Golden Paws

I've been there! After working for the same Company for 30 years, my job went to India. In the next 15 years, I must have had 20 different jobs including 2 years running when I had 4 different employers. I've been at the same place for the last 2 years and haven't even looked for another job. Luckily I'd paid off the mortgage years ago and had a bit of a redundancy cushion to fall on but it is liberating to tell a manager to stick his job - I think I quit and left 3 jobs the same day. There are good jobs out there, you've just got to kiss a few frogs before you find it! Good luck.

https://www.anglingtimes.co.uk/advice/tips/how-to-keep-warm-in-a-bivvy-safely/ This has not long gone up, possibly after the latest tragedy. Lots of really good advice.

That should give you a starter.

I know it sounds stupid that the less you wear, the warmer you are. I'm sure I read it somewhere and tried it and was pleasantly surprised how warm I was. Possibly the extra layers trapping sweat and making you wet and causing your body to cool down as it tries to get rid of it. I've got a pair of gardening clogs at the bivvy exit that are easy to step into and my coat is on my table ready to pick up.

I know what you mean but I made the mistake years ago or "overdressing" in the sleeping bag. If it was cold, I'd wear my base layer full arm length shirt and a jumper and sometimes a fleece and I'd be cold. By wearing the shirt only, the heat you generate is retained by a good 5 season sleeping bag and you are warmer. You have to ensure your coat is easily available to grab if you get a run in the night otherwise you could freeze outside.

Sorry to hear your bad news Nick. Carbon Monoxide is known as "The Silent Killer" as it is odourless and as you breathe in, it makes you sleepy. As you sleep, you breathe in more and the concentration increases. Oxygen is readily attached to the blood and released, CO holds on 400 times more strongly and blocks the Oxygen from attaching and you die. I would never use a bivvy heater, candle system or cook inside. If it is that cold that you think that you need external heat sources, go home, the fish ain't feeding!

I had a right miserable old curmudgeon on my local water. The first time we met went badly as I caught him climbing over a fence then he just shouted "ticket" at me when he appeared in my swim. I told him he couldn't be a bailiff as I had seen him climb the fence and asked to see proof. He said he'd left it in the car and I told I wasn't showing it to him until he produced it. He stormed off and turned up 10 minutes later with it and then demanded to do a rig check. He also let slip into the conversion that he had a shotgun, like you do. I wrote a letter of complaint to the Chairman and did get a call from the head bailiff a month later but not an apology. He did mellow a bit but was still a bit of a Hitler to the general public on the lake who got lost and was often heard shouting across. Luckily he's gone now and the new bailiff is a really nice old boy who you'd happily make a brew. I would definitely make a complaint and list all the problems you've had with him in a calm and logical manner. They would have to look into it and confront him and perhaps he is just oblivious to the chaos he causes. If you do nothing, it will continue as no-one will know anything is wrong.

Bet they promise the earth and fail to deliver!

I have several pairs of merino socks for work and fishing and they are good. Might be slightly pricey compared to bog standard socks but they are good and last a long time.

https://www.anglingtimes.co.uk/news/stories/the-british-barbel-record-has-been-obliterated/ That's an impressive fish. Big barbel rarely have that massive droopy belly that some big carp have. In the pursuit of big fish, is a Billy Bunter better than an Olympic athlete?

Form a loop through the eye of the hook with some dental floss, poke the braid through it and then pull - simples. I've still got to use my strong reading glasses to do it though!

Another thumbs up for Gardner. I've been using GT-HD in 15lb for several years and highly rate it.

The old saying "buy cheap, buy twice" is almost certainly true with bait boats. On the other hand £3.500 for an RT7 is probably a step too far! I still find my spots with a lead and clip up, so I'm not entirely relying on tech. I still fish a lot of margin spots and literally "place" a spod on it, which is even stealthier than a boat. I don't use a spomb as you have to smack the nose to open it, which defeats the object. On some waters they are banned but on others where the owners had to clear bushes of end tackle, I'm sure they are quietly encouraged.

"I am Noddy" (to quote Kirk Douglas!) I tutted a bit when bait boats first started to become common but when my mate had a 32lb'er within about an hour of dropping a rig and bait under a tree at about 70 yards that you dare not cast to, I started to see the potential. I've been having my best ever season and I'm sure a lot of it is down to the boat. The accuracy and stealth you can achieve is a huge edge. I'm only using a "basic" boat and no GPS or sonar. Obviously fishing to features is easy but for open water I'm still wrapping the rods out. When casting, I always hit the clip and take the sting out of the cast by holding the rod parallel to the bank and "placing" the lead down but it's still no match for a boat. You can't turn the clock back. Boats are here to stay and you can either embrace them or reject them but you are putting yourself at a disadvantage if everyone else is using them.

I've never got on with moudable putty. Either if falls off or I can't get it to sit straight. I thread on the largest size droppers as in Elmo's post above and never have any problem. I like a "heavy" weight close to the hook as I'm sure it aids hooking.