Golden Paws

I haven't mentioned this to anyone before as they would think I was mad but I heard a splash in the margins and saw a squirrel swim on his back across the river and climbed up a tree on the far bank!

I have a fairly regular subscription to Carpology. They keep enticed me with crazy offers. Last time I had 10kg of Live System, pop-up's and wafters as well as a 500ml bottle of Amino 365, a book and a 6 month subscription for a lot less than I would have paid otherwise.
https://www.carpology.net/shop/subscriptions/carpology-sticky-krill-returns-deal/
I found this on their Site, 10kg of Sticky's Krill which would set you back about £100 alone with the book and 1 litre of Krill liquid,  pop-ups and a 6 month subby for £69.99 and normally about a fiver for postage.
The way I look at it, I'm getting the magazine for free (and some more). I do enjoy the mag and look forward to reading it every month so as far as I'm concerned, it's win-win.

I have a fairly regular subscription to Carpology. They keep enticed me with crazy offers. Last time I had 10kg of Live System, pop-up's and wafters as well as a 500ml bottle of Amino 365, a book and a 6 month subscription for a lot less than I would have paid otherwise.
https://www.carpology.net/shop/subscriptions/carpology-sticky-krill-returns-deal/
I found this on their Site, 10kg of Sticky's Krill which would set you back about £100 alone with the book and 1 litre of Krill liquid,  pop-ups and a 6 month subby for £69.99 and normally about a fiver for postage.
The way I look at it, I'm getting the magazine for free (and some more). I do enjoy the mag and look forward to reading it every month so as far as I'm concerned, it's win-win.

I'm against dropping leads, if it's not necessary. Obviously if you're fishing a weedy water then it may be wise to err on the side of caution but not as a matter of course.

I'm against dropping leads, if it's not necessary. Obviously if you're fishing a weedy water then it may be wise to err on the side of caution but not as a matter of course.

Yonny has pretty well summed it up. If you get a sustained period of high pressure, i.e. sunny and warm with little wind, things can go a bit stale. A strong South-Westerly bringing warm rain can stir things up and so looking at the forecast for the next few days and acting on it can bring dividends. I fished for barbel a lot in the winter for many years and always tried to get out when the water temperature was on an upward ramp as it really did bring the fish on.

Imo pressure has nothing to do with how good or bad a water might fish. What does have a huge influence is the weather conditions that low and high pressure systems bring.
In summer high pressure usually brings high temps with no wind - conditions that tend to see carp sunbathing rather than feeding. Low pressure systems (in summer) tend to bring big winds, overcast days and rain - perfect for getting the carp feeding.
In winter high pressure can be good - it normally brings bright sunny periods which provide the warmth the carp crave at this time of year. Zigs can be a killer in this situation as they're on the move in the upper layers. Low pressure can still be great depending on temps.
Some guys believe that pressure will dictate there the carp are in the water column (i.e. in high pressure they'll be up in the water and in low pressure they'll be on the deck). This is a load of tosh. The carp will be up in the water when they need warmth and it's sunny (which normally coincides with high pressure) and they'll be on the deck to feed (which normally happens when the conditions get them moving (big winds, overcast skies).
Of course, these conditions are not always guaranteed. It can rain during periods of high pressure and it can be bright during periods of low pressure. Hence, the pressure itself has very little influence.

I assume you mean anti tangle sleeves? They are used to prevent the trace from tangling on the main line, which happens more often than people think. When a heavy lead sinks, it is very easy for a supple trace to 'spiral' around the main line but when you wind in, it will probably unravel itself and you don't know you've been fishing ineffectively all the time. They also help stiffer rigs to reset if a fish picks up the bait and spits it out by pushing the trace away from the lead. You can reduce the possibility of tangles by always hitting the clip on the cast and feeling it down on a tight line.

I assume you mean anti tangle sleeves? They are used to prevent the trace from tangling on the main line, which happens more often than people think. When a heavy lead sinks, it is very easy for a supple trace to 'spiral' around the main line but when you wind in, it will probably unravel itself and you don't know you've been fishing ineffectively all the time. They also help stiffer rigs to reset if a fish picks up the bait and spits it out by pushing the trace away from the lead. You can reduce the possibility of tangles by always hitting the clip on the cast and feeling it down on a tight line.

I haven't mentioned this to anyone before as they would think I was mad but I heard a splash in the margins and saw a squirrel swim on his back across the river and climbed up a tree on the far bank!

I haven't mentioned this to anyone before as they would think I was mad but I heard a splash in the margins and saw a squirrel swim on his back across the river and climbed up a tree on the far bank!

I haven't mentioned this to anyone before as they would think I was mad but I heard a splash in the margins and saw a squirrel swim on his back across the river and climbed up a tree on the far bank!

I'd add that I spent around 10 years doing my own so I know a thing or 2 about sharpening. I'd put my own up against any of the commercial options but we don't all have the time (or can be bothered) to do it ourselves. For those that want to give it a go, there are a number of methods but the one in the vid below is imo the best one. Over time you'll develop your own technique as you perfect your work but if you're just starting out this should be your starting point:
 

Or just use a standard wallet. Place the hook in the bar section and put 1 pin in the hinged loop so the bend isn't distorted and put another at the swivel/loop end pulled tight so it helps preserve the stiffness.

Or just use a standard wallet. Place the hook in the bar section and put 1 pin in the hinged loop so the bend isn't distorted and put another at the swivel/loop end pulled tight so it helps preserve the stiffness.

And there's more things that really get me going, here's a selection;
 
Dash cam footage of your 80 mile journey on the motorway speeded up 50 times so it looks like you travelled in hyperspace.
 
Over plugging of your sponsors tackle. Yes, I know that they are "advertoriuls" and they help to offset the costs of a professional shoot and editing but sometimes subtle is better than "in your face."
 

You caught a big fish so we're all going to chuck a bucket of water over you? What's that all about?
 

Name dropping. I was fishing with "insert famous name" last week or you 'phone him and have a conversation on the bank about your latest capture and get a virtual slap on the back. It's bad enough with Biggins doing it all the time, we don't need (cough  ahem), roughty toughty Carp anglers doing it as well.
 

Go pro footage taken on your forehead and the rod resembles a banana!
 

Endless banal chatter about nothing. The carp dog gets called "Pork Chop" and he gets his cotton socks blessed every 2 minutes! Sorry Leon. Don't get me started on Biscuit of the Week.
 

Catch and Cook video's. Don't go there! Ditto Bow fishing video's.

I'm a self confessed addict to You Tube these days (have you seen how much drivel is on TV?) but am getting to the stage now where it does all seem a bit "samey" and getting a bit annoying. To be fair, most of the stuff on the ESP Site with Tel or Martin Bowler is usually highly watch able but some of the other stuff can be a bit predictable or you know you are being lied to. Here is some of my observations I don't want to put up with in 2020.
 

1. "Goodbye my luv" (kiss) as Carp slipped back.
 

2. "Best bait I've ever used" (hic), "pass me another Diamond White!"
 

3. People droning on and on about their latest session with Carp in arms gasping for air! For god's sake, take the hook out, quick piccie and then put the thing back ASAP.
 

4. "I'll put this one back and hopefully catch a bigger one....."
 

5. "Get in the net, get in the net...... Pukka!"
 

6. "I've just turned up at the lake and selected this swim........" Liar! The swim has been roped off and the Bailiff has been filling it in for days!
 

7.  "We've been told that there are Carp in this lake but we don't know anything about the stock...." Liars! You've Googled the granny out of it for months and checked the Instagram page every day!
 

I must have missed quite a few, any more offers?

And there's more things that really get me going, here's a selection;
 
Dash cam footage of your 80 mile journey on the motorway speeded up 50 times so it looks like you travelled in hyperspace.
 
Over plugging of your sponsors tackle. Yes, I know that they are "advertoriuls" and they help to offset the costs of a professional shoot and editing but sometimes subtle is better than "in your face."
 

You caught a big fish so we're all going to chuck a bucket of water over you? What's that all about?
 

Name dropping. I was fishing with "insert famous name" last week or you 'phone him and have a conversation on the bank about your latest capture and get a virtual slap on the back. It's bad enough with Biggins doing it all the time, we don't need (cough  ahem), roughty toughty Carp anglers doing it as well.
 

Go pro footage taken on your forehead and the rod resembles a banana!
 

Endless banal chatter about nothing. The carp dog gets called "Pork Chop" and he gets his cotton socks blessed every 2 minutes! Sorry Leon. Don't get me started on Biscuit of the Week.
 

Catch and Cook video's. Don't go there! Ditto Bow fishing video's.

And there's more things that really get me going, here's a selection;
 
Dash cam footage of your 80 mile journey on the motorway speeded up 50 times so it looks like you travelled in hyperspace.
 
Over plugging of your sponsors tackle. Yes, I know that they are "advertoriuls" and they help to offset the costs of a professional shoot and editing but sometimes subtle is better than "in your face."
 

You caught a big fish so we're all going to chuck a bucket of water over you? What's that all about?
 

Name dropping. I was fishing with "insert famous name" last week or you 'phone him and have a conversation on the bank about your latest capture and get a virtual slap on the back. It's bad enough with Biggins doing it all the time, we don't need (cough  ahem), roughty toughty Carp anglers doing it as well.
 

Go pro footage taken on your forehead and the rod resembles a banana!
 

Endless banal chatter about nothing. The carp dog gets called "Pork Chop" and he gets his cotton socks blessed every 2 minutes! Sorry Leon. Don't get me started on Biscuit of the Week.
 

Catch and Cook video's. Don't go there! Ditto Bow fishing video's.

I'm a self confessed addict to You Tube these days (have you seen how much drivel is on TV?) but am getting to the stage now where it does all seem a bit "samey" and getting a bit annoying. To be fair, most of the stuff on the ESP Site with Tel or Martin Bowler is usually highly watch able but some of the other stuff can be a bit predictable or you know you are being lied to. Here is some of my observations I don't want to put up with in 2020.
 

1. "Goodbye my luv" (kiss) as Carp slipped back.
 

2. "Best bait I've ever used" (hic), "pass me another Diamond White!"
 

3. People droning on and on about their latest session with Carp in arms gasping for air! For god's sake, take the hook out, quick piccie and then put the thing back ASAP.
 

4. "I'll put this one back and hopefully catch a bigger one....."
 

5. "Get in the net, get in the net...... Pukka!"
 

6. "I've just turned up at the lake and selected this swim........" Liar! The swim has been roped off and the Bailiff has been filling it in for days!
 

7.  "We've been told that there are Carp in this lake but we don't know anything about the stock...." Liars! You've Googled the granny out of it for months and checked the Instagram page every day!
 

I must have missed quite a few, any more offers?

Tel on Sheepwalk
Enjoy.

Tel on Sheepwalk
Enjoy.

Tel on Sheepwalk
Enjoy.

Unfortunately when someone else buys an angler a fishing present, it's always wrong! Fishing can be quite personalized and I would recommend broaching the subject and possibly giving him the money the chose what he wants himself. 

Unfortunately when someone else buys an angler a fishing present, it's always wrong! Fishing can be quite personalized and I would recommend broaching the subject and possibly giving him the money the chose what he wants himself.