crusian

I have a rig on each rod 
thats quite organised for me

Hopefully these pics will turn out - Gripz size 4 - smaller than others, but very curved in the point.
 

Yeah sure, hopefully I'll have some feedback pretty soon 👍

Can you post a review of the Pallatrax Grips please Kev. ; IMO  it would be good to have a review of beaked points to go along with Welders and Smufter reviews of straight points .
😀

Yes and laughing their socks off , which is why you don't see any fish wearing socks .
😁

I'm not sure about that mate.
Anglers angle for enjoyment. Some guys enjoy a relaxed approach, some guys enjoy a more focused approach. I am one of those anglers that struggles to relax on the bank, always looking for an opportunity, up trees, on the move, staying up late, getting up early. I'm absolutely knackered after a fishing session.
But it's not pressure that sees me angle like that. It's just what I enjoy. I'd get bored just sitting next to the rods for hours. I am always looking to make something happen (and normally it works).
I always chuckle when I see those miserable shots. But make no mistake those guys are absolutely buzzing regardless of what they might look like. They are thinking only of getting the shots they need then returning the fish they spent a long time chasing back in the water safely.
It's good that we have these choices, but it has to be said; the most effective angler is the one that knows when to do all of the above.

With all the talk of technology flying about, I have to admit to going the other way (oo-er missus) I have reverted back to split-cane rods, center-pins, or Mitchell 300/400 reels and optonics.... what next...??? milk bottle tops... a penny placed on the spool with a hubcap below it...? Gotta say since I went traditional I have caught more... dunno why, can't put a finger on it... perhaps it's because you wouldn't expect to catch using such antiquated gear, but that said, subconsciously the pressure is off... if you are not expecting to catch, then you put less pressure on yourself... and the results come...
Lets get one thing clear... I still use carbon gear occasionally and I am not advocating that everyone uses cane and pins to up their catch rate....  what I am saying is that we anglers can be our own worst enemies when it comes to hunting down that biggun.... 
Once I started in on the traditional side of carping, I used my watercraft skills to stalk carp out of margins, more often than not just using one rod to lay traps and picking up the odd good fish and relying less and less on bite alarms and chucking to the horizon, leading about, marker float trips, swim mapping and the like... even down to using just a hook with a bait, nothing else, no line clips, no leads, or fancy rigs... as soon as I started to fish purely for the enjoyment of the day, the pressure on myself was off and my catch rate went up.... nowadays I think too many anglers are putting pressure on themselves to pick up that magical fish... too much time spent planning and not enough time just grabbing a rod, reel, bag, net and chair and fishing purely for the fun of it... and the proof of the pudding has to be the smile when you do get a chunk....  All too often I see pictures in the angling press of some bod with his sponsor's tee shirt and hat and a serious whacker in his arms and a face like a bulldog licking pee of a nettle... they are probably thinking" where's the next big hit coming from"
What I will say is, take the time to enjoy the journey... even smell the flowers along the way and when you get that lump.... for god's sake.... smile...😁
 
Tight lines all 

Yes and laughing their socks off , which is why you don't see any fish wearing socks .
😁

what ever you do don't sell up I sold all my gear a few years ago lasted a year before I replaced it all and it was not a cheap thing buying all my gear again now cant get enough carp fishing just wish I caught more but we all do 😁

Just don’t sell the gear 
 

The  love will come back to you one day mate, once you become an angler don't think you ever fully lose the love for it, deep down it's still there and one day you will be fishing again. 🙂👍

Get something simple and reliable without a load of buttons that are not needed.Once they are set how you want them they never get changed anyway!!
 
Nash S5R 
Fox 
Gardner TLB+
neville mk2 or 3
something you do not need a receiver for but is available if needed later on
 
 

Be a rebel and put the korda goo onto the manilla pop up

As a very experienced winter angler I'd recommend finding a significantly shallower, higher stocked pit to target. But it's your call buddy 👍👍

Seemed as good a place as any to post this! 

That's great thanks. Well I've had one fish out today on the combi 360 rig with a pop up but the fishing is pretty slow all round the lake. Only a little one but better than nothing! 

Yep.
It's now my lake lol.

I just think Its important to be different
size 4 has cropped up an awful lot though 
 

Big hooks all the way. I use a minimum size 6 with 4s being my fave. I drop to 8s in winter normally if I switch to a more commercial water. For me I would rather potentially hook less fish but know when I do hook a fish the hook can cope with whatever may happen during the figh (snags, weed, etc)
Reasons being:
1 - the larger gape between shank and point means more flesh is gripped so much less chance of losing fish
2 - easier to balance pop ups using less putty or shot so neater rigs
3 - stronger hooks as wire is always thicker than smaller sizes
I will also disagree with the whole small fish dont pick up big hooks. I have personally caught 2lb bream & tench on size 4s popped up 2 inches off the deck. 
 

Im a Bear , They do 😂

Have to be comfy when I'm dropping the kids at the pool mate.
😅

In the van somewhere is an 18L pail, heavy duty bin liners, a toilet seat, toilet paper, and a shovel, (just in case there's no place to put it). 

I'll have to try that excuse , I'm sure my boss will understand .
😀
 

Bait bucket (empty ) carrier bag insterted like a bin bag and baby wipes, wrap it in a couple of scented nappy bags and tie it head height up a tree so someone walks into it 😀