yonny

Hi finchey.... I haven't used it in winter but will do so this year. I did do one majorly wet session a few weeks ago and it was the first time I've felt it was a little pokey.... it's based on a 50 inch umbrella so isn't massive. I used it in BIG winds this week just gone and it was fine, although I did fit a single storm pole to give it a helping hand. I'd say you need to be dedicated to use it in winter. It's more of a summer shelter IMO.

I mess about with all sorts from time to time but I would honestly be more than happy if I was forced to use just the hsr for the rest of my life.

See I kept a 20 year old micron in the bottom of my tackle box for when my Delks went wrong and it never let me down. Hence why I eventually replaced the Delks with the NTXr. I agree Delks give better indication but only when they're working (mine stopped working 3 times in 3 years!).

For performance I agree Delks cannot be beaten. Poor reliability though in my experience. If they could build one that didn't go wrong I'd go back to Delks in a heartbeat.

Easier just to tie a ronnie with triggalink IMO. Correction: easier to not bother tying it at all lol....

Hardly anything is ever truly new on the rig front. I was using variations of the stiff multi some years ago. In 2012 I had my first 40 on a stiff multi-chod thing that I thought I'd invented, a week later it popped up on the Korda website and shattered my dreams lol.... Same thing happened with what Korda call the mk2 chod (the one with a tiny boom)... I thought I'd invented something special but of course it had been around forever. I very much doubt there's anything any one of us has come up with that hasn't been done and done again tbh. Of all the fancy rigs I've come up with I always go back to the HSR. It just ticks all the boxes for me, it does everything.

Of those only the larger clearance around the roller wheel actually does anything that could impact performance IMO. The rest is just tarty. I suppose the extra LED is a decent idea. The increased sensitivity is a load of tosh IMO..... either the wheel rotates or it does not.

Quality alarms mate! Also decent, they're what I'm using. Agree, disappointing.... they do nothing of value that ours don't.

Defo. http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Energizer-Vision-HD-Focus-Headlight-with-3-x-AAA-Energizer-Max-batteries-/361484083553?epid=1141863750&hash=item542a216161:g:Z58AAOSw2xRYkG-7

Energizer, all day. I've always used Petzl but will be getting an Energizer one when it dies after it was recommended to me on another forum. My Mrs bought one and they're brilliant. In fact they have all the features of my Petzl at a quarter of the price.

Eblem Spod is great, the Shimano one is cheaper I think.

The tackle firm head torches are overpriced. Petzl are very good or if you want a good'n on the cheap the Energizer ones aint far behind.

p.s. it's not what I use but it is what I'll replace my customer build with when it dies. I have seen them and they handle like £250 rods!

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Free-Spirit-CTX-SPM-Spomb-Marker-Rod-/122712288359?var=&hash=item1c9238ec67:m:mRR0UgLuCMw1fsZ8XwtZBEA

IMO the best value spod rod is the Free Spirit CTX Spod. About £115 and it can really chuck 'em.

With the Tungsten Loaded I don't bother, I just pull it straight, amazing stuff. With inferior links I'll always do it at the start of a session and will do it again if it's no longer straight for a recast.

Certainly mate. You know what, I've been using heli's for years due to their anti tangle nature but at the mo a rule on the water I'm on means I've had to go to lead clips. I swear I'm getting less tangles, real eye opener!!

It looks and sound very special mate. One day...... Nightmare when you drop one!

This lake sounds better and better all the time......

I saw camo baccy pouches somewhere, classic.

Of course I would Nige, if it's there then I'd use it. No point in rolling it up and hoying it in the bushes lol!!

For sure. I remember when I first started doing nights, I used this horrible Argos wire framed sun longer, a cheap 70's brown and orange summer sleeping bag that my Dad gave me, this absolutely useless leaky Nash bivvy thing that cost about 60 quid new.... not necessarily because gear wasn't available but because I couldn't afford anything better. I'd be absolutely freezing, regularly caught colds, ate and drank complete rubbish as I had no stove lol.... I DO NOT miss those days! But you wouldn't catch me dead using one of these Nash path things!!

I agree, looks too manicured. Also, trying to be quiet with ton of pea gravel under you is almost a complete waste of time......

£66 plus £18 on a set of "Stealth Pegs" to hold it down.......

Lol... that has made my night!!