welder

Bugsy, while these are very good alarms, if a little "busy", they aren't dreadfully expensive from new. I had a set of three for some time. If I were you I'd just get on Ebay and buy a new one. Failing that you need a 3/8th BSF setbolt ,fully threaded, of circa 1 inch in length and alter the hexagonal head to fit within the base of the alarm. The only reason I changed to my current alarms is that the mounting studs in the Optonics had all become loose within their bodies. My son had the same problem with his after some heavy use. Must be a common fault. Hey, you get what you pay for. Ian

When my wife says "I've had it for ages" she really means just over an hour........ and there's so much fishing stuff in my garage that she'd never notice new stuff. My son also stores his gear in the garage and we're both strangers from the truth when appropriate............ Ian

Sufix Synergy in 15lb. on my Longcasts. Diawa Sensor in 15lb on my 10000XTEAs. Ian

The old Diawa BRi 5000's are big reels, trust me. Many used to regard them as big pit reels. I still use one on my marker rod. Large spool means rapid retrieve if needed. Google Diawa Regal Plus 5000BRi and take a look. My son uses my old ones and loves them. Ian

My brother used to live over the road from me and often kept ducks. Once he took his family to Greece on holiday and it fell to me to tend them, ie let them out of their shed in the mornings, feed them twice a day and usher them into the shed in the evenings. I enjoyed doing this, finding them friendly and quite intelligent The evening before brothers return I was a little late in arriving to put them away and found that foxes had found them to be delicious, too. Our Kid was very understanding, relieved almost, as he'd grown sick of duck eggs............. Ian

The only time I've caught cats was while fishing for carp and on every occasion I was using 24mm boilies on a long hair and 18lb line, Sufix Synergy. Rods were, and still are, Greys Prodigys in 3lb test and reels were Diawa BRi 5000's. If I were to go looking for cats I'd use the same rods, my more recent Shimano Longcast Big Baitrunners which also carry the Synergy line and liver as bait. Ian

Bow, every word written above could have come from my mouth. The Fox Warrior range of rods are considered to be amongst the best value for money that are available. If I were in your position I'd opt for a 3lb test curve. As for reels, over my decades of carp fishing I've owned and used many but I always default to Shimano or Diawa with a distinct preference for Shimano as I've never, ever, been let down by one. My current favourites are Big Baitrunner Longcasts but I'm happy to use my 10000XTEA's, assuming, of course, that my son hasn't "borrowed" them.....like he does...... Ian

The magic words "westerly wind" are all I'd need to be having a go. I'd be facing the wind and fishing down the edge with one rod, at least. More, probably. Lots of sweetcorn loose fed. Our local Farm Foods do 1kg bags for £1-00 or three for £2-00. Corn on the hair, topped with a grain of fake. Weather is forecast to be the warmest for the time of year since records began, whenever that was............ Get amongst them! Ian

I have that identical heater and find it useful but not essential. I also have a quality bedchair, 5 season, fleece lined bag and a Trakker peachskin over blanket. There have been times when I've opted to light the heater an hour or so before I intend to retire. Then get sorted for the night session, into the bivvy, switch off the heater and take full advantage of a warm space, aided and abetted by the items mentioned previously. Mostly I don't, though. Ian

Sun? I saw it but the howling, icy gale blowing onto the frozen bank negated any of it's warming effects. There were people on your warm bank wearing t-shirts and shorts whilst I was wearing every item of clothing that I then owned. I've bought more, since. Ian

Quite often, on an otherwise bland water, the marginal edge is the only feature. Nick and I have fished at socials together several times and I feel sure that he'll confirm that I always have at least one rod down the edge. Often more than one. Ian

Chris Yates fished with tackle that was contemporary to his "back to basic" technique and caught some fish that any angler would be proud to have achieved. Of course the quality of tackle has improved in leaps and bounds but the use of it, the technique, remains, doesn't it? Ian

Same with me. The only exception being when I'm fishing a silt/chod rig. Ian

Reels. Shimano Bigbaitrunner Longcasts. Line. Sufix Synergy 15lb, no leader. Distance. As appropriate, also frequently down the edge. Size of water. Wherever I choose to go. Unless I'm at Horseshoe, then it enormous. Rods. Greys Prodigies in 3lb test. Custom full cork handles. 12ft. Ian

Agree with all replies. Cats are not often caught during the colder months although you might want to try using liver as your bait. Ian

The system/arrangement is too specific, reduces the permitted flexibility of "loose" alarms. Users only have one option. Sometimes I use a pod, other times I may choose to spread separate sticks/alarms around the confines of my swim. Options. Ian

Very, very silly. Ian

As would I. Often overlooked, I find. Ian

Angel, just buy Sensor in brown. It won't disappoint, trust me. Ian

Shimano Longcast Big Baitrunners. I use three and love them to bits. They are ideally balanced on my ageing Greys Prodigy's in 3lb test, customised with full cork and Fuji reel seats. An ideal combination. Ian

There is that possibility, of course, LOL. No problems from that direction so far, though. Ian

Gardner ATTs. Underlit silent heads. The business. Ian

Same. ATTs, waterproof, bullet proof and nothing to go wrong. What's not to love? Ian

Actually this works very well and has the added advantage of a small offering of freebies around the hookbait. Ian

That's what I've been using since Nige tipped me the wink on it. Simply put, it's the best line I've ever used. 0.3mm diameter, ties nicely and has no spool memory. Loving it. Ian