bluelabel

As light as I can get away with.... having seen carp deal with heavy leads, I believe they have more trouble dealing with lighter leads... 1.5oz being the heaviest, 12 grams olivettes quite often, or sometimes just a single swan shot... and I often freeline... My methods don't work for everyone, but I often feel carping has become slightly formulaic in its approach, so doing summat different from the norm can often pay off...

Looks okay, but I'm not a fan of really aggressive curves/bends, as I feel it closes off the hookpoint... that said it could be a goodun... try it and let us know the results

Made few solid bags today... all weigh roughly 2oz each (give or take) nice and tight

Supposedly able to bait up at 100 yards....

A lighter clutch setting for close in work often stops hook pulls close in.... lots of folks don't do this, then complain that "Da Carp In Ere Have Soft Moufs Mate"

went down that rabbit hole a few years ago... went off on a tangent and went back to old school methods and baits, freelined prawns, beans, pulses, etc... doing summat different kick-started my catch results.... I think fish wise up to the same old rigs, same old, methods same old baits, so I tried stuff that was outta left field... worked for me... Too many folks rock up to a water and chuck out 2 or 3 rods, (one in the margins one on the island and one in open water) with 30 baits round each one (sound familiar...?) especially on commercial waters... ask yourself what did the last angler in that swim hoof into the water...??? I ignored the well flattened bare "flier" swims and dropped into overgrown jungle swims and found fish and poked a rod into a spot with a bit of bait.... you'd be surprised what comes out

Went over The Mill in Chelmsford a while back with a pair of Cane Carp rods and a pair of the reels you see in the picture... the poor bailiff had never seen a centrepin before... he was quite confused bless him...

I use pins a lot in my carping as most on here will attest... I take it a stage further by using split cane a lot too... a lot of folks still think you need 3.5lb rods and big pits... but on small intimate waters they are more of a hinderance... go with what you know and damn the torpedoes

Quick change swivels

tied some bag rigs to 12" lead-free leaders with plastics

You keep on doing what you're doing fellah.... Remember **** Walker's 44lb common was caught on a 10'2" cane rod of 1.5lbs TC as was Chris Yates's 51lb.... Different matter if yer going for a long chuck with a big lead, then he may have a point....👍

drop the pellet from the feed, bream love em

I've found that finely crumbed boilie lightly wetted so it gets sticky can work on the method and if you are using a bait that Bream won't take, you could use something like an 18grm method feeder and not plug it into the silt... one thing the match world has taught me, is NEVER move the lead or feeder once it's landed, of course this method's not going to work if you need a long chuck, but 20 -30 yards and it can be a goer....

Sorry can't help other than saying check Google maps for that area and follow up and leads

Gotta be honest I've never had one, I always have the clear front on the door if its tanking down, or leave it open all year if its dry...

Had a practice putting up the Hide... my goodness what a breath of fresh air... it went up in about 2 minutes flat from the bag to fully set up... ( the groundsheet is a tad fiddly though) it is the same size length wise, as my Scope brolly and it fits nicely into the heavy duty scope brolly bag with the groundsheet and pegs... I may invest in the front support pole screw clips in case its gets a bit blowy, but it really is very sturdy as it is.. being second hand its not perfect... one of the front panel zips is broken, but I know a friendly laundry machinist so its not a problem and there is the odd pinhole in the groundsheet that duct tape has already cured.... more than pleased with it... will be using it on the 7th for a cheeky overnighter at the Mill in Chelmsford next week... further bulletins as they come in😜👍

Got a Nash Titan Hide (not the xl) 2nd hand with zip in door, groundsheet and winterskin for £200... in nearly new condition... job done...

Looked at a Nash Titan Hide XL... they look okay

So..... after getting wet in the lashing rain at Ashmead under my Nash Scope brolly and Sabre Overwrap (only just enough room for my Nash Wideboy which had to be pulled forward to fit) the rain running off the front of the brolly and wrap was landing on the edge of my sleeping bag.... (also headroom under the brolly is dire for a lanky so and so like me) Well..... thing is.... I have a JRC STi (2man) but for only a day or two its a bit of a beast to lug about.... and you can't use it as a single skin, as the inner capsule is only a mesh/ solid panel construction. What I'm looking for is a 1 man bivvy, for short overnighters up to a couple of days.... quick to erect/pack down, with door and groundsheet, for less than 2 shillings and three farthings..... oh and compact and light too any suggestions...?

As soon as I can... its blinking expensive... and preferebly in spring or summer as it shuts for an autumn winter syndi... add in the fact its booked solid for 2 years

Well I blanked my bottom off friday and saturday and whilst it was sheeting it down this morning, I had a screaming run which took me straight through a weedbed.... one cut off hookink later and I was holding a straight rod after seeing a huge orange tail move a ton of water in a huge swirl.... gutted... my only chance and i miffed it up... ho hum... Couple of nice fish out though... a 28 to my buddy Neil which tied his B.James MkIV into knots and left it permanently bent, and and another chap had a 34 at midnight last night... couple more 20's out too.... sadly I blanked

Rods are out... blowing a hooley... been on the go since 6am... knackered now

Me too... this is my 2nd trip here... apparently its bone hard for the bigger fish so just any size carp will be an achievement for me... vintage gear will be used with the Sharpe's and my Merlin pins... lets hope I'm graced with a carp this time round

Daiwa do a 2500 Regal BR