salokcinnodrog

Your rig pic with a pop-up gives very similar properties to the Bent Hook rig, but with no mouth damage. Difficult to eject, nice low lying pop-up, close to freebies.

Try that with a pop-up 😉 You want the hook sat on the kicker with the pop-up sitting nicely tight to the hookshank, so the hookbait lifts everything up vertical.

Talk nicely to girlfriends...

Pinch a pair of tights, put a few in there to normal size, cut that section free, tie and heat seal, then tie to hook.

I must admit I am not a fan of backleads, to me the only place to use them is to keep lines away from boats. I have used them in the past to keep lines down in tight swims, but noticed indication was much reduced. Captive backleads are probably the best way to not lose them as long as they do drop off on the take or as you lift the rod up. I used to add and screw in Solar Indicator clips to a slightly drilled out 1oz inline lead, and a small closed steel screw eye then along came Gardner Captive backleads, which solved my problems with boaties.

Baseball cap, sunglasses, and already tanned skin, plenty of water. Sky had already been sent into the shade available

It's only the t-shirt flap covering his modesty that meant I let it run. At least he is not hanging out in front of a sign saying 'no nuts'...

Dampen them, leave for 5mins, squeeze into balls and fire out. The balls will break down leaving a nice smell trail, and get the carp hopefully munching everything on top

The sleeping on the floor is probably out for me now. Sciatica hurts bits that shouldn't. This week, even though I did unload from the car, I didn't set up the bivvy, it's nice weather for it, but looking at MetOffice I wouldn't be doing that this weekend.

2 nights, no need for a bivvy. Not the tidiest I must admit, but everything is in order and reach

Thing is that on the original Vader range they are using cheap eyes where the frames bend. Customer service should NOT be having to replace items that are broken so quickly; essentially they are not fit for purpose! I clip my spod or lead link to the butt or tip section first eye when I fold the rod down, and have actually seen it bend. Not sure if the updated Vader X or whatever they have gone to use the same rings, I think they have switched to Minima type rings. None of my other rods have done that, even the single legs on my RH The Ones don't bend. The Sonik Spod/Marker Hybrid should actually make a decent rod for pike fishing, slinging deadbaits out quite a way. Might be a bit 'hard' for live baits though.

I'm sat by the lake at the moment, but have to pack up today, work tomorrow. I might grab the chub floater rod for a bash this afternoon, although I think any caught might be a little tatty after they spawned a few days ago. I also have a bass rod made up, although I didn't check the Holbrook or Felixstowe tide times.

Can't remember when I bought my Fox Warrior landing net, but I was on Nazeing, so a minimum of 5 years ago. It has been remeshed a couple of times, the varnish is starting to 'bubble', but the arms and pole are still going strong. Had plenty of carp, tench and pike in it. If anything it is the pike trebles that caused mesh damage. Usually me taking the arms out, then rolling the arms and mesh down to the fish to carry it to the mat, with a flying hook. I'd much rather damage the net than the fish. Once it is all rolled in and on mat, I unroll, unhook the fish, get net out of way, Usually thrown to the side, then weigh and photo.

https://www.cabledepot.co.uk/3.5mm-female-to-2.5mm-male-stereo-adapter-p-2785.html Occasionally used on DJ equipment, try that link

Sensor Clear is NOT as good as the Brown. It doesn't knot as tidily, and seems stiffer. I used Daiwa Sensor for years, until Richard Gardner sent me a spool of Gardner Pro to test and review. The result is that Gardner Pro is my go-to line now in monofilament. I have compared Pro Light mono to fluorocarbon, and believe it or not it is as difficult to see in the water as fluorocarbon. Quite possibly it would make an alternative! The only possible difference is the 'lay flat' weight as mono is not as heavy, but does take on water.

Rod Hutchinson special; 6 baits on the hair...

Are double 18 or 20mm hookbaits a possibility? I was using doubles quite frequently on the South and Central. Another alternative is the soaked wooden ball approach. Drill your hole through the centre then leave them in a pot of liquid food and a couple of millilitres of flavour. A mix of Infusion or KMG liquid, peanut oil and a liquid yeast. (https://www.feedstim.com/liquids-oils/liquid-enzyme-treated-yeast-pro-biotic-49.html)

Still learning mine. For 2 sessions I have found fish in the margins, and lowered a bait onto them. I think though that the brightness of Vitalin etc in the bag is too bright. They don't necessarily spook, but do leave it alone. I did wake up to one patch cleared, but the coots were present and I had moved the bait out slightly when I saw them feeding on my bait to avoid hooking them.

I must admit I do like Fisheries that provide cradles and nets it (usually) shows they are protective and serious about their stocks. With barbless, I don't actually mind using them, although I have found a proper line aligner with a slight curve on it helps reduce movement and prevent mouth damage. It also reduces or prevents hookpulls. What's the betting you walk the lake and end up in the tightest rat peg swim available?🤣 Learning a new lake has to be one of my favourite parts, so right now I'm just winging it... 😉😅 I must admit I can struggle sometimes, its like the water wants to hold its secrets, which makes me more determined. As for avoiding the littl'uns, is a boilie only approach viable? Sounds like you have found a good one.

Fox Eos is £53.99😉 Or sneak into GoOutdoors for Cygnet https://www.gooutdoors.co.uk/16451452/cygnet-sniper-landing-net-16451452

I must be the person who can kill anything! I set up the bivvy with the wind coming from behind, but have been caught out a few times with a sudden direction change, where it rips round to the front and lifts the bivvy inside out. Bang went a very good Hardcore Brolly! The Sonik rod rings, I don't know why the liners popped. I strap the rod tightly and put a rod top protector on it. It has been treated exactly the same as my fishing rods which are all OK, no bent rings or anything, and they go in a Specialist sling, then into a Fox Royale sling pocket and get the straps hold that in place. In the end I have had to put the S&M rod separately. KN rucksacks and rod holdalls that simply don't last, broken zips, ties or totally split. In terms of Kevin Nash Tackle I can only recall two decent items, an Outlaw Hurricane Bivvy and overwrap which I still have, and an Outlaw Landing net that lasted for a good few years. Fox Warrior Landing Net, well used, remeshed but still going strong, bought that when I was on Nazeing. The Royale holdalls or rod slings have lasted, as did the EasyDome bivvies.

Sadly Tim, @newmarket you might be on the receiving end of this one, but on my Sonik Vader Spod/Marker Hybrid rod I'm now 3 popped rod rings where the liner has come out of the ring, from the butt ring up. Thank goodness I leave it set up so I could push them back into place, and give a dash of Araldite. I do make sure that the rod is strapped up tightly, with the tip protected and now I carry it separately from my rod sling. It looks like the ring frames are too soft and bend allowing the liners to pop.

Sadly @newmarket might be on the receiving end of this one, but on my Sonik Vader Spod/Marker Hybrid rod I'm now 3 popped rod rings where the liner has come out of the ring. Thank goodness I leave it set up so I could push them back into place, and give a dash of Araldite. I'll add this onto his Marker rod thread

Me neither!