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Moody one from the weekend..

France on 5th so fingers crossed mate and rude not to give the syndi another go at the weekend - oh and just bought a Bluebell winter ticket. Determined to turn this season around after a poor start through ill health. 👍

Saturday morning at the big pit. Big blank to go with it.

I feel for you , Kev . I've lost my last 4 Carp in the lillies , and although probably only low to mid doubles it still anoys me , and I think " what could I have done different ? " . One of the loses was when I rushed sideways to hustle the Carp away from the lillies only to kick the water bucket ( that I'd forgot was there ) ; so I look down to see why my sock was wet , and that 1 second delay in playing the Carp was all it needed to shed the hook . So next time out you'll just have to catch an absolute monster to help the painfull memory of your loss to fade away . 😃

Baiting poles are a real faff I must agree, I've barely used mine due to the reasons you say, but for the swim I was going to be targeting, just perfect. I do have a bait boat with good sonar and yes it has caught me some extra fish where I couldn't have casted - or would have spoiled it casting too much to find the very best area. But like the baiting pole I don't usually use it or even take it with me most of the time. New venues I will take it coz you don't know what you'll be faced with. You're wasting your time on Yonny - he will NEVER own such a thing and doesn't need any help catching, I know I've fished with him. I buy things because I'm bored and want some retail therapy not because I NEED them, as you'll have seen in the new purchases thread 🤣

Baiting poles seems such a faff to me. OK if you are fishing very short but any sort of distance and you're like a plumber on a big job! Add a slight breeze and the thing is snaking around like a good 'un and the chances of getting close to your spot are pretty low. I know you hate boats Yonny but the stealth, accuracy and tight baiting they provide can't be beaten in my opinion. When they first came out I was apprehensive but I've embraced the positives they offer and I don't think it's a co-incidence that my catch rates have improved dramatically in the last few years. Cheating? Maybe but are you still using par boiled potatoes and silver foil for indicators? If the technology exists and other people are using it, you are putting yourself at a disadvantage if you don't use it Just my opinion, of course..

Well Jack doesn't need to say anything for you to see he is not impressed with your decision to be in your bivvy at bite time ! .

The best line out there imo.

Bought 2 spools of Hydro Tuff and found one was enough to do the 3 reels - so got a spare for next spring. Wasn't going to try the 3rd reel as I didn't want to have to strip it all off once it became apparent it wasn't going to fill the last reel but went for it anyway and it did it with a little to spare. On that basis I've deffo got enough HD left to do 3 reels on the 2 spools I bought earlier in the year as I did 2 reels off one spool and one off the other spool. Ordered another 75 leads from Riverside Leads - not heard anything back on those yet so jury is out. ESP stalker boilie pouch to help with baiting up Fortis - large brimmed hat Cotswold reel splash mat, this will prob never get used - but needed to spend more for free delivery so it kind of made sense lol Is this an illness?

I spotted something odd in the edge at Bluebell and pulled out a Fox Bivvy and later spotted a landing net and handle in the reeds - gave both to my mate which he still uses now. This was months after a big storm where people obviously lost tackle 😀

WHAT?!?! now that's dedication right there 🙌

I have one! Thing is it's miles round this lake so taking everything isn't really an option. In fact I'm taking as little as I can get away with! I'm even leaving the brew kit at home 😧

It is mate. I actually found the carp this time too... chilling out not 30y out in a weed bed. Unfortunately I only had 4oz leads on me and the carp weren't to fond of them crashing onto their heads. Schoolboy error. Got straight on the phone to order a bunch of 2 and 2.5oz for next time. I was convinced they'd be back the next day but they didn't show up. To rub it in I found them all in the shallows on my trek back to the car to go home.

An overnighter sat/sun felt that I was on for a big-un, 9pm a big fish rolled on the right tree line which got me going. 7am a take and I cant get out the bivvy quick enough coz of a dead arm and it manages to take line off a very tight clutch and makes the trees resulting in a cut off - absolutely gutted tbh, should have been up sat by the rod as I knew 7am was bite time! Oh well next time I guess.