kevtaylor

Worth a look at the lightweight boot too, I use those also, you can actually walk round in them, not as much sweat going on. Game changer/life saver for me was a heated gilet from Amazon - battery powered, I bought it purely for my winter boat predator fishing on Rutland and Grafham which can be a bit extreme at times, I take it winter carping and use it without the battery just for a nice extra layer.

Kites are beautiful birds for sure - the colours and the forked tail and a full adult is bloomin big with those wings fully extended - wow This weekend i was so lucky to see an owl fly past really close and in the last hour of light so I got a great view, obvs no pics. I'd like to get a good deer shot - they are all around the lake, one came out from the poke hole I was fishing earlier that day, prob there whilst I was and I had no idea. This place is something else tbh - so many swans, geese, ducks, herons, white crane things etc etc too many bird types it's unreal even a tiny tiny bird in the reeds by the river. Newts, frogs - toads and crickets in the bivvy (standard). It is a nature reserve and should defo be protected if not already. This is a stinky winky screen print off my Instagram of my best fishing pic ever - I had this young kingfisher on my rods for 10 mins practicing picking stuff up out the water- insects, twigs, pebbles it was a great sight and I had my decent camera there and ready. One in a million I guess. In the full shots you can see the slack lines brilliantly too

Love seeing the kites I've been a bit of a kite geek tbh - raving about seeing them getting closer and closer to where I live year after year from the rearing ground in northants. Now prob 10 years later they are everywhere. Best sighting an adult took a fish from swan lake on the wing - massive bird epic to see. Driving home I often saw columns of young birds spiraling on the wind on the country lanes - as many as 30 birds in a column - unreal. I must have nearly crashed a few times lol Got a pic of this Buzzard a couple of weeks ago - he was just sat on the lake track and flew into the nearest tree and checked me out - so cool. I remember when the birds were as rare as rocking horse stuff, so to see then making this massive comeback is so amazing, one of the highlights of my lifetime, told you I was getting geeky about it!

An hour doing my favourite approach, no fish but always worth a go.

Try again - Saturday night blah blah blah

I've enjoyed December sessions in recent years, lots of fish in short spells of feeding activity. Observation is absolutely key in winter as they are not moving about, find the fizzers and fish bang where they are, probably just the one rod will go off time and time again, regardless of how near you get the other rods, real accurate spot fishing. Just a handful of washed out baits that I break up and a handful of low oil pellets and a few grains of corn - works for me, cant wait until this December to have a go on the usually busy day ticket big fish waters - I may also be going France then as well coz I like it so much. Good waterproofs are essential as is spare clothes just in case and a hanger for your coat so your not dropping it on the floor or on your bed whilst its still wet. Good food is key, eat well and you'll be happy. Very long nights so you might want something to read or watch. Back to observation, if you do manage to find the fish it is most likely they will stay there all winter and do this every year!

Saturday night - what a view, also saw an owl, kingfisher, 2 buzzards, deer and all the usual birds etc

Shame you couldn't cancel the holidays for late in the year, I certainly wasn't expecting these temps when I booked months ago

Yes its too hot for fishing. But I'm booked on Trent View tomorrow so gotta make the most of it 🤷‍♂️

I hear you mate and whether its the PAC or not I'm not interested tbh if the common sense guidance is not to fish for pike in the warm them it shouldn't be done period and it's the job of the PAC and tackle companies to promote this guidance and follow it - that's the key do what you're promoting! Was nice to see the kayaks on Pitsford last weekend - apparently a competition to catch a perch, pike and brownie - oh it was nearly 30 degrees - thought I'd point that out and this weekend the World Predator Classic, temps to mid 30's - sounds perfect doesn't it! Unreal

Fair enough, cant beat an overgrown, snaggy water - many happy years stalking carp in the edge 👍

Why would you want shorter rods? I've got 12.6 rods and have never needed anything shorter. I bought some 10's but haven't found a need for them yet. Unless I was stalking under some trees I cant see what benefit shorter rods give? Long powerful rods help get fish out of weedbeds IMO

You're probably not making a mistake, people do always talk about well balanced or more to the point suitable for it's job set-up. I go perch and zander fishing on the huge ressies and my rods and reels are super lightweight, I can cast all day long with no discomfort whatsoever - it's vitally important for that type of fishing. Casting a spomb however with a lightweight rod and reel and I'm struggling after a while with back and shoulder pain - so I bought a baitboat to lessen the load lol I also use this setup for my spot finding. My actual carp reels are well heavy but I don't care as they do a job and I'm not sat holding the rods anyway, on shorter rods they would look a bit silly tbf

Does it matter? If it was a specific floater rod then yes as you're holding it all day then size and weight matter, but if bottom fishing with the rods on rests - whats the point is shelling out for new lighter reels? My Shimmy LC's are big and HEAVY but so what - they are also the nutts and I wouldn't change them. I have a specific floater set-up that uses an old Diawa reel I had knocking about.

This is my plan - prep for autumn, I've identified the zones, just gotta make sure I'm not spotted. Bit of particle, mixed pellet and boilie to clear the spots and wider baiting of massive pellets to aid growth and get them coming back searching.

I turned up for an overnighter May bank holiday weekend on a syndicate, was packed out only 2 tiny corner swims available which I didn't fancy. Detoured to Bluebell on the way home for a look, found it to be quiet on Kingy, got a decent swim and had a PB Common - so you never know. That being said I couldn't even be bothered to drive down for a look and to start the prebait this weekend 👎

IMO YES this is the time. If I could go today I would but no fishing this weekend. I am starting the prebaiting on Sunday though 😎👍

Metal bait screw for single pop-ups though the plastic ones work fine too 👍

Amber is said to be a bit of a cover all, decent in all lights. I used to have Shimano with grey/blue lenses but lost those, they were good. My Fortis in Brown are not as good as the Amber, but I guess each has it's day

https://fortiseyewear.co.uk/product/overwraps/ I've just bought the normal wraps not the overwraps in Amber after recomendations. Overwraps go over your normal glasses aparently 👍

I cut a trip short last week it was just too hot, couldn't find the fish anywhere only the odd pasty in open water, the proper ones were obviously hiding deep in snags, no early morning shows, no crashing out, seemed dead. I'm not even starting the prebaiting until this hot period has passed, gonna have a break and have a dabble for perch on the river instead.

True mate, I'm at an age where my kids are grown up, I can do what I want and fishing is what I do. I had the same pod for 25+ years so a long overdue upgrade is how I saw it - no regrets. You only get one life as @thecarpcatcher would say! Good luck hiding your goodies 😂

I did use them on Bluebell, landed fish good hook holds - no issues, the only reason i'm not using them regular is that my multi rig just seems perfect with a choddy hook. They are sharp and strong and stay in better than a pure barbless would - which I guess may be why some venues chose to ban them?

Like that mate - I've seen some of the results of that level of thinking - top man! 😎👍

Very true lol I did a day stalking round my old club water when it flooded. After several hours of being fine I suddenly felt so sore from the sweat and rubbing that I couldn't carry on. I guess the best waders are what the trout anglers use with a sock not boot and breathable, but very expensive!