crusian

I'd just grab the first lead I could find. I don't think at such close range it makes any noticeable difference. Maybe some prongs if you want to check for specific debris or silk weed.

If you haven’t spent yet 
could do worse than one of these at short range 
https://enterprisetackle.co.uk/product/et86-plumb-eze
 
back to the dart I used a dumpy pear.

One of the little clubs I belong to is an hour away ,and it's only 40 quid a year, no nights ,days only with a great mix of members ..thats the sort of place I like,especially the 5lb perch in the pool..
That's great value even if I only went 3 or 4 times a year ..

Fishing cost is always personal. Personally I find £24 for 24hours too expensive and I baulk at even £10 for a day session. I know one local water is £35 for 24hours!
 
I could not justify a minimum of £2000 for a years fishing at day ticket prices.
However I can justify a £500 syndicate season ticket or even £300 for a club season ticket.
Fishing is my 'get away from the world', my relief from pain, from being trapped inside the flat. It is cheaper to be fishing for 3 or 4 days than the cost of electricity and gas in my flat. 

One of my favourite open access waters has put the prices up.,it's a lovely safe ,secure place ..
I've just worked it out ,for me to do a 48 hr sess,all things considered including 
 
Fuel ,its an hours drive on bad rural roads 
Food
Bait and other sundries ,I'm now looking at 100 quid for a 48 hr ,I shall still fish it ,but not as many sessions ,for me it's too much outgoings ...so really ,they've lost custom in reduction of potential sessions from me ,I know a few who are saying the same ...so in a way the reduction of footfall is counter productive ...to putting up the prices ...
Lots of full carp set ups for sale,not only post scamdemic either,have some places priced themselves out of reality of today's climate ..?

Went to a little pond with my youngest boy yesterday and he caught his first ever carp.
Lovely little 7lb common.
He's got the carp bug now😉

My daughter bought me this at xmas, at first i did not notice quite what was printed but this is the perfect one for me seeing what my user name on here is and my err.....catch rate

a mid double common to christen the new rods 

Woke up at 7 on the dot to a lovely 27lb linear.
One of my best trips for a long, long time.
Not sure the moon phase had any effect as they were all caught at first light

New wands 😁

Now I know why old men wear flat caps. Perhaps it's that time already. 

Welcome to my world, had concussion twice last year smashing the back of my head on the car door frame whilst loading the kit.  Given myself a perforated ear drum doing it on the last occasion.  Spend 3 days on the bank  wondering why I felt funny 🙃👎

out for a few hours enjoying the sunshine 😎 

It's been a long hard 6 months of Autmn & Winter. I haven't been able to get out since last August.
Glad to finally be back at it again. Its a rock hard water, but today's not about catching. It's about being out and enjoying life for a few hours.
Tight lines anyone else out there today. I hope this isn't a false spring......

It makes a change for me to start one!
Started well yesterday morning, got here around 7, saw a few shows, small bag with a few 10mms and pop up combi rigs put out in that direction. 
Literally within 5 minutes (whilst I was down the margins putting out a few freebies), my left hand rod had ripped off.
I felt it on, felt a good weight, then the dreaded snag. I just kept tension & bump, it came off.
Dejected I redid the rod and put the kettle on. Just about to pour & the middle ones off.
Good little scrap and lovely little scaled 16lb mirror. 
Went a bit quiet, sun was up so tried zigs in a few different spots , moving them about every hour or so. Not even a liner!
As the sun dropped , I thought I'd switch back to bottom baits as I'd already caught and felt more confident for the night.
Nothing through the night and just as I was stirring the left rod was off, happy days.
This one felt a bit heavier, then the line went slack, I wound in faster and found the tension to the fish, it tussled a little bit, but was easily netted.
As I pulled her out I thought this is a good 30 odd, could be a new pb?
Scales topped out at 43 exactly, it is a new pb!
Sent a pic to my mate (who's also on here), turns out to be the big girl of the lake.
I'm absolutely made up

out for 4hrs today, just to enjoy the sunshine! Had this 15lb common on a single NS orange pop up 

You need a Korda Krash Helmet  , in camo. of course ! .

You need a Korda Krash Helmet  , in camo. of course ! .

You need a Korda Krash Helmet  , in camo. of course ! .

Twice! 🙄

Maybe try using a stringer, no problem

Hi Yonny,
Thanks for the positive comments regarding Trent Shrimp. I've decided to go for it.
I only hear praise for Trent and they've got those white cork balls back in stock at last
Cheers for also sharing your common capture, what a creature!!
Luke

Yup!
Been using it for 10 years+. I don't use a lot of boiled bait but when I do it's always the Shrimp. I had just dropped a bait deal back in ~2015 and was looking for something new. I'd bought 20kg of Essential B5 and was really struggling. Literally couldn't catch a cold. Given the track-record of the B5 I was reluctant to believe the bait was the problem but a pal of mine put me onto the Shrimp. On my first session with the Shrimp, 4 hours after casting out, I caught the big common I was after. It was like flicking a switch.... just started getting loads of bites.
Just yesterday afternoon, with the temps in my koi pond rocketing, I decided to see if the fish would eat boilies. I chopped up a handful of Shrimp and plonked it in each corner of the pond. Given my koi have never seen a boilie I expected they'd take a while clear it up. Wrong. It was gone in about 1 minute! They absolutely love the stuff.
I can't help here I'm afraid mate. The Shrimp is that good I'll not try anything else. I have 100% confidence in the stuff.

Tight lines , Elmo .
Don't  fall on your bum like Ouch .
😁

Hi Luke 
Funnily enough my Wife is very reluctant when I suggest  she smells my boilies , these ladies  just don't know what they're missing ! .
I only use the stabilised ,which are marketed as an improvement to shelf life , but my stabilised have lasted considerably longer than they are supposed to .
I read an article by Shaun Harrison in which he said he liked to use 2 different flavours and colours concurrently .
Whatever you do decide , Luke , tight lines .
😃