Dicky123

I've used this rig now for a whole season and found it very versatile. As Matthew states, the only way to be 100% safe with a lead clip is to lose the lead every time. This saves the lead, and does the same job, brilliant.

Yes mate, spot on. The idea of a soft hook link really works on most waters I've tried it. Short maybe 4'' on a cut down Korda safe clip with a ring at the business end. I can in turn use a light or heavy lead depending on the situation. You would be amazed Kev how often a big carp will take a float fished bait (line coming up in the water) rather than a normal ledgered bait, even when fishing a slack line. My water is slightly coloured and I fish the float slack, so any carp running into the line feels nothing. All too often I see guys sitting behind 2/3 rods when the fish are right in the margins or weed. The float is great in the weed as I can use a one 2/3 ounce lead, and have it running after the take. I got the idea from a Martin Bowler article some years ago, and its caught me some nice fish since. Its deadly in the margins as they think the float os a reed stem wafting about. Cheers Richard.

Its the same reason you would use a soft-hook link for any bottom bait fishing? Don't you use a soft braided hook link in your fishing then Kev?

I really dislike a sandwich when fishing, as most items wet the bread or rolls. Or the bread gos a bit dry, so does anyone have any good suggestions for what food to take on day sessions. I will always have a tea kit so a stove is available for some light cooking guys?

Guys, I'm late to the party but just watched a video on this reel. Do they do one a little smaller in size, but with all the newer spec please? Its just a touch too big for me overall, but I like the extra wide spool and other new bits. Shimano have always had a line behind the spool issue on the reels I've had from them, lets hope its sorted now then? Thanks all.

Does anyone know if they do this in a 5 kilo bag, I know they do a 1 kilo bag? Thanks all.

Very true buddy, very true.

Did anyone watch this video by Adam, really brought home just how complicated we have made our carp fishing? Anyone else watch his revealing clip?

I've been using 10 and 12lb lines for years with the float. Its a different technique and if you only fish the waggler in one style you're un-likely to know about it. 1/ use a waggler fitted bottom end only as normal, then use enough lead about four to six inches away form the hook, this is the lift. 2/ You can use the same float but with a lead, around an ounce (as i use) and the its enough to effect a bolt from the carp, but the lead is running on the line. 3/ The same waggler or peacock quill laying flat (as John Wilson use to use called the flat float) with just the bait like a boilie fished over depth and the float lays flat. There are a dozen ways of float fishing for carp, I was just asking about hook-links and if a soft or stiff one people found the best. The rods are normal carp rods with big eyes, but often a step down like 1.5 1.75 2.00. 2,25lb test curve depending on the carp size buddy.😉

I found the Gardner Pro line in 12lb its really strong and round, good quality, cheap. Its ok buying a cheap in, but most don't spool all that well, and come off in coils despite how hard you try. I found this even good for my floater fishing, its seems the carp find the green colour hard to detect? Its worth also running a decent amount of line off in the park, and winding it back on through your finger and thumb. Long grass is perfect as it works out all the coils. 😇

Can anyone give me some feedback on the blank, and how it feels with a decent fish on please? I do like rods with a nice through action as most of my fishing is in close, 25 yards in a long chuck for me now-days. The 10' rods will b emu go too, thanks all. Richard.

Respectfully, that would be far too light for the fish I'm after. 12lb is my minimum float line on this water, with the weed and pads. I'm caught between a float ledger style, or a more free-line float set up, but I'll sort that out myself at the time depending on the distance I'm fishing. Its the hook-link I'm more looking for advice on, not the lead set up guys. See original post please?😁

Wondering if a short stiff fluorocarbon or soft braid hooklink would be best. Bait would be a hard pellet mostly, size 14/18mm. Expect it would be on an ounce plus lead.

Nash twister as suggested.

Does anyone know the rough age of Daiwa Infinity rods with the number IAMT 2314. They are the Infinity, not the X with the part stainless reel seats. Anyone also know how these rods perform, tippy or all through cast under the tips.. Big help if anyone does know please? Thanks Rich.

Buddy Elmo. You have struck a cord with me about backs, I too have had problems almost all my life. Being 6'2'' and quite well build tall people often have that problem sadly. Mine was helped finally with yoga, find some good back exercises on You-Tube and give them a try. Most of mine are floor exercises, with yoga work that helps your hips and lower back. I urge you to give it a try, surgery did not work for me, and yogi is far less intrusive. I hope your work are sympathetic to you? Best wishes. Rich.

Greekskill. Your talking about simple pre-baiting on a long term basis. I was around when Mike wrote the article 1981, later followed up by Hutchy. However Mike was not referring to boilies specifically , but the practice of pre-baiting in general. You have added the end piece about boilies just to suit your argument, thats ok, but not everyone reading this understand that? I have not spoken to the thread starter, so don't know if he can get down the new lake often. Maybe you have? I remember the article very well at the time in one of the then, fishing magazines. or might have been the Carp Society mag? It was very topical and open to debate, some thought it revolutionary and some rubbish. At the time if I remember Mike was fishing Savey in the 80s, no boilies around much at that time buddy. Fred came up with the concept of them in the 90s if I recall. Mike also fished for big tench and barbel, and was an all round angler. It was these fish that sparked his article, not necessarily carp even though they would be top of the food chain in many waters now-days. It's also noticeable that many of the very big carp taken over the years have been taken on other baits apart from Boilies. Two Tone on bread for example? I could go on, but I do disagree about bolilies in this instant, and I feel tench and bream can take them just a well as corn? I too this Bream yesterday at 12lb 8oz while after carp, size 4s hook double 15m float fished margins? It's my biggest float fished bream, so I could not not weigh it could I. Let's agree to disagree in this instance, just wish I had the thread starters options, don't you?

Its a big leap from hemp to boilies that's all. From a tiny particle, to a large unknown bait. Plus they are expensive even if you buy a cheap one.

I have a friend that tells me constantly that a sale is not a sale unless you get 50% off. He says a sale is something that makes you buy an item you would not normally buy. Maybe it's just too expensive at the original price, or maybe something you don't really need, but buy it because of the new price? I'm mindful to agree with him if I'm honest?

But never been fished for right? Boilies a complete waste of time right now when fish will/should take corn with gusto.

Just to give a bit of feedback on this. I brought some off E-Bay rubbish, did not stick and half the weight of the best Kryston. Kryston is amazing but Oh! Oh! so expensive and you only get a tiny piece in the new tin. Do you get more of the Gardner stuff than the Kryston Staff?

Teo. I've taken a bit more time to think about you situation, and think I may have a decent plan. I would not use boilies or hemp rich now. Boilies can be left uneaten and spoil the bottom, especially if the carp have not seen them before. They are expensive too if the carp don't eat them. Hemp is like Marmite on some waters. On some venues it works really well, but on others they ignore it completely. I find on very rich waters it work less well until they really get on it. This is the plan I would adopt. Sweetcorn and pellet. Corn, because all fish eat it on sight, at first I think because of the size and visibility, they seem to get hooked very quickly and you can use it directly on the hook if you want? Carp Pellet is amazing, I'd use 4mm to 6mm cheap too. The pellet will break down in a few hours, but leave a fine dust trail that when fish move over, rises up and simulates a feeding response, ask any match man. Also if there are no carp at all ( I prey there is for you ) the wildlife will eat the margin corn in the end. Corn is so good for stalking and watching fish eat. Try this plan and may you have success buddy. Initially stay away from boilies until you know carp are present and feeding.

I don't think you have read one word of anything we have said? And how pompous is it to tell another person what they think is wrong, without any good argument. The last two sentences sum it all up, hence why it has to be a small brolly seconds to use it. You would only use it in conditions that dictate the use of one. I'm out, you simply cannot talk to someone so set in their ways unopened to others views. Answer your own question it takes a second or two to put and take down a SMALL umbrella that really is a silly statement, sorry again.

SWEETCORN. Take a few packs, bait any margin, clear areas and just keep walking around until you see something. The crust Idea is brilliant too. Personally I would not fish at all unless I could define the fish stocks, not all lakes hold carp? Once you see fish you halfway to catching. Some years ago my mate had access to a lake that was famous for some old huge carp. We baited and fished it for a whole season, never saw a carp in dozens of trips. Bream, tench, eels, but never a carp. Today given the same situation, I would not waste any time unless I saw carp with my own eyes. Old fish die, people take them out, otters you have to be sure it has fish in you want to catch. But good luck, could be a real sleeper, let us know please?

Elmo. Your spot on mate, I'm 67 and still creeping around. A little umbrella would be ideal for me, I hate getting wet or cold these days, but still fish a full three days a week on some very hard waters. Fortunately the technique does not limit me to any one swim, so when I arrive and the place is busy, I'm not bothered. Small rods are not essential, but help greatly in tight swims. See You-Tube video "Half a Wrap" and tell me you could do that with anything part from a 6'' rod. The umbrella idea was not only for summer, rain, sun, but winter chub fishing too. Sadly carp fishing is becoming too "pigeon hold" and many don't see past 3 rods cast to the horizon. Nothing wrong with camping carping, at times I've done it and enjoyed it with my mates in the 70s80s on the old Nene. But I always felt a bit disappointed if I didn't get the swim I felt was best. Years on I only do stalking now days, and I seem to catch a few fish, but like many my age don't talk much about it. I also like old pretty fish, even if they are under the size many think are not worth catching. For many years I didn't fish with floaters, no confidence, though I had to have special rods and reels. Now each trip I drift a few in, it's amazing how at times the fish are under a tree on the far margin, or in the lilies close to me. It's a great fish finding method, and I don't often use many. My stalking rods are ideal up to 60 yards for floater fishing. Only the other week I fished a lake and got the fish going, some nice lumps over 30lb too. The chap up from me was bottom fishing, so I walked up and suggested he come fish with me, we could take it in turns. He hardly moved out of his tent and said he was bottom fishing and didn't do floater fishing, honest, it's true. The saying goes, " You can lead a horse to water, but you cannot make it drink".