salokcinnodrog

I don't do the gloves, but I do check the hookpoints. I bait the hook/hair with my bait, and leave that bait on the whole trip, or if getting takes, until it is unusable and pulled off the hook. I sometimes even take the bait off at the end of a session and use it next time. I'm wary of the smell of superglue, never gluing my knots, but if it is a water with blunting properties without burring the hook over on a snag or gravel, a dash of Lipsyl on the hook tends to sort that out.

Professional overthinker? I worry about my smell affecting hooks and bait! Now I'm not saying it doesn't happen but I'm not 100% sure you need the hook stuff. I've seen some lakes where a hook goes out sharp at night, when you reel in in the morning you can see that it is blunter. It is on those waters where a dab of Vaseline or this stuff might protect the point.

While it is not carp fishing, BBC have produced a fishing podcast about perch. The Facebook link is https://www.countryfile.com/podcast/perchandperfection/

Welcome to Carp.com

Sounds like sidecutters time! A right pain in the rectum, not nice to deal with. I've snipped a few hooks over the years, the 28lb 2tone from Nazeing was hooked hard, and it was safer to snip the hook, but that is the only big fish I can remember. That was on a curved longshank pattern as well. I seem to recall snipping a few Patridge Piggybacks.

Long shank curved hooks causing mouth damage has been a problem on a few waters, even big fish. I think Luke Moffat banned them at Les Graviers, in fact all curved shanks. It seems that you may be getting 'double hooking', like the Bent hook rigs used to do.

CLO should be a good binder in its own right. I have c&p'd it's properties:

Welcome to carp.com Your reels are fine. Don't be conned you need to upgrade every few years. My advice is use your gear to destruction, until you NEED to upgrade. I have some Shimano Aerlex 8000's I bought in 2003 that I still use for fishing and spodding. They actually cope better than some newer reels. I also have Shimano DL's I purchased in 2010'ish, still being used for pike fishing. My Shimano Beastmasters must be 5 or 6 years old. The one thing you might find, is that the current trend for 8/9ft rods don't cover everything. Your casting distance might be compromised. A longer rod (within reason) casts further than a shorter rod. Just a point of note, most of the Sonik items I bought have not stood up to Nick normal use/abuse. Sonik SK-Tec recliner that the extending legs retract under any weight, Sonik Vader rods where guides have dropped or broken rings. I use my gear regularly, no other rods by Rod Hutchinson, Century, Shimano, Daiwa, Shakespeare or even Dragon have had eyes break. The one exception was a rod guide on an Abu rod where spodding with braid grooved the tip and butt rings. It may pay to think about upgrading/upsizing your rods for France or larger waters in UK to 12feet.

I get in trouble being the old man, heaven knows what I can do as a new man🤣 Problem is I'm early 50's so the waiting list is longer. This was Sky enjoying the time out.

Right an add on this: To give them a fair chance I bought a pack of 6 Sunn Gas canisters. They have now been used in winter weather down to -4⁰C and I can say that they do need a bit of warm water under them when the gas is nearly out at air temperatures below around 6⁰.

Been told I need a hip replacement and have lower back problems. To deal with that and the other life problems I shut myself away from the world. A bit chilly this morning. Most of the lake froze over last night, just the area in front of me stayed clear, and it looks like the ice is gradually spreading. I'm only hanging on from packing up just to let the 🌞 thaw some of the gear. My net got frozen to the rushes and the overwrap is covered in frost. Sky however is enjoying laying in the sun outside.

This week's view from the bivvy, but has also included seeing a barn owl come out from between the trees and across the dam wall, and a video of a kestrel hovering above the tree border, as well as hearing tawny owls through the night

Sundridge, Dellareed Optonics. Del Romang and Les Bamford did original conversions, and originally Dellareed were OK with it, but then decided to take it to court as an infringement of copyright. Think it was because they were using Dellareed casings more than the actual changes. Then Delkim bought out their ST Reed switch vibration rather than the roller wheel, must be early 1990's. Basic Optonics were a pain in the butt, too quiet, you couldn't hear them. I can't remember when the volume control was added, but you could fit a sounder box on the originals, an 8pin audio plug if I remember correctly. The changing of the roller wheel could be fun as well, it was a 2 or 4 vane, but I always wanted more sensitivity for pike so made 12's out of a foil milk bottle top.

It used to be easy! I've been known to walk a good couple of miles fully loaded round the reservoir or lake. Fully loaded with water that would be 100kilos, but spare clothes, waterproofs, stove, cooking equipment, and scales etc only weigh about 40kilos. The 40litre Molle packs are available if you have a search through the surplus stores, and from personal experience they last. The various specialists are looking to the conclusion of Long Covid having caused it.

Rod Hutchinson one is good as well, but for a change I was trying not to push my subsidiser🤣😉

Oh the Vets bill, ouch! Sky just had her annual check and jabs, that hurt me and my pocket more than her. She's lost 2kg from last year, which is actually good, has lovely teeth and loves the vet and the veterinary nurse, probably because of the treats, even though the vet gave her the needle. Have a look at https://www.johnsonsofleeds.co.uk/product/mtp-bergan/ https://www.britishmilitarysurplus.co.uk/genuine-british-military-issue-mtp-90-litre-bergen-current-issue-1537723.html I have updated my DPM 100litre to one of the new MTP Kombat Airborne bergens. They are slightly shorter and wider, and sit flat. Trying to think what I need, although it would probably be just buying for buyings sake. I'm terrible to buy for, my gear is usually chosen on my situation rather than for fashion.

I haven't lived around Norfolk for years, so the only advice I can offer is from my previous posts.

We keep missing an important point about keeping feet and head warm, although @bluelabel has covered part of it, with tucking trousers into socks, the type of socks. Your standard cotton/synthetic mix socks aren't going to do. I may walk to my swim in them but do change. My winter socks are either the Merino wool socks mentioned on the 'What is your newest purchase?' thread, or Yuedge winter hiking socks. For comfort I put a pair of insoles in my Nitehawk combat boots, it has actually improved thermal properties as well. I have not yet worn the thermal boots this year! Hat wise, as much as I hate wearing a hat, a Beanie with an USB headlight, a Herringbone flat cap or Thinsulate Thermal hat. There are not many decent hoodies for winter use, most tackle brand ones are too thin, although there are a few. I do wear one at night sometimes with the hood up, my head then stays warm while I'm in the sleeping bag.

Yes tomorrow will be a pike trip, easier to find than the carp or roach I hope. It's got big carp, and big roach. Couple of 2lb roach when I found a shoal of big fish over 2 weekends. And a couple of carp caught within 24hours of each other

My lake has been frozen since last week, and even my local river has frozen over. I had to put a bucket of oversoaked Vitalin and chopped/mashed boilies into the freezer. I am hoping Alton Water is clear enough to fish tomorrow.

I read that as well, but at the same time when you buy a base mix it is normally at optimum levels of ingredients for the compromise of cost, nutrition and rolling. Cutting it with maize meal, semolina or soya flour to make it go further is just doing what various bait companies have done and gone down for. I can give you a very basic base mix, that will work extremely well: 10% Liver Powder 20% Calcium Caseinate 30% Maize Flour 40% Semolina Flavour wise, the Liquid Liver from Rod Hutchinson. I did used to use Nutrabaits Liver Elite. You could modernise it with a hydrolysate in the eggs. Now that was sold as a proprietary base mix or completed bait.

Pretty much no nutritional value whatsoever; there is very little usable protein, almost only carbohydrate. The only thing it is good for is high attract hookbaits in my view. If you add anything to it remember EVERY animal needs protein, fat and possibly carbohydrates, and vitamins and minerals. Carp fed in scientific experiments required food with a protein percentage of 25-30%.

The guidance on a gas canister is 'keep out of direct sunlight, use in a well ventilated area'.

It did not help that Darrell Peck actually put a video on his Facebook or Instagram feed using a bivvy heater. The post has since been removed.

Sorry, I disagree. EVERY year, common sense fails some and they pay the ultimate price. A bivvy heater in the bivvy with the door closed is asking for trouble, no matter what gas. A fire in the bivvy, or carbon monoxide, and somebody gets severely injured or dies. Carbon monoxide is caused when the fuel does not burn properly, whether it is gas, coal, wood or oil. Direct quote from the NHS: Causes of carbon monoxide poisoning Common household appliances used for heating and cooking can produce carbon monoxide if they are not installed properly, are faulty, or are poorly maintained. Appliances that can cause carbon monoxide include: gas boilers gas cookers and clay ovens gas or paraffin heaters wood, gas and coal fires portable generators Using barbeques or camping stoves inside, and turning on vehicle or lawn mower engines in your garage, can also cause a build-up of carbon monoxide.