Lee Kashan

Precisely mate That stuff is proper I haven't tried the semi stiff at all, no need as I like the soft

SOFT coated for me, all the way Used pure braid for years but just got sick of tangles, too many roach hurling the bait about on my waters left a pure braid rig in a sorry mess Most coated braids are too stiff though. It must be just the right balance between soft enough to react, and stiff enough to not tangle Tungsten Loaded is the best one in my opinion. I never strip any of it away.

The spine is also called the plane of least resistance when you spine find the rod there are two ways to spine build it and sometimes more than one spine, this is more the American way and is the way I build mine, on that plane, so that the rod is going back and through straight on the cast and also sweeter and twist free playing fish The overlap or bump at the back can help the rods durability though, but just by a few percent Builders argue which way is best, bump at the back is more old fashioned.. Many custom builders don't do it because no blank is ever straight and they think the customer will be put off by a slightly wayward looking rod. But I say spine build over dead straight every time.. None of my rods are straight and I do not give a monkeys as they are spined and that is far more important AND GIVE ME A DIRT CHEAP ROD REBUILT ON THE SPINE OVER THE HIGHEST END £1000 NON SPINED ROD, ALL DAY LONG! Non spine built rods can be horrible to use in my opinion. Lacking feel and like playing a fish on a plank of foam. Spine tuning makes a huge difference despite what people say trying to rubbish it and stick up for the lazy money machine flash brands who use cheap far East labour and can't be bothered Learn to read between the lines. There are spineless blanks about, very high end. Whisker Kevlars were one. I picked up a pair on the never never, reconditioned them, and they are amazing

Basically any tube will have a plane which it ''likes to'' bend on Building on this, the spine as it's called, will improve a rods performance no end, mainly casting accuracy thing but also the feel is better and far less twist I don't accept non spine built rods any more Most of the big manufacturters will rubbish the importance of it for a simple reason - they can't be bothered to do it Daiwa's upper range of rods is built in the UK, on the spine. They are the only big manufacturer which bothers. You're looking at Whiskers and above. I have a pair of Whiskers as my spare rods and they are very good

There's tonnes of stuff on the net about it mate and on youtube they explain how to find it, it would take me ages to explain in writing

I didn't like it, sorry Plodding writing style, like he'd just spewed it out Not a massive Chilly fan. Nothing personal in that whatsoever.

I think he is a better writer than Yates, by miles.. It's a toss up between this and Carp Sense by Jim Gibbinson as to which holds top spot for the best carp book ever written They are both that good in my opinion. I read this in one sitting. It's phenomenal.

I quite liked it.. gets a bit anal and boring towards the end though, kind of a bit ''over written'' if that makes any sense Not a patch on The Carp Strikes Back

Up there with The Carp Strikes Back as the two best carp fishing books ever written in my opinion

I didn't like it. Not his fault but he isn't a good writer in my opinion. Sorry!

Great book, agreed

The Carp Strikes Back Terrific read puts many other carp books including some of his own in the shade

EXCELLENT book, a must read at any age

Each to their own mate I love having little lights to look at in my swim at night. Just cheers me up, lol

I am a fan of ebay used rods.. There you go I've said it! Lol It helps that I did a rod building course and learnt a bit of confidence about them and how to adapt them to my own liking i.e rebuilds and restoration. I don't think there is anything wrong with it as an option for people without much cash. I'm low waged service industry. I could never afford flash rods, but was never happy with the really cheap ones either. The mid range gear about tends to be very good though.. People have some misconceptions about used rods, many have said that ''there might be hidden damage'' Well one thing my tutor taught me is that a) if a rod has hidden damage it will break, simple as that, so all you have to do is tie some braid through the setup and give it a good heave ho tied to a fix point, and if it doesn't break it is good to go.. (Of course there is some element of risk here with the sale and return etc.) I mean let's face it it is hard to get a refund on a snapped rod lol.. But it's also hugely rewarding to rebuild cheaper rods so that you can customise them. Food for thought and big bucks can be saved. Of course there will always be people who prefer new box fresh stuff and I respect that too.

ha ha yes that's me mate I'm the bloke who fishes in an alien village and puts the air traffic off course with my nuclear level isotopes and glowing clothing

I got a metre of glow in the dark tape on ebay for £1.50 Have it!

Why reflective when you could have glow in the dark tape mate, lol, or why not both!? When your light goes on the reflective, the glow in the dark would get a charge up!

I rebuilt some of the new Ugly Stik Elite spin 10ft rods so they were more spined, soft blanks can be a little twisty under load I reccomend taking a look at some they have lovely actions that would suit small carp fun waters

Cane rods have to be hung and not leaned mate, and kept in a very dry place. You could hang them in bags stuffed with rice and pva nuggets and stuff and wrapped in cling film and see if that helps!? - I am not sure but I think once they take on a lean they're doomed though And cheers mate Yeah I don't doubt it, I have a mere pinkie maggot lol

There's something lovely about getting your setup ''completed'' by gorgeous little lights shining at night.. expensive but they just look charming and it's as simple as that I wanted to tart up my old alarms and bobbins. I spent 30 on ebay on cheap isotopes.. hit and miss, the red ones for the alarms were awful, and the green ones for the bobbins were great Couple of things, don't be limited by isotopes I got my alarms done up imaginatively to make up for the lame isotopes using something different and unusual, and also the bobbin cords got done up so they look great during the day As far as the actual alarms and indicators are concerned I am adamant that there is no need whatsoever to spend loads to have a fantastic looking setup, and my inexpensive (notice I did not say ''cheap'') alarms perform 100% brilliantly in all weathers (I have had them for five years and fished through it all I promise, I am a grizzly old git and have been at it hardcore for decades and know my kit) If you are interested I can post up pics maybe and answer a PM. Point is use your imagination and get Blue Peter!

Passies fishing well Nice venue relaxed and good fun Bigguns there if you can wade through the little ones

I now have Normark, Silstar, Daiwa, Shakespeare, and Customs All built to exact specs (by me mainly including rebuilds) and all superb

Personally I would never go for a mass produced rod as they are not spine built. Used or rebuilt every time.. i.e used custom spine checked or rebuilt anything If I bought some off the shelfs (and never will again) they would have to be rebuilt 90% of the time and that is just not worth my while It took me YEARS to get my kit sorted, literally People rubbish the spine, but I say non-spine built is rubbish

I use minimum size 6 for carp, all the way Mostly prefer a 4 FAR better hookholds and less mouth damage, simple as, don't get sucked in by anybody telling you otherwise