chillfactor

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 .

Not about distance on the cast... but a true running rig you need the lead not to move on the pick up so 3 - 4 ounce lead is what you need .

I used to fish running leads a fair bit ... personally I wouldn't use a lead smaller than 3 ounce , as you want it to stay put , also the least friction as possible so ditch the tubing no need for it mate .

One of my trips to France... the one spot I was fishing was a pig to hit . 120 + yards two 20 millers on the hair & a length of tubing ( compulsory) & having to place it right on the edge of lillie beds that hadn't broke the surface yet . It would take a good few tries every time to get it spot on .... the " it will do attitude " wouldn't get you a take . Some lakes, there or there abouts is fine , others you have to be bang on or the blanks start adding up .

Big congrats.... like you said ,was a day of learning & a well earned capture 😎, nothing better than watching them feed with a rig in place real eye opener eh ! . We've all had these days & reading about yours reminds me what fishing is really about . Nice one

Fish are good at two things ... eating & breeding . If they've stopped eating including the silver's there will be a reason for it. I wasn't suggesting a (Do) crash is definitely on the cards , But low levels certainly will stop them feeding . Can't hurt to get it checked that's for sure & avoid fish deaths as you say mate .

My money's on him setting up in your peg once you had left !

The carp won't be " full up " as they don't have a stomach to fill . If there's lots of uneaten bait it could point to other problems not just anglers piling in to much bait . Personally I would be checking the lakes ( DO ) levels this has the biggest effect on all the fish in the lake & there ability to feed . Also predation is something to keep an eye on ( what's left in the lake ) .

I've actually got some fishing booked😊 still not been since France last October! A mate of mine has booked 4 nights in October, we've got the bigger of the two lakes . Hadn't even heard of the venue tbf .... anyone fished it on here ?

From my experience the more snags present in a lake has a big impact on fish routes & routines . As they move from one cover to the next & so on . I've sat and watched fish go from snag to snag , normally moving on when another group of fish move in to the snag .... it was almost like watching a conveyor belt . I think some fish have a day to day routine which doesn't really change much at all .... repeat captures years apart has proven that to me . really interesting subject & if you crack it on a lake .... fill your boots time .😁

Something special waking up by a big water , love fishing big sheets very jealous mate . 😎 Get all three on zigs mate different depths 😉

Best of luck mate .... tight lines & all that 😁

Definitely a brown trout ... used to enjoy catching them from our little river . Until the predation has seen them off .!

Quite a few of my mates use these vans & most are happy with them . The only thing I would say is that the clutch is normally in need of renewal around this sort of mileage, so something to ask if it's been done or not .

Sounds spot on mate .... going out in a boat is a real eye opener, sounds like you might need a long prodding stick though 😁 I take it water clarity is good though ?

Why the weight limit? Anglers must get moved by the undertow on a regular basis, right when it's best conditions! Long zigs sound ideal too . (Get some 13ft rods) 😁

Cracking fish mate.... Big congrats 😎

Big congrats Elmo 🎣😎

Really good read mate & fantastic catch 😎

Fairplay some purlers there mate 😎

Fantastic stuff Emm 😎🎣

Awesome angling as usual mate 😎

Quality mate 😁

To many times eh stevo !