kevtaylor

That's probably correct, however if you wear clothing to lets say mid layers you then don't need to have a bed cover, or the hottest sleeping bag in the world, and your ready to go. My mate had his Solar SP Tech Bed Cover over the bag in Sept, fella was sweating and wearing not a lot lol - I've never taken mine out of the garage 🤷‍♂️

Never understood this stripping off for bed nonsense at any time of year tbh, I take off the outer layers: coat, salopettes, polar fleece but still fully clothed in case I get a take and have to be on the rods as quickly as possible. As has been said, quality clothing is everything in fishing and worth splashing the cash on. What are these people gonna do, run out in their pants and freeze to death - ridiculous!

How awful, sorry to hear that. Got a Cobb myself - poor guy, feel for his family and friends.

We had one strutting about like Terry Hearn coz he had a few out the easier lakes, came on the main lake and 30+ blank nights later he's a broken man, and now an annoying sheep 🐑 lol Didnt see him after a while 🤣 Pointed a rifle at my mate on the small lake, not sure how he got away with that one looking back, he's still seething now 🤣

Never heard that or had a problem stripping mate, this must have been a one off. A mate of mine bought a duff spool of berkley whiplash which snapped at the clip every time, you'd never believe it - again brilliant stuff 🤷‍♂️

Might take you up on the Elmo rig, sounds banging! Became obvious on last 2 trips to Kingy that my trusty pop-up rigs were not getting touched, whereas wafters were, then on the first trip realised I needed to be back on the funnel web, so another prob to solve, which I think gets the best out of me Tbh Both trips I was doing rig and lead system trials side by side, loved it, more to come. My initail stiff rig multi trials were going very well for hooking but then the sods used the semi fixed lead to shake it after dropping back, crafty, but I knew that before I arrived, just wasnt expecting it quite so much in Dec. Must have been done on dropbacks at least 6 times over the 7 nights in total and they're the fish you're there for not the stockies who know no better than pick it up and run. By the last night I had 3 matching wafter slip d's, short like 4-5 inch and running lead clips but sadly no activity for the last 48 hours so didnt know if I'd sorted the issues or not, but really I think I had but long wait to test again down there, Dec 2025 🤷‍♂️

We'll have to agree to disagree on that one 👍

I'm not happy with the slip d multi style either now after a little trial. Land a fish and the kicker is off so if you were to get done the rig is left useless IMO plus the impact of the lead is lessened if the hook is able to move. Don't like the faff of steaming shrink tube so not going there. I've continued with the slip D but just tied standard style last trip, but working on a version using the hook clip now but the kickers are not made specifically for them yet, best so far the Gardner Tungsten XL but still not easy to get over the clip, work in progress. Nash ones supposed to be good but no stock. Yes I did say pointless hook clips previously lol I'm fighting with the concept of changing hooks which is great but not if the finished rig isn't as good as one tied standard style, saving materials is not really that important in the grand scheme, I like tying rigs anyway and adapting as I go so this new interest in changing hooks needs putting right down the priorities list for me. Was also using funnel web bags last trip which you cant with a multi and I loved using them, was a blast from the past and something I'm gonna use regularly this year.

That's not right, you need a stripper tool does it easy - great hooklink - the best IMO 👍

That's sad you feel driven away from somewhere you like, don't want to rock the boat but equally want to smash his face in 🤷‍♂️ Bailiffs hey where do they find these trolls? They camp in the best swims, talk BS, sheep you up then try to get you out coz you're better than them - joke situation! My syndi seems to have more bailiffs than members lol

Good luck mate they're so active right now 👍

3 nights on Kingfisher, Bluebell through the high winds and a pressure drop, it kicked off for the guys facing the wind with 15 - 20 fish out over 48 hours. I got as close to the action as I could missed a massive dropback but landed the next take, blank saver. Back after xmas for another go 🤞

50 mph winds down Bluebell Lakes, happy to be on the back of it. Must have been 15 - 20 fish out around the lake in a crazy 36 hour period. Timed it right for a change.

As Yonny says the Fox pods are solid and good value, I used a Quatro pod for a good 20+ years and it looks bang on still now. My mate had the x Pod Plus another great bit of kit for the money. I'd much rather a second hand older fox pod than a cheap new one from someone else. 👍

Hydro Tuff that's the name - I remembered, is it sad that I'm celebrating my brain working 🤣

I think I'm using the GTHD now - seems good like it so far, I was supposed to be renewing the GT one that Yonny recommends, can't remember it's blooming name but that was good also just couldn't find any in stock the second time. Is HD it's replacement? You'll know this obvs 🤣🤣🤣🙃

My mate used Diawa Sensor for 20+ years but within the last few he's said it's changed and not good, I've used it and thought not good. As Elmo says anything Gardner seems to be a winner!

Yeah I saw this cringe material. Don't like the guy and will never fish his waters anyway, even if they were on my doorstep!

his winter fishing pj's (fleece) 😊

Welcome to the forum 👍

I've ruined quite a few sessions with exactly this ☝️

Watching Scott Lloyd adjusting his clips through the session to allow for changes to the cross winds, that's something I'll be taking into account more, even with hitting the clip harder or bigger leads you could well still be a little short.

Tues - Fri last week, arrived at dawn and lapped but saw nothing, only one angler on. I settled on the usual swim, so many rafts of surface weed everywhere that in truth theres not many swims you can viably fish at the mo, needs some big winds on there. The spot was still clear but the line lay needed attention so 2 hours of dragging weed beds in with the spod rod which eventually snapped the swivel off the lead, emabled me to get 2 rods out nicely. 3k of chops, wholes and crumb, hemp, maize and tigers went out and I was fishing. I left the 3rd ready hoping for a show on the marginal plateau but ended up leading about and found a clearing at the end of the marginal plateau in about 6ft 40 yards out. Baited that with about 6 spombs, was happy with everything, thought I was fishing well but nothing for 2 nights, none seen or heard. Now despite forgetting the barrow handles and having to make do with the legs for short arms and 3 trips to the swim that I said to my mate I wouldn't be moving, but you know me with 1 night remaining had to at least try to find them to know whats going on. I moved to the oposite end with a good view over the section but after finding no spots whatsoever I thought I might have messed up. Something splashed though to the right of the swim so I waded for line angle to make the cast and the first one banged down with a smooth glide after for maybe 3 feet. After a few more checks I was happy, diary done I got 2 rods on it and 6 spombs. I gave up on the 3rd rod as pointless cramming in another. Despite the graft no joy come dawn and I was back home for midday, none seen or heard, couldnt say the splash was a carp but it lead to me finding a good spot where there are very few so small win, the spot diary is filling up for sure. I heard my target did come out in May so thats after I seen it from up the tree. With me catching the first fish in March and one of his mates to boot I cant help but feel excited for spring next year - hopefully fish through winter if access allows. Got the dog waterproofs and fleece onesie lol so he's ready.

I'm thinking back to one of my first trips with a boat down to Bluebell in mid Dec, I knew the right area and spotted a small patch of tiny bubbles, took the boat out and what at first looked like a branch turned into a pile of carp. I fished half a handful of low oil pellet a few grains of corn and about 5 squashed washed out boilies and had quite a few out, repeated it the following week. If I'd have spombed on their heads prob too much bait and disturbance for the time of year. I kept to the exact same amount of bait every drop.