crusian

Opportunist Angling
I was on a 48 hr in November last year for a trip to Linear fisheries and decided to fish Brasenose one a Gravel pit of 32 acres. It was cold with bright sun so out went the zigs but with no joy. The lake was fishing hard and there was no action for me. On the last day I noticed a Grebe having more luck with what appeared to be nice Roach 3 rod lengths out from my swim so I wound in one of my carp rods set a feeder rod up with a maggot feeder 14 hook with 3 maggots on the hook. Now prior to this trip my biggest roach was just under a pound. I cast out with 2 pouches of maggots over the top. I put the rod down and the tip went round with a Roach of 2lb 3oz ! Nx cast tip went round 2lb 7 oz !! This is easy I thought with my hands shaking. Nx cast I bumped a fish and the swim went dead so i reeled in had a coffee putting out a pouch of maggots every 5mins. 30 mins later I had the biggest at 2lb 9oz and it was my last. I was in shock how fast it happened and still am. With A couple hours before we packed up I had a low 20 Common 
 Linear has been kind to me of late with 5 pb’s in 3 trips 

I read on this forum that mole hills are the bees knees when it comes to ground baiting. I have several hundred to spare if anyone would care to make an offer. (buyer collects  )
 

After our initial work getting rid of existing  fence lines & hedges that needed to go . It's just been to wet to get the big machines on the ground to do any major work.  What did become clear when we were there is that we needed another section of land heading up the hill on the  right hand boundry.  There is a natural hump about 25 metres further up the hill which if incorporated would be the bank level on that side..... this would mean a lot less digging for 3/4 ers of the lake & really where the lake needs to naturally sit . Luckily the deals been done in principle , my colleague & mate just needs to do the deal on the price ! . Really good news though 😎

My missus used to hate me going fishing. 
Last couple of years she incouraged it. 
We are now getting divorced. 
Which means i can do more fishing 😂🐟

No mate you need to make the most of Not wearing a hood ..... make it last for hours 😁💪😇

my missus is practically loading the car and trying to convince me to do an extra night.
theres a slight possibility shes got another chap on the go, so its a win win  

used trent baits for years and only stopped last year because I wanted to tailor my bait to my personal fishing.
tbh I never used the fresh water shrimp but their liver specials are without a doubt the best boilies ive used (apart from the ones im now making myself) but ive modelled my own bait recipe on the liver specials.

Good god man... tell the lass your going fishing and go.... I tell her indoors when I'm going and I go end of.... just as soon as the swelling goes down....🤣😜

You gotta go before the next baby comes that second one is a game changer, and that will probably add another 4 or 5 years at least 👍
Funnily enough I've been trying to persuade the misses to do a French trip as a family,she doesn't seem that keen tbh but she did say would you like to do it by yourself the other day, which I may have dismissed a little too quickly in hindsight 😉

Well surely it will only take a couple of minutes to make your lady pregnant , then your work is done , and off you go fishing ? .
😁

You cunning , cuddly ,  rascal , Elmo .
I hope you have your own laptop / computer away from all seeing eyes ? .
😁

Password protected 🤣🤣🤣🤣😁

I may have found a way to go fishing, I did a risky Strategy where I broached the subject early,she ummed and ahhed a bit, and then later that day when I started prepping rigs I told her I had booked it, waited till midweek and said can I go fishing then? And she said I thought you had booked it? I replied I wouldn't book it without making sure you didn't mind first 😁
Seems to have worked anyway 👍

Yeah something like that. I was thinking about fishing at the time so missed the full excuse😜
 

Hi Yonny .
I've gone for the 14mm Pop Ups , 1 x White and 1 x Pink as I was advised exactly as you say that a 12mm would need some help supporting a large hook  , so I thought I would rather trim .
Yes , I was told the same about the shelfies , what great timing for me , it's much easier to sneak some shelfies in than explain why I've turned my bait fridge on .
I guess that your Mrs has come up with the lame excuse that if you want to eat then she needs to buy food and store it somewhere 🙄 .
😃 

Hi Yonny .
I've gone for the 14mm Pop Ups , 1 x White and 1 x Pink as I was advised exactly as you say that a 12mm would need some help supporting a large hook  , so I thought I would rather trim .
Yes , I was told the same about the shelfies , what great timing for me , it's much easier to sneak some shelfies in than explain why I've turned my bait fridge on .
I guess that your Mrs has come up with the lame excuse that if you want to eat then she needs to buy food and store it somewhere 🙄 .
😃 

Right I've ordered some Shrimp Pop Ups , and if they are as good as you say , Yonny , in around 3/4 weeks Trent will be selling Shelf Life Boilies 👏 , so I'll have some of those .
Of course if I don't catch on the Shrimp Pop Ups it will be all your fault , Yonny ; nothing to do with my rubbish casting , not walking the lake until I see signs of fish , the weather , my rig/presentation , and generally fishing like a plonker .
😁

Thanks , Blue .
👍

I have an old drennan one and an Angling Intelligence weigh / recovery sling in the brolly bag

You need to base your decisions on the levels of activity. If you see nothing just use singles or zigs. If you see activity then its worth applying bait - but not loads.
Even if they were boshing out like dolphins I'll seldom use more than a kg or 2 in winter.
Get rid of anything high in oil e.g. pellets.
Same as I'd use at any other time of year, but in moderation (particularly if they contain oils - which most fishmeals do).
To be honest buddy bait should be the last of your worries. Location is the tricky bit in winter. If you can find them you can catch them and you'll not need much bait.

Right I've ordered some Shrimp Pop Ups , and if they are as good as you say , Yonny , in around 3/4 weeks Trent will be selling Shelf Life Boilies 👏 , so I'll have some of those .
Of course if I don't catch on the Shrimp Pop Ups it will be all your fault , Yonny ; nothing to do with my rubbish casting , not walking the lake until I see signs of fish , the weather , my rig/presentation , and generally fishing like a plonker .
😁

Brilliant bit of kit...had one for a season.... folds nice and flat and nice high sides

Standard day ticket angling then hahaha 😂 

clockwise from bottom mid left
Korda tackle bank and bits bag 
2 rig wallet/boxes
Nash alarm/bankstick case
first aid kits for me and the carp
spare spools blue bag is leads pouch couple of pots of plastic toppers
scales and weigh sling
main bag is a Korum compact ruck bag the Korum mat is attached to the back of it
 
all fits in nice and snug... 
you gotta be ruthless though