salokcinnodrog

That's in Norfolk, sorry Narfock

If I am barrowing my gear to the swim, yep, The Monster Cabrio mat definitely does make a good tackle carry on the barrow, but with the back and hip problems lifting fish up causes so much pain as I have to reach over and down, so the standard Chub mat is the one. I said that, then when I tried to go to just 'essentials', or the 'never know', I suddenly found that I needed them, so back came the tackle box. You know the one, 'I've got spare identical rigs in the rig bin', so you rely on them, then run out after a few fish, or blunting hooks, so you retie some more on the bank. Then there is the occasional of 'I'm sure they are sussing it', so you tie something completely different.

And send in free swans...

I must admit I do like my Solar P1 pod and sticks, with the buzzer bar adaptors so I don't have to use the full pod. The buzzers stay on the bars unless I go single sticks, so the pod carry bag is handy. I did have an aluminium pod years ago, a decent Dragon item (!), but discovered stainless locking screws would wear out aluminium threads, so went to stainless. I have a horrible feeling that I would break carbon.

Have you tried the Domhoff or Snell knot ? It only needs to go through the eye twice.

I'm trying to work out how I lose leads. I've had a few snaffled by pike, and last week the swans caused a break-off by dragging the line through the rushes. I did get the rig back but lost the lead. I'm just looking at my modelling table, and noticed that I have 10 3oz leads that are in a state of mid paint and coat in protective varnish. I can't remember buying them unless I stuck them on a sea fishing leads order which is a distinct possibility. I've got a tub full of 4 or 4.5oz Stonze, I don't like using them, they cast like a bag of spanners and can only be lowered in or go straight in a PVA bag, but that weight is too heavy.

I minimalised my kit for years, rucksack, unhooking mat strapped to rucksack, rod holdall with lightweight bivvy dome or umbrella in, bedchair and then bait bucket. I could carry it in one trip or barrow to the swim, and it worked nicely. I did plenty of weekend or two night sessions like that. Sky totally changed my fishing, I then had to add extra water and dog food, and the barrow was struggling, so now it's 2 trips if I barrow, although I'm lucky on the syndicate that I can unload behind the swim most of the time, and then put the car in the car park. I've had to move swim mid session, and although only 100metres, it took 3 hours!

I've stuck with British Army Bergens, my old 100litre DPM Bergen lasted years, probably around 15 I guess, the only reasons I replaced it is that the top skirt had a rip in it and it was delaminating. As a rucksack it still works! I replaced it a couple of years ago with an Airborne Bergen https://www.militarykit.com/products/kombat-airborne-bergen-100-litre Front pockets take Delkim receiver, stove and Spods and Spombs. Top outer pocket takes cup, top inner pocket takes scales and weigh bar. The main rucksack is loaded as such: Frying pan, spatula and plate against the back of the rucksack. Waterproof jacket and trousers right at the bottom. On top of them go spare socks, trousers and t-shirt and a long sleeve top dependant on time of year. Then the saucepan, 2 gas canisters, Bialetti coffee maker, a rig bin with bottom bait rigs and a rig wallet with pop-up rigs. On top of that is my fleece and my coffee and sugar containers, usually packed in last. As much as @elmoputney hates it, my tackle box contains all the bits, leads, baiting needles, rig rings, quick links, hooklink materials etc. My food bag is the Korum ruckbag which also has a couple of powerpacks in the side pocket.

Get it in 50lb and you should be good. I keep mentioning it, but I do use a 30lb Amnesia leader with it, and don't get crack-offs. I do quite frequently find Spombs and spods attached straight to the braid, so far it includes a Dot Spod, a small Spomb, medium Spomb and a few basic spods.

Braid is Angry fish 0.37mm 4x PE line with leader. The only place I've seen it recently is on Aliexpress or import from USA. (https://www.aliexpress.com/item/4000181541203.html?pdp_npi=4%40dis!GBP!16.27!7.00!!!20.51!8.82!%40210126da17422892995171710d0cf6!10000000663850782!affd!!!&cn=gb_a&dp=EAIaIQobChMIm7LSnP6ujAMVApFQBh00XBdgEAQYAyABEgKErfD_BwE|0AAAAAC5ena3K3iyLOEwdwnBUwHKpn-k2r|Cj4KCAjwkZm_BhBZEi4Ay__IKUcR9cFJp4zJ33TzwPh0B-3VGVIAwEF1JEQEqAAn3NdPPPkJLI4JAiS5GgKZmw|v1&gad_source=1&aff_fcid=c997746f1e3f47bba9186f8ba91d6076-1743241235532-00471&aff_fsk&aff_platform=api-new-product-query&sk&aff_trace_key=c997746f1e3f47bba9186f8ba91d6076-1743241235532-00471&terminal_id=ec9eeb07b1d64e3aafe8c7266d3a3bc5&afSmartRedirect=y) I rarely get wind knots, but do occasionally, usually at the most inopportune time. The honest answer is the wind knots are usually my fault from reeling in and allowing slack line to go onto the spool. It's that slack coming off that comes off in a birds nest. Reel in slowly keeping tension reduces the wind knots, and strangely faster or higher geared reels allow the 'bounce' and slack. As an add, it is also the line I use for pike fishing, and I have had 4years out of it so far

I was doing it for years, 15lb mono with 50lb Greased Weasel. Never had any problems, less wind knots. It does stop the occasional non opening of Spomb as the line stretches and the Spomb hits nose first rather than skidding. Only reason I went to braid is using one rod spodding and marker float/leading around. Braid is Angry fish 0.37mm 4x PE line with leader. I rarely get wind knots, but do occasionally, usually at the most inopportune time.

This was driving music on the way back from the lake today.

No tin hat comment from me. I've seen how quickly carp heal in their own environment. All the split fins and torn scales from spawning. Within weeks that damage is unnoticeable and healed up. Like you I'll treat a bleeding hook hole, but carp must cut their mouth on stones, sticks etc when feeding and that heals. I remember Dave Chilton coming up with Klinik and he refused to make a profit on sales, so sold it at cost as he felt that carp welfare was more important than profit. Obviously Dave Chilton sold Kryston and I believe I may be wrong, Richard Gardner went to the same source as Kryston's new owners didn't have the product rights. I must admit, I do have plenty of time for Richard Gardner and Gardner Tackle.

I'm still on Kryston Klinik. I'd screenshot and add the pic to the post, but it takes so long to upload with awful signal, so I have added in Johnson Ross and the Kryston link: https://johnsonrosstackle.co.uk/kryston/26816-kryston-klin-ik-carp-care-solution.html

I'll second @kevtaylor 's comment. I use a cool bag for my pike and sea fishing bait. Frozen fish will thaw out within a couple of hours, unless the actual air temperature is close to freezing. I have the original Korum ruckbag, with the silver insulated liner for food, powerbanks and a few odds and sods. A chopping board fits flat in the main compartment. Everything is boxed in Tupperware or Ice cream containers apart from the two cans of Magners currently in there. My stove, Bialetti, gas, plate and pans go into my main rucksack and get tidily sorted under the bedchair when I'm fishing, while I keep an emergency stove in the car. Yes it is a pain to have a separate bag, but if I have to barrow my gear, no matter what, it is two trips, or if I unload behind the swim from the car, it makes no difference.