades. Well before mainstream angling channels brought it to the masses. Can imagine back in the 80s and early 90s they were uncoated too.

Did an afternoon on my local park. After a slow start and by baiting little and often, managed to build up 2 spots and finished with 9 fish with two 18's and a 20-8 Common.

https://www.facebook.com/share/r/1EHPXXwFcx/

Not watching it as above, he’s just out to make his money mainly. Does he go in to how long it takes a coated lead, which most are nowadays, takes to actually leach toxic metals in to the water to the extent they have an effect on the environment? The process of how that works? Or anything like that? I’d be more worried about the microplastics than the lead.

And another… 14lb

I did also get a video of them, which I will add via FB later.

This was driven by a certain Mr. Pomeroy! For anyone genuinely interested in lead-free weights, check these out: Weights – Evolve Tackle Not cheap at nearly 3 quid a pop but they do look decent.

Therein are many problems within business and fishing, the need to make money. I've had run-ins in the past with Simon Pomeroy over someone using a huge single hook for pike fishing. He doesn't like people disagreeing with him! I have tried Stonze, in various sizes and they cast like a bag of spanners, more wobble than Jessica Rabbit. For short range fishing, fine. For the potential camouflage aspect, fine. For any distance, yuck. Pushing Dropping the lead was another business invention, the more leads you drop, the more you sell... The original reason for the invention of the Lead Clip was the ease of removing the lead at the end of the session, or changing lead size during the session! It provided a way of being able to fish semi-fixed without attaching tubing over the hooklink swivel, to hold a lead bead in place. Instead of buying 2 items you bought 1. I hate dropping the lead; in most cases there is no need, even in weedy waters. I have fished very weedy waters, and never found the need to drop the lead. Personally I used to use Zipp (Distance) shaped 1oz to 3oz inline leads in weed, and had few problems. As long as the lead has no shoulder, no weed catching. Your hook catches more on the retrieve. Gawd, imagine trying to play a fish through weed with a Stonze inline or not! That's not to say I don't lose leads; a snap-off thanks to pike or swan swimming through the line, an occasional quick clip and the lead pinging off the clip during the fight. However, there is an environmental issue, both as @greekskii says from microplastics, and the amount of lead in various waters, lost or 'dumped' tackle. Dumping the lead is really decriminalised littering, pollution, I do recall something about fishing weights being lead was raised in the EU Parliament. We are not just thinking freshwater fishing here, we have to include sea fishing, both beach, boat and commercial as all use lead weights. There is potential for a ban, and even though we are no longer part of the European Union.

Lake gremlins, their nastiest trick yet. I got to the lake to discover that the stock fish were interested more in reproduction. I parked next to the cottage so I could see if I recognised any of the fish. It looked like the new stock rather than originals and the syndicate manager said we can fish, just nowhere near the shallows, so I went down towards the causeway and deeper water. After a quick play with the marker rod, the first two rods were easy to sort, at around 40metres. I got my 3rd rod out of the sling, the tip wrap caught up and snapped the tip eye of my RH Enduro rod. Not a happy bunny! On a postive note I have just spombed in a bucket of Vitacarp, mini maize, maples, 2pints of maggots and 2 tubs of worms up the opposite end of the lake I intended. I'd been bringing them specifically for BC, but with spawning in the shallows I had to use them elsewhere

Just found this on YouTube. Its made by Pallartrax who make the Stonze weights. 9lb of lead in 1 square metre???? Personally I hate the thought of dumping leads and avoid it if at all possible. Partially because I'm tight but also because I don't agree with leaving a toxic metal in the environment. I don't fish particularly weedy waters but I can see the argument to those that do. I used to fish lead clips but lost too many leads unnecessarily, watching fish shake their heads at the net and the lead flinging off at the last minute. I did try in-line drop-offs and the thought of losing a lead on every fish didn't sit well and I abandoned it. I've been using helicopters for at least 3 years and can't remember losing a lead on a metal clip. If the line does snap, the trace bead will pop off and ensure that a fish isn't trailing tackle.I did use some plastic C-clips for a while but lost too many leads needlessly and gave them up as a bad job. What is the consensus of opinion on this?

During Lockdown in 2020 I started getting back into my model building again. The majority of the aircraft are in 1:48, with a few 1:72 on separate shelf, and the ships are 1:600. Got a few more to do

I got into Lego over the 'winter' months, it can be very addictive though! Built a Lighthouse, Jaws boat - a right [censored] to do - and a couple of motorised cars that I modded it was good fun 👍 Now weather is warming up, that will be on hold for now. Do rember the Airfix kits, sure I had an Airfix saturn 5 rocket - should kept it!

How comes you dont think after years of dropped leads on a well known spot would feel like a gravel?

I'm casting my mind back like way back to the early 80s On the river Severn,there was a Swan Sanctuary run by a very,very vocal woman ,called if I remember correctly Dot Beeson ,or Beeston ,this particular lady caused angling a lot of problems over lead shot,hooks and line .. It was in all the publications ,at the time on TV and radio...I remember it well ..

Swans and ducks who eat stones which then grind the food in the crop I believe. The sizes limited were Number 8 shot up to 1oz, hence why Arlesey Bombs and Inline leads minimum weight is now 1.1oz. The other issue, is gun shot pellets, where lead is illegal around watercourses in those same sizes, and being phased out in all shotgun cartridges by 2029.

Interesting topic. I suggested years ago, a lot of these spots that everyone thinks are gravel, are most likely several hundred leads, from the time when it was fashionable to drop them. I thought the use of lead shot was banned in the 90's, why wasn't it the same for actual leads?? I'm sure alternatives could found, but would have an adverse effect on the environment at some point in manufacturing. When you consider the amount of pollution in our water ways and the coast, using a stone instead of a lead isn't really going to make a lot of difference.

Have to agree with the posts about the bloke behind 'Stonze', for @Golden Paws, I have not seen the video but 9lbs of lead in 1 square metre seems completly unbelieveable 😂 I have never used drop off leads, never will, cannot see, except for very snag ridden venues, why I would want to, maybe abroard might be justified? Wonder how we ever managed to land fish from weedy venues without them? Don't need to use the set up now, but remember back in the day, a tulip bead pushed over the hooklink swivel and the zip or dumpy lead swivel eye pushed over that was probablay the safest and so simple set up to use in weedy waters imo. As @greekskii said " I’d be more worried about the microplastics than the lead. "

Correct 👆 The guy is trying to get lead banned for one reason only $$$$$$$$$$$$ I disagree with the unnecessary dumping of leads. However, I believe the safest rig is the one that lands the fish safely and efficiently, and on many waters I've fished dumping the lead plays a part in that.

A few hours with my youngest boy this afternoon, resulted in a little common and few grass carp to 15lb. Happy days

Thanks, I do have a couple. I've doubled up on HMS Belfast in 1/600. I bought it myself, then a friend stayed over after I took him for a days pike fishing on the reservoir and for thanks gave me another Belfast. I ordered Prinz Eugen, and unintentionally picked 1/740 instead of 1/600. Rather than send it back I just bought the 'right' scale.

they look awesome, i have to admit to getting back into making and painting 40k stuff about a year ago. it is suprisingly calming to lose a few hours surrounded by glue and paint. not sure if it's appropriate here but this is an excellent charity that uses model kits for veterans as it can help with PTSD and gives a sense of belonging to a community again, if you ever find you have a kit spare (can happen i have heard) they pass them on to others. https://www.modelsforheroes.org.uk/

Although I hve purchased and been given a few more I'm paused on Bismarck at the moment.

Just remember ,Poms ,Pomeroy has a vested monetary interest in this .. Same or similar ethos to the Gripz hooks,what I'm saying is either he's got a valid point ,or slightly worrying other people / anglers..just like he did over the gripz hooks ,which I've used ,caught on them ,and binned .. I use lead clips ,I don't use heavy leads max 2oz most places I go ,I rarely,if ever drop a lead .. Also when the Korda vids came out ,showing or pushing dropping leads ,again ...who profited from that ..? Those Stonze,and I've used em are not the best ...however other companies are making inroads to non toxic leads ..due to environmental concerns .. Dropping the lead ,to land a fish in weedy situations I understand ,but some drop leads willy nilly and there is only one person to blame for that.. Would I use pallatrax stuff again ,ans is no !

Just popped to another little lake nearby. My son had a nice little common, before we got washed out. Stalking around is great fun, love it

My local park lake seems to be full of cricket bat commons when the sun shines hard and they are on top sunbathing. But by fishing on the bottom, I'm rarely troubled by them and the mid teen mirrors seem to be dominant. It might be worth a go, just don't do it if you are on a work overnighter!

Quick update on the pond/fish. The covers are back on temporarily as the trees are blossoming and there's petals everywhere. On a more positive note, water temps are around 10C now and the koi are eating every day. Water quality is looking good and the fish are looking absolutely fantastic. You'd never guess they've been overwintering. I've been busy this week installing a 3 x 3m square parasol that can be erected to cover half the pond. It sees a lot of sun so my thinking is that A) it should help a little to prohibit algae and blanket weed growth, and B) it'll give the fish some shade at the height of summer. I have some bacteria boosters ready to go in when temps are 12+ and the bulb in the UV filter is being replaced again this month. I have some blanket weed treatment ready to go in case I need it but thus far it's not required. The bio filter is topped up with media. Shed loads of food in the garage. Basically all is ready for growing season.