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It makes a change for me to start one! Started well yesterday morning, got here around 7, saw a few shows, small bag with a few 10mms and pop up combi rigs put out in that direction. Literally within 5 minutes (whilst I was down the margins putting out a few freebies), my left hand rod had ripped off. I felt it on, felt a good weight, then the dreaded snag. I just kept tension & bump, it came off. Dejected I redid the rod and put the kettle on. Just about to pour & the middle ones off. Good little scrap and lovely little scaled 16lb mirror. Went a bit quiet, sun was up so tried zigs in a few different spots , moving them about every hour or so. Not even a liner! As the sun dropped , I thought I'd switch back to bottom baits as I'd already caught and felt more confident for the night. Nothing through the night and just as I was stirring the left rod was off, happy days. This one felt a bit heavier, then the line went slack, I wound in faster and found the tension to the fish, it tussled a little bit, but was easily netted. As I pulled her out I thought this is a good 30 odd, could be a new pb? Scales topped out at 43 exactly, it is a new pb! Sent a pic to my mate (who's also on here), turns out to be the big girl of the lake. I'm absolutely made up

Woke up at 7 on the dot to a lovely 27lb linear. One of my best trips for a long, long time. Not sure the moon phase had any effect as they were all caught at first light

a mid double common to christen the new rods

If it's bright I'd be starting at ~ 25% depth (from the surface). If it's dull I'd be trying mid-water i.e. 50% depth. Colours for bites or black for the biggun.

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.

New wands 😁

Have you seen the crimp-it or whatever it’s called. Same thing but not a toaster, could use it to prepare them before your session and then just pop it in a toaster device if you’re choosing to heat it up. Interesting to look at RM as a business. A redesign of a toaster device, simple and easy, has propelled them in to what they are now. Goes to show how something incredibly simple can lead a business to be extremely lucrative!

I noticed my name got mentioned in one of those links for some reason lol. close the thread and let’s get back to being an SHB free zone hey Elmo have you rolled any today ?

I fished a rather secretive place that the members referred to as Toe-to-the-Brow Lagoon.... because that's how many guys set their zigs 🤣🤣

Nah you didn’t the thread just came to a conclusion and fizzled out

I used the blue or great variety of anatomy rather than nipple but like you it censored it lol but high was the closest it would let me go as well lol

I went to the tackle shop Saturday. And I only bought two things. Sticky pineapple pop ups and a Gardner baiting spoon Quite proud of myself tbh. But then I bought 10kg of pellets and wafter mix off AA baits. 10 hookbait pots and 5 bait spray bottles.

out for a few hours enjoying the sunshine 😎

👏👏 congrats

Great result @commonly well done!

Two days after the full moon and moon set on Thursday was about 7:15 a.m. so according to the theory, it should have been a good time. I did my first 24 hours session of 2026 on Friday and started at 6:30 and within an hour saw 3 good shows close in and put a rod on it and the other 2 out tight to an island. I had 3 slight pulls within the first couple of hours on the close rod and that was as good as it got. The water has good night form but I didn't have one bleep or didn't hear one fish roll. I went in light with the bait, only about a dozen boilies and a small scoop of boilie crumb in the boat and poured some dip/oil over it so it was more smell than food. I also put on a small mesh bag of crumb on the hook and dipped that and the bait in the liquid before sending it out. I chatted to the bailiff earlier who confirmed it was hard going and I spoke to 2 blokes in the next swims up on the way out and they reported the same. The water didn't feel too cold for March as we have had a pretty wet and warm winter but I'll give it a bit longer before my next trip.

Only 75p a pack on Total Fishing Tackle, ordered 35 packs to get the free shipping. bet that don't have them. https://www.total-fishing-tackle.com/avid-armorok-chod-hooks-barbed

Still great for fried eggs lol

No offense mate at all... its just me having a pop at the bait company for using the SAS name... i'm getting on so a bit of a moaner lol!

Here's ya secret to the BEST pop ups in the WORLD, that i discovered recently from talking to a secret blackhat Carp fisherman on a HUGE 200 acre Gravel Pit lol! 1 egg mix: For best results NO Cheating! for 2 weeks coat ya cork balls in egg white only! add the following to ya 1 egg mix: : Thaumatin - Citric acid - Butterfat store in the fridge for exactly 27 hrs! now take ya liquid and mix ya paste, now store in fridge for 7 days, then coat ya cork balls & make popups, back in fridge for 7 days... ...now finally remove the baits and coat 'em in pure Citric acid, boil for exactly 69 seconds, dry for exactly 29 hrs, now the BIG SECRET...*microbial inhibition! BUT sorry i can NOT tell ya *that cos then YOU will discover how the carp can detect ya pop-ups from 1.2 miles away!

Sales must have stalled lol how many times are they going to re hash the toastie maker. i still use the original one and the Diablo.

No but I did get a delivery from AA Baits, wafter mix today, need to make a batch with egg albumen because they are too soft without. Also got some glycerin to make a hookbait soak if that helps 😂 Then I am going to do a special process to the hookbaits shhhh it's still a secret.

Any of them!

Elmo have you rolled any today ? I hope you're not trying to jump the queue ??? Im still awaiting my order of SHB's

Well done @commonly great result. Really pleased for you.

Superb start to the year mate - well in 👌

Whallop. Congrats!

I don't think you did don't worry.

Knee, (censored) and nipple were the correct terms he used 😂 I like a fathom, half a fathom or even fathom and a half length zigs

according to mark Bryant Nut high Chest high head high if you can use an adjustable zig you can either pull in a foot at a time or let out a foot

Off on a 48 tomorrow, what with the sun out today, im thinking I might have to give them a try. Another minefield of depths and colours etc I'd appreciate anyone's suggestions on what's worked, as im pants at it

Actually mate, I need to add to this, I wouldn't normally post links to BBC, but I have been made aware of a C4 progam called 'Dirty Buisness' I (We) all know as anglers how much water companies pump untreated waste into rivers and seas but this is beyound belief! Thatcher and the tories, and now labour really have a lot to answer for 🥵 Here is the link: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c309z18e47no

Now I know why old men wear flat caps. Perhaps it's that time already.

out for 4hrs today, just to enjoy the sunshine! Had this 15lb common on a single NS orange pop up

It's been a long hard 6 months of Autmn & Winter. I haven't been able to get out since last August. Glad to finally be back at it again. Its a rock hard water, but today's not about catching. It's about being out and enjoying life for a few hours. Tight lines anyone else out there today. I hope this isn't a false spring......

Funny thing is that many freezer baits become bio-active by a simple process called efflorescence, where salts and sugars come to the surface of the boilie. It is why some baits are more effective after a couple of days out of the freezer. There were a number of bio-active ingredients, from meat meals to milk products, to pineapple juice (bromelain).

Water temps shot up to 7.1C last week after the really cold weather disappeared. Yesterday I popped a handful of food in and the "stockies" i.e. smaller koi ate it all. The temps were so good I went fishing on Friday night. Blanked, obviously(😅), but on Saturday morning the sun came out and I saw carp with their backs out! Chucked zigs at them for an hour but was already late for home. Always next time.

Welcome to my world, had concussion twice last year smashing the back of my head on the car door frame whilst loading the kit. Given myself a perforated ear drum doing it on the last occasion. Spend 3 days on the bank wondering why I felt funny 🙃👎