kevtaylor

Yeah I've spent this year buying kit as the carp venues were too busy for me, full day kits for carp/barbel/tench etc and full kits for Perch, Zander and Pike. I've done a day drop shotting on Pitsford Res for Perch - had a small one and lost a Pike on the heavy duty rod, a day on Rutland vertical jigging for Zander and had 2 small Zed's. Also been on my local canal and river practicing the methods and had a few small Perch and Pike. Oh and an afternoon deadbaiting on ferry meadows where I had a Jack and my son took the second run and landed a 15lb Pike - the jammy git lol I've told myself to keep up the predator fishing at least once a month throughout 2021 - not to treat it as a winter thing only. tbh I am seriously thinking of buying an electric motor with GPS anchoring and a Sonar.

Could it be that your experiencing lifting into a trailer, initial resistance then it's gone. I think at least a couple of my recent hook pulls were in fact trailers not hooked at all, particularly possible as your using pop-ups not rigs lying on the deck - just food for thought.

From keeping ponds and pads the only solution I know of is to pull up the pads by the roots which will be extensive/thick as your arm. Probably an annual job to get in and pull them up. As it's too deep for you to wade I can only think of chucking a heavy duty rake out. You could do it in winter when the pads are gone because its the thick connecting roots that have to come out, they are often up off the bottom when it's really thick.

If they are problematic I think I'd just fish tigers in small amounts, by all accounts they are not attracted to them and as a bait they work all all year round. Pop them up with a cork insert if you wish. Hate crays they ruined my river campaign, don't use pellets, don't use fishmeals they like those immensely.

I think it's the Mega in the 36mm x 22mm size 👍

I got some Gardner Bugs in medium which are about the same size as the larger Korda Black and Whites. Inexpensive and do the job and after reading what Yonny says I'm glad I didn't fork out for the Korda ones.

I think you can go backwards in some ways. I fished a local pit and had a few good fish to begin with, then a savage run of blanks before I eventually realised I'd become a clone of the regulars, baiting heavily with the spod, looking to get in certain areas etc etc Quite why I looked up to and copied anglers who were not catching much is beyond me, as soon as I went back to doing my thing I started catching again and more than anyone.

My Shimmy LC's are un-breakable, with a brilliant clutch and could tow a boat. Proper big fish reels 👍

Yes a round metal line clip is deffo much better than a plastic clip, If you haven't brought the reels yet, I'd go Shimano- IMO the best there is I would not buy a reel with plastic clips, been there done that - they are absolutely rubbish.

Size 6 for the 12ml, sizes 4 or 6 for the 14ml 👍

Yep I hit 2 on the way down once.

A very successful angler tried to get me on 10ml and 12 mil baits 15 years ago, swore it was a big edge, I didn't listen at the time but I really think I should have. Now I go for 12s or 14s if I need extra distance with the throwing stick. My bait company now do 10s so I will split the next order 10s, 12s, 14s.

I bought loads in different sizes and colours from a so called specialist hookbait company, to say I'm dissatisfied with all of them is an understatement. Falling over after several hours in a few inches of water is NOT the one. I'm pretty gobsmacked I've not slated the company but I'm past shouting about stuff nowadays. In hindsight I should have purchased 1 pot and tested, not trusted the blurb and bought lots - noddy! I guess I've got wafters for days/decades 🤣

I was going to do some time on there, the Lindley bank had parking at that point but they were having to install cameras in car parks because of break-ins and that car park is only available for a small part of the year. I personally saw and reported night poachers and on top you've got otters and a shallow out of bounds where they are sitting targets, biggest usually goes first no doubt. Rumour and legend sells tickets - been there done that mate- I did a good few years (different water) chasing a fish that was ottered and buried long before!!!!!!!!!!!

Dude you're on fire tonight, get him on Dragons Den pronto!!! Whatever you decide I'm in 👍

Lol like it 🤣 Been thinking - they do background prints for fish tanks.......... This time next year Elmo we could be millionaires 👍

I'm the person who cannot identify a swim by the background on a pic, I really thought I'd be good at it but on my last water I didn't have a clue lol People disguise the backgrounds on canal pics and I don't blame them or you in your case - fair play 👍

Keep some plastic ones in the car 👍🤣

It's better if you find some dense foliage behind you, the light bounces back off it and brightens the surroundings. 👍

IMO it wouldn't be as popular as you imagine, it's not that great really, very shallow, all the out of bounds looks really shallow, stocks not good and parking security is a bit dodgy to say the least. With an inlet and outlet it would be difficult/impossible to effectively fence I imagine. I thought it looked banging until I spent a bit of time on there, night poachers the lot - not good, otters are the least of it's problems.

I've seen one dead on the main Leicester Road in Rugby. What a great day that was 🙂

Yeah they are a copy of the Rhino light by the look of it - ideal for the job 👍

From the limited amount of info I've seen you want 2 lights pointing across the subject, one each side. 👍

Bivvy lights like the Ridgemonkey are no good if that's what you are referring to? they are not adjustable for brightness. Better than nothing granted.