yonny

I'm normally pretty good when it comes to following rules but I will admit that I'll ignore a barbless hooks rule if I think I can get away with it, particularly on weedy waters. Barbless and weed do not mix, it's madness imo.

I totally agree. Rules alone cannot stop idiots.

On most club waters and day tickets leaders are banned due to the standard of angler. Many cannot be trusted to use such items of tackle safely. On most half decent syndicates, that vet their members, they are allowed. I agree. For me it should be the anglers misusing such items of tackle that should be banned, not the items of tackle themselves.

Agree, I'm a cider fan too. When I was a young lad they did this on tap at the local. It's pretty lethal in higher quantities lol.

No mate that's a chod hook. I assume you mean the CVR which can be used for ronnies - but imo it's too aggressive, the gape will be closed to much when fished on a ronnie.

Gardner Mugga. If you want really, really sharp, the Specialist Sharpened Hooks version is as lethal as they get.

Agree.

As said, bin them (or sharpen them) when they're no longer sharp.

Now that is a bargain in every sense of the word mate.

Be very careful there buddy. They increased their prices 3 weeks ago. The law says a price must be held for min 3 weeks before it can be called a reduction/sale. Essentially they increased the prices ready to make it look like a sale for BF when in fact it's the same price as before. WHICH? reckon 90 to 95 % of BF deals are done the same. For the most part it's all a big scam. You're better off waiting until January.

Spot on.

I wouldn't mate. However, if you see signs of activity I would defo keep some whole baits going in. Which ones? The Dynamite ones are just Skretting/Coppens (very high oil) rolled in RR. No good for cold water imo.

The Alivios and Black Widows look the business but they're low budget, low performance products. The shimmys and X3s might not look so good but they will perform. I think swapping looks for performance is a good call. Ultimately it doesn't matter what it looks like.

The Fox rods are better imo. The 10000XTEAs are a better reel but not big pits so worth swapping. The ATT's have a receiver so probs a better deal. The spods are similar. I don't think there's much in it tbh.

I get everything delivered to work @elmoputney....... then sneak it in when she's not looking. I often have a backlog of tackle in the car ready to be snuck in lol.

I follow the same strategy 😂

They don't make them like they used to mate. I don't like QD. My SS3's were QD''d when I got them. Only bought the 5000T's to tide me over when I got the SS3's un-QD'd lol. The standard tourny drag is brilliant imo, no need to mess with it. Nah, let them die so Mrs Putney has to let you get some tournies lol. So that's two of us that can't read then lol....... I can't recall seeing that either mate.

That's all you can ask mate. That's the strong point with the tournies too - they don't let you down. The're not balanced that well, they creak and squeek, they're heavy, clunky, noisy..... but they go on and on and on forever. A workhorse in every sense of the word. They're not that expensive either tbh. SS3's hold there value as they don't make them anymore but a decent set of 2nd hand 5000t's can be had for 350 quid odd. That's a hell of a lot of reel for the money. I have seen guys with tournies that are used week-in-week-out for literally 20 years and haven't been serviced. They're invincible. If you're happy with the Emcasts there's no need to change buddy. I've never used them so couldn't compare them to the tournies in terms of use.

Any time mate. I have the 5000T's and some SS3's so it's good info for me too👍

It is not published buddy but apparently 250m of 20 lb X Line fills a spool with reducer perfectly (I found a post on another forum where someone had just loaded the 20 lb!). So if you're using less than 20 lb you'll not have enough. Hope this helps.

I agree with you Elmo. I am more obsessed with carp than most but you wont find me kissing the them lol.

Agree, although most waters are hovering around 7-8 degrees now so it it's defo on its way. Once we're sub-7 it gets tricky imo.

Joking aside, it's tea all the way for me, although I sometimes take a hip flask of cognac if it's really cold.

Stella😂

I think anything less than 10 ft is shallow enough. Whatever you're confident in imo buddy. For me, there is no better winter bait than maggots.