salokcinnodrog

Welcome to Carp.com. I've moved this into waters and venues section

Some softer ones need to be tied on, and some do work best haired and lighter tagged. I have tried bait screws and I must admit that I am not convinced... At least with either a swivel or rig ring you can be pretty sure it won't come off. It's the homemade pop-ups, no matter whose pop-up mix that you use that seem softer.

Be aware that that can change the buoyancy. I glugged some pop-ups for 6months, but they were all bottom baits when I used them. Even wooden balls will take on so much glug that they become bottom baits. In fact I used to do this on purpose to beat crayfish.

Welcome to Carp.com. Have fun finding your way around. Don't be in a hurry to get bigger fish, learn from every one, and remember that 23lb is a big fish.

I prefer Vitalin as the background feed if small fish are about as them feeding will attract Carp, however flaked maize is also a good background feed. I think the additional bits in Vitalin will give it more attraction than plain maize, whole or flaked, and being able to fish it as groundbait, method gets the fish digging into it.

You may find that on some lakes if the bars are flat, is that fish will feed on bait on top of them. They may be wary (hence the 'need' to change rigs), but because so much bait goes on top they will eat it. The same lake may also have fish that are caught from the bottom of the bars, as natural food, and short or long fall baits that don't land on the flat will fall into the troughs. Some more food for thought though: How many people think that they are fishing on top, but are actually dropping short with the swing of the lead? Reeling in 'excess' line should tell you if you are hitting the clip and tightening up, by 1 or 2 reel handle turns as opposed to 10...

I don't have one brand of tackle I stick to, with the exception of hooks, which are nearly always Gardner Muggas or Solar 101's on my rigs. Various manufacturers change specifications on their end tackle, so for a while Fox Buffer beads or Run Rings may be the best, then the next batch is different, so I go elsewhere, or a companies bits may suddenly get hold of, so again I go elsewhere. Hooklink materials I bought up so much Kryston when Dave Chilton sold the company so I didn't have to change immediately. I'm still using Merlin, Mantis, Snakeskin and Snakebite. To be honest, there are few ESP or Gardner items that are bad, I can't recall any I've used and disliked, although I rarely use ESP for personal reasons. The honest answer is that there is no one brand that produces everything that is required or is the best, so it's best not to get into the 'Korda only' type mindset.

Rod Hutchinson in The Carp Strikes Back reckoned the carp would use the top of the gravel bar during the day, hanging around and moving along, then would feed at the base of the bar. I've had fish from the top of gravel bars, Brackens Pool especially, where the bars could be 15ft above the lakebed, but on other lakes as well. I've also done well on either side at the base of the bars. Pretty much the only way is to fish both and see which the fish prefer.

I am lucky in that many swims I can unload behind my swim before moving the car to the car park. I get behind the swim, switch the engine off, open the doors and unload. I shut the doors as quietly as possible with the exception of the rear and drivers door which stay open until I take the car to the car park, as I have to take Sky with me, and I can slam the doors shut properly at the car park. However don't forget to shut them properly as the boot inside light left on for a few days can flatten the battery... On our syndicate it is rare for anglers to be close to each other, unless specifically having a social session.

The other thing is cork varies in how much it absorbs, with cork balls you can feel the difference by touch or sight, whereas with cork dust you can't know. It also then dries out, so may actually cause baits to split and crack. I know we all like a gadget, but I still roll my pop-ups by hand or on the rolling table. I can get the paste amount right for the pop-up size i like, either a 16mm or a tiny 10mm (which i hate rolling). Despite making my own pop-ups for alternative hookbaits, I do buy pop-ups myself. I use Rod Hutchinson Monster Crab, KMG and Infusion as my main baits, so I have pop-ups in the MC and KMG. The KMG I have in both main bait colour and as a high visibility pink.

Don't forget you can reuse corkballs. Once the bait has come off, save and dry.

Quite possibly! Cork dust or granules takes in a bit of liquid, and does mess up the rolling, making consistency difficult to achieve. Your description also sounded a bit wet to roll, but I could be wrong. You almost want the mix too dry to roll! You are probably or possibly better going to corkball or a dedicated pop-up mix.

Different things to different people. To me a 'social' in inverted commas, is a group of anglers fishing together on a water, with the barbecue, maybe a couple of drinks and a meeting time to discuss the life, universe and everything. Carp.com years ago had some good socials, Mick1396, Richardf, Chris Payne, Tryzard, Guddler, @welder , @dougmoon and @kevtaylor amongst others fishing some nice lakes where we had a meeting of minds, chat, as well as the chance of a fish or two. A chance to meet other members of the forum, some of which I am lucky enough to call friends as well. I'm not into the glorified continual drinking, I don't drink much alcohol anymore; I can't handle it, I don't like the hangovers, and water and alcohol don't mix... Saying that a nice cider, one maybe two cans or 500ml bottle goes down nicely. My usual session fishing is rarely social, although if Bruce Lait is about we socialise as close mates anyway, but we still aim to fish to catch. On my syndicate we share time, coffee, but it's not really social, it's a walk around looking for fish, or being near other members. Some people do use fishing as a social, glorified alcohol time, just not my thing very often. I'm usually happier in my own space. Strangely I get on well with most people, but often prefer to keep to myself. I think Tim @newmarket, you know me well enough to understand why.

Welcome to carp.com. Firstly what you are doing is working, so don't complicate things, just stick with it. You are catching good fish up to a good size. What you may find is that venues with bigger fish are not compatible with days only, so with family you might have to stick with what you have. However, if the club has lakes with bigger fish take your working methods over there and try them. In terms of fishing tackle you could be spending silly money on gear you don't need, buzzers, new rods, new reels. What you do need is decent sized landing net, unhooking mat etc. You will get so many answers on what is decent gear, Shimano, Daiwa, Wychwood, Sonik, Nash, Fox, Delkim, the list is endless. The best bet is to go into a tackle shop near you, preferably one who knows your venues, and see what he recommends.

If you are happy with it, and it doesn't tangle then stick with it.

My frying pan, plate and spatula all go in the interior pocket at the back of my rucksack, the stove, gas canister and saucepan go in the main body. My ruckbag carries my coffee, sugar, food and electrical bits; tablet, chargers/powerpack, along with a couple of books. Suffered tonight with food, for the first time in years it was bacon, sausages and fried eggs, followed by a 5 pack of Jaffa cake bars.

My syndicate is the same, only 5 regularly fishing. Some get the ticket to hold onto for the future. I think your next 2 paragraphs are the crux of the matter: The smaller fish that you have been catching may well be bait and pellet orientated, whereas the larger fish could well be natural food feeders. The stock fish in our syndicate seem to be bait feeders for a year or two before switching onto naturals. The older originals rarely get caught over bait. It takes an absolute mountain to get the originals feeding on bait, more than I can afford! As the stockies move onto naturals they get harder to catch. I've been wading, through the margins, the silt and weed; within 20minutes you can collect a carrier bag full of snails, I've waded through massive silt holes dug by carp, absolutely full of bloodworm as well as bringing them in on the hook and lead. Mussels from tiny shells to as big as a side plate. Plenty of fish food, difficult to compete with.

I'm fishing quite a bit at the moment; straight from work then load the gear into the car for a 2 night trip. I'm still using the particles, plenty of hemp and birdfood. My usual method at the moment is to put into soak 48 hours minimum before I go, then on the day boil before I go to work. Most of the bucket goes in as I arrive, even in the dark. I'm able to wade out to spread it on my spots, but even if I had to spod or Spomb it I know I could do so accurately.

I would not trust a Coleman petrol stove at all. Too many problems from a Peak1 made me return to gas. It's cheaper to replace a whole worn out gas stove than continually replace dying parts on a Coleman. The rings wear, the burner wears out, the pump needs replacing, washer replacement, all were around £20. You can get a new gas stove for that... Get a Bulin T4😉

I have used tapered leaders for sea fishing, and the leader lasts multiple sessions. I would suggest checking it every time you reel in, habit for me, but mussels, gravel etc, can take chunks out of your line.

Different waters Different results. For some reason some of the waters I've fished have still been night time waters, even in the depths of winter. Yet others the takes do switch to coming during the day, or at any time. Earith Virgina Water was very much a night water, all of my winter fish coming at night between 8pm and 8am. We had some cold wet nights when I was fishing there, and I was still doing 2night sessions. Nazeing Brackens produced fish between midday and 9pm, yet the lagoons could be anytime. Those big Southwesterlies can be very good to fish in, a proper system that seems to get the fish moving again, yet a steady period of high pressure, cold, no rain or snow can have the fish switch off. The carp can really hold tight in one area, so takes can come at anytime if you can find them. Near weed, snags, drop-offs and as @yonny mentioned, not always the deepest water. It's weird seeing 20carp huddled together in the rushes in water only 1metre deep. Again on Earith I had a lot of my fish in winter from a bloodworm bed in silt next to the base of islands. Catching plenty of upper doubles saw me getting noticed, and when another angler started fishing the spot, I moved areas, and found a few bigger fish from a snag at the other end of the island. Even in winter fish will show, at any time, although I've noticed it more from lunchtime until just after dark. Hearing big fish jump in the dark at 6pm, looking for the origin of the ripples... It is that showing that saw me catch some very good fish from the Nazeing Central lagoon, just after a thaw. So much water coming in the inlet that a 3oz lead wouldn't hold bottom near it. I walked around, and 'thought' I saw a roll or show, so set up on it. Over the next 4 days I had 26, 26, 20 and 16lb fish, and all on one rod. The middle rod fished metres away produced nothing, same bait, same rig, but the fish were tight to the end of the gravel bar on Bower bank Long Island swim.

I regularly fish through the winter, days and nights so here is my take on it. My bait doesn't change, the same bait summer and winter, although 1 rod tends to have a hi-vis high attract pop-up on it. No added bits and pieces, and fished over Vitalin and crushed pellets in a bag or mesh. Baiting up is done when I leave. I don't use particles much in winter except sweetcorn, which will get used sometimes if it feels right on the hook as well. One rod on a bit of bait, one just off and a rover, then when you find the fish with the rover, another one in the same area. A cast 3metres away from the fish may be too much for them to move onto it. My rigs are the same, i dont even drop the line breaking strain. Clothing for me is from Hoggs of Fife, a decent jacket and overtrousers over my combat trousers, and Norgi top. While bib and brace is good, getting it out for a pee is awkward... Boots, I have both combat boots and cold weather boots, shop around because TFG boots are obviously no longer available. Lace ups keep feet warmer than welly type slip ons. Walk to your swim in combats, change your socks and boots when you get there to prevent sweaty damp feet getting cold. A stove bottle sleeve is not brilliant, although if the canister is warm it slows down it cooling down. Use a decent canister, iso-butane, butane propane mix. ( ) Coffee, soup and warm meals!

Welcome

The only thing I can suggest is to call various reel repairers who have dealt with Shimano reel servicing in the past. Felindre, Tackle Box in Kent and Bass Online would be my starting 3

Welcome to Carp.com