mattgroves

thanks guys.....

I'm creating a rather comprehensive list of things to take for the France trip this year. I've never done a drive'n'survive trip, in fact my only other trip was 6 years ago, so I'm far from a veteran! I think I've got everything covered, but just wanted to see what are the things I'm likely to have omitted/forgotten about? Or to put it another way, what items have you forgotten or wished you had?

thanks guys, that's what I was thinking, but you never know... They are the simple 2ways, 6 channels IIRC... about £25 from Screwfix... certainly far from top of any range!!!

Is there anything illegal in using 2-way radios in France?

Another trick to try, when you're passing the tag end through, fold the 'mainline' (hooklink) back towards the point, this will open up the 'space' in the eye: Be careful not to pull/force it too much else you may kink the line. But doing this, and cutting the line on an angle, should give you enough space... Another tip is to leave the tag longer as you tie the knot and trim off any damaged bits before threading, I tend to pull the knot tight using my teeth and this creates a flat spot on the tag end that ruins the stiffness needed to successfully thread through for the D. So now I pull down tight, then trim off the 'ruined' line (at an angle), and it goes through nice and easy...

Using ESP Ghost in 18lb (0.45mm) I can get it twice through Korda Choddy hooks in sizes 8, 10 and 12. It might help to cut the tag end (hair/D) at an angle before threading through the eye, certainly helps me...

your passport and wallet, the rest you could improvise if needed

mmmmmmmmmmmmm.... Canadian....... My lake is choked with it too... Start by watching and looking, walk the banks, see where the fish are. they might be in the weed, equally they may frequent deeper areas at certain times of day, you'll generally not fisn fish in the weed between midnight and 0500 as the weed is actually removing oxygen from the water during these times, so a bit placed on a clear area will do better. You'll probably find the deeper areas of the lake have less Canadian with the bottom switching to gravel/sand/silt/silkweed, which is much better for fishing IMO!!!

I had this happen last weekend end, lost a fish on a chod, was close in too towards the end of the fight, I think the lead being so close was the reason... So, I sliced a teardrop rig-ring onto the leadcore and then added around 6 inches of leadcore the other side, so the setup was: lead - 6" of leadcore - ring - leadcore with chod/beads - mainline This stopped the rig sliding all the way down to the lead. i can't take credit for this idea, I remember seeing it somewhere (mag/dvd/here?) and that sprung to mind as I was sat thinking of a solution on the bank, it worked well as I had 2 more takes on that rig and landed both.

If I can manage 48 hours like that I'll be one very happy camper

Thanks Sisco, Kingfisher is probably the hardest lake on the complex, will def not be on there!

I've been told that it's easier than that (except Swan and Kingfisher) and to expect some action (in the region of 5-8 bites per 24 hours) if you get it reasonably 'right'. While I'm not expecting Drayton levels of action, or even Barston levels, we're hoping to get a few bites... When deciding on venues we considered Linear, but thought not after hearing loads of reports of thefts and trouble (which I appreciate may not be entirely accurate). We also considered Sandhusrt at Yately (this was my choice venue as the allure of fishing Yately is compelling) but probably too hard for the other guys, realistically probably too hard for me too... So we settled on Bluebell as a good compromise...

I'm off to Bluebell for 48 hours next week, been researching online and have a few questions, hopefully none too stupid... I can't find a map of the complex that tells me which lake is which. I've pieced some info together, can anyone confirm/refute this: 1 = Kingfisher? 2 = Bluebell? 3 = Swann? 4 = Sandmartin? 5 = Mallard? 6 = Wood Pool I'm going with 2 others, varying skill/experience between the three of us, we're all after catching something though, I'll be happy with half a dozen bites over 48hrs if I can hook into a "20" (I've never had a UK 20), so we're thinking either Bluebell, Mallard or Sandmartin (decision to be made nearer the time after speaking with Tony at Bluebell). Are these lakes all similar in depths/bottom makeup? I've read several articles that talk about hard clay/gravel and deep water, but all the lakes look to be lined by mature trees, so I'd be expecting to find lovely soft silt (I'd take soft silt over hard gravel any day!), esp on the lake I think is Bluebell (lake 2 in the pic). Are these lakes the kind of waters where it's worth spending 2+ hours with the marker finding some spots, or is that just going to be time wasting looking for things that aren't there?

A book I found on iBooks (iPhone/iPad kindle-esque app) by George Mason for 49p. Read the summary here: http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/60901 and here: http://www.georgefmason.co.uk/carp.html I wasn't expecting much for less than 50p but I've been delighted by it, a very easy and relaxing read under the brolly... I can recommend it to anyone with an iPhone/iPad and £0.49 to spare, I think it's also available on the Kindle...

I also use ESP Ghost, be wary of using inturned eyed hooks as you'll close the gape with the stiff ghost, even straight eyes might be an issue... I use it for chods (hook is Korda Choddy B) or true combi-links with some Kryston braid and Fox SSC/SSBP hooks (so the Ghost isn't actually tied to the hook).

The current top-of-the-range is the "TX-i Plus" (receiver is a "RX Plus Pro"), previous generation was "TX-i" with a "RX 2000" or "RX 2004" receiver... I have used both (borrowed a mates TX-i, then bought the TX-i Plus as I was so impressed), no issues with either models...

The minus setting gives you 0-6 range, but at "low" sensitivity. Usually I have them at 5 or 6 on the minus setting, if I dial right down to 0 on minus then you'll need several inches of movement (or violent back and forth) to get a single bleep. The thing is with Delkims, it isn't just distance of the line movement, it's vibration build-up sensing (see Delkim web site for better description!!) so if you move 1" very slowly (on a low setting) you won't get a bleep, but 1/2" movement done 'violently' will result in a bleep, or pulling the bobbin off (little line movement, but lots of vibration) may result in a bleep. You follow?

I have never had a problem with them in the rain, and I've fished through heavy rain, not hardcore thunder storms, but heavy rain. To be honest I would rather the sensitivity range was moved down a bit, you have 0 - 12 (well, 0-6 with a plus and minus setting), I would rather the mid-point was around 3, in effect giving you -3 to 9 (hope that makes sense). The reports of people saying they go off at the slightest knock or in rain are probably due to having them on the plus setting on +6 (most sensitive) where I agree that rain could set them off. Mine are on the minus setting 90% of the time, and I don't have issues with false beeps, and yet 5 or 6mm of line movement will set them off. The one thing I would change is for the receiver to beep/vibrate when you turn it off, just to alert you to the fact you have turned it off, other than that I find them to be the best I've used (and the best I've seen used by others too).

I'd had a few different alarms before buying my Delk's and I can honestly say that they are vastly superior. The build quality and functions set them apart, that said, some other manufacturers are catching up fast, but that's the ting - they are playing catchup with Delkim, not leading themselves. They are also VERY easy to use, and just carry on working, whatever the weather or situation. I would not go to anything else now (unless they offered something revolutionary). So, are Delk's worth the $, yes I think they are. £500 for 3 TXI+ and the wireless RX+ Pro reciever (the top of the range, all singing, all dancing etc), which is price comparable to the top models from Fox, Nash etc, but superior in what you get. I recently bought the TFG Glimmer set for my father-in-law (b-day pressie), which offers excellent VFM at £150 (3 alarms and a wireless receiver) but is not a patch on the Delk's. But they suit his needs better. We all need slightly different things from our tackle. I coped fine for several years with very basic alarms, and if you need something to alert you to a screaming take any alarm with do, but as your fishing advances you're likely to need something that is more reliable and offers more features... While not strictly on topic, please ensure ANY alarm you buy has volume control (or can be muted) so you can set the bobbin without alerting everyone else on the lake. Sorry. This is something that really winds me up...

Read this on holiday this year. While I respect Terry as an angler, I wasn't expecting much from the book, kind of a easy holiday read... Well, how wrong I was... In pursuit of the largest (IPOTL) is great. Terry really draws you into his obsession (which I didn't fully appreciate until reading this!!) and if I could convince my wife to read it she might appreciate how lucky she is! 5 or 6 nights a month is one thing, 150 nights a year is quite another!!!! IPOTL isn't a technical/tactical book, it's a collection of stories and anecdotes of Terry's early carping, covering his time at Yateley among other venues. Obviously I am deeply jealous of Terry being able to fish full time after departing RM, even though he covers the hours spent and the effort he has put in, it still appears at time to be remarkable simple! The main thing this book did for me was to fuel my own little obession The guest chapters range in quality, but all are all short enough that they don't detract from the rest of the book.

I read this while on holiday, along with Terry Hearn's 'In pursuit of the largest'. Strategic Carp Fishing (SCF) is easily the best tactical/technical book on the subject I have ever read, the sections on the physiology of carp was fascinating, and the rest was almost as compelling. I'll probably get a second copy to have as reference on the bank with me. It makes Ali Hamidi's book look like a childs guide to carping (sorry Ali, your book is good beginers fodder, but it isn't a patch on SCF). In addition to the anatomical/science stuff (which as thedddjjj says above, isn't heavy, in fact it could have gone further) the tactical and approach content is excellent. It links the chapters together very well, fish behaviour, weather, tactics, baiting, all comes together to form a great holistic view on the subject matter. the rig content was good, could have gone a little more into mechanics, but good nonetheless. The only thing I think it's missing is.... Nothing. I couldn't fault it. Well worth a purchase.

How does that differ from anywhere else? (the "at your own risk" bit) Did they give any examples?

Rig Evolution? Yeah, it's well worth a watch, not only covers several modern rigs but also includes lots of commentary on how they were invented and the evolution of our thinking/knowledge (hence the title!). Another gem available in tackle shops at my favorite price Also, IMO Rig Evolution is not as sales/marketing lead as the Korda ones, but I did end up getting a couple of the diffusion leaders after seeing them in the DVD!!

depends what you're after and what you mean by decent... Generally, no, not really... There is Willesley (near Ashby), and Snibston (in Coalville), there are more places if you travel a bit further south...

post the pics here mate, most here will happily comment and help