chillfactor

Keeping well thanks Ian ... Trust you & family are too . Near Alvechurch mate 👍

Hope your all keeping well .... I still haven't been fishing!!! Started another lake project this week ... could be of interest to anyone in and around Birmingham in the future 😉

I've used ridgemonky hooks & they didn't let me down .

Enjoyed reading through this... so much of it rings true .

Just been chatting to someone in the industry about taking bait abroad. As long as your bait supplier has all the correct paperwork in place & you do on the day you can take bait across. If you don't your bait is confiscated & a fine of 500£ . So its just a question of picking the right company it would seem 👍

Going to definitely get some fishing in this year mate ... thinking of getting back on the rivers As they seem to be fairing better with the otters around here . Hopefully have something to chat about on here again then 😁

Sorry to hear about the poor start to the year mate . Not been the best of times for our family either ,father inlaw passed away before Xmas. Lovely bloke who will be missed . Gave him as good a send off as we could with the covid restrictions etc . You still keeping the fishing trade busy then 😁

Haven't heard that . 10 k for a week in France is a big ask mate . That would be gone in the first couple of hours after finding some fish 😜

Looks like anyone planning a French trip for the year ahead . Will not be able to take your bait across the channel now , that could be a real headache. I normally take 100k with me. That would be a grands worth in France !

Not a touch mate 😁 stuck it out for a good few days too 🙈

You could be looking out at this mate , if forecasts are to be believed . This was a December trip a few years back 😁

Merry Christmas all .... hope its been as good as possible for you 👍

I'm amazed... there off the shelf mate , he normally has input in the rods at a development stage. To make sure they won't explode on him ! . But I'll take you on your word mate . How's the little one doing ?

I should think these shimano rods that Terry is using , Have been designed for Terry . If they were going into a deal with him , they would of had to design a rod he wouldn't explode on the cast . You need to ask yourself if you are going to compress these rods like Terry can ? Not many people will be able to , so will be pointless for most . Chuck in the price tag & I should think the butt section is very stiff .

Wouldn't know mate..... would have to look on the net for the spec ..... there's not a big difference in price though, so is one 12ft & one 13ft ?

Terry's switched to shimmy these days so is bound to push their rods ..... was all about Trebuchet Lights when we met with him lol 😆 They must be strong rods though , as Terry would destroy them otherwise first cast. Man's a beast .!

Evening all 😎 I've ,organised a couple of meetings with Terry over the years normally 6 in a group. While I no doubt improved on the day as did everyone . It still took a fair bit of practice after to really dial it in & put into practice what he teaches you on the day . The penny only really dropped when I filmed my casting In slow motion & watching it back frame by frame . You can see when you get it right & wrong . Trust me ...what you think your doing through the cast is completely different when you watch it back in slow mo . So I would definitely recommend watching your casting back , look for when the rod starts to load compared to the timing of your release & where your body weight is in comparison to good cast & poor . I was releasing the lead before my weight was fully forward, didn't feel like I was but watching the video made it clear. These cast were hitting the clip at 40 wraps 15lb line straight through.

Its a nightmare fishing in amongst nasty snags .... inevitably you end up leaving stronger & stronger tackle behind , which in turns causes other issues! .You not found anywhere better to concentrate your feed a bit less hazardous? Gutting about the loss mate nothing worse .

I was fishing a really silty lake last in France. Had to make a few changes before I started getting takes. This seemed to do the trick though , just a couple of pva nuggets in a stick , rigs were around 12 inches long .

They were always margin captures in amongst the reeds & pads on the river , But we would regularly catch at night.... but only females.

popped up dead bait for me .... running lead & around a 2ft tail . Just make sure you tighten down to the lead & don't go to light , 2/34 oz minimum. Also deadly for zander 😉

My, best river pike have always been night captures Nick . Interesting you say not many come out & night . Jack's in the day .... big females at night for me .

Best of luck fella 🤞

I wouldn't be at all surprised if it was the same pike mate . I've seen big female pike return to the exact same spot after being caught . You might find you have stumbled on where it likes to hunker down & silt up for a week or two .

You only really stretch mono on the initial loading of the rod in the cast if you feather you cast down nicely , a few turns of braid deals with that when it comes to spodding . If you hit the clip to hard it will stretch, your know if you have because it springs back towards you to release the energy created. Personally I use braid straight through for spod work .