ouchthathurt

Dusting off my old shimano aero 11ft 2 1/4lb tc carp rods and 6000 shimano baitrunners on a little pond in the Mole valley. Literally fishing under the rod tips, my baits are each side of the end of the boards. I’ve not used these rods in maybe 15yrs, but this lake didn’t suit either my 12ft 3lb fox torque or my 12 3.5lb fox horizon rods, average carp mid-high singles, with the odd low double, so a lovely through actioned rod like these ones are so much more matched and more fun to play carp on.

It’s always worth a go mate, it used to be a popular method (no pun intended) and in essence, it’s not too dissimilar to a pva bag I suppose. It probably went out of vogue because it was no longer “fashionable” as opposed to anything else. It’s a good compact way of presenting an attractive parcel of food, with the hook link tucked away out of sight, what’s not to like? I seem to remember it being branded a “small fish method” but that could be down to many variables, the fact it was a “match tactic” or that it was used on runs waters etc. I always think that with the turn over of young new carp in today’s waters, tactics such as the method have a whole new shelf life when presented to a generation of carp that haven’t seen it yet because everyone overlooks it as a tactic. when I first started carping in the mid 90s, I never EVER used strawberry or tutti boilies as an old hand told me that the carp were so used to them they wouldn’t touch them, that has stayed with me for 25+yrs! Daft really, those carp are long gone, and this generation of carp probably haven’t seen a strawberry boilie in their lives! Everyone seems to skip these flavours in favour of some more popular flavours. I was recently told that if I wasn’t fishing with a particular brand and flavour on my club lake, I would blank as the carp wouldn’t eat anything else… i then caught the big common over 40lb, first 40 from the lake

I’ve not really had the rods out in anger for a while, but my daughter has been showing me how it’s done with her first carp from a little campsite pond.

I suppose you could argue that Terry Hearns first book, in pursuit of the largest and Dave Lanes obsession with carp are creeping into old school territory now? After all, they are documenting famous waters from the early 90s, nigh on 30yrs now! Where has the time gone?

Father’s Day fishing trip 👍🏻

22lb common caught today

another evening, another few hours spent by the lake side

couple of rods out on a little pond I found ten mins from the hotel I’m staying at. On a week residential course for work.

sneaky couple of rods out

little mid double caught on a quick 2hr session.

few from last night on a tricky little park lake the boy got one too

I couldn’t pass them up! They are going to be paired with Daiwa 7HT multis, I’m hoping to get them sorted for the autumn when the autumn/winter seas can prove to be a bit much for my Leeda Icon Elite match rods that I usually use. these rods are usable as they are, but I’d like to replace the eyes and maybe revarnish the blanks, then build them back up. first thing to do is to get them to a field and put the blanks through their paces, be a shame to do a rebuild and have them implode on the first cast because the blank was naffed.

Bit of a boot sale find, a Team Daiwa Amphorous Whisker 12ft 9 beach caster and a Daiwa Amphorous 12ft 2 beach caster for £20 the pair. they need to be given a thrash with a few leads to check the blank is sound and so long as they are, they will be getting a strip down and basic rebuild at some point to make them usable.

Great result mate, that lin is a corker, well in

Not carp exactly but…

Early morning rod shot

Outstanding work mate! Very many congratulations!

Simple overhand loop knot? What hooklink material are you using?

Great result lads, well done 👍🏻

Having just got back from a blank night on the park lake, the boy and I were unloading the car when a neighbour came up and asked me if I was interested in rehoming some “old” reels and bits that she was about to chuck in the bin. I said I’d have a look, after all, I could clean them up and find a home for them (or bin them myself!) so she soon returned with 3 diawa windcasts z5000 reels, spare spools still in their boxes! One has a bent handle, but they are otherwise pristine! she also gave me half a dozen fox single sticks and a pair of what appear to be fox micron M shaped (they’re copies) alarms! She wouldn’t accept a penny for them either. the alarms will be checked that they work and I’ll gift them on to a youngster in need of a first set, the single sticks have been snaffled by the boy and the reels already have a home on my spare carp rods… just need to repair the 3rd. anyone know much about the windcasts? They seem lovely reels from what I can see.

the boys rods out, his first night done and dusted, he missed a drop back at 6am, no other action

enjoying a brew on the park lake watching the water. Alas a blank, but was a lovely dawn

50 belachan pop ups and 50 maple pop ups rolled onto 10mm cork balls. the belachan is evil smelling… the wife wouldn’t let me air dry them in the house!