Pete Springate's Guns

I disagree-I might not like it and its not practical for me travelling long distances but I’ve seen at first hand the impact of a sustained baiting programme a specific swim can have. All the way back to fishing Redesmere when the ‘Meadow’ would be ‘hemped’ for weeks on end to the ‘full timers’ on the southern gravel pits.

Your bailiff story has touched on one of my pet hates-people who bait/pre bait a swim and tell you all about it, like it gives them some kind of right to fish it and everyone else should leave it alone! If I’ve paid upwards of £500 for a ticket and travelled 3 hours to get there, no swim is off limits!

I’ve been fortunate enough to join a number of syndicates over the years. Some well known, high profile that simply required adding my name to a list and waiting my turn, others required purchasing a ‘winter ticket’ before being considered for full membership whilst another required a recommendation and interview. They all had different rules but more importantly, a unique ‘culture’. Whilst the ‘rules’ on each were/are largely adhered to it is the accepted ‘norms’ on each syndicate which I believe have more influence. I’m not saying one was better than another but the difference in atmosphere between waters is quite striking when ostensibly the ‘rules’ are the same; even on the same complex!

If it is a Dinton original it will be the second one in a week to break 50 after Tripple Row was caught ounces over by long-term member, ‘Hutch’😎👍👏

I hear that this fish was a possible Dinton escapee from the floods around 2007. No idea if its true but I reckon Simon at Dinton could possibly trace it back if he had a mind to. It wouldn’t look out of place amongst the White Swan stock, thats for sure!

In terms of license checks, twice for me in well over 40 years on the bank. Last time was around 20 years ago on a Cheshire club water. I was on a hush hush midlands syndicate a few years ago when 2 EA employees walked towards me and stopped for a chat. I asked if they wanted to see my rod licences. They didn’t bother, just wanted to check the state of some trees on the adjoing dam; a quick glance and they were off, ‘inspection’ complete. Nice work if you can get it.....

I’m of the same opinion and broadly of the same generation. I’ve fished since before I can actually remember; my old man started taking me as a 4 year old. We fished on a local club water for just about anything that came along but occasionally Dad would break out his old MKIV and target the Carp population. There were lots of kids my age on the same water doing exactly the same. By the age of 11 I was targetting Carp with my 9ft solid glass spinning rod, Mitchell CAP and fairy liquid top indicators...... At the time I was most definitely in the minority and the majority were general coarse anglers and ‘match’ types. I was always quite proud to tell people I was a Carp angler-it was a sub culture with very little exposure and next to no commercial value. How things have changed! Now I’m almost embarassed to call myself a Carp specialist because of the atmospere and associations with commercial tie-ups, and desperate wannabes. A long time friend of mine has all but ‘retired’ from fishing for the same reasons. He is a fantastic, gifted angler who, if he chose to, would be a ‘household name’; I know a couple and have fished alongside a few. Sad really. I’ve gone a little off topic here and no longer fish locally but I occasionally drive past the old club waters and rarely see kids or even general coarse anglers, just bivvies and barrows.

Agreed. Back when I used to make my own bait I used Krill in the basemix at a rate of 1kg in 12kg of dry mix. I accidentally doubled the amount when mixing and the whole lot floated!🤣

I do fanny around occasionally but for the majority of the time my go to rig is uncoated, supple braid, knotless knotted through to the hair which gives plenty of separation and movement (was original Kryston but now on the old ESP Sinklink) of around 8”, longish shrink tube line aligner to a sharpened beak point hook (loving the ESP cryogens). Preference is for a balanced bottom bait, Tiger, Brazil or snowman if using boilie hookbaits. If I can still reach the distance, I’ll always have a pva mesh bag/stringer attached. Its not really changed since the early ‘90’s and has caught all my bigest fish from silty Cheshire & Shropshire meres, to estate lakes in Warwickshire and Herefordshire and gravel pits in Northamptonshire and Berkshire. Occasionaly, I’ll go on single flouro pop ups/wafters and I’ll use a coated braid but hook and line aligner are the same, just add an appropriate sized shot.

When is a nut, not a nut?! That’s got the old grey matter working!👏🤪

77 on White. Its happens regularly.

I’m probably in the ‘remove their dangly bits brigade’! This has been reinforced this morning when a guy arrived opposite at first light and proceeded to spod for 2 hours.....Its ok for him, he’s down for another 3 nights, he does this every week in the same swim, usually midweek hence I was somewhat surprised and disapointed to see him today. Complete lack of respect for others; the lake is hard, pressured and swims are tight. Cock.

Yes B.C. I tend to agree with you......I really debated whether to re-do it or not (as an aside, I ruled out a move since; a) I’d not seen anything particular to move on and b) its a v.tricky water and a quiet night is not unusual). My default position is to recast but I am beginning to question myself, hence the post. I’m aware that Rainbow anglers often leave baits in position for several days at a time in what is a very pressured environment. As a counter point, I’ve often received a take quite quickly after a recast when I’ve thought I should have had action. Its a proper head scratcher at times, this fishing lark😬🤣

Thought this might be an interesting topic for discussion. I’m writing this on the bank and considering why and when to recast. The specific situation is one I’m sure we face on a regular basis. Got down yesterday evening and found myself in a swim I’ve fished a few times and caught from a couple of different spots. Left hand rod spot still clear and good drop so baited over it with the Spomb. Right hand spot had weeded over so opted for solid bag in the rapidly decreasing light levels with a view to finding a new spot today. It was a quiet night, odd fish heard but no action and no liners. Always leave the rods till midday since I’ve had fish as late as 11.30 am in this swim. New spot found and baited for right hand rod by 3pm. The question is.......should I recast the left hand rod? I was totally confident in its position, the ‘drop’, presentation and bait. I left it till 5pm and did recast it to the exact same spot. On retrieval it was perfect. So why not leave it, less disturbance might be an advantage?

I’ve had mixed experiences with GT HD myself. I was using the 15lb early on this season and found it to be a lovely casting line that behaved well on the spool. But I discovered that it was prone to abrasion damage in weed and I suffered a couple of unexplained casting crack offs. Since switched to Korda Carp line in 15lb, think its .40 in diameter and a decent all rounder; been told by a couple of guys in the trade that it comes from the same factory as GR60 though I can’t confirm it. For chucking I like the Gardner Light Blend in 10lb with a 50lb Powerpro braided leader and leads up to 4.5oz. Very impressed👍

I have no lack of confidence in corn/maize/plastic, just wanted to canvass opinions on preparation really.

Haha-glad you appreciate it😎 TBH I was/am a bit of a Springate fanboy. Like many of my age was captivated by the pictures of his Yeoveney brace and then of course his exploits at Wraysbury. Could never understand how a hoover repair/carp angler got in such good shape. Hence the ‘guns’ reference for those who are not familiar with the photos💪

Ah yes, apologies BC!!☺️ I’ll certainly be giving the Maize/Thaumatin B a go on 1 rod at least👍

Many thanks Yonny for your very detailed response👏I’m inclined to go down the Maize hookbait in Thaumatin B route in conjuntion with straight Corn. I would go with either Tiger or Brazil hookbaits if allowed but both are banned and I’ve waited a few years to get in to this winter syndicate and don’t want to risk loosing the ticket!

Any views on fermentation, addition of salt or any other additives?

I’ve a mind to use maize, mainly as a hookbait but also in very small quantities at least on one rod on my winter water (November onwards), probably in conjunction with the jolly green giant. I’ve read all manner of recommendations for salty maize, fermented maize etc but I’m wondering whether its worth prepping my own for such small quantites or simply buy a jar of ready prepped?

I’m after a replacement boat since some ****** nicked my Bic Sportyak. Can’t afford another Bic and I’m looking at inflatables as an alernative. Primarily be used for finding spots/baiting, also for dealing with weeded fish. I’ll be using oars (no motors allowed). I’ve been looking at the ‘Bark’ branded models on EBay which are reasonably priced and seem to fit the bill. Anybody got experience with these or alternatives?

Was catching consistently on Black after it re-opened but lots of smaller fish up to 25. Decided on a change of scenery abd ironically had an 18C on my first night on White!! I’ll be back to Black when the water’s cleared in a month or so👍

I’ve got a set of 13ft Treb Lites myself; mightily impressive tools they are too. But since switching to the smaller of the Dinton waters in the last few weeks I’ve been using my 12ft TE’s simply because the shorter rods are easier to wield in what are typically more restrictive swims.

My favourite shelter by far was an original Aqua Evolution-one of the very last made by Chris Manifold in his old workshop in Crewe before he sold the design to Fox. Fantastic design and quality. Had it for about 15 years before the poles became brittle and 2 of them shattered on a memorably stormy night on the Mangrove in Shropshire. Would gladly pay top dollar for a replacement!