Phil

Dont worry about your gear, its perfect. Super Nova is a brilliant braid for hooklengths as it is very abrasion resistant. Try half or a whole mackerel, massive bunch of worms, 1/2 tin of luncheon meat as baits. Hook sizes to suit, dont be affraid of a big single hook http://www.catfish-tackle.co.uk/acatalog/copy_of_Hooks.html I think links are allowed

Feather your casts before the lead hits the water. This will throw the hookbait forwards away from the lead, and allow you to feel the lead down properly.

Good ole' water dynamics! Dont always follow unsubstantiated fashions, try a semi slack line, or a mega tight line. The lead doesn't have to set the hook, think about how many fish are caught on non bolt setups.

I would be tempted to fish a running lead with shortish hooklink. Then fish my line semi slack with backleads to help pin it down a tad, trying to cut out potential liners.

It doesn't help that hook sizes vary so much. I've tended to fish on the lighter side with smaller hooks quite often, but the whole setup needs to balance this.

What bottom were you fishing over peg101? Also, how were your indicators set up?

Ahh, congratulations for finding the exclamation mark on your keyboard. Now don't touch it again or I'll twang you with an air dried monster crab.

Yea I know the Ickneild area well. Went to Ickneild as a lad lol, Im in Bushmead just up the road.

In one stretch during the closed season, I saw a pair of carp cruising the upper layers mid river, one of which was clearly touching the 30 mark. Never seen any others though, but there simply must be some somewhere.

Howdie, Ive fished the Ouse around Bedford off and on for years. Especially the Kempston stretch and Priory area. Neither stretch have the large shoals of fish that they once had, why this is Im unsure but I can hand on heart say Ive seen a fair few cormorants. Saying this, there are good fish to be caught. Ive not fished the the lakes for a good while. I know they all had good carp, tench etc in them but Ive not fished them for ages! Might have to get back on there and have a go lol. Where abouts in Luton are you?

I own a set of Delks that I bought new in the late 90's, single LED MKII and can honestly say that Ive had no problems with any of them. Even after having a soaking in a margin overnight they were fine. Rain doesnt bother them, never has. I dont know if newer versions are more problematic or of lesser quality, but mine have been superb.

Does anyone use Amnesia any more? for stiff rigs or combi's? Used to be widely used but Ive not heard of it for ages! found a few spools of the stuff in mhy old bag last night lol

Hi all, bit late to the thread but hey ho. Ive been planning to go back and fish Beckerings just recently, used to fish it many yrs ago (makes me feel old at 29!) my future brother in law has recently got the pike n lure bug and has been fishing Beckerings a bit. His friend is the baliff at the water. Seems to fish quite well, but can be open and quite wind swept, I know that the carp often follow a warm wind here. Might have to dust off the gear and give it a go soon. Im not far away, born and raised in sunny Luton!