iambunn

This was good news Nige! I look forward to hosting some socials with whoever's up for a bit of canal carping. Phil, would love to pop up and see the girls. Very kind of you to potentially offer a colony, too, but I couldn't take them off your hands after you've just got them through the winter. As for Nige's tea duties, you can keep them!!

Evening lads, In four weeks I'll be moving to a nice little cottage in a tiny village called Purton, just north of Berkeley in Gloucestershire. I've not really had the rods out since I moved to Bristol around two and a half years ago but that's about to change as the canal will be literally just over the road from my front door, around 15 meters away! Canal carping will be new to me, and there's not much online giving away what's lurking in the Gloucester and Sharpness canal aside from lots of bream and perch except from a couple of YouTube clips showing carp feeding on bread in the marina which 'can't be fished...' Does anyone have experience, knowledge or info on what can be found in this particular canal? Cheers, Bunn

Unbelievable read, need more like this...any recommendations?

Moorlands has all of the above Nige

Don't be sorry mate! Its always good to hear a bit of history!

Just incase not all 10 spaces have been alocated...I'm in!!!

Hurry up with the rest of this! Really wanna read more!

Both times I went with a couple of the lads from this forum, Moorlands was on a personalised version of the CC Moores Live System baits. They now have their baits rolled by Bang on Baits, and I'd recommend taking as much of that as you can. They have been thriving off tonnes of the stuff for the last few years so will happily accept that as a natural food source and will no doubt out fish any other bait.

Oh! Keith tells a fair jokes....just humour him

Moorland fisheries was my choice two years in a row, and I'll definately be back soon. Its a stunning lake in the middle of nowhere, no noise (aside from the odd carp, or keiths guitar ), plenty of big fish including a majority of 30's, loads of 40's a few 50's and I believe a 60 or two may have come through the ranks now? Food is awesome, bait available on site...what more can I say?

I quite like the principle and it actually looks fairly simple, but as for effectiveness I'm not so sure. Worth a go though, and may not do any harm to incorporate a small length of stiff bristle in any of your rigs if you believe it works.

I'm in flitwick and have thought about wondering over to the river in bedford for a while now. Never really found out whats in there though, must be some decent carp.

Off to Egypt next week and need to get myself a book! Got a carpy read already so looking for something else so I keep myself entertained. I quite fancy either Sniper One or Hunger Games...I've seen a few little reviews of Sniper One on here, but if anyone else can let me know what they think about either of them that would be awesome! Cheers, Bunn

Nicks right, I've been using combi rigs with bottoms baits since I fished Moorlands lake in France and have had some good results! If using boilies I do tend to drill them out and use a foam insert to make them a bit lighter on the bottom. The combi is also good for wafters!

I leave my zigs in either my pellet bucket or odds and sods bucket. Partly because I'm lazy and can't be bothered to wrap a 6 foot zig around my zig bin, partly because I also don't have to take the bait off, as you sometimes do with a rig bin as it can stop it from closing.

I was going to be getting some of this but a couple of the lads on my lake have tried it and binned it already. Sinks really well, nice and supple but can't be trusted as a few fish have been lost due to the splice slipping, and when they have been landed, there have been abrasions down the side of them which hasn't been seen on there before. I'm steering clear of this stuff until I hear more from other anglers.

Wheeeeey! Good lads! I haven't done it in a while, tend to tie new rigs since I lost the tools. Will definately be getting myself some more after reading this

I have no problem with the choddy, and usually have it on one rod at my syndy water as a roving rod casting to showing fish, but this is because most of the lake is covered in weed. I believe the hinged stiff rig has better hooking potential though, and can be used with a better lead set up. Because of this, If I know the bottom is clear, I'll use the hinged stiff rig over the choddy. I still prefer a balanced bait like a snowman or a wafter on a clear bottom though

Maybe consider the hinged stiff rig if you are sure you want a pop up presentation. Have you thought of using balanced bottoms baits and rigs? I'd say they are usualy a better option over a hard clear bottom?

Just bringing this back up as I'd be interested to know what hook patterns people are using for their chods? I'm not using an inturned eye anymore as it closes the gape a little. I switched over to the straight eye xsc fox armor points which seems to offer better presentation and hooking potential, but am considering how much benefit an outturned eye would offer? My current chod rig

Had a quick day session on beedles when I first started carping, fantastic looking lake and a good size. Would definately get myself on there if I was closer!

Tenner from me too! Let me know where to send the monies! Very worthy cause, nicely done

Took this photo of the chod that I now tie after Nige showed me a while ago, which has caught me a few fish since...your main line would run through the big eye part of the swivel.

Cracking thread, and a rig that I use a fair bit after Nige showed me his version of it late last year I believe. As for the size of the loop zander, I tie it so that it is just big enough to be able to allow free movement. I think if its tied too big, it takes up too much of an already very short hooklink and makes it harder to curve. Too small and you may as well not include a loop.

Unbelievable fishing keith! I cannot wait to get out again, but like the other boys, I'll have to wait until next year I think. Hope all is well with the family too, catch you soon mate. Lewis