Golden Paws

I don't ever want a repeat of yesterday.
A friends lake, troubled with 2 large fallen trees, excessive Canadian and pond weed, lack of any rain (which usually helps keep good water quality).
8 gone, between 15-30lb.
Sad day

Couldn't get the swim I wanted, busy bank holiday weekend, hopefully bait it when he's gone.
Done a bit of cutting back as usual and this swim will certainly do for now ❤️

All fishing video's are advertorials! It's a trade off. You get to watch a fishing expert tackle a water and catch some biggies and he shows you how he did it and the tackle and bait used. The said tackle and bait are exclusively from his employer or sponsor. As long as it's not in your face and false claims made that you'll only catch using the same gear, I'm happy to go along with it. All professional anglers are influencers. God I hate that word but it's true.
I remember when I was kid (going to show my age now), when the only fishing program on TV was a very occasional 5 minute segment on Out of Town by Jack Hargreaves.There weren't VCR's or Catch Up and so if you missed it, you'd have to wait months for your next fix.
There are reams of stuff on You Tube and it's easy to become an instant carper if you digest enough. I learn't a hell of a lot from watching some of the DVD's when I switched from barbel to carp. I still watch a lot now and although some can get a bit samey, I still pick up some tips and incorporate them in my fishing. For the last six months I've been using Terry's flipper rig using bottom baits on at least one rod after being pretty exclusive on wafters and have caught pretty well on it.

Well I really enjoyed it. Perhaps a few time many "know what I mean?" and "mate" but I can forgive Tel for that. The videography and production are top notch and Tel can certainly tell a story.

All fishing video's are advertorials! It's a trade off. You get to watch a fishing expert tackle a water and catch some biggies and he shows you how he did it and the tackle and bait used. The said tackle and bait are exclusively from his employer or sponsor. As long as it's not in your face and false claims made that you'll only catch using the same gear, I'm happy to go along with it. All professional anglers are influencers. God I hate that word but it's true.
I remember when I was kid (going to show my age now), when the only fishing program on TV was a very occasional 5 minute segment on Out of Town by Jack Hargreaves.There weren't VCR's or Catch Up and so if you missed it, you'd have to wait months for your next fix.
There are reams of stuff on You Tube and it's easy to become an instant carper if you digest enough. I learn't a hell of a lot from watching some of the DVD's when I switched from barbel to carp. I still watch a lot now and although some can get a bit samey, I still pick up some tips and incorporate them in my fishing. For the last six months I've been using Terry's flipper rig using bottom baits on at least one rod after being pretty exclusive on wafters and have caught pretty well on it.

It's a sticky bait called the legacy, seen Scott Lloyd using it in a video too. 

Well I really enjoyed it. Perhaps a few time many "know what I mean?" and "mate" but I can forgive Tel for that. The videography and production are top notch and Tel can certainly tell a story.

22lb 15oz from the canal👌
Its been a good crack these last couple weeks, cutting out swims, raking spots, prebaiting from paddle boards 🤣
Here's 3 of the Carp from last months hit
This is my best one at 24lb

 
really please with these ones as well tho 👌


 
got the bug for it big time at the moment, I did a quick over nighter last night but unfortunately no carp, only tench and bream 🤣

One out the syndi Sunday morning 1st fish in 4 weekends, came after a change of presentation 👍

last gasp fish, literally put my hand around the reel seat to bring it in to pack up and it ripped off in my hand 

I got hold of Hutchy's Golden Years after pre-ordering it almost as soon as it was given a release date.
Rod Hutchinson was, or is, an angling hero of mine, and I have read many of his own books; from bait to tackle he was a pioneer and understood more than us mere mortals will ever get, so I was really interested in his early life and journey into carp fishing and this book most definitely does not disappoint. From his time at Redmire with Chris Yates, to Savay, with chapters on his captures by long time companion Brian Hankins and his joy for fishing and life by Simon Crow.

31lb 8oz 👍

Had these from the canal today 👍
24lb

 
12lb 14oz

19lb 4oz

Linda lusardi or Maria Whittaker was my preferred totty.

View from last weekend, got excited with my bait mix smashed it all in then had duck wars over it all night lol
On the plus side I found what feels like a banging area so might well be back on that tonight, less bait lol 🤞

The weather forecasters predicted a heatwave this weekend and they weren't wrong! I booked a 48hr session on a pay lake back in November and was in 2 minds whether or not to go. Got there on Friday afternoon and they were all sunbathing, some with their backs out of the water. Chucked out 3 zigs  in desperation but wasn't surprised they didn't take them. An hour before dusk I would them in and replaced them with bottom baits and boated them out with the first loose feed. An hour after dark they started spawning and spent virtually all night doing it and I got practically no sleep. I did manage 2 overnight and then another 2 at first light up to 24-5. The day was another grueller but luckily I was sheltered right back amongst the trees and avoided the worst of the sun. I had another 3 during the second night and luckily no more spawning. It died about 2 hours after dawn and I packed up at 10a.m. despite booking on 'til 6p.m.
It you would have offered me 7 fish in those conditions I would have had your hand off! I did lie on my camp bed for 10 minutes after dinner and woke up 2 hours later!   

The weather forecasters predicted a heatwave this weekend and they weren't wrong! I booked a 48hr session on a pay lake back in November and was in 2 minds whether or not to go. Got there on Friday afternoon and they were all sunbathing, some with their backs out of the water. Chucked out 3 zigs  in desperation but wasn't surprised they didn't take them. An hour before dusk I would them in and replaced them with bottom baits and boated them out with the first loose feed. An hour after dark they started spawning and spent virtually all night doing it and I got practically no sleep. I did manage 2 overnight and then another 2 at first light up to 24-5. The day was another grueller but luckily I was sheltered right back amongst the trees and avoided the worst of the sun. I had another 3 during the second night and luckily no more spawning. It died about 2 hours after dawn and I packed up at 10a.m. despite booking on 'til 6p.m.
It you would have offered me 7 fish in those conditions I would have had your hand off! I did lie on my camp bed for 10 minutes after dinner and woke up 2 hours later!   

The weather forecasters predicted a heatwave this weekend and they weren't wrong! I booked a 48hr session on a pay lake back in November and was in 2 minds whether or not to go. Got there on Friday afternoon and they were all sunbathing, some with their backs out of the water. Chucked out 3 zigs  in desperation but wasn't surprised they didn't take them. An hour before dusk I would them in and replaced them with bottom baits and boated them out with the first loose feed. An hour after dark they started spawning and spent virtually all night doing it and I got practically no sleep. I did manage 2 overnight and then another 2 at first light up to 24-5. The day was another grueller but luckily I was sheltered right back amongst the trees and avoided the worst of the sun. I had another 3 during the second night and luckily no more spawning. It died about 2 hours after dawn and I packed up at 10a.m. despite booking on 'til 6p.m.
It you would have offered me 7 fish in those conditions I would have had your hand off! I did lie on my camp bed for 10 minutes after dinner and woke up 2 hours later!   

Night view 
Morning view complete with still glowing green light. 

You gotta love day ticket fishing. 

https://esp-carpgear.com/product/balance-beads/
I've pretty much given up rig putty. I've lost too much and it doesn't seem to keep it's shape. I've been using ESP tungsten balance beads for quite a few years and can't see myself ever going back. The photo is a Flipper rig (the bottom bit of shrink tube pushes to the bend of the hook) and my bait has been nibbled away by roach or bream but the bead is on a Combi rig and pushes into the knot and pretty much stays there.
Its dead easy to reuse it as well, just push it onto a small baiting needle.
 

A 31lb 12oz mirror from the weekend. Also managed a 25-4 and 18-10. After a windy start on Friday, it got really hot but managed a bite on all 3 rods by boating out about 20 Creamino boiles and a bit of pellet every 3 hours tight to an Island.

A 31lb 12oz mirror from the weekend. Also managed a 25-4 and 18-10. After a windy start on Friday, it got really hot but managed a bite on all 3 rods by boating out about 20 Creamino boiles and a bit of pellet every 3 hours tight to an Island.

A 31lb 12oz mirror from the weekend. Also managed a 25-4 and 18-10. After a windy start on Friday, it got really hot but managed a bite on all 3 rods by boating out about 20 Creamino boiles and a bit of pellet every 3 hours tight to an Island.

A 31lb 12oz mirror from the weekend. Also managed a 25-4 and 18-10. After a windy start on Friday, it got really hot but managed a bite on all 3 rods by boating out about 20 Creamino boiles and a bit of pellet every 3 hours tight to an Island.

A 31lb 12oz mirror from the weekend. Also managed a 25-4 and 18-10. After a windy start on Friday, it got really hot but managed a bite on all 3 rods by boating out about 20 Creamino boiles and a bit of pellet every 3 hours tight to an Island.