kevtaylor

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?

Very expensive hobby, no matter whether you're just taking it up buying budget gear or experienced buying higher end stuff. There's so many things to buy especially terminal, the values in tackle boxes would shock us no doubt. Then bait as you say, even sweetcorn is expensive now, my mate bought luncheon meat for catfish and was over £4 a can - bread is probably the only value item. Then god help you if you think I'll buy sea kit for holidays and predator kit for winter! It's never ending. 🤷‍♂️

Yes mate no worries - lets get one sorted. 😎👍

I love my 3.5's - to me they feel very nice playing fish, no mouth damage and they cast well, I'd rather a set of rods that does everything than swap from set to set according to venue/method etc 🤷‍♂️ Mine are out and out casting rods, modified to play fish nicely - so not broom sticks, which I wouldn't have, so I get that point.

Been looking at the new Delks and lots of comments online regarding the ever faithful problems with rain and humidity. I thought Delks were supposed to be good, same blooming problems! Never had any issues with the Fox MX's and they cost peanuts, unreal.

Then I got the Cobb bbq and whole chicken was on the cards. Expensive for what it is but cooks meat lovely.

Chicken kebabs - to be cooked on the bbq, was a fave if mine. George's was at the front lol

Think you probably got that from the Terry Hearn video when he said the amount of casters per pint 👍

Half a handful of low oil pellets and a few squashed washed out boilies, maybe a few grains of corn, if not that single hook baits. Works for me but you could go down the maggot route or include some as well. I think the key is you are really fishing for a bite at a time not a haul. Pints of maggots are literally 1000s of baits, less can be more, don't overdo anything bait wise.

Got the Fortis trousers this year they are made from a bivvy type fabic, ripstop - like my Avid brolley and Ridgemonkey Bivvy, bit pricey but I like them a lot. Got fed up with joggers with the knees worn out.

No I don't read that in the replies mate, you've got 3.5's, they're fine for all carping and you can chuck a small spod/spomb out with them no worries. I've got 3.5's wouldn't swap them at all for all my fishing, the spod rod is 4lb+ but I'm chucking medium or large spombs. I use that rod with just a lead on for feature finding just because why not, it's a great caster and has decent feel because it's stiff, it also pulls through weed well being strong and is light and used with a light big reel made for the job. The only lighter rod I would ever use is a floater in 2.75lb - 3lb, 3lb preferably. Depends on the waters you fish though I guess. The only thing to consider is using braid for the feature finding, so having a spare spool of braid for your fishing rod, IF you are going to use it for feature finding and spodding at the beginning of the session. That's if you use mono for fishing. I don't know if that's helped or made it seem more complicated lol

Not sure, my mate got them from a guy on social media locally, we both got loads and because local he picked them up so no delivery charge. I'll ask him who and pm you mate 👍

100 leads for £77.50 👍 50 x 3.5oz dumpy distance 50 x 4oz flat pears