elmoputney

That's not a bad shout, I have tried a bit with zigs but never confidently, I was going to use them a bit more this winter but that hasn't materialised so far, Chods I have also tried a bit I can see me using those more often I think, I should have more last year tbh, but didn't quite see how useful they can be, This is my so solid chod rig 😁 it's basically like a normal chod but with a massive D that you use to hold the bait on with, basically the bait won't blowback like any other rig and in theory will be super tough to eject? I would be interested to hear thoughts on it BTW my thoughts on it are that it could be revolutionary or completely terrible 😁

Sounds like worthwhile research 👍

Neither have I 😂

I'm pretty much the same I made a really zany version of a chod rig last year, in my head it's probably, really, really, difficult to eject, but I've never had the balls to try it 😂

I decided to take your advice and leave the pole, 12kg of Retrobaits Shropshire Gold ordered (already got some and don't want to overload the freezer) along with a kilo of matching stick mix some liquid and some of these wafters couldn't resist they look smart 😍 I will be ready once we get the green light 😂

Well worth putting your name down for good luck

Ha I am also quite clumsy, I think you may be right, Maybe more bait would be a better call 😂

That's the type I wanted I saw Adam Penning had one for that job seems a good idea to me, you could get a good view out from one of those against a tree 🎄👍

I did see one on fb can't remember who made it but it has a load of Johnson Ross extensions and he said it went to 46m, I didnt realise those extensions could be attached to each other I thought they were more like a put over pole, interesting to The saber one is a little interesting 18m for £143 quid and angling direct has 1.7m extensions at 14.99 but can't find out if you can keep extending them 😳

I think Earith is one of those lakes though where you can turn up and know roughly where some will be, usually some in reed, some out the back hiding or in the pads between, and the rest somewhere in the big pond, I've found I either get it right or well wrong 😁 but usually the area with least pressure isn't a bad starting point, maybe a ladder is what I need I'm not a tree climber but I could amble up a ladder 🤔 This year I need to catch one out the big bit of lake though, that has evaded me so far and people can have big hits out of it, when they get it right, Hmmm a ladder 😁

So you aren't classing it as an essential item then really, maybe I'll resist for now and see if I end up absolutely needing one 😁 I think that is one of the reasons they use the double float on the Nash one to stop it tipping up before it gets to the target but I could see it being tricky to get used to it does look bendy

It is quite a fiddly venue with lots of bits that could be exploited that aren't easy casts I think, and there are lots of trees I could get right under lol , but I could probably cast to some in reality , 😁

I've still got some money from recent sellings, and I quite fancy a bushwhacker pole? I think I could do quite well using it on my lakes I could really see the benefit of being able to get onto those hard to reach areas currently only available to the bait boats but........ Can anyone tell me if I should or shouldn't buy one? All reviews I read and see seem positive tbh, I understand I would need extra sections but that is where the Bush whacker comes into its own for me you can go pretty long, I can see a world of opportunity and a lot less disturbance, Infact in my head I am taking the place apart already 😂😂 Help?

No problem I don't take it personally, It was just difficult because I was agreeing with everyone, but possibly couldn't say what I meant properly 😂 Personally as long as I enjoy fishing that's what matters, now more than ever I can see the benefit of working harder at it, but sometimes it is nice just to be there relaxing with a tinny and listening to the silence and nature 😏

I totally get that and agree,👍 I used to have a really good shift pattern years ago that allowed me to finish a night shift on a Sunday get to the lake at 6am and fish til Thursday or Friday and still go on the lash all weekend before work Monday, if I had my head now on that younger body, I probably would be a lot more successful lol, but it was the 90s and 00's and I loved partying and fishing was a hobby, I was a fieldtester (team member😂😂) for the bait and feed company, along with Nick actually, we tested a good bait though and did I catch some nice fish, but actually looking back I probably didn't catch more back then, I still think last year was one of best years as I worked hard and actually think because it was time away from home I wanted to make it count, but I never progressed back then and never dared go on to the big boy lakes, St Ives had the Fat lady in at the time,I remember talk of Darrell peck being on there and I could never find the big boy pants to try and have a go, Infact I think then my shifts changed, life changed, and that was when I stopped That is exactly what I meant 👍 It was nice when I had no responsibility, I used to fish a lot more, I didn't realise at the time but I had totally sussed out feeding times on this farm pond, even learnt how to catch the big ones but I didn't realise what I had learnt lol 17lb pond record holder though for a long time 😁 And you 👍

I have previously mentioned the sacrifices these anglers make and have made in my previous posts, I am under no illusion they make sacrifices to do this, and If that is what they want fair play to them, I am not jealous of them having loads of time on the bank either good luck to anyone who can do it, I am merely stating that having money and time would make you a better angler, it would allow you fish to the best of your ability and give you more time, And those anglers I chose, I chose because I am aware of the time they commit and have done to get to where they are, bluelabel suggested to me that most top anglers fish less than I do, I have also said I think a syndicate ticket is a sacrifice worth making I'm really not disagreeing with anything anyone says but people seem to want to disagree with me 😭

It isn't about me though, I am in my situation because I have a family etc that comes first,I am happy with that too, family or fishing, family wins, fishing is a hobby a welcome break, the only person I care about being better than is me, I want to improve my skills, catch more and bigger fish but that's it,I have no desire to be the next Terry Hearn or whatever, I learn to do things better each time and always have watched the water constantly, I know I am far from the greatest angler not even the best on my syndicate, but I do what I can,with the time I have,I walk round when I can, find spots, bait up, de weed spots, sometimes when I get there i just go with my guts as I am too tired and just need a break, I think if I went 3 or 4 days a week I would be a better angler but I wouldn't enjoy it as I know my family would be missing their dad, and right now more money would be useful, my misses is on universal credit due to being made redundant after the impact of Covid and I could do with some overtime to make ends meet, we are getting by but it doesn't leave a lot spare for bait and tickets etc So money and time are important 😁

The very reason they don't get to fish is the same as any angler though they need money ? Which dramatically cuts time on the bank for everyone, But mainly they will have already put in a good amount of time when they were young and carefree, I think a lot of the big fish hunters put in a lot of time comparatively though, and fair play to them, if they have there lives worked out so they can then good luck to them 👍 Jim shelley does 5 days a week usually I believe then weekends off Dave Lane does 2-4 nights depending on Conditions etc Not sure what Terry hearn does but I bet its a few days a week Martin Bowler 5 days a week then does his writing at weekends, And just for the record I've not said watercraft isn't important 😭all I am saying is time and money are an important factor

I'm not disagreeing with you, I appreciate watercraft skills are essential but you still need the time,just because someone has lots of money wouldn't mean they are a bad angler, but a good angler still needs it, I was being glib mentioning about needing the best rods but if money wasn't an object I would buy them because I could 👍 but essentially nowadays it comes down to money and sacrifice of other commitments to make the time,

Which comes first though the watercraft or the time spent learning ? I agree some people are better more natural anglers, but I don't think that watercraft is something you are totally born with,I learn something most times I visit the lake, and it still takes time spent on the bank to gain the experience, if I could spend 3 days a week on my lake I would see more, understand more, learn more, and ultimately catch more, I never said I would be guaranteed to catch the biggest fish in the lake but I would probably be a lot closer to it 😏

I would rather fish a syndicate tbh, day tickets are painful to fish, a financial sacrifice well worth paying, even if I am still making do without fancy tackle, Although if I am being funded the bursary required isn't going to be cheap, I've already chosen to spend £4000 on 4 rods and reels lol 😁and naturally I would still need another set at least and a powered barrow, Bivvy, top spec bed, loads of bait, end tackle, top notch luggage, boats bait and proper, £20k is my starting price plus 3k a month and van rental to cover bills and bait 👍

Having money could Definately help though 😂 It would give you security, you could give yourself more time, more bait, less stress, obviously it depends on situation, most top anglers make lots of sacrifice, some have no other commitments, or a job that gives them more time,most seem to put a lot on the line for it, I think even if I did have enough money though these days I still wouldn't have enough time or probably even the desire or the single mindedness, you've still got to have the mental toughness to be able to stick it out, and the ability to be aware your own mental state, to live a good life you need balance, I'm not sure chasing big carp is ideal for that 😳 I agree with what you are saying though, there are no guarantees but if someone wants to bankroll me I'll give it a whirl I reckon I could get 2 or 3 nights a week If it was my job 😂

That's a serious toy dayvid 😳

Took all of these whilst having a family day out at Fen Drayton last year, such a beautiful place,

And you only went in for a look 😁