Dicky123

It's a debate, not an argument. If you don't want to have another opinion then say so, but I simply do not believe carp can become preoccupied on such little bait, unless other we're in on the baiting campaign??. Have you added that into the thought process?  People in denial, simply don't won't other people offering them an alternative view, its a we'll know syndrome for deniers. It's fine to give me your credentials, but you don't know mine do you? If its true you did indeed manage waters in a professional capacity, then I'm sorry your writing and explanation simply does not suggest that, so do you have a professional qualification in aquaculture? That would be a BSc hon degree, yes?  I put to you or a professional person, your not reading my post clearly enough, I did not ignore the type of water, in fact I gave you the three examples, high food type, med food type, low food type. I'm keeping it simple for full understand. Water management is for more than just bait my friend, or just taking out a few fish, it's far more complicated than that. For fish to maintain an optimum level of health, avoid stress or disease then the water quality of the water must be monitored and controlled 24/7. Fish become stressed when key water quality parameters such as temperature, pH nitrogenous waste, dissolved oxygen and salinity are not kept with specified thresholds. Its not an argument, I'm not telling you what to think, it's only what I think, and why I think your analogy is incorrect. It was you that said you managed waters, and had an understanding of biology and ecology, so you should be comfortable holding your own in a simple debate, you must have had to in your work?  I still genuinely believe we are being taken in on the bait, boilie front. Unless you bait in huge quantities, no one bait will out fish another, why, the carp have no way of knowing what is good for them. I'll give you a true story of genuine pre-occupation. 
On one water I fish we seem to have had a few feral pigeons, clearly lost. They were looking really ill and not eating bread or sweetcorn donated by anglers. One chap (cleverly) said they were use to only eating seeds, so he started bringing in bird seeds, and the birds flourished, we have maybe a dozen now.    Because from birth those birds only knew seed as food, they did not recognise any other food type. full preoccupation. It's just an example, because carp have been raised to eat anything and will try anything that looks like food.    Kind regards, Richard.

It's a debate, not an argument. If you don't want to have another opinion then say so, but I simply do not believe carp can become preoccupied on such little bait, unless other we're in on the baiting campaign??. Have you added that into the thought process?  People in denial, simply don't won't other people offering them an alternative view, its a we'll know syndrome for deniers. It's fine to give me your credentials, but you don't know mine do you? If its true you did indeed manage waters in a professional capacity, then I'm sorry your writing and explanation simply does not suggest that, so do you have a professional qualification in aquaculture? That would be a BSc hon degree, yes?  I put to you or a professional person, your not reading my post clearly enough, I did not ignore the type of water, in fact I gave you the three examples, high food type, med food type, low food type. I'm keeping it simple for full understand. Water management is for more than just bait my friend, or just taking out a few fish, it's far more complicated than that. For fish to maintain an optimum level of health, avoid stress or disease then the water quality of the water must be monitored and controlled 24/7. Fish become stressed when key water quality parameters such as temperature, pH nitrogenous waste, dissolved oxygen and salinity are not kept with specified thresholds. Its not an argument, I'm not telling you what to think, it's only what I think, and why I think your analogy is incorrect. It was you that said you managed waters, and had an understanding of biology and ecology, so you should be comfortable holding your own in a simple debate, you must have had to in your work?  I still genuinely believe we are being taken in on the bait, boilie front. Unless you bait in huge quantities, no one bait will out fish another, why, the carp have no way of knowing what is good for them. I'll give you a true story of genuine pre-occupation. 
On one water I fish we seem to have had a few feral pigeons, clearly lost. They were looking really ill and not eating bread or sweetcorn donated by anglers. One chap (cleverly) said they were use to only eating seeds, so he started bringing in bird seeds, and the birds flourished, we have maybe a dozen now.    Because from birth those birds only knew seed as food, they did not recognise any other food type. full preoccupation. It's just an example, because carp have been raised to eat anything and will try anything that looks like food.    Kind regards, Richard.

I believe the kaptor range has been discontinued that’s why they are cheaper. To sell them off
 

Like it- I'm with you on most of that - as for the human part, well if I ate McDonalds now it would be out quicker than it went in - but that's not always been the case, hence my chicken and veg comments on another thread, so my body knows or just cant take the richness - problems due to age lol
If baits are everywhere and fish eat them all then yes I can relate to what you're saying - how would they know which one was good for them and which gave them the squits so to speak.
I hear all the my bait is best this and that, it's a minefield, I was with Premier using Aminos for maybe 30 years and no complaints whatsoever - caught everywhere and would continue to do so forever no doubt.
Since leaving a syndicate I've been on Bluebell, targeting ideally Kingfisher if I can get on, arguably one of the most pressured waters in the country.  Lots of evidence of uneaten bait and lots of comments backing that up, so for me I've had to think - is what I'm using as attractive as the best baits that have gone in there? - so I switched to xxx because I like the GLM content, because of that it's not a cheap bait to put together. I have also looked at smaller companies such as Asylum with the same thinking in mind, but opted for CCMoore as they seem to do great liquids too and I can get everything from one place with some confidence.
If however I was fishing a highly stocked venue such as Drayton Res, a real runs water, I am certain those thoughts wouldn't enter my head, any bait would do and better bait would probably give zero advantage, where volume would. 👍

Exactly, its what you hear Kev, and who do you hear it from? People don't have the money now days to invest in long term campaigns like then old days, and even then cheaper fishmeal and such have replaced the true HNV baits. I've been fishing for carp off and on for 50 years, now 70 and can honestly say the fish don't know one good bait from another poor bait? I notice you did not mention what I wrote as about humans, and knowing quality food, if we don't know how can a carp buddy? I use to make all my own bait, but once I realised the complete waste of time in it (being I could never make enough to make a difference) I started buying bait. As for you don't know who bigs up on Mainline or Nash you should visit their web-site and see. I know you will say: "Oh they are paid to say that," but so are the boys from CC Moores. I just don't believe now days with all the cheaper additives in ALL baits like fishmeal and birdseeds, soya, nut meals, any can claim one bait is better than another. Its all about you and your confidence and skill-set. I'm not arguing with you, its a gentle banter two carp anglers having a disagreement about something we are both passionate about, its good for us to friendly disagree. I use to buy from Hutch his hit and run, and he told me exactly what was in it, a true HNV bait, but it caught me no more fish than Richworth tutty fruity? Did I feel I was helping the fish in some way, sure I did, but it was a false claim. If a fish picks up a cheap holiday made boilie  made with soya, and a quality bait, how does sit know what one is the better for it. It's impossible, impossible for a carp to know, as it would be for a human. I'm sorry to say there is so much big money and hype in carp fishing being made by just a few people, the rest of us are simply being taken for a ride, me too?  I blanked yesterday, maybe a sign the autumn is on the way, best regards, Richard.

To be honest Kev, I don't know how you can how you can say that. Nash and Mainline for example are found in shops and produce some of the best baits out there, as do Dynamite. This "best ingredients" is a red herring in my humble opinion. Carp will eat almost anything, and unless you can do a long term baiting programme, I don't believe they can tell what the best bait for them. I'll say that because we as humans with big brains don't' know whats good for us, by just eating something. It's only because we are told apples and bananas are good for our health do we know. Can we honestly eat a McDonalds and know it's bad for us? No, it's all hype on the bait making front, people don't apply any logic Kev, people that in normal circumstances use common sense seem to get caught up in the adverts. If anyone can prove that carp or humans KNOW that they are eating something good for them, then I'll change my view, however until then, I'll use a bait I catch fish on, and not one that catches anglers Kev?  I'm sure the bait you use are good as you would not use them other-wise. Best wishes buddy Richard. 

Nash Scopex squid and The Source have both worked for me in the past very well. Just got 10 kilo for £79. of the Nash bait, I'm happy paying £ under £8 pound a kilo for a quality baits and for me its stood the test of time, like the Source has for me Buddy. 
 
The self for-filling bait prophecy then mate?😆

The runs waters I fish has fish up to 50lb + and waters where the fish go to 20lb .. It takes under a minute to sharpen a hook, could make a difference between a fish of a life time and blanking 

How many of us sharpen our hooks? I have a set of files that I use to touch up my hook points, but I don’t tend to go mad, I use a finishing/polishing file 90% of the time. I check and discard any hook that doesn’t meet my expectations and change my hooks after every fish or every (blank) session anyway, but giving the hook point a “tidy up” makes me confident. I rarely cast a rig out that I’ve not touched up the hook point first. 
Yet with modern chemically sharpened hooks, and the price paid for them, shouldn’t they be sharp enough straight from the packet? 
 
What are your thoughts?

Nice mate, I've always loved watching the float, who doesn't and they don't spook from a vertical line - seen lots of evidence of that.  If I was on the right type of water I would give it a go straight away, always have a couple of floats in the tackle box but my waters are gravel pits that mostly have shallow margins, gradually getting deeper and often have surface weed to 10-20 yards out.  Give me a farm pond, float and centrepin and I would be well happy 👍

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.
 

Daisy May comes with me when allowed. She is eight now so very calm and an ideal partner, in fact I speak to her like a human. Don't we all?

Daisy May comes with me when allowed. She is eight now so very calm and an ideal partner, in fact I speak to her like a human. Don't we all?

I've got to agree Yonny. Despite being old enough and hopefully clever enough to see through advertising spiel, I bought some Boom and Krimps to make my Ronnies like a good Korda clone!

Daisy May comes with me when allowed. She is eight now so very calm and an ideal partner, in fact I speak to her like a human. Don't we all?

Daisy May comes with me when allowed. She is eight now so very calm and an ideal partner, in fact I speak to her like a human. Don't we all?

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.

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?

I find Parcel2go a bit expensive as they are a middle man only.  UPS today is my favourite right now, and Hermes at times but I have had been told about problems with them, HOWEVER not me but a friend?

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".

Its clear you have don every little yourself, because even when stalking you have to sit and wait. Sometimes for several hours, the fish often move off, but can come back, it's like all fishing a waiting game. Stalking can mean "finding the fish" then you have to bait and wait. Do yourself a favour and try it sometime. You would find a small umbrella would come in handy, just like I've mentioned, you need to be more open minded sometimes? Stalking simply means (to me) that you find the fish before hand, but on dull or cloudy days, rough weather, it's not always possible.

I would like to see a "Stalking Umbrella" 35-40'' maximum size, with a good sharp spike pole. Light and made of quality materials.  WHY?
Well, in summer it's the odd heavy shower that catches me out. I don't take all my rain gear as most is winter orientated. So to be able to carry a small umbrella, light just to cover me and my chair would be great. Also the sun in summer, acting as a nice shade area over my head and arms.
In winter I wear all my winter gear, quality stuff but still a heavy shower can get it all wet and heavy. A light brolly just to keep the odd shower off for an hour or so?
Would one be of interest to you guys? How much, well I'd pay £50-£70 if the quality was good.  I have tried taking a normal umbrella, but holding it all the time does not work, it needs a good lite spike.

I would like to see a "Stalking Umbrella" 35-40'' maximum size, with a good sharp spike pole. Light and made of quality materials.  WHY?
Well, in summer it's the odd heavy shower that catches me out. I don't take all my rain gear as most is winter orientated. So to be able to carry a small umbrella, light just to cover me and my chair would be great. Also the sun in summer, acting as a nice shade area over my head and arms.
In winter I wear all my winter gear, quality stuff but still a heavy shower can get it all wet and heavy. A light brolly just to keep the odd shower off for an hour or so?
Would one be of interest to you guys? How much, well I'd pay £50-£70 if the quality was good.  I have tried taking a normal umbrella, but holding it all the time does not work, it needs a good lite spike.

Daisy May comes with me when allowed. She is eight now so very calm and an ideal partner, in fact I speak to her like a human. Don't we all?

Big thanks. Must be 100% safe.