newmarket

I’ve had takes from 6-8lbers with double 24 millers . They tend to make the bait longer but they still get their gums round em easily enough . last time out I was using the 40mm boilies that had split by pulling them apart and threading them on the hair separately as like one boilie. I had to sit on my hands , the alarms going off in 3/4 sec bursts as they were trying to get the bait in their mouths . Once a proper full on run was forthcoming I could set the hook but they were usually 10-13lbish . which is fine by the way , I’m not a snob , all carp are welcome . Ill be continuing to fish my hookbaits like this as it does stop the endless 3-5lbers which quite frankly do become a nuisance during the hours of darkness but I think I’m going to have to concentrate more on location than bait size . Trouble with that is it’s a small lake and it’s usually a hive of activity everywhere there are so many carp in it so it’s difficult to tell where to fish . Maybe the deeper parts of the lake ? It’s usually 3-4ft deep all over with a few areas going as deep as 5ft but with the very hot weather we had up until recently the water levels have really dropped by up to 50% in places . I can’t imagine the bigger fish laying up in 18 inches of water can you ? can anybody ?

I’ve just checked the baits I made this afternoon. 2 of the 6 have split already . I feel like giving up ….there has to be another way of singling out the bigger fish 🤦🏼‍♂️

I’m visiting the lake for a day session this Saturday and intending to try a different approach entirely . Taking a pal with me as a guest (and chauffeur 😊) a spot of pleasure fishing beckons . Maybe a spot of float fishing , maybe even swim feeder . can’t wait tbh

So I’ve been experimenting with my huge hookbaits . Various tweaks , boiling times , addition of oil and/or liquid food into the mix prior to rolling and cooking etc and so far haven’t cracked it (pardon the pun) I just cannot seem to stop the baits cracking during the drying process. Ive taken advice from various sources and tried lots of different approaches . Today I’ve cooked a few more , and after a couple of hours drying between two tea towels , I’ll be adding a very light glaze of liquid food to each bait , repeating every day and look for a cooler storage place in an attempt at slowing down the drying process as the outer layers of paste are obviously wanting to dry at a lot faster rate than the inner layers . I may be talking a load of old rubbish but I can but try….

On my lake it’s pretty much overstocked with a LOT of Carp in the 10-14lb range . And with only 50 members , 30 of which never fish it (strange I know but hey) it’s very lightly fished , never more than 3 anglers at a time in my limited experience and even fewer overnight. Although it seems to hold a natural larder to an extent, I’ve found bloodworms on hooks & leads in the few times I’ve fished it myself , there’s nowhere near enough bait going in to maintain the fish . Every morning that I’ve been on there so far I’ve seen the manager or his bailiff sidekick walking the lake launching handful after handful of pellet into the margins and at times this summer the water has been boiling with feeding activity . Now I know this will vary from lake to lake but for that reason I always have a bait in the margins… and is the reason , I expect, why it is said to fish well throughout the winter . Ill find out for myself but depending on where you’re intending to fish , especially a runs water , it’s always worth finding this sort of stuff out .

As an aside , I woke up in the ICU yesterday morning, seems I’d fainted and lost consciousness. When my Mrs asked what had happened I said “I dunno love , last thing I remember I was on EBay looking at the price of Snugpak jackets & sleeping bags “….

Nice fish no matter what the size . He doesn’t appear too upset at being caught either 😊

Well , as Nick said above , I’d be changing into em on arrival rather than hiking in ‘em 🤣

…and because nobody has mentioned’em the Skeetex boots get a huge 👍🏻from moi ✔️

Hang on Trotsky …

Seconded . In fact I’m astounded that nobody’s started a dedicated thread to her Majesty . carpmachine would have done if he was here . gawd bless them both , both fondly remembered.

You know what ? That exact thought crossed my mind when I was posting yesterday…. But decided against mentioning it for fear of offending , as , as you say it means different things to different people . But while we’re on the subject 🤣…. Under normal circumstances I’d be adamant that on a pond like this , where the fish go to 11lb , the approach with the heavy artillery, 15lb line 20lb hooklink etc hook size unknown , would be massive overkill and , for me , would take all the fun out of playing the fish . However on this occasion I’m certain that this is merely a practice run , as it were, for B33troot trying out his new set up etc . He said himself above that he is already doing his homework, seeking out appropriate (runs ?) waters actively as we speak in search of larger quarry and he has been angling and been around angling for many years so knows the score . Indeed I would be the last person to try and teach grandma to suck eggs Hope you aren’t offended B33T 👍🏻

Hello mate , I know nothing about Shimano’s , being a Daiwa man myself, but is it one of these ? https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/324273109091?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-127632-2357-0&ssspo=cr5uBV2KQAO&sssrc=2349624&ssuid=o3DeM8ltSVu&var=&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY

Welcome old son 😉

Only because a little pond like that would have been right up my alley when I was a kid and that , in turn , brought up a good few happy memories. In the good old days before I came over to the dark side and spent thousands on tackle 🤣

Very nice mate . just out of curiosity, have you ever float fished there ?

This is the problem I have so as soon as it happens the first time (because there’s been quite a few) I keep the rods on the bank and set my alarm for half hour before Dawn . Im too old for all this double takes in the dark carp 🙄 As for your fone ? If it’s an iPhone there’s a terrific app called PhotoShrinker, not sure if there’s an Android version, must be .

Excellent post mate . I wish every Angler on the bank felt the same way as you (and I). The wildlife indeed helps . Tj took this whilst he was fishing 👍🏻

I know that feeling lol

Hating to urinate on your French fries CB but I just managed to arrange an appointment at the Quack’s for Nursey to syringe my lugholes . and yep , Olive Oil today 😊

Top stuff matey well done 👍🏻

Good read Elmo , so glad you all had such a good time . Couldnt do it myself , I’m a selfish er , person . It’d all be about the fishing .

As I said above Covid seems to have given them an excuse . it’s always been a problem getting an appointment at my quacks … they called it ‘open surgery’ which meant queuing up outside at 9.30 am joining a queue and waiting your turn . Might be an hour might be 5 hours …. You could get a pre arranged appointment but it would be 2/3 weeks down the line . Nowdays it’s online consultation , then phone if necessary then queue up on a day specified by them and never ever that day or the following morning ffs . I want my ears syringing I’d like to see them do that online or over the fone . Nick , sorry bout the subject matter , I don’t particularly want it on this thread but you know how it goes 🤣

Nah mate it’s earwax that’s just been compounded by the underwater pressure making it worse . It’s been gradually getting worse over the last couple of years but it’s just that they make it nigh on impossible to get a doctors appointment these days . The Black Death has a lot to answer for . It’s such hard work getting an appointment I’ve just left it & left it . Ive a million things wrong with me . sorry to be a bore .