yonny

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.

I almost always do this nowadays, albeit with a micro ring swivel. Even for chods. Dead easy.

If you have seen that with your own eyes, I think you've answered your own question!

I've not set the bivvy up since May! Instant!

Big switch this week lads and while it's still warm, it's looking mega outside in Northants. Overcast. Rain overnight. Great temps. I predict the carp will switch on big time this week. Best of luck to anyone out this week.

Had a look at the website. All the flavour combos are classics, tried and tested.