salokcinnodrog

Those look like the Fox mk.ll's. While I liked them, I did find you couldn't get the weight and arm 'balanced' by pushing the weight right to the bend as you could the mk.l

I've got a few jackets and smocks for the winter, a Dickies Camouflage smock, and a Hoggs of Fife jacket. The Hoggs Culloden is the current equivalent, not cheap, probably around £130 and they do matching overtrousers. As good as fishing clothing is, I've had a preference for shooting/country clothing or army surplus style. I should add an edit, my Hoggs jacket, despite being worn for fishing is still in good enough condition to wear out for normal walking.

The rods are now up at the top of the bank. Lake has risen a metre or 3feet if you think imperial. I was hoping not to have to recast, but so much weed has drifted free I had no choice. The joys of working out how many times round the distance sticks compared to what I had worked out from down by the rushes. Just let everything dry out tonight before I pack away in the morning please...

For floater fishing and stalking I definitely can't see any need for a 50mm butt ring, even 40mm is too big. I wish someone did a 30 or 25mm butt ring, now that would be nice. My mate Bruce did have a Century stalking rod that he got from the Solar rep years ago, I think that had a 30mm. I do know it was perfect. Might have to start looking at spinning rods again...

I love the rain for fishing, but it is a bit heavy! I set up Tuesday at the base of the bank, with my front rests just touching the water. I've had to resort to the pod, moving them back to the bank, and even that's now wet. I also had to move the bivvy back up to the top of the slope, in the pouring rain. That wasn't fun, putting everything away, unpegging bivvy, moving it complete, pulling groundsheet up and clipping that in and quickly putting bedchair and bags inside.

I used a heavy Browning Spinning rod for floater fishing for years, it had the backbone, able to chuck big lures and had the guts to handle big carp. I never really found a floater rod that was quite right

I always used to take my floater rod and dog biscuits to Brackens when I fished there in the summer as there was always the chance of catching a fish from the surface. I'm still using my barbel rod, guess that's around 1.5lb from memory, and is good with 12 or 15lb line and a standard controller or small interceptor.

Try it with a heavy lead and a good bend in the tip of the rod; as you get a take and the lead moves, the tip springs straight, pulling the fish away from the snag. It also works fishing to other features, (far bank, islands etc), but again you do need to be on the rods

Those Interceptors and the Nash version are a good piece of kit; I've used the small ones and had plenty of fish on them on floaters. Not used the larger ones though as not needed the range. Also used a normal controller on the river for chub when floater fishing in a slightly faster current when you need to keep dog biscuit in the right line

If you do get any feedback, shop around as prices differ big time. I did notice Tackle up Felixstowe had them in Medium at a very low price compared to other shops.

Korda have confirmed: https://www.facebook.com/1255637286/posts/pfbid026gizoHoLMHkUt1Kg1dLMZGDwvR4SUNNLD1q56ULP5LPuKbWvQgEXCphXt9CkXYssl/

I do like most of the Drennan and ESP luggage and clothing, lasts and lasts.

That looks familiar for some reason...

Gardner and Speero confirmed so far: https://www.facebook.com/100064731726883/posts/pfbid0JvbAkuvApmdL7mhunxqE1EkZUdwKoRAZGeubU2LGWxi1YshqcFsRZnpWAHhsGgaJl/

Technique is everything, but it seems that 'The Korda Boyz' pushed heavier test curve rods as the long casting answer over practice. I'd frequently get back from fishing Sunday lunchtime and then spend the afternoon casting over the field. If we go back to the 1990's I was casting over 100metres with 2¼lb test curve rods and original 4000 size Baitrunners, 2½oz leads, shockleader and 8lb mono. The 2¾lb Armalite mk.ll update saw 10lb line being used with leaders, to 2.75lb SP's and 15lb line and 3oz leads and reaching over 125metres, using bags and stringers. ** The Korda Boyz, a tongue in cheek remark about tackle brand sponsorship pushing heavier rods because they simply couldn't reach the distance because technique is lacking. Easier to buy new gear over spending time practicing.

4x Delkim ST's 2 red led, 1 green and 1 white. 3 Delkim TXI'D's in red, white and green.

Fishing up tight to a snag where you can't let the fish take any line off the reel, nor allow line stretch to let them get into the snag. It can be fishing to a treeline with roots growing into the lake, an obvious dead branch in the water, a serious weedbed or lilypads. I fish to snags slightly differently to @kevtaylor, by pointing my rod directly at the snag, line tight, and the baitrunner switched OFF. It only works with mono at short range, as mono has about 15-25% stretch, so as Kev says, look at braided mainline if at any range. The theory of the tight line is that on the take the fish is pulled in an arc away from the snag, then you can get back to playing it normally. I'd also say, don't snag fish at night, or if you are sleeping. You need to be instant, right next to the rods at all times. Even straying away for a pee can be enough time to lose a fish or rod!

I still use mine for spodding on my proper spod rod, the marker/spod rod has a Beastmaster 7000 XTA on it. I'm trying to work out when Shimano went so wrong with quality. The original DL10000's weren't as robust as their Baitrunner predecessors and I bought mine around 2009, yet the Beastmasters I think I bought 6 or 7 years ago and are the danglies, but not the top range, more bargain basement. In fact I think the ST10000 are a better bet than the next price model.

If you want a bulletproof spod reel, go old school: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/225802633024?hash=item3492e2bf40:g:eIoAAOSwGJllHYBP&amdata=enc%3AAQAIAAAAwEaDJzcdq1D%2ByJmTj%2BWCltx2oau%2BpCfQUZ6D0OSNQWgHd5D981ssJhU0EIbF3g5cUQdEVXDG%2Fs3AnmwntBrfKzTDXPiXUg7lrtuRDiP7ymZqYIpI6D1qoJ%2Fv6n3vp0Cez1JfFldcFuBm%2Fz4chib0u9%2B%2F5H0MlCGnh5fX7P1pJNS07Flt%2BX%2FJ0MT14%2BavXsnK8D6ipBQKSEV%2BUIy9rvZtRJq7pzZBcWkRoH2m2%2BPWQ6Mdfd86MK0PddreAd8g5YIPFQ%3D%3D|tkp%3ABk9SR5D1i5jjYg I'd also have a search (ebay search Shimano Aerlex) and see if anymore come up. They hold their price better than new ones! The older Shimano models are so much better than the current ones.

Nice write-up. Really wish I could have been there, and hope that another can be arranged and that I can get to.

I've lost fish on a bad knot I've tied, or more correctly hadn't checked the rig after landing a 20lb fish on it and just recast the same rig. That's MY fault, I knew who to blame. I choose my own hooks, I use the right strength, pattern for the waters I fish. I know how strong they are, whether they open out, break or flex. Unless you are physically disabled tie your own rigs, that way you know what hook, the hook knot or swivel knot is good and even the length is right.

Funny thing is on my 2.75lb NG's and SP's I was casting a 3oz lead and 30bait stringers up to around 100metres with no problem. Now admittedly Century aren't a cheap or budget brand rod maker as the rods cost me £600 and £750 respectively for the 3, but at no point did I ever need 'more grunt'. I have used my barbel specialist rods for roach on Alton Water, landing fish to over 2lb on groundbait feeders, size 14/16 hooks. They have also landed 20lb carp on freelined dog biscuits and method feeders,12lb bream, 5lb chub and the occasional rogue pike (plural) that took a liking to slugs and a roach that I'd hooked on sweetcorn.

Your big problem is fashion! Since probably around 2010, test curves have increased to 3, 3.25 and 3.5lb, where (in my view) the best through action rod has a test curve of 1.75 to 2.5lb. Even a 2.75lb TC rod is a rarity today, and most of these higher test curve rods are faster taper tip action rods, frequently built for long distance casting rather than fish playing. If you want a more through action rod, look at Barbel rods, which, while being able to cast big leads and feeders, are certainly capable of landing and playing carp.

Of all the alarms, when I considered replacing my Delkims, I only looked at or thought about TLB's and Atts', but stuck with brand loyalty

I won't be voting Green, they have no idea on actual environmental issues, and are against angling and other outdoor pursuits. Nor will I be voting Lib Dem, Labour or Conservative. Sadly the political system is not suitable for purpose. Until we can get rid of political parties we are screwed. We almost need a benign dictatorship, or a King Alfred the Great circle of elders representing everyone.