kevtaylor

Try zig bugs either as a zig or a low pop-up. You can buy them ready made or do your own. Bit of hemp with a fake snail pop-up. Easy lol You're more than likely watching them on the first hatch of the year, which makes the above even more relevant.

It's difficult to find places eh - I was really surprised at how few venues allow dogs when I got my doggy. Nearly all of the places I'd considered fishing over the years actually didn't allow dogs when it came to joining. Bluebell Lakes (day ticket) is cool with dogs. I don't really know where you are or how far you want to travel. Most places have the rules on the internet nowdays Good luck 😌

You have to set it to the conditions to avoid false bleeps and have the right kind of bobbin for the situation. Going down to 1-2 on the minus settings if it's very windy with weed gathering on the line - extreme conditions Whereas in normal conditions I might have it on 2-4 on the plus settings. It's good that you have the range to deal with all situations, when I first got them I was using them on high sensitivity but when what should have been a bleep sounds like a full blown run you soon learn to lower the sensitivity more in line with other alarms. Gets you going that's for sure 😃

I didn't see the point in these because I had always been Ok with a head torch. However, since being bought one I have found it to be an excellent additional to my kit and I would miss not having it. Well worth the money IMO

I'm not convinced they are any better than Fox alarms tbh Had fox for 20+ years really reliable had no issues with them at all, far from it. Wanted some new ones with the remote receiver a couple of years ago so got the delks I'd always admired. Yes they seem good, got no real complaints. For me they just seem overly sensitive and I cant see the point in plus and minus settings, just one range high to low would have been better. They are good, but pretty sure Fox are equal and also have vibration settings and receivers. Some people go back to Fox after Delks so it's not a one horse race.

Have you looked at the Trakker Level lighter - think you can buy that in a lumbar support version Looks tasty

Lovely place - will look great when the bankside vegitation gets a hold. Never heard of this place, one to keep an eye on me thinks. Good luck

ESP Syncro XT Loaded - no complaints, I liked the previous version as well.

I think experienced anglers will always look to do a bit of stalking when they can, be it floaters or on the deck. One thing I don't look at with rose tinted glasses is the rubbish tackle he uses, thank goodness that side has progressed, I'd give up if that was my set-up, useless.

Dont know but the syndicate has a website, you should give them a ring.

AJS Fisheries worth a look - Knipton looks nice, little pricey but the setting looks lovely, could fish there myself.

Pm me if you need any info - happy to help

Hi there, I'm from Leicester and can suggest Beedles Lake, its big with plenty of swims, been restocked recently and has carp to 35lb. Lots of the fish will be doubles because of the stockies but a good few 20's and i believe a couple of 30's. Cheap season or day tickets - a good water for gaining experience. You could look up Broome angling club, they have a few waters around the county, and Willesley has already been mentioned. Charnwood water worth a look, sand pit syndicate on the A46, Frisby pits, Murphy's syndicate, Tommy Ted's syndicate nr Loughborough. Gilmorton Mil Farm, day only day tickets, worth a shout - some good fish in the bottom lake. Lots of water on the Council Run Watermead complex, seen some big-uns in there and no pressure. I fish in Northants and Peterborough now and have also fished in Notts - an hour by car and you open up a whole new world of specimen waters to go at. Have fun Cheers Kev

cheers - sounds like i may get to see the place. Not keen on doing a year on probation though tbh though totally understandable

I've only heard people moaning about the track, if they sort it out i'd go and have a look round Are there plans to fence them?

So proud of my Leicester City team right now - been a nervous wreck for weeks, can finally relax phew! Champions, unreal achievement

Got the medium sized version, used it over xmas break - loaded with just corn, wouldn't open on a short 10 wrap cast and wouldn't open on the 16 wrap spot either. I'd say it opened on 2 out of 10 casts if I was lucky - to say I was annoyed is an understatement. Surely they have had more than enough time to get these things right. Really poor - supposed to open easier with the bigger button but it doesn't. Stick with the Spomb people. Don't like the way it comes back either on the rare occasions that it did open it came back jumping about - not smooth like the spomb, utter rubbish, very disappointed indeed!

Spots a smooth as glass are so because they are fed on, however they were chasing naturals in the low Canadian when I was there last. Food for thought - but no not a pop-up on a choddy - think it through. Good luck hope you enjoy it.

Forgot to mention Swan Lake - only done 2 nights on there, cracking lake - loved every minute. What I noticed is that they spend a lot of time in the centre of the widest bit - also the deepest end as the lake used to join Sandmartin. 3 x 50's in this one - what a water!!! Whichever lake you choose fish it well, try real hard to be the best you can, accurate, new sharp hooks - do all the basics well and you have a good chance. Know what you are fishing on - check and double check, measure the distances and clip up etc. My only concern is bait, you could be better off just using the small pva stick you mention - put it in the right place and it is all you need - bait up and you could blow it - it is not really munching weather is it, July and August can be difficult everywhere, if you get a freak low pressure system - fill it in lol.

Whilst I'm not trying to be the Swan and Kingfisher police - I think that the fact that you say 'if I only get one I'll be happy' possibly suggests that you are a little unrealistic in your choices. You are possibly fishing for the fish of a lifetime on those lakes so jumping in at the deep end could be a bit daunting and counter productive on your first visit. I prefer to think that you work your way up to it if you like but then people will try and get lucky so who knows. Fishing Kingfisher is mega exciting and if you are lucky to have them showing it fuels that fire like nothing else, what a buzz. Mallard holds good numbers of cracking scaley fish that go 30+, it is busy but lots of swims with lots of water to go at. Halfway along the road bank is a fair bet and when I fished it there was a lovely line of weed at around 40 yards that was good to drop just over. Sandmartin is smaller and deeper, the deepest water on the complex, nice corners and margins for stalking, less fish than Mallard but a good introduction to gravel pit fishing - again fish over 30 and possibly a surprise or two. The least pressured lake on the complex but slightly busier than it used to be as people are starting to realise what a decent water it is. Bluebell is the most circus like through summer, it is a mixed lake plenty of good tench and bream and of course carp to 30+ possibly the best looking lake on the complex. My best tip would be not to rush in, check all the lakes out and give yourself an hour or so to consider your options. Park at the shop and tell them that you want to check the lakes out before deciding and they will let you do it. Focus on finding fish or likely areas given the conditions first and foremost and let that decide which lake gives you the best situation. Study the weather before you go as well as pictures of the lakes so you arrive knowing where the wind is going to be blowing on each lake and when it may swing to over the course of your session - that way you can read situations and be first to move into the right areas. I focus on this and getting the basics right such as anti tangle rigs, tried and tested rig styles and components that you trust, stick to what works for you elsewhere, this is not the time to be trying the latest wonder rig. I find clean spots so don't use chods or such like but you have to use what you have complete confidence in. If you choose the hardest 2 lakes don't be surprised if they turn up in a corner out of the way of the lines and pressure - they are not stupid but if you are stealthy you can have one in no time at all. Overall I go back to finding the best situation i.e. free swims where you expect them to be or move to over the course of your session, rather than choosing a lake from the outset. Most of all enjoy the experience and learn from it - you are paying good money for the fishing but it is worth it.

OK lets get an idea of what lake you are thinking of trying. Mainly what level of difficulty are you upto trying and what/how many do you expect/hope to catch. Basically Kingfisher and Swan are pretty tough at the best of times, very highly pressured fish that have seen it all before - are you experienced enough to handle fish over 40lb and realistic enough to know what your chances of a bite really are? Would you see a blank as failure or the first piece of the jigsaw. Based on what I have said already I assume you are likely to be considering Mallard, Sandmartin or Bluebell. On all lakes there will be times when the majority of fish will follow the wind and times when they will be happier on the back of it, like anywhere else. My first tip would be travel light - you are not camping! Make sure you have floaters and a floater set-up ready to go, likewise with stalking. At this time of year (on any lake) I would expect to be fishing over a little bait through the night on spots in the usual way, then reeling in late morning/lunchtime and going off to locate the fish again to try stalking/floaters through the afternoon. All lakes are busy so you may have to choose the quietest for your stalking. Unless you have an extreme low pressure system come in at this time of year I would say heavy baiting would be a big mistake. Come back to me with a little bit more as I said initially and I can decide what is relevant without rambling on. Cheers

I always do a few days each year - fantastic complex, might be able to answer a few of your questions.

Without reading all this stuff, to me it seems pretty obvious that it is due to the typical hook pattern used, when used on a 360 I would imagine that this exaggerates the bad properties of the hook more. Regardless of rig it is known fact that LS Nailers, Fox 5's or whatever version you use can cause nasty damage to the mouths of smaller fish. It is known that they are big fish hooks full stop - that's accepted by most people. I used LS Nailers for years with no problem until I landed a mid double one day, small for the venue - well the mouth and later body damage was shocking - like a can opener ripping through the mouth from side to side in a zig-zag. until it came out, went back in under the throat and continued to rip down the body. Now I will only use the pattern on proper specimen waters, where there are no soft mouthed stockies. Must you see that for yourself before you accept it?

I've got a pack - yes they are pretty sharp but I cannot say that they are any sharper than my other hooks - such as Mugga's, Nailers etc Feel I've been had by hype tbh

Ferry Meadows would make somewhere to get your teeth into, plus you don't know what has come and gone because the river comes in and out. I've not seen it for 20+ years but I know its done some good carp. I'm off to Bluebell tomorrow for a quick social - always interesting, great venue, something for everyone, rivers, match pond, and varying size and difficulty lakes, can't go wrong.