yonny

It's never been a problem for me dude.

It's difficult market mate. I was chatting to the guy that ran Carp Superstore (recently closed down). He was telling me that Angling Direct were selling reels at a price cheaper than he could get them at cost. It is just so hard to compete with their buying power. Worry about that later though! Good luck with your plans fella.

I've used the mc nut and have friends that rate the Poacher gear. They're both half decent baits. Pick the one YOU like the most and stick with it. They will both catch you carp.

Likewise, I agree. Disagree, they're not that smart imo.

I saw Terry Edmonds (casting tutor) put a smiley on the FB post which made me chuckle.

It's getting worse Kev. They're banning bait boats (hurrah!) and shutting swims because nitrate levels are that high due to so much uneaten bait that fish are dying. Jeez, it sounds terrible!

This. Flouro is awful imo.

I don't think you can improve on a bog standard ring swivel (like @Its-grim-up-north's example). Even with my ronnie/spinners I only use shrink to close the gape of the QC bit, I don't take it down over the barrel. Loads of movement.

Yeah that's what I was thinking, it's essentially a particularly safe 360. A novel idea for sure.

The Fox Exocet is highly rated but I don't think it offers anything the GT-HD doesn't buddy.

I personally am not a fan of the low stretch lines. Low stretch is achieved through pre-stretching. Pre-stretching is great for feeling the drop and for distance casting but you sacrifice abrasion resistance which, when you fish very weedy waters like me, is probs the most important characteristic in a line. I would stick with the GT-HD tbh. It's a great line for what you're after. It's better than the Touchdown imo.

The difference in feel of the lead going down, and bite indication, would be negligible with any other mono or flouro imo mate.

This is why out-turned eyes are generally used for stiff rigs. The gape on Nick's rig is closed far too much (imo) by the standard curve shank.

Nah that's not accurate buddy, just look at the spinner/ronnie - very short and zero stretch. The important bit in shaping the stiff link on a hinge/chod or steaming the shrink tube on a spinner/ronnie is to ensure the shape of the hook is extended. You should be able to draw an imaginary line along the shank and it should continue progressively all the way down to the swivel with no nasty angles or corners. These rigs are basically intended to be an extension of the hooks shank. The one you tied here is almost spot on - that smooth radius from the bend of the hook to the putty is what you're after.

What is your thinking here Nick? Why do you think this would give extra movement over a standard swivel? Surely there will be similar friction between the tungsten beads and the mini swivel than there would between the ring and barrel on a standard swivel? In the image above the gape is closed way too much imo. The stiff material is supposed to serve as a sweeping extension of the hook shank, there should not be any right angle between hook and the hook link imo.

Respect to you sir. The right thing to do imo.

I just fish a pop up over worms. When you get them going on naturals it really doesnt matter what you have on the rig imo. It will be taken.

Yes, and they defo are by the sounds of it mate.

This^^^^^^ Until you find them you're just guessing which is no good for anyone buddy. Keep at it, they'll show you where you need to be eventually.

Mate....... what is going on over there is a joke. As you know I pop over once or twice a year but not this year, it looks awful man!

Well done @crusian👍

Mental looking kipper that one 😍

Weed is taking oxygen at night but giving it during the day. If you can find a spot near the heaviest weed it's generally a good bet come bite time (evenings/mornings). Ya lazy git!🤣😉

They have another one called spike which is even longer/bigger (50+) and bunch of others in their 40's. Gotta be the best lins in the country?

I use the Trent Baits cork ball pop ups. UB Baits are also decent. Just the standard proper jobs are more than buoyant enough mate.