kevtaylor

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.

Not at all just bad writing on my part

There is a club in Derby 'Pride of Derby' I think. Was talking to a guy once who said the lakes held good numbers of 20's and chance of bigger. Willeslely has the sizes and stock your after - seems a good choice. Get on a club water if you can it's better value and can be more secure. Bluebell Lakes, Tansar - has several lakes, their runs water Mallard is now doing 20's with the odd 30 -that's going to be one hell of a lake with the way it's going - nice fish too.

How far do you want to travel, I'm east mids and might know a few places, how much are you willing to pay for the day or season - there's cheap day tickets from £5.00 to over 30 quid for 24 hours. Also what do you hope to catch in terms of numbers and size? Sorry mate questions not answers lol edit: Willesley sounds like a nice place, might be a good option

Use them always regardless of hooklink material, though I do cut them down by about a third. Anti tangle has to be first issue to sort out

I don't seem to see you mention whether your ditching the lead on the take or not - IMO the most obvious cause for loosing fish at the net.

Bought the Sunngas Alpine stove last year - was a little cheaper than the Trakker one, no complaints - used summer and winter no probs.

Do you mean Saddington Res, Leics? If so I've been thinking of trying to get on to do the odd midweek overnighter, nice and close to me. Don't think it has anything special in there now, but you never know - was stocked with simmos if I'm correct, hardly inspiring! You'll have to ask around local tackle shops coz I don't know who the contact is. Good luck

I did an overnighter on a free water just before the Nene Valley lakes - along the nightmare track, I only had bream but saw what I think was a big carp under my rod tips late at night. Is rumoured to contain a 40 ghostie - so my mate said at the time. Would like another go there TBH - felt exciting not knowing what if anything was in there. Used to fish the Ditchford lakes for pike 20+ years ago, loved those 2 lakes - very overgrown and wild.

You could be right but Nene Valley own a few others if what I'm told is right, the 2 Ditchford lakes that were previously on the Nene Valley AC Ticket - both very nice from memory - and another that was syndicate and could hold a few whackers. Seems Nene Valley has potential to me. Stanwick seems OK for a day ticket. I suggest these two venues because they seem OK and a good option for someone's first taste of the area. It can be difficult to get on the best waters.

Or simply tied on a weak link at the bottom end, also stops the lead getting too close to the fish during battle.

Charnwood Water is in Loughborough, some good fish! Not sure on availability of night tickets speak to the guys at Bennetts Tackle Shop who should know more and be abke to suggest others such as Willesley. Beedles is nice and cheap too - very reasonable!

No worries - plug away on the water your on - it's all good! Beedles is a nice lake, can be weedy - but good practice. Willesley has good numbers of 20's few 30's as far as I've heard. Look up Nene Valley Fisheries - seems an interesting up and coming complex - worth a look for sure also Stanwick Fishery has a few syndic lakes - 2 being not far from the M1

I could be wrong but a venue in Leicester with plenty of 20's and 30's will be pretty hard to find - in fact I can only think of one that matches that description 'Tommy Teds' which I know nothing about - just heard pricey and good number of 30's. Why not join a club or fish the day ticket waters this year while you research possible midlands syndicates - your possibly going to have to put your name down for a good while for a lot of syndi's anyway. I'm struggling with the plenty of 30's bit tbh - unrealistic! Good luck in your search Some of the better waters have been mentioned in past posts on here - so maybe start with a search. I'm getting a bit out of touch locally. Edit - stratch that previous part just re-read your post - 'maybe 30's' much more like it - certainly widens the possibilities Still - search old threads as a start.

You considered Bluebell Lakes, Tansor? Nice lakes

Seems a nice place from their website was looking a little while back. Was a little surprised that it was the same cost as a couple of other lakes of theirs with much bigger fish. Depends on what your after, 500 a year to fish for carp upto 20's doesn't compare to other waters. Could have an amazing stock in the future and the setting might be worth the cost alone, looks beautiful!