salokcinnodrog

Yes you can repair it. Its fiddly, 2 or 3mm wire. You'll need to get it through the spoke ends, pull it very tight and twist the ends together, then cut the surplus off the twisted section.

It's not just the space Mate, it's the atmosphere. Inside a Capability Ground Park Estate, a bit of history from the Second World War, a PoW camp and hospital, scenery and some good fish. I can't remember a small water with that sort of atmosphere and I just end up chasing big fish without enjoying the chase, almost like there is pressure only to catch. If you are talking about Earith, I enjoyed it, but somehow found my limit was 2 years on there before I needed a change. I don't mind catching, who doesn't, but a 20lb fish every trip...

I'm seriously contemplating splitting some of this thread off as it appears to have become a happy topic in its own right. 200 acres? Small water then🫢😅 Brackens was the last water I fished that was small, at 2 acres, most of the other lakes have been 20acres plus, with Ardleigh at 120acres for the main reservoir, Alton 400, Nazeing Lagoons at 20, 40 and 60, and this lake at 45. Both big and small have different challenges, from finding the fish, to rigs on the smaller waters, to baiting, from weaning off natural food, or 60lb of carp per acre. Then consider that that 60lb of carp could be 2 fish, or potentially 1! 'My happy place', this water really is, it is not just the fishing, it's the whole atmosphere, the surroundings, there is an indefinable quality of things there that draw you back.

Last night it rained from about 11pm, but amazingly I have the bivvy with the wind coming from behind so no problem, and I didn't need to drop the front. I'm a bit more worried about the ground water as I didn't bother putting the groundsheet down.

Sadly Mate, pretty much not being able to work life is nearly all fishing for me at the moment. I know it sounds strange, but I hate not working. Boogered back, hip and shoulder put that to bed. I hope my body can straighten up after the new hip! My car is only until its MOT in August, hopefully I can get PIP approved and all back pay since September last year before then.

Definitely not the knots weakening the line then! The Uni, Palomar and Clinch knots are supposed to be the strongest knots going with almost no loss of strength. 0.38 for a line is usually an 18lb rating, so some brands are still over-rating their lines, although newer co-polymer lines are higher strain than standard monofilament in the same diameter, and usually sink faster.

Until Saturday. Was a horrible experience pushing 2 barrow loads of gear again, but until the track is dry, I'd much rather not get the car stuck. Should have dried out by Saturday so I can load up into the car

Not in any hurry to cast in, so set up the bivvy and chilling with a coffee

I think that this proves one catapult or bait delivery system is not the answer to every problem. I've got a Drennan Boiliepult and a Rod Hutchinson Boilie Catapult, both have had the pouch changed to a smaller one, which I can get 4 15mm or 3 18mm boilies in at a push, or a small handful of floating dog biscuits. The Boiliepult has been my goto for years, maximum range about 50-60metres, for 3 boilies, a little further for singles. I reckon I tend to use it more for floaters than boilies! Only problem is elastics are getting harder to get. The RH one I bought around 4months ago I guess (maybe a little longer) has had limited use so far. I do find that I use my throwing stick more for boilies, putting 5 or 6 in at a time to get a decent spread at that 50-60metres, or single 18mm boilies to 100metres. I've been Spombing boilies out recently when I want to keep them tight. As good as I am with the catty and stick, wind veer, mishapes or splitting baits (with the stick) or seagulls mean baiting can go awry.

Oops! Got a load of back paid ESA this week, so ended up getting a load more bait, Rod Hutchinson Infusion, Monster Crab and KMG, and although the Fox Warrior landing net is still good, I bought myself the RH Sceptre one piece landing net as I do like the idea of having 2...

I think in weed that 'blowing the hook mid run', is where it hasn't penetrated past the point, and falls out, the hook may be masked by weed. A barbed hook is often worst for this, so a barbless or crimped barb hook can be a better hooker. A size 6 is the smallest I would go, try Gardner Muggas or Solar 101's, on a Multi-rig. I really don't like helicopter setups in weed, bite indication is 'slow', hookholds can be funny, and lost fish can be the result. I've found that inline or pendant setups far better at hooking fish.

Did you Google it? https://www.claypitfishery.co.uk/

I'm not one for dropping leads, rarely found the need even on very weedy waters. I am as close to my rods as possible, and have my alarms sensitivity very high on my Delkims (other vibration alarms are available). Try not to let the fish get into the weed in the first place, stepping back to strike and play fish helps, and can actually pull them 'off balance'. I had one fish last season that as I struck you could see it turn on its side as I had unbalanced it, and 2minutes later it was in the net, a 23lb common that usually fought much better. Admittedly I was fishing about 10metres out, so it never really got up any steam. Hook size, I'm usually on 4 and 6's, and bait in weed tends to be balanced to just lift the hook up, so buoyant, but not mega pop-up. In the weed short hairs, bait tight to the back of the hook, so a D-rig, ring on the shank or multi-rig. Personal opinion, I found a standard Ronnie rig too heavy. The counterweight could pull the hook and bait down into the weed, reducing hook-ups as the hook is masked.

Made another batch this week using a mix of liquidised sheep's liver, tinned anchovies and tinned sardines in olive oil. Bit too much oil to roll on the table, but by hand it was OK. Actually just put a couple of kilos in the lake to get the fish accepting boilies, and fishing over the top. Of course I didn't do that last week either...

@Danny Hearn, I love reading your posts, even if I do have to merge a few into one, 😂 I have been trying to think about my largest common, think it's 28lb, although I know I've had plenty between 20 and 25lb. I do prefer mirrors, although the 2 biggest commons in my syndicate are probably closer to 45 than 28... Talking of my syndicate, even after the result of last week and the trials and tribulations I want to get back there straight away, it's my 'happy place'. Last weeks trials: I got to the lake on Tuesday, 1st time in around 5 weeks after car problems, where the ECU failed, meaning I had to write it off. So Tuesday I took the car round to the track round the back and promptly sunk down to the axles in soft mud. I hadn't put my barrow in the new car, so it took me some 7trips walking my gear ¼ of a mile to the spot I fancied. It took a mate coming down in his Discovery to pull me out. On Wednesday another angler came down in his van, absolutely no problems over the mud and set up around 250metres to my left. He packed up Thursday and got straight out again with no problems. Thursday afternoon, another angler comes down in his van no problems and sets up nearby to my left. Friday morning I had that wake-up call, a 23.12 mirror, so I stayed put thinking a few more would come along. On Saturday morning, Jonathon packs up, drives past again no problem. So after packing up I went to get my car from the boathouse car park, went up the slope to the track and managed to get stuck again. Another 3 trips with my gear back to the car helped by a mate, and then with 2 more syndicate members, a quad bike and Ranger got my car out. Stood by the car, just about to load it up, I had either an oxygen or sugar crash and passed out, just went straight over face first. A mug of coke and a few biscuits, 15-20minutes sat down and I was OK. A very careful drive home Saturday. So this year's plans, keep fishing, be careful of my health, stop pushing it with my hip and back problems and enjoy what I can do. I'd like to get into the originals, the new stock are nice, beautiful fish, but the originals are proper quality.

Welcome Back. Suffolk Water Park, nice venue still, just a bit expensive for me to mount a long term campaign. What worked then will work now. I'm probably using similar rigs to what I was using 12years ago, and occasionally still catching. Enjoy your fishing, and have fun

Years ago I used to whisk an egg or two and drop the boilies into it, then take them out and roll in additional base mix. You can get a nicely skinned boilie with an outer shell that breaks down around the bait.

Mine is on a large diameter storm stick, which during the day doubles as Sky tether, although the end has a definite curve where she managed to pull it out of the ground. A husky, 0-20mph in 5steps... At night she has her long lead attached under my bedchair feet. I was looking for my phone mount in my rucksack to put up a picture, but think it is in my pike bag. Couple of ebay links for you: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/195553759343 https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/155409607617

Put enough liquid in the bucket to go about ¼ of the way up the boilie. That way you are limiting what they can take in. Just don't forget to give them a shake every now and again so the whole surface is covered. Lid on, cos of the smell... Air dried I'm positive take on water faster than frozen or shelf life, so give the impression of 'older' bait. I tried various basic liquids, hemp juice, mixed particle juice, even stale sweetcorn juice. None worked any better than boilies straight from the air dry bag. At Earith I was catching over them either way, and the frozen version.

Old and New accounts merged together, so all should be good.

Yes exactly like the Gardner jobbie

Some of those holders have a screw thread on the bottom that screws onto a camera adaptor

Welcome back. If you know it I might be able to find and reset your old account with a password and email address.

It does also work with liquidised liver. I made these for barbel and chub when the river season reopens

It will work with liquidised fish. If you use it as it stands for a 50/50 or basic base mix you may need to add semolina.