yonny

I know that feeling fella....

Defo a tricky one this. See the problem with angling for carp, especially bigguns, is you simply don't know how much bait you need. It is completely dependent on how many fish you manage to get feeding and for how long they feed on a given day. I've turned up for a weekender with 5 kg and run out after 24 hrs, but I've also taken 4.5 kg home with me at the end of the weekend. Personally I think it's worth the risk. I'd rather carry that extra few kg around with me and not use it than have carp going mental in front of me and run out of bait - there's nothing worse. I normally have back-up bait in the car too.

Probs my fave way to catch them. I can only remember 3 decent sessions doing this in the last maybe 5 years due to bird life and other anglers. Used to do it all summer it seemed.....

I agree with that. I used to love stalking along the margins but on a lot of the waters I've fished in the last 10 years I've tended not to find carp close in to fish for. I'm sure this is due to modern 'anglers' making a racket on the bank - setting up right on the waters edge, having bbq's, with those God awful ridgemonkey lights lighting up the bivvy like a space station. I'd used to always have one rod in the margins by default and for my first 10 years angling that was normally the most productive rod. I don't do that anymore - they usually sit motionless for 2 days now. I'd have to see feeding carp to pop one in the margins these days, which is rare. Nowadays I'll go stalking only to do three laps, find nothing, and end up back in the swim chucking zigs at open water where the fish are showing. Wouldn't it lol

Certainly do bud, 20 lb semi stiff in brown. It's pricey, in that you get half as much as the other links for similar money, but well worth it IMO. I actually bought some cheaper Fox Camotex Stiff for when the situation doesn't warrant using the more expensive ESP stuff (idiotic decision that was, don't know what I was thinking tbh) and it reminded me just how much better it is. It just doesn't compare, the Fox stuff went on the spare bits shelf and hasn't been touched since while I've got through another 2 spools of the ESP. It's versatile too - I've used it for all sorts.

Here's a statement for you fella; it's the best coated braid I've ever used..... and I've used most of them. The stiffness is just right - enough to kick the link out but settle over uneven substrate. The braid inside is super supple. The coating doesn't split at the knot. It pulls straight without steaming. It's as close to perfect as is currently available. One of the products of the year for me. Disagree hutch, it sinks miles better IMO. I agree you still need putty but I found you need significantly less than with other coated braids.

Defo bud. My taret fish this year came after moving to mono hooklinks. It's a tricky one to catch, first time out in a year or two. Coincidence? Probably, but you never know.

You can use a bottom bait fella. Think clone rig for example.

I never alter the length of my hairs. I'll change the length of a rig to suit the substrate but never the length of the hair, I just stick to what I know works with my chosen rig. In fairness I hardly ever use hairs nowadays, I usually present on D or micro swivel of some kind.

When the going gets really, really tough I turn to bog standard off-the-reel mono. Super supple, super subtle, no one else doing it. What more could you ask for?

Honestly bud, you'll struggle to find a purpose made hooklink much more supple than IQ2. Most are intended to be stiff. A geezer on the other forum suggested you should check out the fluro mainlines, that's not a bad shout. I use X Line in 10 lb for zigs due to its better abrasions resistance than the pre-stretched zig lines, it's good stuff.

If you have a rig that works why would you want to change it bud? Stick to what catches you fish fella. If you start changing things for the sake of it you can end up ruining your chances and not knowing why.

Agree, I used to use Choddas but ran out one time, used a Sabre and it looked great. Depending on the hooklink I think the multi is quite versatile when it comes to hooks.

Using the multi?

Agree 100%. In fact in my experience adding flavours or other additives to them makes them less effective. It is my belief that carp use electroreceptors to detect tiny electrical signals given off by live maggots (and other naturals such as bloodworm) and that is what makes them so effective. Add a flavour or man made bait to that and it simply serves to make them seem less natural to the carp. I was speaking to my mate about the above, he thinks I'm nuts but I swear based on my experience maggots and worms etc are best with no additives whatsoever.

Chodda, Sabre and Trappa for me. Between them they do the lot. I'm not aware of the Grippa... do you mean the Grabba?

I just had a quick look for the s6 Muggas for ya Smufter, couldn't find stock anywhere!! Odd. If you e-mail Gardner they're normally very good at getting back to folks. Nah, it was someone else, I can't remember who though. I'm yet to see them in the flesh. TBH every time I stray from Atomics I seem to have problems so I'm loathe to even try them! I'm also not a fan of the ACE (now re-branded as Carp Spirit) Razorpoints. They look great but I found the chod versions drop fish, others have had similar problems.

Please do BC. I'm a VASS man but if I can get something of similar quality at half the price I know where my next pair will be coming from.

Daiwa Infinity BR 18lb, no leader Up to ~ 120y 25 acres 12ft 3.25tc What are you trying to evaluate bud?

Thinking about it I don't think I'd buy much at all. All my kit is bought because I believe it to be the best on the market to suit my specific requirements. I'm definitely getting one of those ESP Lo Pro Brollys when they're released but at £150 I don't need to win the lottery for that. Maybe I'd upgrade a couple of bits of luggage to some posh Cotswold Aquarius gear for tart factor, but that's about it I reckon.

Take a look at ESP Tungsten Loaded Phil, no steaming required, pulls straight, and stays straight. For fluro, check Rig Marole CAMH20, same, no steaming required.

For sure David, layer systems are way more effective for warmth. There's no stand-alone jacket out there that'll keep you warm at -5. Base layer, long sleeve T-shirt, micro fleece, fleece, jacket - you'll be toasty at any temperature the UK can throw at you.

I use the US Army ECWS jacket, brilliant as part of a layer system.

They shut down even worse than carp fella

I use Northface insulated trousers, got them cheap while in the US, a million times better than the carp gear. Really good stuff. Karrimor from Sport Direct and Cragghopper from TK Maxx both good cheap options.