yonny

I agree. Water temps have climbed from 4 degrees to 9.2 degrees in 9 days on the water I fish (crazy, crazy increase). Just like that it's done its first fish since December.

I looked into this a few years ago mate. We do actually have one that we use solely for composting (she wont let me nick the worms our of it lol). Be warned, they're pretty disgusting to work with. Harvesting the worms would be an awful job🤢 I chose not to pursue the idea after checking inside ours as the worms got established. It's rank in there.

How did you pay? By bank transfer? I think based on law your Oct holiday is a write off but if you've paid for a May tip and he's ignoring you then it's plain and simple theft and the bank would have to act no?

They're decent mate. Jason Haywards Muggas are better but also more expensive. No sure why Korda don't do a Kamakura version of their Kurv pattern. The Krank is the closest they currently do to a curve shank. Also decent. I used these extensively for a while. No good for a multi though imo. Handy for a ronnie/spinner type set up (replaces a 360 rig nicely). Have anther look at this if you're set on using pre-sharpened:

That depends on what your idea of sharp is. Imo chemically sharpened hooks are blunt. All of them.

The problem with the Kamakuras is they're only sharpened on one plane, opposite the barb, by machine. This gives them a sharp spade tip which is proper lethal but super fragile. The most fragile of the lot, but still awesome in terms of sharpness.

That's something I've never considered tbh. I've not struggled with it personally and I've used glugged baits/sharpened hooks extensively. I do know through experience that water bodies can change pH for periods of the year which is a strange one. I assume it's due to dying plant matter or some other biological event.

I've not used them mate. I get him to do my Atomic Choddas. I do use his Ultra-Sharp Wide Gapers and Wide Grippas for zigs though and they're great. Nah, he gets them in coated and then sharpens them. Coatings such as teflon would ruin the sharpness anyway mate. It's only a few microns but that is enough to take away that needle sharp point. If you're struggling with low pH silt corroding your hooks (a common occurrence) the best solution is to use a wax based coating. The expensive way to do this is to get Jason's anti rust compound (link below) which is absolutely brilliant. . It's only a fiver and will last you literally years so still cheap as chips tbh. The 'cheap' way to do it use a crayon. Give the hook point 3 or 4 strokes with the compound/crayon, then give it a quick lick with a lighter (DON'T hold the flame on the hook point). Hold the hook so any run-off during licking of the lighter will run away from the hook point, towards the barb. https://www.walkersoftrowell.com/carp-specialist-fishing-tackle-equipment/specialist-sharpened-hooks/specialist-sharpened-hooks-anti-rust-sticks.html

He stocks most brands and sharpens them to order. Alternatively you can send him yours and he'll do them for you: https://sshooks.co.uk/hooks.html He also does his own Ultra-Sharp brand. You can get the range from JR: https://johnsonrosstackle.co.uk/1640-hand-sharpened-hooks

That's tricky mate. What she needs to understand is that it's more than a hobby. It's a passion. Not something that can be given up just like that. But at the same time we all need to see things from their perspective. Carping is ultimately a selfish pastime. We disappear, and plough whatever we can into catching carp, at every opportunity we think we can get away with it. It's about balance and compromise. You need to work together because "fishing or me" is never going to end well.

Been doing it for years. There are occasions where I'll use an unsharpened hook for specific reasons but they are few and far between. Last couple of year I've been buying them pre-sharpened from Jason Haywood. I got so bored of doing it myself for 10 years + I decided I'd rather spend double to get them done for me by someone whose skills I trust.

I'd go for 12 lb in that situation mate.

They remind me of the old Chod Twisters which I didn't get on with at all. I really like the TrigHammers but I think I'll give the choddy version a miss tbh.

I'm planning on a cheeky sesh next week. These temps cannot be ignored.

No idea mate. At the time I thought it was my own little secret. When I came up with my little boomed chod I thought that was unique too. A month later it was publiced by Korda as the chod mkii lol.

Yeah it was like an anti eject chod type thing. I cant remember how I attached the bait, probs just on a rig ring mate.

Many moons ago I played with a similar version but the D went all the way back down the hooklink to the swivel (instead of back through the eye). It worked well but I can't be bothered to tie them anymore. I dont think it makes a huge difference over a standard chod. I do think the chod can be improved by adding a tiny boom (like 1 or 2 inches, like a tiny hinge rig). This gives the rig the movement the standard chod lacks, and solves problems with the lead bouncing the hook out during the fight too.

Totally mate. Loads of guys struggle with that when it comes to zigs, and I struggled with it before catching on them too. There was a tip on here from @nigewoodcock (not sure he visits anymore). He suggested leaving all your bait at home and just taking a pot of foam - so you're forced to go all in on the zigs. That is a great tip as sooner or later you'll have them, and once you have them those confidence issues disappear.

I only use chods and zigs when I believe there is no other method that can catch them in the given situation. I've caught plenty so imo you are missing out boys. When they're nuts deep in heavy weed it has to be a chod. When they're mid-water it has to be a zig.

If on the water you fish there are spots that the carp like to feed on that cannot be reached by casting then go for it mate. If there are no such spots then for me it's just another thing to spend money on, and carry around with you. I'd buy one in a second if I thought it would catch me more fish but I cannot recall wishing I had one on any water I've fished in the last few years.

I can totally relate to that mate. I spent years as a youth just chucking a bait at the water and sitting there waiting. It was only when I was in my mid 20s that I fished a "proper" i.e. low stock water that I realised I would never catch truly special fish by doing that. Looking back it's a wonder that I caught anything at all lol.

No disagreements bro, it's just a a heathy debate. It's good to be able to have these debates without someone kicking off which is what tends to happen on other forums👍 It's all in the wording mate. Neither money or time can make an angler better imo. I know full timers that are rubbish anglers, and I know guys that do hardly any time whose angling skills are nothing short of lethal. I think what you mean to say is that having time can make an angler (any angler) more successful (in terms of results).

What we need to bear in mind is that EVERYONE can do this if they choose. We all have choices in our life. To spend 4 days+ a week on the bank you have to make a sacrifice and those sacrifices include a well paid job and everything that comes with that (nice house/car etc). Those sacrifices also normally include a family too. I have known loads of anglers that do time like this and none of them have a mrs, or kids, and hardly any own a house. It's easy to feel jealous about the time they put in until you get home to your family, have a nice meal, and few drink in front of the fire. They don't get to do that. The list above contains 4 of the most gifted anglers in the country, and if we're talking about money I can tell you now that when they made the decision to follow their chosen path they had nothing. Tel would scrounge teabags at the gates of Yateley and Laney was using any old kit he could scrape together for years. Yes they are successful now but we are talking about the only 2/3 anglers to get paid to go fishing in the entire country. They cannot imo be used under normal context in discussion. Time and money are completely different factors for me, they cannot really be discussed hand in hand. I could EASILY quit my job and do 4/5 days a week but I'd lose the money/house/car/family etc. No thanks. Those who say they can't afford a 600 quid ticket; what you mean is you're not prepared to make the sacrifices to free up 600 quid for a fishing ticket (which is completely fair play imo). Anyone with a stable job can free up 50 quid a month if the decide they want it enough but only the individual can decide if they want it enough.

Spot on mate.

ESP Tungsten Loaded. Best I've used by a mile.