yonny

You need to base your decisions on the levels of activity. If you see nothing just use singles or zigs. If you see activity then its worth applying bait - but not loads. Even if they were boshing out like dolphins I'll seldom use more than a kg or 2 in winter. Get rid of anything high in oil e.g. pellets. Same as I'd use at any other time of year, but in moderation (particularly if they contain oils - which most fishmeals do). To be honest buddy bait should be the last of your worries. Location is the tricky bit in winter. If you can find them you can catch them and you'll not need much bait.

The NXG stuff was pants for me, fell apart. I keep my terminal stuff in one of these: https://heritageltdedition.bigcartel.com/product/coming-soon-heritage-ltd-edition-bits-bag-dpm My Rigsafe fits in the large one perfectly. They live in a British Army Patrol Pack (also known as NI (Northern Ireland) Patrol Pack). This is one of my fave bits of gear - cheap as chips, hard as nails, and carpy as Terry Hearns jumper. They come up on the bay all the time for 20 quid odd.

Agree.

Why not mate - all proven baits.

I actually get less tangles with lead clips. I don't think the heli is the tangle proof solution it's made out to be. Unless you hit the clip absolutely perfectly on the cast, the hook link can wrap/kink around the leader on impact with the surface. You can watch the rig all the way out and it'll look fine but when you use a stiff link you can sometimes see the tell-tale kink where it's wrapped up the leader after retrieval. With a lead clip if you watch the rig on the way out and it lands ok you can be 100% sure it's tangle free imo. Just my experience.

I use both. If it's rough on the deck go with the heli. If it's cleaner a lead clip is more effective imo. The right gear for the right spot. If you just want something versatile it has to be the heli.

It's a good thing imo. You want it angled mate. Hold the hook by the bend when you steam it and it will naturally curve as the tubing shrinks. Perfect.

Yes. A proven one. The Prem has been catching carp for literally 30 years mate. Just grab some Matrix or Aminos and be done with it!

You're completely over-thinking it mate. Bait is rarely the difference between catching and not imo. Premier has been catching since the dawn of time. You don't need a unique bait - especially in your situation where you're struggling for confidence. Just buy a load of Matrix or Aminos w. Peach and BP and know that if you put it in the right place you'll catch carp.

Bream eat all boilies Elmo, just not as bad as pellet/particle. Nothing can stop them tbh, but boilies are your best bet.

Let me know if there's any pups going lol.

Bear in mind most of the big carp waters over here are crammed full of weed. I need to try and hit them before they give me a toner. Give them an inch and they'll be balls deep in Canadian. I need that alarm screaming a the first shake of the fish's head once hooked (that initial spasm as they try to throw the lead). I'm fishing the lines so tight I'm hitting single bleeps.

Yes mate.

Yes mate, tight lines - once you're past 60/70ish the last 5-10 yards is pinned to the deck anyway👍 Roller AND vibration on the Qi model bud. Best of both worlds.

I'll have the line bow-string at anything past maybe 70 or 80 yards. At 60 yards I'll go tight but not silly tight. Under 60 is semi slack and under 40 slacker still. All of this depends on weed levels though, I'll fish much tighter in weed.

These new Wolf jobbies have roller and vibration Nick. The first alarms since the Ace i3's to have that. Nice.

I use expensive alarms for two reasons - versatility and reliability. I tend to use slack, semi-slack and tight line depending on the fishing situation so versatility is important to me. I'll only fish very tight lines when I'm fishing long and that is one of the occasions where I want the alarms at their most sensitive.

This! If I'm fishing a water that hold bream the pellets are first to go. Followed by particles lol. Nuts and boilies all the way for me.

No, but I imagine it'll be scary.

The much anticipated alternative from Wolf is nearing release lads: https://www.wolfint.com/product/icon-q/?location=449 Duncannon St, Charing Cross, London WC2R 0DZ, UK&radius=25 Imo, they look a bit spesh. Market leading specs imo.

Clearly not, which begs the question what kind of mental illness drove you to join it again.

Here we go again. My statement regards cosmetics not being important to me was not directed at you, I was merely pointing out that functionality is what counts (to me). How you've managed to turn that into a catalyst to sling mud is beyond me. So I guess we're now looking at a race against time to see how many people you can alienate before you get banned. Same as last time you joined, and the time before that, and the time before that...........

I couldn't care less what functional gear looks like. If it does what I want it to I'm happy.

@crusian they're repellant to water but not waterproof. But as they're thermals and not waterproofs that's to be expected. You need a waterproof over it to tackle heavy rain. Regards tearing, I've had mine for 3 years and you've read my catch reports buddy, I put stuff to the test. No issues mate.

When set up correctly they're as safe as you can get. Korda deserve a medal for them imo.