yonny

Maybe, but to be clear, propolis does not contain honey. It's a completely different substance.

Probably doesn't help at all but I'm 6 ft 4 and got XL. They fit fine, if anything slightly too big which I like. This is off the Fortis website: Size Guide Elasticated Waist (inches) S: 30″ M: 32″ L: 34″ XL: 36″ XXL: 38″ XXXL: 40″ Inside Leg (inches) S: 29.8″ M: 30.8″ L: 31.8″ XL: 32.8″ XXL: 32.8″ XXXL: 32.8″

I don't think that's 100% accurate. I had a look at the report that this article is based on when it was first published and (I think*) I recall it was looking strictly at propolis products rather than all carp care treatments. I have mentioned several times on here, way before this stuff was published, that I question the use of propolis in angling. The use of propolis originates in koi keeping. It creates a barrier on the wound to lock out any nasties rather than act as an antibacterial/antifungal solution (although dodgy marketing from the tackle firms would have you believe otherwise). This barrier effect is fine when a koi is living in a posh pond with clean, filtered water with controlled salinity. Not so fine for a carp lake - my opinion is that you risk locking nasties IN to any wound. There are other (non-propolis) carp care treatments options available that are genuine antibacterial/antifungal treatments. How effective they are is open to debate but one thing is for sure - they cannot do any harm to the fish. Even if it washes off straight away you can be safe in the knowledge that the hook-hold or wound was completely free of anything that could result in infection when you send mr carp home. My overall opinion is: we don't really need to use treatments, but if the right treatment is used, it cannot be a bad thing. Propolis is actually the "mortar" that bees use to build there hives! I think it's a mix of beeswax, bees spit, and plant resin. Clever little [censored]s aint they!

Now that's what you call a carp @kevtaylor. Well done.

Call me crazy, but I think you guys are looking back with rose tinted glasses. Imo you always had guys that lacked etiquette. I don't think that's changed at all. Obviously it depends on the waters you fish, with day tickets tending to attract such characters (as they always have done). On every single decent syndicate I've been on, kn*b heads have been few and far between. Yes you always find the odd one, but most are sound. I personally find it refreshing to find that most youngsters are a pleasure to bump into on the bank. They remind me of me when I was there age.

V easy to I'm of the same generation mate, and while it's easy to reminisce, I can also remember the not-so-good stuff. Worst of all being the rubbish clothes we wore for winter fishing. I honestly believe I put myself at serious risk back in those days. Boys will be boys though. Let's face it, most of the tackle was absolutely pants. In modern angling you can choose your approach and I maintain many of the values I did when I started. But now I have decent gear. Ergo, it's the best of both worlds for me.

Very nice!

Not at all. It's a decent topic.

I think tigers are a great examples mate. A little sugar transforms them. Agree on the salt (particularly rock salt), garlic and chilli too. Fantastic additives. I'd also mention fenugreek, yeast extract (marmite), condensed milk, fish sauce, fizzy drinks (coke/red bull) etc..... there's loads of them (most of which are heavy on either salt or sugar) that can really put a twist on your particles. Do they work?.... who knows. They defo don't do any harm as I've caught plenty of carp on all of them.

Hitting boiling point does not mean boiling out. You can boil all the water away. The salt/sugar will remain.

Depends what it is I suppose. Salt and sugar can't be boiled out. Soluble stuff can be added after boiling but it'd take a while to disperse through the bait.

You cook the goodies into them i.e. add during the soaking stage.

Awesome. I see them a lot, but v rare to get so close!

Tbf I'd assume the same mate. Keep us updated. I'd be amazed if they're not compatible.

I see what you mean. The MK11 swingers have a 2.5mm micro-jack (I think). Do you have anything else with a micro-jack you could try to plug in those little holes?

Are you talking about Europe rather than the UK? I'd say a minority use boats in the UK, although they are growing in popularity al the time. And I'd certainly say that (UK) anglers consider big pit reels a priority.

Get some pics up mate.

Do they not look like this?

Congrats @ouchthathurt. It doesn't seem 5 mins ago that I was up with the bottle at 3AM so I know what you're going through. And I understand the struggle of not being able to get out. A healthy bait obsession is just prefect to keep the juices flowing. Ultimately carp have evolved over millions of years to harvest the food sources available to them and one the most abundant is in the silt. I have even known them to feed in the horrible stinky black stuff. It's all about natural cycles and when the beds of naturals are ready for harvest. That horrible 'dead' silt does contain food, just not as frequently as the 'live' silt beds that hold bloodworm for long periods throughout the year. You're dead right that it's not feasible for a carp to reject baits tainted by silt. Silt is probably the #1 source of sustenance for the species.

Correct😁 Dunno.... I could have done with some help on Saturday 🤣

If it's for a freshwater boat I'd just do it in 304..... half the price and more than up to the job.

The best line out there imo.

I have one! Thing is it's miles round this lake so taking everything isn't really an option. In fact I'm taking as little as I can get away with! I'm even leaving the brew kit at home 😧

It is mate. I actually found the carp this time too... chilling out not 30y out in a weed bed. Unfortunately I only had 4oz leads on me and the carp weren't to fond of them crashing onto their heads. Schoolboy error. Got straight on the phone to order a bunch of 2 and 2.5oz for next time. I was convinced they'd be back the next day but they didn't show up. To rub it in I found them all in the shallows on my trek back to the car to go home.

Saturday morning at the big pit. Big blank to go with it.