yonny

@emmcee was it BL? You're going back a loooooong way with some of those carp names. Astra Max.... was in Tels book with some of those others.

I wish! Can't see it happening, it didn't sell well, shame as it was absolutely awesome. Hydrotuff still your best bet. Floater wise, can't help. Do a lot of zigging but seems years since I got a floater rod out.

Best boots I ever tried (and I've tried most) were North Face insulated waterproof snow boots (I think they call todays equivalent the Chilkat). I still use these now as the insulation is the nuts, but, like any boots, they only work if the legs are super warm. Warm legs feed the feet with warm blood.

Really tricky for me to answer as I chop and change when I feel certain baits are more/less effective at different times of year. I rarely use 4 ingredients in a mix tbh. In Spring I'd normally be using a pot of black foam or pop ups. Maybe a kilo of of boilies just in case. Post spawning I'd be boilie fishing. Soon as the weed starts dying I'd be playing with naturals. All water dependant of course.... I'll be on the tigers if bird life or nuisance species are an issue. I can't remember the last time I took 4 ingredients tbh.

Just Googled it and you can buy a 2m roll of 135gm2 polyester wadding for less than a tenner. That tells you all you need to know imo.

You can't tell from the description. It says "Fully insulated by 120gm2 wadding", but it doesn't say what the wadding is. There are loads of good synthetic technical insulations available, normally trademarked by brand (Primaloft is a common one), and there are various none synthetic downs available (such as goose down). I would guess that Prologic, who don't actually make clothes (rather they have them made in China), are not using highly technical insulations. Imo you want to avoid fishing brands.

Just to throw a spanner into the works I'd start in 5, 6, 10 or 11. Basically the central area, all on zigs, with at least one fished into the deeper hole with a zig at 5 or 6 ft. I'd set the alarm for midnight then stay up for a couple of hours which is your best chance of spotting them this time of year imo.

Nah - I always go a size up in the waders to make life easier.

Nah, the secret to warm feet is warm legs - keep the warm blood flowing to the feet. I tried loads of different socks/boots looking for a silver bullet solution to cold feet - it doesn't exist imo. When I switched to thermal salopettes it made more difference than any socks/boots I'd tried. Toasty. For info - best boots I ever tried were North Face insulated waterproof snow boots (I think they call todays equivalent the Chilkat). I still use these now as the insulation is like an extension to the salopettes. Army ECW socks. Job done. Normally no, but if it's really cold I'll keep them on, but only get under the top layer of my sleeping bag (it's Snugpak so again, insulated really well). This leaves two layers underneath me to insulate from the ground/under the bed. Works really well for icy cold conditions.

Nah, more fashion than function. They started off doing skateboarding and angling clobber (!!?!!). Better suited to skating than winter angling for sure. I have a nice sweater off them but wouldn't dream of using it this time of year.

Decent base layer and a microfleece. The jackets work by the down/filling holding the body heat, just like a sleeping bag. If you wear too much underneath it stops the heat getting to the filling, so it won't work so well. Good ain't they! I wore mine one October night with just a thin base layer underneath. I was sweating my nuts off after baiting up 😂 Great for proper cold weather though 👍

They're all good but for really, really cold weather you want the SJ9 or SJ12, or, if you want waterproof too, you want the Torrent or Torrent Extreme. I have the SJ9 which is brilliant and recently got a Torrent Extreme. The Extreme is ridiculously warm - too warm for Spring/Autumn, but perfect for this time of year when its proper nuggets outside. I think the OG Fortis jobbie was an SJ9 Kev. The SJ12 was released after the Fortis versions.

I don't use bivvy heaters, electric blankets, hot water bottles, groundsheets, and I use a brolly all winter. The secret is decent togs and a decent bag - I mean really decent - spend some money. Bass layer, micro fleece, hoody (sometimes), but the insulated jacket/salopettes with down/softie filling are what matters. Same goes for sleeping bag - pay the price to get real quality. The Snugpak stuff is a good place to start and not that pricey compared to some of the other outdoorsy stuff (Rab etc). Avoid anything from fishing brands - most of it is overpriced tat.

Same. Just baiting up is hassle, let alone making the stuff 😂

This. I used to price up mixes regularly and I always found that for a no-holds-barred super mix I'd struggle to get ingredients for less than a tenner p/kg all in. Add to that your time which even if you price at minimum wage sends the cost of the bait through the roof. Bait rolling is, imo, a labour of love. There is very little saving to be had any more. For sure making your own bait is an edge - but the true cost is much higher than most realise.

Fair play to you for getting out in that fella.

I just use the British Army ECW socks. Dead cheap, dead warm, last forever. Although I must say that the best thing for keeping feet warm is keeping your legs warm. A decent pair of thermal trousers keeps the warm blood circulating and the feet toasty.

No-one's catching owt with rods that aint level.... you know that Elmo!

Even if you caught it, it wouldn't count if you'd used a magnifying glass to tie the rig. Back she goes without a photo 😜

Of course I was!🤣

Have a look at the Solar A1 aluminium ground pod fella.

He's after something "rock solid" Nick. That RH pod is about as solid as a strong cup of tea. @The woodcutter at low budget you'll be looking at something like a Fox X Pod (probs 50-100 notes second hand on ebay). Cheap and not the best quality out there, but certainly solid. If you want to spend more the world is your oyster - just let us know the budget mate.

What's your budget fella?

Main difference lads, GTHD is prestretched so great for casting but less abrasion resistance. Hydrotuff is the all out snag line so crazy good abrasion resistance, but still manages to cast ok and is still responsive. Gt80 somewhere between the two. All great lines.

Yes mate, a bit firmer than the frozen baits. Perfect for the stick.