yonny

I disagree bud. IMO it is far more precise using your hands. With your hands you can apply pressure to the eye with your thumb and just roll the hook out with little or no damage,. With forceps you're ripping the barb through the flesh imo. When using forceps the slightest movement of the hand can result in significant movement of the forcep tips, which in turn means significant movement of the embedded hook and barb. I only use them when I'm really, really struggling by hand.

That's the problem with Korda hooks, they're soft as you-know-what. That's why they're so easy to sharpen, you can have a kitten lick them sharp. Coupled with a relatively fine gauge it doesn't do the confidence much good, which is why historically I've avoided them. That said, assuming the hook penetrates correctly and you don't play the fish too hard they should be OK. I'm praying I don't regret using them at the moment - Imagine how bad I'd feel if I lost the target fish due to a hook opening out!

What good is that when we're fishing for carp lol?

I've also found that waters can respond differently to fishmeals/nut baits/milks/birdfoods, but my most successful periods have come to a good fishmeal. If I had to stick to one type, it'd be fishmeals without doubt.

If you compare it to that Son of Triple Row kipper you could certainly believe it eh....

After 2 or 3 weeks off I'm back on the bank this week and absolutely buzzing for it. The lake's been fishing pants which is a concern but I'll enjoy it either way. Hopefully have something to report next week.

I can imagine they're livid mate. I know this is the third capture (at least) of that fish this year but everyone else kept it quiet. I heard a rumour of another different Thames 50 out since Nick's capture but the masses won't hear about that one! And the rest bud....... it started life in the ICI pit, then it was nicked and put into Barham B pit where it escaped into the Gipping before being nicked again and put in Snake pit..... very colourful history lol.

Awesome vid.

Very, very special fish.

I often use the first night of a 2 night trip as a recce night too, figure out where they are for the next night. Tbh at this time of year id be fishing them all on the deck over bait. Regards depth id be looking to put myself anywhere I see signs of carp.

I use chod hooks for chods and a big old size 6 wide gape for zigs. I have used chod and curve patterns for zigs too when I've run out of gapes. Tbh I'm less fussed about patterns for zigs than I am with rigs that count on good mechanics.

Pineapple pop ups are hard to ignore for singles in winter.

For zigs or chods lol?

Mint.

You're confusing me lol. The hook length will be as long as it needs to be to put the zig at the depth I believe the carp are. 2-3 inch is not a zig for me. I'd use a hinge stiff rig for that.

I'll put them at the depth I think the carp are, regardless of the weed/substrate buddy.

Neither. I pierce them and whack them on the hair.

I've caught on little pop ups and various colour foam but I've found if you want the older I.e. bigger fish, black foam is the one.

I use big leads bud, 4 oz.

Heli safe to dump rotary leads. Lead clips are better though. Mcf Dumper is the one imo.

Mega tight with zigs bud. Especially in weed. I have fished zigs on rotary set ups but imo lead clips are much more effective mate.

I'd be very careful with zigs with weed like that about. No point hooking them if you can't land them buddy.

Not sure what you mean by this buddy. If you have to drop the lead then go for the MCF Dumper lead clips, they're great for zigs. When you cast, whack an old pop up in pva mesh on the hook, it'll add weight to the hookbait and prevent tangles. Also, don't use any tubing/leader etc, go naked straight to the lead clip, prevent tangles even further. Use the longest anti tangle sleeves you can find too. Fox do some good'n's. As for the fox/korda systems, do you mean the adjustable systems? I avoid them unless I really need them, they're not very friendly to use. If your zigs are 12 ft + you need them however. @nigewoodcock on here posted a great tip for these - when you hit the clip, don't feel the lead down, just let it fall naturally. Not sure how this works but it did work for me. Tangles stopped. Great tip.

Try Dal Henwood (Dalectronics on FB) bud. If it can be done, he can do it.

I agree @harpz_31. Not only do big baits not prevent smaller fish, they'll give you less of a chance of hooking the older/wiser (hence bigger in most cases) fish too imo.