kevtaylor

Had Delks for a good few years, very disappointed in mine, they do not like rain or humidity and I've bought the better back plate - still just as bad. Will eventually replace with Fox but it's an expensive game or I would have done ages ago. Not sure how much better the new model is or if it fixes the problems of the previous version.

Mine are 3.5lb, 12.6ft it was an all out casting rod turned players rod with the removal of the outer weave on the tip section. I don't know what you'd call the action but it plays fish lovely, no hook pulls and has the backbone to deal with massive fish and pulling out of weed beds and it was the best casting rod at some point in time. Not a broom stick by any means. It's old technology now but I wouldnt swap - hoping they last the rest of my lifetime, I certainly look after them. I guess one of the factors in play is people using bigger leads than they did in the past.

Wasn't fishing well - back at the end of the month, fingers crossed 🤞

I wouldn't worry, I've spent 100s on pop-ups that don't pop-up, that's fishing 🤣👍

I wouldn't fish a short uncoated braid to a 4oz lead and not drop it. Lead clip or drop off inline.

I recommended ESP Tungsten Loaded, your not using that - its a coated braid and why I recommended it. I dont use uncoated braids they are a tangle risk and offer little in the way of separation. You asked for a supple braid I gave you one, its too thick for rig making for me - but seemed a good option for you, if you dont like it take it up with them ' not me 👍 If I wanted a supple braid I use Richworth Sourcerer, but you cant get that anymore - I have lots however! 👍

Korda Choddy - used for a long time, no complaints its like a widegape with the out turned eye and thats been doing the business forever hasn't it. Im sure all the ESP ones are great too 👍 I've got some of the new range and used to use stiff riggers, still got them in the archives along with the CarpRUs LS Nailers 👀😳🤣

I'm not for the ronnie and haven't used one just because of the extra metal, need for shrink tube or kicker and swivels can stick. The stiff end multi seems a winner so far to me, done all my recent fish maybe coincidence but it is aggressive. Obvs none of the additional stuff and can change hook even easier, what's not to like, plus everyone used ronnies, thats reason enough lol

Really in 25lb its really thick thats surprising. I'd try a coated braid and just strip the hair, something like the ESP Tungsten Loaded thats fab 👍

Probably change to a coated braid straight through then? Stripped hair The Korda Dark Matter sinking braid is a thick material for hooklinks especially in 25lb - not a thin braid that cuts like whiplash 👍

Multi rig, recently done with stiff end section. Esp Tungsten loaded semi stiff Korda IQ 25lb Korda Choddy size 4 or Kama Kura style

Well mines been a pain since day one or every time it rains seemingly 👎 My fishing reels, shimmy lc big pit baitrunners are faultless and will not miss a beat, only serviced twice in over 20 years. They dont make them like that anymore.

Mouth damage like what? Cuts from hook slippage or like red rawness from rubbing?

Use an efficient pop-up rig, my hook holds since using these almost exclusively have been bang on, normally dead centre of the bottom lip and a fair way in. Very few hooked in the scissors, cant remember any tbh, must have been a few, but nailed proper. Its the first thing i noticed when trying the rig and the reason I've stuck with it since. Also no slippage that I can remember. 👍 Used to use a blowback rig with rig ring, bottom baits, wafters or snowmen, caught lots, but hook holds were more random and lost more. When its not nailed on the pickup I guess it pulls into the scissors as it tightens it up whilst moving off.

Just getting it out to take that pic and water came out from here - see below:

Not this one is it? So many versions ive not got a clue. the offending item 👆

We are going for the fishing reels expecting better quality internal components but you lose a little bit of retrieve speed. Will let you know what I get. 👍

Gotta replace my Shimano Spod reel it's almost ceased up 3 times now, difficult or impossible to turn the handle, but you can manually turn the front and it isn't old by any means, really disappointed in it tbh My mates replacing his too as he's now expecting future trouble with it and has read other complaints online. Seems they have lesser internals than the fishing reels. For me it's like there's no grease in there and no local people doing servicing any more. Will try to service myself and keep as a spare. Think we're getting XTB's or something 200 each new, un-used but second hand that he's found online. It's the most important set-up, I cast that more than anything every trip, so an upgrade seems sensible but an unexpected expense 👎 Money that I could be spending on go faster stripes for my baitboat lol - only kidding 🤣

AT (Active Target) right? I didn't know that was available for bait boats tbh, will have to check it out, that's Lowrence isn't it? Used it on the rowing boats with a big transducer over the side, two screens, one each, trolling motor with spot lock, brilliant day out and amazing technology, you can tell the difference between pike and zander. So glad I've done those days with him it's been valuable, I could feel more confident taking on a bigger challenge maybe including boat work. Plus I'm not petrified at being over 70+feet of water anywhere near as much.👀 I kind of understand side scan now to, that took ages to get my head around but so interesting alongside the normal downward view.

Used it on the big ressies for pike, perch and zander when I go out with a pro, it's an eye opener! I actually prefer blind casting on my predator days as you waste so long targeting a single fish who isn't interested and turns away in the end. I think he would probably agree, however the fact that he knows exactly where the wrecks are and goes straight to them is an obvious edge.

Do you think that because I've recently bought a baitboat with excellent sonar that somehow you're better at casting and feature finding than me? I'm as good as I've ever been in that regard yet now I have extra info available if I want it. The question is can they catch you more fish and the answer is a firm YES, there was no casting to the spot I caught from at Ashmire so it's a bonus fish, could have been more as I lost a few, and it shows stuff manual casting can never show. I.e undercut drop offs, fish, branches, sunken boats etc and the extra range, extra stealth, ability to go under overhangs.....

Raymarine - showing fish over a fairly hard bottom with the red (hard) area being towards the top of the bottom if that makes sense 😂 looking to the left of this raised feature the red is right at the top and has a thin crust - this is rock hard ground. Will take more pics when I'm out next - showing weed etc, might already have some - will update this as I find/take more images 👍

Sonar shows bottom hardness, so yes you can find silty spots that may hold bloodworm, also shows roots/branches near snags. Useful when combined with manual checks 😎👍

The deeper looks more than good enough to me and can use casting. We took my mates on Graffam Res Perching, worked OK but not enough battery life 👍

Had a couple from Trentview Friday and Saturday, expected more but not quite on them, next trip end of Oct - fingers crossed.