kevtaylor

Back down for another 3-4 nights potentially, picked back of the wind based on what I saw last trip and after setting up I saw several shows to my surprise, showing me where to put the rods, fingers crossed might get lucky - think I've dropped right on them unless they're passing through, some chunks to - fingers crossed 🤞

Great advice that 👆 do your own thing

I still use the same tool box I found 30 odd years ago coz it fits in my rucksack and seems to be the right size. I also carry a zig disc (fox) - thats good because it's 1ft round so use as a measure and rig storage. Theres lots of stuff I rarely use which lives in a big rig wallet - only goes in the car on big trips where I dont know what might happen, multiple zig lines, bait drills and corks, various leaders, tubing sets, spares on top of spares. I used to carry a big float tube full of spods, marker floats, floater floats - again only on big trips - but left in car. For normal fishing trips (95%) of the time I carry just one spare spod, one floater/zig line, one marker float, PVA funnel web all in the lid of my rucksack, one tackle box FULL of rig making essentials, rig box (Korda) and the zig disc (Fox). Spare leads can stay in the car, I carry some in a lead pouch - enough for a few fish, back to the car if I run out. You could spend a fortune buying all new stuff that goes together perfectly or just make what you've got work - I'm kind of reviewing what I need on a venue to venue basis.

I don't take an extra groundsheet, just by keeping the groundsheet and bivvy separate - the groundsheet is handy to chuck over if it rains whilst barrowing back and forth, I don't cover it once fishing - everything goes inside the shelter 👍

Groundsheet from bivvy - store separate 👍 Why buy something extra?

Got the Solar SP-Tech wide sleep system and more recently the Undercover Pro sleep system (lighter). Both really good for lumbar support, got the Undercover Pro for £205 should have been a lot more. Best beds I've ever had, they actually sort my shoulder out, not make it worse - Solar for me! 👍

Just the hook baits 👍

Carp Porter have been making them the longest - had mine many years Mk2 Wideboy, cant see me changing it, the Nash and Fox ones look just as good, whether they are I wouldn't know tbh You should get a decent Mk2 Standard 2nd hand I'd imagine - maybe a new one for that money. I'm thinking about a barrow conversion kit for mine rather than buying a whole new barrow, but then I need the exercise - but it's nearly killing me off lol

Dynamite Fresh Fish Pop-Ups look a very good match to dog biscuits, cut it into a square and it's pretty bang on. The fake weighted floaters are good as the hook sits on top, out of the water, you can literally bounce them over weed to get it into little clearings where the fish are sitting. Zigs work whilst feeding mixers over the top, especially if they are rejecting the hookbait. My mate is a good floater angler, he uses the dog biscuits on the hook, but prepares them in a bottle of water and adds pressure to get them to take in the water to what he finds the right amount, I've only seen this once so can't remember the fine details - but that really works well.

I had an old guy and a woman ask me all about jack and whereabouts the breeder lives just an hour apart the other Sunday. Neither seemed interested in me lol 🤷‍♂️

Well he is a fancy show cocker don't you know 🤣 he is due a trim Thursday - I get him done every 6-8 weeks. I did George myself twice a year, whereas Jack doesn't even like me brushing him.

lol - I might blank all year on this place but I'm going for it, only takes one bite.

4 night blank to get me into the swing of things, lots to learn and a new playing field as the water is up 4ft on last year's drought level. Great trip loved it - spring is in the air, the birds are at it, frogs in the margins being hunted by pike and masses of bugs crawling out the lake especially during rain - so many caddis or whatever they were that it freaked me out - all coming under my door by the dozen. Can't wait to get back down asap.

Back on the sydi, Jack seems happy! 🙂

1st trip of the year to the syndi, looks like a blank but you never know 🤞

Yeah I like snugpak - recently got an SJ6 in black, was supposed to be for fishing but I like it so much its my everyday coat instead. I was gonna get another snugpak jacket SJ9 to go with the Tundra bottoms but I didn't want to rip it on the brambles, I've already got tangled in them this trip - cut my face up lol I thought the tundras felt more hard wearing than the SJ6 fabric. Ain't gonna be cold again that's for sure. For wet weather I've got the Geoff Anderson which goes everywhere with me all year round, Fortis didn't make the waterproofs then but no regrets - both excellent 😎👍

Sounds perfect obviously, not tried to be honest but even without mozzies I don't think I could settle, but then you are tired - who knows not trying anyway lol 🤣🤦‍♂️ I'll leave it for you hard core boys 😎

No chance mate, never fancied sleeping with no shelter - wouldn't feel safe somehow and can't fall asleep with mozzies buzzing around my head, have to kill them all before bed - the dog helps 🤣👍 Did a mid week overnighter in the open fronted brolley, worst night ever - red hot hiding under the cover with hundreds above trying to drain me of blood. Work after was great 🤦‍♂️ I'd rather make 2 trips with the barrow 🤣

First trip of the year tomorrow but been busy buying stuff I dont need in prep obvs 🤣 Got the Solar undercover Pro sleep system, lighter than my SP Tech - will be on the barrow again this year so trying to lighten the load. Got for £205, seen after on AD for almost £450 - unbelieveable ripoff. 3 pots of NS1 pop-ups discounted from a show in Essex. Bird Torch - same show. Then as I'm not buying a new 1 man bivvy and going back to my old Avid brolley system I justified that the money saved could be spent on the Fortis Tundra 🤣 Got the bottoms from the show with a £20 discount. Then the coat after at full retail 👎 Oh and the Diawa 18 Emblem Spod 35 SCW QD Reel because my Shimmy Spod (new) ceases up whenever it's left out in the rain or damp (rubbish, what a let down thats been). Think thats it, broke but happy! 😁😎

I've got 12.6ft Harrison Torrix, think ringing is 50ml - 16ml but could be wrong, what do you want - measurements between each ring?

Bluebell is now £40 for 24 hours 🤷‍♂️

Yes the kit can last a long time, that's what we want anyway and therefore the cost could be thought of as spread. I thought of golf but once you've got the clubs etc, apart from upgrades, you've got it - only course fees after that and you could find value courses. Obs I'm guessing but have bought 3 second hand sets for me and my kids and have a cheap course around the corner, can walk there in 5 mins lol Clubs, bags and trolleys were £30 per set, good enough for me. Fishing wise there's nothing good nearby, I have to get out the county.

Oh yeah - forgot them 🤣

Yes simple types of fishing can be cheap and very enjoyable, no doubt I'll end up doing just that. For what we'd call advanced carp fishing it's an awful lot of terminal bits in tackle boxes, leads - all the small stuff really adds up. Parents setting up youngsters with their first full set-ups will need to pay a lot of money, more than any other sport I can think of? That's if they want to go straight to carping which lots seem to do.

I'd love a fly set-up, walked some of our local trout ressies and next to noone fishing, thought this could be the solitude I'm looking for, but again expensive game! You can't do everything but pike, perch and trout on the fly would be good. I chucked 2 bedchairs in the tip this year, didn't enjoy that, wanted to give away but don't want people seeing what else you've got. Is there an organisation to support young anglers to donate kit to?