salokcinnodrog

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.

I think it's fair to say none of us would be very good influencers/bloggers. Not sure why, but I think this maybe my longest write up. 
Sorry if I'm waffling on.
Hopefully one of the others can fill in some of the gaps??
So, we arrived Friday morning to glorious weather, carp showing all around the horseshoe shaped lake. 
A bit disappointed to discover we would need our own boat to get to the island swim. 
Walked the lake a few times, and did a draw. 
Surprisingly, we drew 1-5 numerically.?? It seemed a good omen.
In 2nd place I was lucky enough to pick one of the favoured swims. 
It had a bit of everything,  overhanging trees in the margins, 2 channels opening into the rear of the lake, off the back of the island with a long chuck of around 20 wraps.
Rods set up, time for the marker to find some spots. Oh!
Every chuck for the first 20 minutes plugged in thick blanket & Canadian weed. When I say plugged, I had to line the rod up with the lead and walk backwards??
This wasn't going to be as easy as I'd first thought.
Luckily it was clear in the channel to my left around the lillies, so put a bit of bait out & a rod on each side of the channel. 
I flicked around a light lead with 1 ft zig on the 3rd rod to try and pick off the fish that had been fizzing in the swim.
@kevtaylor went in next to me on the gate swim, with the road bank to himself. Fish showing at range, but not safe to fish for them due to the channel & island.
Rods out, set up camp, sun was out.
Just messaged the others how nice it was to do a bit of sunbathing & it poured down for half hour😄
We ordered the kebabs that Elmo kindly went to collect, had quick munch, beer and a chat. Then back to matter in hand.
Elmo had a mid double that night, fishing in the garden swim on the opposite side of the lake to me. Well done mate.
Next morning, no shows in front of me so I went for a wander. 
@chillfactor had a small tench & similar issues with the weed, that we were told was upto 8 ft deep!!!!
@dalej2014 was having a nap, so went round to see Elmo. Interesting to watch his approach with the boat and Deeper. As far as I could tell, the baitboat was a very effective way to fish this venue.
I could just see @chillfactorwith a nice bend in his rod, so made my way back to see his capture. Which turned out to be another little tench with 10 times its weight in weed.
Headed back to my swim with Elmo to find @kevtaylor bent into a lovely looking mid double mirror. Nice one.
We ordered fish n chips, delivered to the gate. Chewed over a few stories between us and thoughts for the night ahead. 
I had a lead around at the long chuck and found a clear spot. Put 2 rods out there and about a kilo of chops.
Woke up Sunday about 6.30, looked around. Beep, pause then a screamer, the bobbin hit the rod hard and I soon had the 19lber on the long chuck. It was an unusual scrap as the fish tried to bury itself in the weed. But I had a good hook hold and soon had it in the net.
It was a big relief having been in the favoured swim and not caught yet. Everyone had had a carp (or tench)  by then.
Elmo & @dalej2014 were heading home that day and everything went really quiet. The wind had picked up & changed direction. That was enough to make @kevtaylor & @chillfactor make the move to the middle of the lake.
@kevtaylor had quick payback with his mid 20 cracker. Well done sir👍& thanks for getting out of bed to take a few pics of my fish.
I didn't have much activity in front of me and considered moving, but felt it was silly to move having caught this morning. So I continued to keep the chops going in every few hours on the long chuck, occasionally a sprinkling on my margin rod.
The lads had spotted an otter causing havoc at their part of the lake at dusk.
I was woken around midnight to a screamer on my margin rod. Without my head torch I proceeded to trip over my other 2 rods and grab the screamer. I had a lovely bend in the rod, but something felt strange. Rubbing almost. I played the fish until I saw the surrender of his mouth out of the water. I couldn't quite net it??? I jumped in and scooped the net under the fish. I could then see that during the fight my line had wrapped around an overhanging branch. Fish secure I cut the line. 
Quick weigh up without my glasses looked around 14lb. Quick mat shot, didn't seem fair to wake anyone up for this little fella.
All quiet for therest of the night and morning. I had small fish showing on the long chuck, but no bites. Slow pack up and home for dinner time.
It was the first time on this type of social for me. It was kind of like meeting up with old mates after so many years on the forum. 
I'd definitely go again, take care gents and be lucky!

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.
 

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.

I personally think you need to change one thing at a time first off. it may need a slightly alternate arrangement before you go wholesale at it. how will you know what component was wrong ??

 
 

@andywilson123 you are opening a big can of big worms!
 
There are devotees to Fox, to Steve Neville, to Gardner Atts, Nash and of course Delkim.
What matters is your alarm buzzes for you on a take, whether you use mono or braid. Not all roller wheels work with braids!
Your alarm must buzz on line being taken or on dropbacks, your indicator should show you which, not really much need for a tone difference.
 
Now I've used Delkim ST alarms since 1993 or 94, and had the same set from 2000 until last year. (The first set was stolen).
In fact, they are still in use for pike fishing.
I replaced them with the new TXI'D which I also love.
I never had problems with water ingress, no funny bleeps, no faults, and believe me my gear really does get used on all weathers, from boiling hot to freezing cold, to mega thunderstorms and monsoons.
 
Reasons I don't like Fox alarms, I have had to return many to manufacturer faulty within warranty, on occasions before they even left the shop.
The new models released every couple of years; Micron, Mini Micron, replaced with Micron R, Micron S, then MR, MX, MXR, NTX and so on.
Get it right first time, not need an upgrade (or cynical) to convince anglers their old alarms aren't good enough, so have to buy new.
I actually liked the original budget Mini Microns, a perfect day only alarm (no extension box or receiver).
Now I'm certain that someone will probably tell me about Delkim false bleeps, there will be hearsay that 'Fred couldn't stop his bleeping, or rain got in', and some may well be true, but with many there is always an amount of user error. I mean we all read the instructions correctly for Delkims, our washing machine etc don't we, so not reading them leads to things not being right.
Actually I do have a slight Delkim gripe, I prefer an on/off switch rather than simultaneous double or triple button press, but it's a minor nuisance.
 

My Personal Best is over 40lbs , my BEST fish is 23lbs 12ozs caught around 25 years ago i guess , i remember every thing about that capture as it was my first 20 and can still see it all in my mind , that fish will live in my mind forever.

Amateur, should have nicked his sweets as well.
 
Something about taking candy from a baby springs to mind...

Nicked off a kids bike outside the sweet shop 😎

That chain looks like you nicked it off a Harley Davidson 😳

Personally I love them, had a set for years but swapped about a year ago to Gardner att silent alarms that only work with a receiver.
I don't like them, don't like the rollers, the batteries are a pain in the ass to source from a shop, you have to order them online, you also have to unscrew 4 screws to get the back off to replace the battery.
The receiver, well I didn't know how to turn off the vibrate setting and would nearly give me a hear attack when I'd get a run in the night 🤣
I've also missed the roller before and had the line sitting on top of it which didn't spin on the take, luckily I heard the clutch/drag lol.
I believe I had a pair of fox warrior alarms as my first set which are still kept in the shed as a set if I take a friend with me. Still going strong just the led has stopped working on one of them so just need to make sure you are striking the right rod 🫣🤣
In my honest opinion delkims suit me best and will be going back to them when funds are available 👍
 

@andywilson123 you are opening a big can of big worms!
 
There are devotees to Fox, to Steve Neville, to Gardner Atts, Nash and of course Delkim.
What matters is your alarm buzzes for you on a take, whether you use mono or braid. Not all roller wheels work with braids!
Your alarm must buzz on line being taken or on dropbacks, your indicator should show you which, not really much need for a tone difference.
 
Now I've used Delkim ST alarms since 1993 or 94, and had the same set from 2000 until last year. (The first set was stolen).
In fact, they are still in use for pike fishing.
I replaced them with the new TXI'D which I also love.
I never had problems with water ingress, no funny bleeps, no faults, and believe me my gear really does get used on all weathers, from boiling hot to freezing cold, to mega thunderstorms and monsoons.
 
Reasons I don't like Fox alarms, I have had to return many to manufacturer faulty within warranty, on occasions before they even left the shop.
The new models released every couple of years; Micron, Mini Micron, replaced with Micron R, Micron S, then MR, MX, MXR, NTX and so on.
Get it right first time, not need an upgrade (or cynical) to convince anglers their old alarms aren't good enough, so have to buy new.
I actually liked the original budget Mini Microns, a perfect day only alarm (no extension box or receiver).
Now I'm certain that someone will probably tell me about Delkim false bleeps, there will be hearsay that 'Fred couldn't stop his bleeping, or rain got in', and some may well be true, but with many there is always an amount of user error. I mean we all read the instructions correctly for Delkims, our washing machine etc don't we, so not reading them leads to things not being right.
Actually I do have a slight Delkim gripe, I prefer an on/off switch rather than simultaneous double or triple button press, but it's a minor nuisance.
 

I'm a bit obsessive too, I haven't posted my latest set up yet 😳any excuse lol 
Matrix hockey sticks, MCF bike chains and my beloved Defiant MPS heads 
Probably not the most functional set I've had but they meet my own vein bobbin fetish requirements at the moment. 

I used to have a Fetish on Swingers/Bobbins....
Fox Springer Arms were pretty decent (can also adjust with weights), Fox Mini Swingers with moving weight, also good to stop wind moving any bobbin chains.
Now I'm using Sonik Bobbins and add additional weights if needed.
 

Honestly, at 1 point I had that many different brand, styles and heads, all fitted with isotopes....

A few from Kingy last week, 4 fish in shot, were loads in the snags.

2 from a previous syndicate, both mega fish Patch Common and Scaley mid 40 and mid 30.

With and without a photobomber, or without and with...

With and without a photobomber, or without and with...

With and without a photobomber, or without and with...

Thanks to Elmo for arranging this one, a great venue and everyone was sound, Jack and I cant wait for the next one.  Sorry for the noise they were provoking me. 🤣

The only times my Alarms go off is while I am setting the bobbin, got to get some value out of them 😂

it’s all the same regurgitated stuff 
how many ways can you tie a ronnie 
try this super duper slip” E “ rig 
how to set up a chod 
here’s a review that isn’t a review because we don’t want to upset the advertisers.
even podcasts now all have the same stories from the same guests 
at least the baitworks ones you tend to get old school anglers who you don’t normally get in the mags etc

It was an awesome experience mate, might see if I can get on for another night before the end of September 👍
Yeah mate I had too many what if items with me that didn't leave the bag 🤣 took all that food only to take most of it back home, was easier to go to the shop and but meat and cook that up 🤣
Can relate to no barrow, had a wheel blow out in the back of the car and when I arrived to the water I had to carry it all to the swim. To be fair I fished as close as I could get to the car 🤣
Sadly I don't have any waters where I can drive close to the swim, my worst one is like a 45 minute slug with the barrow to the other side of the reservoir 🤦‍♂️🤣

Glad you had a good session, not just the fish, but the whole thing.
Beating the rain makes packing up bearable.
 
That slimming down thing, it's easier once you work out what is a definite need, a possible, and an 'I might need in a blue moon'.
I still find that I do carry a few 'might need' items, but most of them are now out as I've learnt to do without them.
I still carry 2 barrow loads of gear, but of that it's essentials,  books, extra water and Sky food. A few bits of I might need do stay in the car permanently, like my boat landing net, extra stainless sticks.
Must admit, being able to offload and load behind the swim helps. I have actually carried everything over to the car when I left the barrow at home and the ground was too muddy to drive over. It took 2 of us, and at the end I did actually crash out spark cold fainted, don't know if it was pain, exhausted or just head rush.
 

And to think, this is supposed to be a relaxing, leisurely pursuit!