mattgroves

Not at all, KD is at it's most effective with balanced baits, ideally those that only just sink (i.e. without the weight of the hook they would float). Testing in the margins or a bait tub filled with water is critical and worth the effort.

Hadn't heard of the Surgeons Knot, so looked it up: http://videofishingknots.com/surgeons-knot.html Basically the same as a Water knot, only fewer turns...

I didn't know that was called the Albright knot, I've been using that for ages for combi hooklinks (braid to stiff flouro).... Everyday's a school-day As Bob says, stick at it, you'll get it and when you do you'll wonder how you ever struggled... Any reasons why the old 5 turn Water Knot wouldn't work? Used it for joining hook-length the mainline for years when stick float/feeder fishing the Trent (admittedly only for small fish with light mono).

My boys will be getting me this for Fathers day, can't wait...

Isn't Cudmore up that way?

Have a look at fisheries co uk and the search option at the top of the page here, loads of info on Midlands waters. There is always the question of do you want catch all night or get some shut-eye, if you don't mind missing sleep then give Barston a try. Or maybe Weston Lawns. I was going to try Weston Lawns with a colleague but we're going to hit Bluebell or Linear for 48hours instead!

@coventrycarpleads Where do I buy? Are you online?

not a runs water. lovely place to fish. does get busy at weekends though. Seen photos of several 20's but never witnessed anything bigger than 15 myself...

nope... Never came back... he got rather exciting over a liner IMO Thanks for the feedback on the vid, I couldn't help myself, was too funny to not film him!

Fished Barston for the first time over the long weekend, did Sunday night and Monday daytime, had a cracking night (several fish overnight, to 19lb) and then a disappointing day... Fished peg 3 overnight, then moved to the island mid morning (peg 30-something), didn't get a wink of sleep until gone 1am as there was a function on at the Golf club that had a live band, then Disco, thumping out! The band weren't bad, esp when they got towards the end of their set and did a few Clash/Jam/Stones tunes, could have done without 'Dancing Queen' etc from the disco, but the fish didn't seem to mind one bit Haven't quite mastered self takes (but will still refuse to take my 7D that do it perfectly!) so this is all I could manage of the 19: (loving my bed hair in this one!!) Then had a few more that I photographed in the net, only these are worthy of note: These were 15 and 13 respectively... Then got woken up at 3am by a screaming run that at first I thought I'd missed, but then something really fast started running all over my swim, result was a 2-3lb carp, no idea how it managed to get 2 Cell 15mm boilies in it's mouth: Highlight of the day session was a 15lb ghostie: Had a play with Marks bait boat and got this fish from under the trees on the island, still doubt I'll bring myself to get one, just 'feels' like cheating... [not wanting to start the debate here on this thread, I'm just stating my opinion!] Mark's best was a 14lb: We both struggled all day, annoyingly some lads 2 or 3 pegs down did much better, with tactics that were crude at best, and sharing a net between them, they didn't have a mat either... Reported it to the golf club and they said they'd get the bailiff on it... The other highlight was watching Mark try to collapse his pop-up bivvy, video here Warning: video contains some swearing.[/img]

Looking to put together a long weekend trip (4 nights) so limiting scope to Northern France, anyone know of any lakes that suit?

Was hoping to get over to Watermead on Monday, but managed to get sign off on an overnighter Sunday>Monday so will be at Barston with the lads from work instead

Will do mate. I think that my boys are due for a walk in the country, near water, maybe in the Syston area, this coming weekend.....

Sime, (apologies for the barrage of questions!) How does Watermead (merricks/lear) fish in the winter? (just wondering if I'm better waiting or jumping in now) Is it safe to fish alone? Can a permit holder "sign-in" guests for night fishing? (no idea how this works as I've never been a member anywhere before)

Been to watermead loads of times with the kids, not seen many people fishing there (we normally park up by King Lear and walk through to the nature reserve). Will give it a look the next time were over and have a wander around Merricks (only really seen this from the road as you drive in). Cheers Sime I'll look into it further.

Hinkley Angling Club http://www.hinckleyanglingclub.co.uk/ I'm looking for somewhere to settle on for a season, will still tour around a little bit, but want somewhere where I can really "learn the water" and also come and go as I please. The HAC water seems to fit the bill nicely, and a few of the regulars here are members, (which I'm sure they wouldn't be if it was naff ) Am off to Lakeside this weekend - hence finding this thread...

@slimysime - could you PM the same please mate? Looking for other (better) venues around leicestershire... Also considering joining HAC nxt season. Do you know much about their waters?

@dpws6 Walked the far bank yesterday, they've built some areas for bivvies, look quite comfortable actually, certainly better than trying it on the boards... With the water level down so low it's really easy to bivvy up on the bankside - it's normal under 4 foot of water (at least) so expect it to be muddy...

It is, sailing club end of the wall...

LOL I had a meeting with a prospective client over Northants way today and drove back via Drayton, the platforms on the Dam wall are FAR from finished, they seem to be building the base first than adding the pallet-style platforms later, so it's fishing off the concrete... The water is way down, must be 6 feet down, maybe 7... I got talking to a brummie lad (Aide) who was getting fish so often he let me land a couple So here I am, in my usual work attire, with a fish: Cheers Aide, much appreciated!! Aide is just back from Gigantica and is one of a very short list of poeple to have had a fish on the first day, read the report here: http://www.gigantica-carp.com/reports# (go to the report for June 5th). I really hope we win the project in Northants as this opens up the possibility of some evenings at Drayton.... happy days... Stood talking for 20 minutes and on one occasion Aide cast out after a fish and hadn't even bent over to put the rod on the rests and it soared off! So it's fishing well...

@holmzi - fishing Drayton all day and not catching? What were they doing? @bowza - pegs should be finished by now, 4 weeks ago they had 3 or 4 left and finished one while we were there. Glad it wasn't that close to me and they make one hell of a racket...

We struggled all day. neither had a fish, I had a couple of strange takes, packed gear away at around 6 and set up the 10ft stalking rod, had a wander around and must have dropped my bait in front of dozens of carp, nothing showed much interest. It's certainly a good venue, very challenging with the clear water and weed, the other thing I liked was the lack of idiots no-one shouting accross the lake at their mates, no-one behaving like fools, much better than the commercials... We'll be back.

Cheers mate. that makes the decision really quite simple. I don't get out fishing very often, so each morning of a fishing trip is like Christmas morning for a 6 year old I'll be there early. I'll probably have forgotten to put any tackle in the car boot, but I'll be there...

Finally got the trip to Kingsbury confirmed, we're heading over early on Sunday. Only question is: Do we hit Pine Pool or Canal Pool? My colleague popped in yesterday and checked out Pine, said it wasn't as weedy as he remembered and clear spots are clearly visible, water gin clear, fish showing all over. Just checked the Fisheries website (http://www.fisheries.co.uk/kingsbury/) and Canal pool looks just as interesting. Colleague has fished Pine previously and struggled in the weed, so we've both read up on fishing in/near weed and feel a bit more confident in our approach. Just wondered on the option of fishing Canal pool instead...

The biggest I have personal witnessed was 13lb something... But this is going back a good 4 or 5 years. There was talk of a twenty, and I think that's believable, but I would guess the average (now, assuming growth etc) is probably around the 10lb mark now. It isn't a heavily stocked water, and not actively marketed (therefore never very busy), which (too me) added to the appeal It's a small and intimate venue, very natural and nothing artificial... I ought to caveat the above with the fact I haven't set foot on the bank there for 4 or 5 years.