yonny

It can go two ways - with the crook of the quick change facing the tip or the back of the hook. It should face the back of the hook👍

Try a size 4. I always found the hardware (micro ring/spinner swivel etc) could lead to damage with smaller hooks (6/8). I also found this could lead to losses. Switching up to 4's and even 2's eliminated this for me.

Imo the visual aspect of hookbaits is massively overlooked. Carp can see more than 4 times as many colours as humans, and can see in the UV and infrared spectrums - so basically their detection of colour is miles better than ours and they can see at night (explains how the black foam zigs work at night eh, lads). One thing I've taken from every underwater vid I've ever seen (going right back to the first Korda one in the late 90's) is that they see the hookbaits clear as day and are often drawn towards something a little different.... something that sticks out. I used to spend hours/days/weeks/months preparing and glugging special hookbaits. Over the years I've stopped doing it as I now believe colour or visual appearance is way more important than food content or flavour (when used over bait anyway). I even have a stash of Proper Job Pop Ups with zero flavour that I prefer to fish over certain groundbaits. Worth also mentioning that given their UV/IR vision, we're probably wasting our time trying to camouflage our end tackle. What's green or brown to us might look bright purple to them! You can see this on the underwater films too - sometime they just know something's not right. Luckily, they're not smart enough to know what a hook, lead, or leader is, so we catch in spite of it! Anyway I digress....... shot on the hook rig? Been around for years as mentioned. I personally haven't fished a spot clean enough for that rig in years so I have no interest. Also have to agree with @kevtaylor that there's nothing in the newer vid to suggest it's the shot making the difference rather than the very short hooklink!

I find the ignition doesn't last on most if not all mobile cookers. Always end up using a lighter.

My thoughts exactly😅

I can imagine mate. Well done to all of ya! How old are your little'n's if you don't mind me asking? My eldest is 5 now and I'm wondering if it's time to start taking him.

Had a whale of a time down at Wraysbury on a social with @greekskiilast week. Between us we had 40 odd bites over 3 days. Conditions were PERFECT. Here's a couple of my faves:

I personally prefer the old school Emblems! Built like trains and last forever.

Not sure I understand mate.... Regardless of results this could be life threatening? Isn't that what the results will tell you? My brother was in an accident maybe 20 years ago and there were complications with his recovery. He was offered something like £10k as a settlement but held out for a much bigger pay-off based on test results. The test results came back, not what my bro expected, and he ended up with £6k. I'd hate to see the same thing happen to you. I would just make sure you fully understand the impact of a clear blood result mate. I am no expert but in my experience pay-offs are valued in actual damages rather than what could have happened.

What happens if the bloods come back clear mate? I'd expect this would have a big influence on the value of the claim? Worth asking the question. The few thousand they've offered might exceed the value of a clean blood pay-off.

Hero!😆

I actually bought one of those a few years ago (not one that can also be used as a standard chair, just the one that sits on the bed). I used it once and decided it's just another piece of gear to carry. Straight on ebay after the one session. I would certainly be interested to hear about the one that does both (normal chair AND sits on the bed). I rarely take a chair at all nowadays as I resent carrying too much kit but I often wish I had one on me!

Same! I had one years and years ago and ditched it for a more modern alternative. I hated the weight of the replacement so spent 2 years finding another original adjusta (one popped up on FB for a tenner eventually). Been using it ever since. So, so light. You can't find anything that light nowadays. But I agree pack-down is ridiculous.

I agree with the above. In summer, that period following a downpour seems to be the one. You really notice it on that odd occasion there's no wind, it's warm, the rain stops, and immediately you start to see fizzing all over the lake. It's a lovely sight.

If it makes you feel better about not going I'm happy to take the blame mate 😜

Low pressure after a period of warm weather...... hate to say it but you can't get much better conditions!😟

Scientifically they only need 14, but it's party time at 18. So temp dependant then..... This year is the perfect example. Got warm then got cold then got warm again. Temp dependant. Again, perfect example. Temp dependant.

Nah that's not right mate. Spawning is temperature dependent. Once you hit 18 degrees water temps it's game on. It's when the temps are inconsistent (much like this year) that they start and stop and start again. In a perfect world it gets warm, stays warm, and they get it out of the way pretty quickly. They tend to spawn in year groups (often youngest first with the older big fish last) so it can appear even in periods of sustained warm weather that they're stopping and starting.

In my experience they get on the feed big time. Most of the waters I've fished close for a period for spawning (rightly so) but I've had seasons where they spawn so late they're only just finished by the time the lake opens. I've had, and seen others have, absolutely massive hits during this period. They just go mental and feed their heads off. Food is a huge part of their recovery process, they need it. They start growing the following years eggs almost immediately so they need the grub to fuel this process.

The location/depth of the fish will be determined largely by the conditions on the day mate. If I had to choose I personally would stick to the shallower areas. High chance of decent warm sunny conditions in July. I can't recall seeing fish moving consistently to deeper areas after spawning in 25 years of carp angling. They go where they're comfortable and where the food is imo.

I agree. If everyone is blanking on particle I don't think the addition or deduction of aniseed makes a bit of difference. I'd be heading over to boiled baits (in fact post spawning is when I believe boilies to be at their most effective). Or maybe naturals. Something totally different anyway.

Welcome to the club mate. I had three water ingress issues with my Delks, the last of which occurred at 2am in the rain on a very, very cold February night on the Mill. I literally got on my phone and ordered some Fox's right there and then. Seven years later the Fox's are still going strong with no issues whatsoever.

Lovely down there mate. Looking forward to following your campaign on here 👍

@kevtaylor think I might recognise this place. Does the journey down test the car suspension by any chance?

Decent waders pretty much stay open without this contraption imo. For me the risk (of losing fish) is pulling them up and onto your shoulders with rod in hand. This doesn't fix that. I'm out 😁