bluelabel

Got a pair of 9' 2.75lbers... cracking rods for the money... avoid the Scopes, overpriced and a bit brittle in the tip Dwarfs are great on smaller waters but despite a lot of nay-sayers they can hit 100 yards plus in the 3.25/3.5lb versions... the only limitation that I've found is line pick up at range, a 12 footer will pick up line better My own rods were bought as I fish smaller more intimate waters and I rarely chuck long, about 70yards max for me... last I saw the Dwarfs were going for about £80 new and there are plenty about second hand... I use Shimano 4000Aero X reels on mine or a Wychwood 5500QD... I'd not go larger tjan a 5500 size reel as they'd just be unbalanced

Ghost Koi...👍😎

Had this yesterday... a repeat capture form a year or so ago at a pound or so heavier... caught on a 12' Marco Test and Fred Crouch Aerial, 4lb mainline and 3lb hooklink, to a size 18 hook and double maggot... a mother of all fights, but it went back strongly...

Date dependent put me down for it too... not done a night for a year now

Welcome to the forum fellah...😎👍

Sorry to hear of your health probs Nick... backs are fragile things on the quiet... mine is knackered with collapsed discs in my lower back giving probs... Pilates and Yoga have helped but being immobile is murder on yer back... keeping moving is best... get well soon ...👍😎

I have a pair of the 4000 Aero X baitrunners nice reels, well made, not a great fan of the double handles though, for a Shimano the clutches are quite smooth, I know its not the exact model, but I'd imagine the basic Aero X platform is fairly standard

I use the lead free leaders, I make em up at home so I can swap em over quickly.. they have a small loop in the leader at the mono end and the lead slides nicely over end, so are quite safe... l got em off the bay... think there were 10 for £12 posted... I use light leads of 1.5oz max with small bags as I don't want to overstress my cane rods on the chuck... as a system I find they work well... just gotta buy more 1.5 and 1oz leads to make up a batch of bags per session...

Welcome fellah...👍😎

Not coffee... it'll make you pee more as its an emetic, tea or chocolate is good, but soup is more warming for longer... take a flask of soup, loads of food flasks about so a chunky soup with bread and butter is a warming meal, pots of porridge are also good warmers with a slow energy release... you can buy the pots in tescos ets... get the ones you just add water to, boil up the kettle pour in the water leave for a minute and stir... good warming brekky (or dinner if you prefer)

Tips for keeping warm... Eliminate gaps... gaps cause draughts, tuck joggers into socks, wear long sleeved tee shirts pulled down to the wrists, wear a scarf or neck warmer, and a good hat... the Trapper style is very good at keeping your head warm, and Neoprene gloves will keep hands warm, if you don't like gloves buy a Muff, and put a hand warmer in... brill at keeping hands toasty

Try Future Fishing in Newark, ask for reel servicing dept... they sorted my Wychwood QD5500 caps for me

Welcome to the forum... carping is a never ending quest for summat bigger... Take care it doesn't consume you...👍😎

The language barrier was an issue but the beer was superb... as was the fishing...😎👍

Deepest Nottingham..😉😎👍

Ho yas... bent my cane Sharpe carp rod double and thats no floppy bit of grass I tells thee..👍

Not a carp but a new PB at 10lb 2 oz... and yes.. it was caught on a cane rod and an Abu77 Cardinal

I use metal bait screws on popups as it adds to the weight to counterbalance the rig, means you use less putty, if any at all...

I love winter fishing... the rivers are flushed through and the chub want to play and all the fair weather carpers are tucked up at home, I'll be on the bank...

I'm giving all fishing a swerve til the temps drop a bit... I really don't like the high temps we've been having... it hit 33° here on monday and I had a coaching trip... hated it... we caught, but it was too hot really... its rumoured to be hitting nearly 40° by monday... I struggle to sleep in this heat, makes me sluggish so I'll sit park my bum in front of a fan til it cools down a tad

Interlok sticks and buzz bars... reassuringly expensive and VERY good quality... also they fit into my Fox micro pod and stage stands... Job done...👍

I heard on the grapevine that Prestige have been bought out by Korda... expect huuuuge price increases from Saint Danny of Fairbrass's mob if that is the case...

Took my 87 year old Father in Law today... he caught an Eel bless him I had this... and a small Ghostie on a feeder rod

Still got my ATTS's cracking alarms for the money... mine are pimped with matching colour wheels and isotopes

Me QD5500's all sorted, one turn of the cap from locked to freespool or vice versa