smufter

Not been posting much lately, basically because I haven't been able to get out what with one thing and another. But the best bit of kit I've bought is my Trakker Tempest 100T brolly. It's absolutely fantastic. I already had the standard Tempest V2, which was good, but I sometimes clouted my head getting out in a hurry. Don't get me wrong, it didn't hurt at all, it was just annoying. Before the 100T came out, I was thinking of getting a couple of vents put into the V2 to give me a little extra ventilation on hot days. I'd looked into the cost of getting these fitted by "Army Andy" who is renowned for doing this sort of mod, and it was going to cost me just over £120.00 to get done. Bearing in mind the new 100T had two vents as standard, AND gave you the extra headroom, it was a no brainer really. I sold the V2 and adding not much more than the vents were going to cost me managed to get the 100T. It's superb. Goes up in an instant, and has masses of room, not only in height, but in depth and width too. I generally fish days, with the odd overnight thrown in, and go to France every year for a week. I could seriously live in this for the week in France, plenty of room for my needs (I tend to fish fairly light unlike friends of mine who's bivvies are more akin to Cape Canaveral on launch day)... it suits me just fine. On calm days/nights I don't even have to peg it down. Steady as a rock. I'd recommend one of these to anyone looking for a decent sized alternative to a full blown bivvy.

For a few years my pb stood at 37lbs. That was caught on an 11' 2.25lb Chub "Smallwater" rod. Not once did I think that the rod was going to give up the fight.

Did a 24 hour on a "specimen" lake down in Hampshire one night. Never visited there before, took the missus with me as there was a small wooden lodge that she could sleep in. About 11pm we heard these noises coming from the bushes behind the lodge, and heavy breathing. Frightened the blooming life out of us. It was deathly quiet but could keep hearing these footsteps. Finally plucked up the courage to go take a looksee. It was a sheep that had got out of the field and was trying to get to the lodge for something to eat.

I fish running rigs all the time. These are what I use in conjunction with tubing. They are perfect. http://www.korda.co.uk/fishingtackle/rig-bitz/run-rig-rubber/ Also remove the swivels from my leads, replace them with a small multi clip https://www.banktackle.co.uk/multi-clips-1190-p.asp Multi clip through one of these (it's a bit fiddly) and you're good to go https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Running-Rig-Ring-Easy-Run-Rings-Carp-Pike-Fishing-Terminal-Tackle-3-Colours-JG/371242369889?hash=item566fc50361:g:yx0AAOSw1ZBUw6N3

Never had any luck with pepperami. Luncheonmeat though. That's another story. Or Bacon Grill.

Beautiful weather, beautiful surroundings. What more could a man want?????..........................

😉😉

If I see any "fizzing" I'll try to anticipate the path of it. I'll then cast as quietly as I can about 10-12 feet further ahead of where I think it's heading, and fire just a few baits out between the fizz and where my bait landed. And then I'll sit on my hands for as long as it takes. Sometimes it works. Sometimes it doesn't. But that's what makes it fun.

I wouldn't go that far geezer 🤔🤔🤔🤔🤔😉

Told you it was good 😉😉😉

I know what you mean about the JRC hangers. I've tried using them but they were absolutely useless, same problem as you. If you are looking for a relatively inexpensive solution, the Wychwood "Slugs" are very, very good. Available in a range of colours, (I have the orange ones which are very easy to spot), they fit easily onto your line and more importantly release very easily on picking your rod up. Nice handy slot for an isotope too. Highly recommended. If you wanted to spend a little more money, the Jag Safeliners are also very good. In practice, I found them a little trickier to get on the line, especially in low light conditions, but again they release very easily on a take. As I say, they are not cheap and work out a lot more expensive than the Slugs as you have to buy the special hockey sticks separately. The Slugs come with everything you need. They are also not as "visual" as the Slugs, the brighter colours available on the latter really do help. I like my bobbins to be light, so in both instances swapped out the supplied chains with cord replacements, which is very easy to do. I am now using Delkim slimlites, I find these to be fantastic. But I have kept both my Slugs and Safeliner sets as back ups. For me though, the Slugs are unbeatable for the price. https://www.amazon.co.uk/Wychwood-Slug-Singles-Yellow/dp/B01CAG6YGK/ref=pd_sbs_200_2/261-8999168-5343421?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=B01CAG6YGK&pd_rd_r=2a49a3a1-21e0-4f37-868c-1668ed47bdc2&pd_rd_w=SxD6h&pd_rd_wg=bp8Pb&pf_rd_p=2773aa8e-42c5-4dbe-bda8-5cdf226aa078&pf_rd_r=HGF1E1JNT8D52V804SY9&psc=1&refRID=HGF1E1JNT8D52V804SY9

I've had the Black Widows before, and as a "starter" bait runner they're hard to beat at the price. Others I'd consider would be something in the Okuma range.

I've never tried to be honest!! I expect you could just sit on it without any of the legs folded out as they just fold up neatly underneath, but how comfortable it would be I haven't got a clue! I'd never personally use mine like that as I'd never be able to haul myself up in the event of a run... 😢😢😢 I'll give it a go later and let you know as long as I don't end up in traction 😉😉😉

Got the same chair. Love it. Nice and comfy and got a decent height back on it.

Have used Sensor before and not had any problems with it. My daughter Liddy has Hyper Sensor on her reels and gets on okay with it. Have also tried CM90. It behaved well, gave me no problems, but I just wasn't happy with the colour of it. It stood out like a sore thumb going through the water which didn't do a lot for my confidence. So off it came. My line of choice is Shimano Technium Black. It has never let me down. I use 12lb when fishing here, upping to 15lb when I fish in France. I can honestly say that I have never, (ever!), had a problem with it. No unexpected breaks, it casts well, sinks well and hangs nice and limply through the rings. I've tried others, (purely out of curiosity), but always come back to Technium Black and would recommend it 100% to anybody.

With wiley fish, the least disturbance the better. Try freelining a lump of luncheonmeat in a likely spot and sit on your hands. No alarms, just watch where the line enters the water. One of the most exciting ways of fishing.

If I could, I'd be spending a while down there to see if you can figure out their patrol routes..... They'll have them. 😉

For a Tench that size my scales would have been out. For a Carp? Don't think so.

No problem Richard. If you prefer rear drag the Shimano are a no brainer. You'll be happy with them 😉😉😀

I used to have the Shimano XT-RA's (which were the forerunner to the XT-RB's) and they were okay to be honest. The only thing I didn't like about them was the rear drag, much preferring the "old school" front drag. Not trying to hijack your thread, but I also use smaller rods (11') and was wanting to keep everything balanced, so ended up buying 3 Daiwa Emblem BR25RA's. I have been very, (very), happy with them and can't see me changing soon. Nice and small, but retain a bigger spool to assist casting, although I only fish shorter distances similar to yourself. The only "downside" is that they don't come with spare spools like the Shimano do, but it wasn't enough to put me off. I've had reels with spare spools before and to be honest the only time I swapped them over was for my week in France every year, so for the other 51 weeks, they were lying there gathering dust! They are a similar price to the reels you are looking at, and I personally think they are better built than my old Shimano XT's. https://johnsonrosstackle.co.uk/daiwa-carp-reels/17237-daiwa-emblem-br25a.html I watched this video of the Aero RA and at 2.10 in this you can also see evidence of "spool wobble" that I also experienced, but don't get that with the Daiwa reels.

I think you'll find they swim on their backs to help keep their nuts dry.....

I said exactly the same to the Missus as we sat in the garden...... 😉

As Elmo states, really does depend on how much you want to spend. And also, what are you going to use them for? I use smallish rods (11 footers) and use Daiwa Emblem BR25A's. I find them spot on for my type of fishing. Their smaller size matches my shorter rods perfectly, it's a well balanced set up. The slightly bigger spool helps casting, I love them. Not had a moments problem since going over to them, the only downside for me are that spare spools are horrendously expensive (they only come with one as "standard"). I would highly recommend them to anyone looking for a reel with a smaller form factor, but they're not the cheapest out there. https://johnsonrosstackle.co.uk/daiwa-carp-reels/17237-daiwa-emblem-br25a.html

The lake bed where I do most of my fishing is completely covered in black leaf litter, therefore the vast majority of my rigs are tied with a "silt" hooklength. I'll sometimes use a fluoro hooklength if I'm fishing wafters.