salokcinnodrog

I think that it may be an idea to go through my marker float and spod set-up again. For years I used a specific spod rod, and a specific marker rod, however plenty of bankside features have meant that I can now use one rod and spod rod for both. My standard marker rod set-up is 50lb 0.36mm braided line, with a 30lb Amnesia leader, a run ring and an Amnesia lead link of around 150mm, or 6inches, and the leader going to a ball bearing swivel and a Breakaway spinlink clip to take the float. Don't forget a buffer bead or couple of large beads. I vary the float size on distance needed to cast, visibility etc, so I would use the ESP Mini Marker for close in with a 2.5 or 3oz lead, going to a big (both found) Korda or MCF float for longer distance with a 4 or even 5oz lead. If I switch to Spombing or spodding then I attach that to the end of the line spinlink clip, and clip the lead link clip through the spod swivel and the other spin link. The leader gives enough elasticity not to crack off the spod, and at 4turns on the reel and casting drop does not reduce the sensitivity of the marker float set-up. The lead link I think also allows the float to come up most of the time, it is down to feel whether you can put a bait in it. I have found numerous spods and marker floats, and every single one was attached straight through to braid, so the mono leader, I think is important, unless you go to silly braid strength, like 80lb!

Nice result. The seals on stoves can be a pain. A mate had exactly the same issue last week in his back garden, I think it was also a Webtex, but his involved a flame-out and having to dowse everything with water as it actually caught fire. I'm glad you found it before it became dangerous!

I used to add molasses to my Vitalin, (now Vitacarp from Gladwells) which is a large quantity of flaked maize. Condensed milk is one of my favourite liquids in my particles and breadcrumb, it clouds up the water and does a good job at confusing swans on introduction in the Spomb.

Don't forget that carp love eating the spawn of other species. It is one reason that pike and perch are hanging around the margins, waiting for other species and a sneaky meal

Pike being predators go at the end of February to mid-March (sometimes outside the old close season!), followed by perch, then roach and the cyprinids. Tench and carp are usually the last British species to spawn.

Bit early! The water temperature is not high enough for carp and I don't think the days are quite long enough yet, be about right towards the middle of May.

The double figure pike that snaffled a purple pop-up on the retrieve before walking Sky didn't! It totally covered me and itself in mud as it went through the margins. Deep hooked and somehow didn't bite off the hooklink until I went to get the forceps at which point it slid out of the net and returned itself.

This has to be one of my favourite rod shots, taken this week, with the sunset.

If it works, then stick with it.

I may be able to merge posts for you if it limits it due to picture size

In fact this morning size 4 Incizor, reverse combi-rig and 12mm pop-up landed a 26lb mirror. The reverse combi-rig is around 100mm of soft braid, back to Kryston Merlin in 25lb and the stiff section to the hook was 20lb black Amnesia around 10mm long from the join to hook fished D-rig style.

In fact this morning that size 4 Incizor, reverse combi-rig(*) and 12mm pop-up landed a 26lb mirror. The reverse combi-rig is around 100mm of soft braid, and the stiff section to the hook was 20lb black Amnesia around 10mm long from the join to hook fished D-rig style.

I can trouble this month's Catch report, with a 26lb mirror this morning on a 12mm Monster Crab pop-up on my reverse combi rig

This is another session that seemed to start out badly for various reasons. I got to the lake to discover someone in the swim I had been baiting up, no major problems as there is 45acres of lake, so I chose a swim opposite, albeit over 150metres away, so not going to interfere. A pallet had blown in and drifted up the lake into the margins, so I attempted to pull it out. As I did so a rotten piece broke and the pallet fell down my leg, with a nail ripping a brand new pair of combat trousers from thigh to shin, and giving me a couple of cuts on my thigh. I already knew that I had left my coffee and sugar at home, so after changing into clean trousers I took a trip to the shop in Botesdale for some antiseptic and coffee and sugar. Last night I had ducks taking off and flying through the right hand lines twice, on the second occasion for some reason my middle white Ipro indicator body broke in two, so I had to bodge a repair. This morning just drinking coffee and the male swan swan through the right hand line, getting tangled in the process and eventually smashing me up. I re-rigged and was sat with just two rods in the water, thinking I'd recast after walking Sky round. Another coffee and the left hand rod screamed off, this was a better result on the reverse combi-rig and 12mm pop-up when I landed a 26lb mirror. That puts a smile on the face!

Sounds interesting! As with all waters, look for the fish. Despite the depths, most waters still have margins, a shelf or ledge and then either a gradual slope or a sudden drop off. I can't imagine that there is much natural food at depths beyond say 40feet either. That's not to say none, but I would think most is above that. I seem to recall a thread around 5years ago asking how deep carp go, and I think that 50feet was the limit that carp were caught from (Bundy's?). Funnily enough I was reading Rod Hutchinson Carp Now and Then again this week, and his thoughts were that Cassien carp preferred to feed in depths to around 20feet, but would go down to 60feet. This is where your friendly echo sounder and bait boat may be handy? (Did I really just say that?🫣) Casting near the gardens is relative, how do you define what is near? Do the residents always sit out with a measuring stick and a yellow or red card?😆🤪 A small splash may or may not be noticed, and once the line is in the water who is to say where it was cast.