crusian

Hi Adam Just a straight forward Running Rig with a light lead .

What are peoples opinions on whether to tie a Ring Swivel on the end of your hook length or tie a loop onto a normal swivel ? . Ta .

Hi Tim I've just read that Fat Sam is saying in his autobiography that there's no such thing as playing in " The West Ham Way " . i think it may have been when Keith Burkinshaw was Spurs manager I used to love playing West Ham - the ball passed to feet , the game flowing from end to end . Fat Sam just sounds bitter that you Irons never liked him ( except for CM ! ) .

Hi Newmarket Just for Sams' benefit - yeah , who am I kidding it's for mine . Your hair NM is tied with a Knotless Knot ( no KD ) ? . The hair leaves the shank of the hook opposite the point ? . Then if you hold the hook-length up so the boilie dangles below the hook , the 1" measurement you mention is taken from the hook bend to the top of the dangling boilie ? . Ta .

Hello Sam Have I read your opening post correctly ? . Are you using a snowman ? , that's what I thought , and that's what I use . Thanks Hutch I take your point about 1-2cm separation .

Thanks Newmarket , I wasn't being cheeky , I really wanted to read what you had to say . I had something to say , but Hutch beat me to it . All I can do is confirm that when fishing a snowman I lost a small carp which removed the 12mm " top " of the snowman . Also as Hutch says it looks as though your hook link is 10-12" , but Newmarket uses 6-7" . Personally I am confident when my " bottom " boilie - i.e. the 15mm boilie touches the bend of the hook . How long is your hair please Newmarket ? .

Hello Sam Do you have to use barbless hooks where you fish ? . I used to always use barbless , but having changed lake the rules stipulate I have to use micro barbed hooks . I think for me it's a big improvement . I'm looking forward to Newmarkets' reply as I'm having similar problems . Smiley face .

Hello NM A bit late joining the thread . You expect The Spanish Inquisition , but not that Tarquin's a girl ! . Also I thought it was " the Dove from above " , not " the soppy Dove directly below …... making a nest in a food bowl " .

Ah , you're quoting Rod Stewart NM ? .

Hi NM Had to look up Albert Pierrepoint ! . I drink Goats' milk , but fortunately the hair I've still got I'm hanging on to . Yes my wife has a GSOH , even though she's a Chelsea fan , but she comes from Kings Cross so I know not to mess with her .

Hello NM My wife's home now , and she's explained Tarquins' name .

Hello NM What about a Cockerel , you old Iron ? . I think I had a rabbit like your Tarquin ; it was supposed to be a Lop Eared Dwarf , but it grew , and grew , and grew a bit more ., and by then we didn't want to take him back to the pet shop . He was very interested in the lady Guinea Pig when she was in season , but most of the time they lived together quite happily .

Well you got your wish Tim , but you seemed to know Fat Sam was going before it was announced . A serious question as I'm not an Iron , but Spurs fan ; why did West Ham supporters hate Fat Sam - was it because he didn't let West Ham play the way West Ham traditionally played ? .

Hi Dan The friendly people at SWP said I could have a wander around Traditional Lake last week . I don't know if it was because no one was on the lake , but there were some Canadian Geese with their young ; it may well be that soon the young geese are independent enough to wander off and the geese are only on the lake while it is quiet , or do the geese stay on the lake permanently ? . I saw a Youtube ( I think ) video on Heartsmere and the water birds were causing problems , but again they may well move off the lake in the next month or so when the angling pressure builds . Did you ever get to fish Danbury Lakes , Bottom Lake ? .

Hello Dan Have you looked on line at Suffolk Water Park ? . I've never fished it myself , but I used to work with a fella who booked Jacobs Creek for himself , his wife and a friend . The lady lost a few , apparently due to her not being physically able to pump the carp up in the water and quickly away from all the weed . I think my friend was offered a free , or maybe heavily discounted , 2nd visit due to the struggles they had with the weed . Has the weed been treated / if this Summer is rubbish will there be much weed growth ? - sorry I don't know . I may well see if I can have a look around the Traditional Lake , as I am not confident on fishing the main lake with the big boys ! . Nick seems to have up to date information on SWP , maybe he'll be along later .

Thanks fellas , even you Newmarket . I may well take you up on your kind offer at some point Gaz , as although I have already joined a club this year they are " improving " the lake , and I'm not sure how things are going to turn out . So are you a Spurs fan Gaz ? , because we could do with some balance on this forum , what with Gooners and Irons .

Hello everyone . I was looking on the Paxman's A.C. website and it looks like their Alresford Lake is the most picturesque , with lots of pictures of 20lb commons on the picture gallery . I guess if I contacted the club I could arrange a viewing , but I would be very interested to hear from anyone who fishes Paxman's waters . Ta .

Hi Paul Best of luck for your trips , and I'll look forward to learning how you got on .

" Carly " - is this more of your Crafty Cockney rhyming slang ? .

Hi Newmarket As I understand it , a Wild Carp is a direct descendant of the original Carp that were imported into this country for the Monks to put into their Stew ponds to eventually eat . However, if there are other strains of Carp , Mirrors , Commons etc , how do you guarantee a pure bred Wild Carp ? . Nick , would Suffolk Water Park allow Paul a concession to drive around one or more of the lakes and park behind his swim ? . I'm guessing it's not just carrying his gear around to his swim that he needs his Camper Van for , but also so he doesn't have a long walk to the toilets .

Well there you go Ddgx I knew Nick would come up with something ! . Look East has just finished on the t.v. , and there was a feature on Abberton Reservoir . The Reservoir has now filled to its' limit , so if I read Nicks' link correctly the resumption of angling will now be considered ? .

Hi Ddgx As Mufty says I remember Abberton as a Pike and Roach water . I think I can remember , maybe 30 + years ago Pike anglers fishing from the concrete banking off a causeway that crossed part of the reservoir . I wonder if Nick knows anything , as I understand he has fished Ardleigh Reservoir in the past - maybe he also looked at Abberton ? .

Hello Jay Did you join Lakelands in the end , and if so could you share your thoughts about the place please ? . Ta

Hi Yes I remember that wall , I think it leant over at an angle ? . The wall could have indeed been to divert water into the Bottom Lake . I don't blame you for not wanting to Winter Carp Fish the Bottom Lake I remember it as rather dark and uninviting even during the Summer , in Winter I think it would be really cold , damp and depressing , probably full of leaves breaking down and giving off gasses . I hope to see a 'photo of you with a Danbury Lake carp before March . All the best .

Well we are talking about coming up to 40 years ago . I can still remember float fishing sweetcorn on the far bank of the smallest / Bottom Lake - it's probably classed as out of bounds now , but in those days there never really were any proper swims as such . Anyway on that evening I had caught a Rudd , then I hooked the big 15lb ish Mirror which calmly swam all around the lake . This wasn't really a problem as no one else was fishing there so no lines to avoid , and no snags as such , but it didn't help my nerves on my float rod and low breaking strain ( 4lb ? ) line . I had no scales , and had to run to a nearby phone box to call my Dad to come and take a 'photo , and then use my front bike light so my Dad could see to take the 'photo . Do you know Sandford Mill , Sandon ( or would it be Gt. Baddow ) ? . The road runs downhill past the entrance to Manor Farm and comes to a dead end by the Water Works unless you are on foot / cycling then you can cross the bridge over a backwater of the River Chelmer . Anyway the lake nearest Manor Farm house is the one I think the Danbury Lake carp were moved to . Yes I understand The Mill is a syndicate . If you do get to fish the Bottom Lake I remember fishing to a fallen tree by some overhanging rhododendrons in the top right hand corner .