yonny

Bear in mind it's a mirror image and your reel has to load clockwise therefore the line should come off the spool anti clockwise. Yup!

Sorry, I meant "make sure it's going onto the reel in the direction it comes off the SPOOL (of line)"!!!!!

Worth soaking it overnight IMO. Line needs to be loaded in accordance with the way that it was spooled. Line is spooled in two ways depending on the manufacturer (or in some cases the same manufacturer can use two methods). They can be spooled directly/radially (from the front) or by oscillation (from the side). Basically that means you need to either load your reel with the spool of line sitting upright OR with the spool on it's side. Your best bet is to choose a method, reel a few turns on, then take a couple back off (not off the clutch, it'll add twist), form a loop and see if it is twisted. If it is, try the other method and see if it's less twisted. Go with the method that leads to less twist. Also make sure it's going onto the reel in the direction it comes off the reel, otherwise you'll impart 360 degrees of twist into the line for every turn of the reel.

No such thing as too heavy for marker work IMO bud. I'd go with the broomstick.

I've not seen the phenomenon with any other line and I've used loads of 'em.

I did have a couple of issues with Ultima F1 (which btw is a brilliant casting line). After a couple of big fish it seemed to stretch somewhat which lead to the most extreme localised coiling, just at the business end. I'd have to remove 5 to 15 ft afterwards. It was fine with smaller fish or fish that didn't row too much.

Chill saw horrendous discolouration of the rag he used to tension the line during loading. Don't let that put you off bud! Agree.

The bailiff guy was very helpful, worth listening to bud.

I'm not so sure the pressure itself dictates the whereabouts of the carp, it's the conditions that comes with the pressure systems. Periods of high pressure will (normally) see sunshine which will see the carp nearer the surface taking advantage of the heat. As soon as that sun goes down you're quids in for a bite off the deck towards dawn regardless of pressure, particularly at this time of the year when the water's still warming up. It's different in winter. For long periods it's not comfortable for carp on the deck due to the coldest, densest water sinking to the bottom. Therefore they'll likely be mid water most of the time regardless of pressure, and that explains why feeding periods on the deck can be so short in winter. I really struggle for confidence with zigs in coloured water. By all means try methods to attract the carp, chances of a take without it are low IMO. With 3 rods each we really need to be making the most of our options. I find, in general, in really high pressure you'll struggle for a bite in the day anywhere in the water unless a hatch kicks them into action. Zigs are your best bet though. Once the sun goes down you can get action on the bottom or on zigs until about 3 or 4 am, then it's all about the deck until 9 or 10 am. Then back onto the zigs.

They refer to them as the Carp Tamer 'X'-Wrap I believe bud.

Yeah for sure Chill, I realise the Hi-S are a cut above but in terms of performance I hear there's not that much in it. This info apparently came from a certain Mr Hutchinson (although that's second hand info so don't hold me to it). I did hear he had a hand in the design of the CTX. The stuff I've heard about these is so good I've even considered getting a set of the broomstick model 13 ft 3.5's for proper distance work myself. I hardly ever fish at huge distances so even with the cheaper carbon they should last me forever.

Shimmy use cheap Chinese blanks and Avid aint rod builders, I'd go with the Free Spirit, all day bud.

100%. These are a hell of a lot of rod for the money. Apparently there's not that much difference between these and the 400 quid Hi-S rods. Free Spirit knew they had to bring a rod out in the lower price range so used cheaper materials but they're that good at rod design/building the rods still ended up fantastic.

Fished it once a few years ago. Was on the island casting right into the reeds on the bank next to the reserve bit. Had a few commons. Not much help I know but better than nowt. I seem to remember finding loads of info online prior to that trip so worth persevering fella.

Bulin T4. Very good stove. i recently got one off amazon for 24 quid delivered from the uk. from here: https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/B00V344YJA/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1491233325&sr=8-1&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_QL65&keywords=bulin+t4+stove

That. shimmys are lush out the box and stay that way with a service every ten minutes. Even the old long casts, which were the most solid reels shimmy ever made, die after a few years proper use. I too have infinities, replaced shimmys with them. Never serviced them, they just go on and on and on and.....

I'm with Dicky on this one. I used to use a Barbel rod for fishing on top but was forced to use an old 2.5 carp rod once due to the barbel rod being round my brothers place. I actually much preferred the carp rod, has a bit more backbone and the stiffer blank seems to offer more control for me. Think it's an original Fox Warrior, must be minimum 15 years old, only £50 when new, boy has that had some use over the years. Still good as new, bargain. A lot of it is personal preference IMO.

I don't think any top end alarms are worth the dosh but they are very good alarms, as long as you don't end up with duff ones which does happen from time to time.

I've used these for dealing with extreme weed with zero problems even when chucking big. I rate them.

+1 for the Wychwood Tactical. They last as well (which was my only fear looking at the price). Nearly 2 years on and mine's still going strong.

Yup. I actually already bought another spool of 18 lb before I heard your feedback for my annual re-spool - but I don't need to! There's nowt wrong with the stuff that's been on for a year! So in another year or two I'll go for the 15 lol...

It's still a snag line at the end of the day so it's not the most supple line you've ever seen but it's miles better than most. I wouldn't particularly say it coils off the spool, I've certainly not had any issues and I'm using the 18 lb version (have been for a year now)!! I now use it as my every day line, it's the toughest line I've ever known but it casts OK, it's fine to well over 100 yards. I put Chillfactor on to it (he went for the 15 lb) and he's already seen the benefits when he got snagged up - I'm sure he'll comment at some point. He's cast 140 with it which says a lot. Crusian is on the 12 lb - not heard feedback from him yet but I fully expect good things. I cannot recommend this stuff enough mate, it's just brilliant. I can honestly say it's the best line I've ever used. I'm going to France in a couple of weeks to a water that's all 100 yards +. Normally I put a casting line on for that but this year I'm not bothering. I don't need to. At the shows last summer Rig Marole were doing a demo where they were sawing through wood with this line!!!! It's that tough.

Do not load up with the same line, it's pointless fella. Go with something that achieves something different to give yourself options. GT8O is an all-rounder so go with either a casting line or a snag line, depending on which one you might use the most. For casting check out the pre-stretched lines (Fox Exocet is a good'n) or semi pre-stretched (Technium, GT-HD etc.). For snag lines look no further than Rig Marole SLS Specimon Tough (awesome stuff) or Gardner Hydro Tuff.

Goddamnit.... another one on the 'must check it out' list.....

That stuff looks great Vik. How's it look on/off the deck? Does the blurb ring true?