xpl0rer

The nuts worked perfectly! I didnt even need the lock nuts for it in the end, I'll keep them though for when I finally went to add a bit of height to the buzz bar. Sent from my HUAWEI G6-L11 using Tapatalk

When I these nuts hang in focus, it's Wu tang Sent from my HUAWEI G6-L11 using Tapatalk

It's 50/50 tbh mate. Ive had a pop-up in amongst particle mixes and had a carp every cast, whereas other times ive had nothing, but absolutely destroyed using sweetcorn, in exactly the same locations. So it really depends on the day. As for the pick ups and successful hooks, that is ultimately down to rig mechanics and having the hook set up properly with the bait your using. It's good to experiment and get your snood leaving the hook eye 100% straight, at a near perfect angle to get the hook to kick out and hook the lip on the bait ejection perfect every time. As for snails on pop-ups, I would imagine glue is used, although I've never done this myself. One thing you can do is thread a few hemp seeds to a bit of cotton using a thin sewing needle and attach this to the hair and/or hook. Ive had success with this too. Sent from my HUAWEI G6-L11 using Tapatalk

Infact all my PBs as of late have been hooked into when ive been ill prepared lol definite trend going on here Sent from my HUAWEI G6-L11 using Tapatalk

I do have gloves but didnt have them on at the time. The master of not being ready is this guy! I'm convinced I get i more fish when I'm not prepared lol Sent from my HUAWEI G6-L11 using Tapatalk

I'll have a look for me personally I think the nuts will be enough, but might be fun as bit of a project does anyone have any old/bent/broken bank sticks they don't want? Or any tubing of that nature they don't want? Sent from my HUAWEI G6-L11 using Tapatalk

Yaayy! Found a new syndicate that seem interested in letting.me and my mate join, first fish of the new year too. Over the moon. As you can see was putting pod together at the time! Insta-bite. Sent from my HUAWEI G6-L11 using Tapatalk

Well the threading pods use is 3/8" BSF. I've found a solution too! I'm buying 4x lock nuts and 2x extra large brass nuts from the bay. Works out to just under a tenner was thinking about boring out some pipe for myself but this way works out way cheaper... Unless andyone can poimt me in the direction of any cheap aluminium or brass piping? ~X Sent from my HUAWEI G6-L11 using Tapatalk

Thank you spr! Been ripping my hair out lol ~X Sent from my HUAWEI G6-L11 using Tapatalk

What is the name of the bar that holds up the buzz bar from the pod stand? I need some smaller one but dont know what they're called lol ~X Sent from my HUAWEI G6-L11 using Tapatalk

That's a nice cat David, I assume you were going for them? What test do you use for mainline? Isn't a 5000 reel a bit small for cats? I was thinking more in the area of 6-8000, however that's mainly due to me thinking you'd need higher test lines. There's a pond near me, or fairly near, that has cats up to around 60lb Sent from my HUAWEI G6-L11 using Tapatalk

I know this isn't carp but figured someone else here might have ventured down this route also. Im lookinv at getting into going after cats around the country, its something of a dream I have had for a while now, and wanted to see if anyone can recommend any gear to buy, rod, reel and line mainly. I dont mind treating myself a bit as, like I said, it's a drem of mine and 2017 is my year for it. Has anyone had any experience with good or bad gear,and what should I look at buying or avoiding? Thank you! ~X Sent from my HUAWEI G6-L11 using Tapatalk

Keep all the bait in the car do its there. What I meant by the above statement was what you are carrying on your person. I too would keep lots of other stuff in the car just incase I needed it Sent from my HUAWEI G6-L11 using Tapatalk

Another super cheap way of making a makeshift shelter is a bin liner cut down 2 side so its at its widest, and 4 sticks out the ground in every corner of the bin liner. Then another bin bag cut the same way on the ground under the makeshift roof. I came up with this shelter before when I got caugjt in a storm and had a bin bag to sit on. Very cheap and light to carry, something to consider Sent from my HUAWEI G6-L11 using Tapatalk

Pike is another one I wouldn't mind on fly. Don't fight as well as trout but do give you the run around, I'm into that! I need to slow down, course is new to me... Perch and carp first lol Sent from my HUAWEI G6-L11 using Tapatalk

Ya know, I've always pondered the idea of slow sinking pellets or zigs on my weight-tapered #7 fly rod. I said it before, but a decent carp on a fly setup would be a totally epic experience! I do hope that happens when they wake up in the warmth a bit more. Sent from my HUAWEI G6-L11 using Tapatalk

Thanks for the heads up in match tactics, I dont usually play this light unless on fly. Sent from my HUAWEI G6-L11 using Tapatalk

Ok with 8 as my max, same line recommended? Sent from my HUAWEI G6-L11 using Tapatalk

Mine is 1.6 i believe Sent from my HUAWEI G6-L11 using Tapatalk

I was unaware match rods went that low tbh, even before I was a carper, all I seemed to catch was carp on match ponds, and the odd tench (too many Rudd and roach also), I figured 10lb as a sturdy but high enough line for match, so much to learn about course! I use 8lb or 10lb for sewin, usually fluro, smaller fish but horrendously more aggressive fighters, 6lb could easily snap 10lb line. Ive been getting the fisherman's itch recently and all i cant think about at the moment is predatory/game fishing, my blood is literally on fire at the thought of next season. I'm going to make a promise now, im going to recodd my first hike of the season of the private waters on my local river for the forum, from before I leave, all the way up until i leave. Haven't recorded myself before but ive learned enough here I feel doing what I excel at on camera is the only way i can give back to all of you guys properly, as a thank you, even if it isnt carp. Might be entertaining at least lol Sent from my HUAWEI G6-L11 using Tapatalk

Just me being critical, but to minimise weight couldn't you leave the scales and lagging, then tie your own rigs? Foam is a good idea too I hate flattening nettles to make a comfy seat lol. I'm probably minimising too much, I'm a survivalist at heart. However traveling the river for great lengths of time carrying next to nothing is a subject im extremely experienced in. Piggy-backing that statement, I also think that minimising to your situation is more important than minimising completely, comfort is also a big part of it of course. I find comfort in sitting near a steam 3am on my own with nothing on me apart from a rod in the water 5 miles away from the nearest street lamp. Some people won't get the same enjoyment as I do from this situation, friends have commented that I'm bonkers for fishing the way I do lol but the very large salmon and sewin pulls I've had out the river make it all worth it for me personally. In that I guess my new advice would be, choose a weight you are happy to carry the distance you need, after a few trips Im sure you'll hone this skill in anyway nothing quite like catching a truly wild specimen on your own in the pitch black, a moment that many angler unfortunately overlook. Glad to see so many night stalkers out there, makes me feel not quite as insane as people think I am lol (even my fellow association members ) ~X Sent from my HUAWEI G6-L11 using Tapatalk

Cant edit : I also bring a single spool for fluoro/mono for my hook link. Again, depends on what your fishing for. ~X Sent from my HUAWEI G6-L11 using Tapatalk

As a predominant river angler, I'll go through what I do to minimise gear weight. (Bear in mind im a game fishing river angler, so some thing may not apply). I travel literally miles and miles on my river so minimal gear is absolutely necessary. First of all, rods and reels. Bring a rod suited to the river you are fishing and your chosen tactics, for example, you dont need a 12ft carp rod for a 20ft wide river, you can take a few foot off that easy. As for reels, load line suited to the river your fishing, forget a spare spool, its not required if you do your homework. Clothing. Do you need waders? Wear them instead of spare clothes if you really need them. If your river and swim(s) is/are shallow, its easy to take shoes off if absolutely necessary. Buy a nice comfortable jacket with zip pockets, you can thank me later. Waterproof if you need it. My jacket of choice for the colder months is a Regatta storm jacket that cost about £60. Lots of pockets, very, very warm, comfortable, and great against the elements. If your stalking, I wear a thin ngt camo style jacket over my Regatta, it's easy to remove if I need to. If your not stalking, don't bother. If you are stalking, dont forget your polarised goggles either, on a lanyard. If not stalking, or the weather/water conditions arnt good enough, dont bother with these either. Tackle. For tackle I like to bring ONE tackle box as small as possible with all my gear in it, hooks, swivels weights. I keep this in my jacket pocket. If bringing lures, again, minimise, and fit into a small single tackle box. Essential gear. Phone, torch, bandage, water. To minimze the water you carry, you can purchase water purifying tablets. Ive used these when doing over 10 mile walks up the river for a weekend as water is heavy (1ltr =1KG), these have been a great addition, and even fit in my tackle box. You will also need an empty bottle for purifying. Phone for emergency purposes, and small led torch, don't rely on your phones torch, if your battery dies your screwed, which brings me on to my next bit of kit, a portable battery pack, again for emergency only as a backup for your phone, don't be tempted to use the charge for playing games if your waiting on a bite. Ive been caught in a flash flood and having a way to call for help may very well save your life one day. A small pocket knife is a welcome addition too, for numerous reason. As for food, bring any cold foods from the super market that will give you pleanty of carbs and protein, pastries and heavy meats are good for this. I you want hot meals, then ration packs and water activated ration heaters are really light and weight added is minimal. Bait. Go minimal, decide what your are fishing for, for how long, and make any mixes or baits you need to at home. A common problem people have,(we all do it) is bring far too much bait to use in a single single session. Plan for this, and even bring too much bait for a day and lig how much you actually use and make changes accordingly. For me on the river it's easy, a sinlgle pot of worms does me for 2/3 days alone. Sent from my HUAWEI G6-L11 using Tapatalk

Can anybody recommend a good line for float/waggler? Ill be fishing with a 13ft match rod mostly but may use my smaller 6ft daiwa for stalking. I've tried a plethora of cheap lines and I'm done with having bad memory lines. I use daiwa abrasion resistant 12lb monofilament in my main carp setups, would that suffice you think? Ideally I'd like the line a bit lighter, it's mainly for match size carp with the odd high double, or even 20-25lb (if I please the gods before hand xD). I've experimented with braid aswell but found it too heavy for working it to a standard I'm happy with stalking on float. I haven't used fluro for it yet as mainline, but my general belief is that it'll be too heavy aswell. Anyway, could anyone recommend some decent line with decent memory and workability, at around the 10lb mark, give or take a few lb. ~X Sent from my HUAWEI G6-L11 using Tapatalk