smufter

3 out this evening. 2 tiddlers for me but a new pb for Lydia. 23lb mirror. Get in!!

Up nice and early, hope this lot of gear goes in the car!! Just got to wake the daughter up now. She doesn't do mornings! 🙄

Just taken delivery of just these items today, ready for my trip on Saturday, along with some antihistamine cream and some citronella air freshener type thingies that you leave in the bivvy. It's normally my ankles the [censored]s get.

I'm driving down in my new 3008 demonstrator. Doubt if I'll sell a car though ☹️

Battery charging day today............two more days and then the off. 😁

Cheers Ian. Ideally like the temperatures to drop a little as a bit too warm for me at the moment, but we'll still have a great time mate. Nope! Only 4 to go now. Picking the bait up on Friday evening, ready for the off on Saturday morning. Free WiFi over there, so will keep you posted.

Just had an email from Eddy (the owner of Genesis) with final travel details. He confirmed that Liddy and I are the only two booked on from 7th July, so have the whole lake to ourselves!!! Pick of the swims, and plenty of stalking opportunities without upsetting other anglers. I can see a few house bricks going in up the far end of the lake, we've got to get them around our rigs haven't we lol! Does it get any better????? 😁

To be honest, "looking" at a line is going to tell you diddly squat. It's not until you've whanged a rig out a few times, had a few screaming runs, and got caught up in a few snags/trees that the strengths and weaknesses of a line make themselves known. Going by the "looks" and "promises" we'd all be using Wychwood DPF. Most of those that have spooled up with it and used it for any length of time will tell you it's total and utter gash (including myself lol!). "Recommendation" is one of the main things I look for in a line.

As an alternative, take a look at the new "Asso" sinking mainline. I'm using it at the moment and am very impressed with it. I'm on the 16lb version as I prefer 0.35mm diameter and it's doing everything right so far. Knots well, casts well, sinks well, (obviously!), and hangs nice and limply through the rings. http://www.assouk.co.uk/Asso-products-Sinking-Mainline-Carp-Mainline-fishing-line.shtml

12 days and counting.........😁

3 weeks to go, and I'm off to France with my daughter Lydia. We've booked a double swim, and I'm really looking forward to it. Never been to the venue (Genesis) before but have been advised that the swim we are in is a "large" double, with plenty of water in front of us. I have also been given advice to which parts of the swim are "holding spots" so will give Lydia the first option to fish those areas. We're going to have a little competition between ourselves, but ultimately we are there to help each other out..... I'll net for her, she'll net for me and we'll look out for each others rods. I won't be helping her other than that though, she has been fishing long enough to know what she is doing, and I can leave her to get on with it. The main aim of the holiday is to relax, and for Lydia to hopefully beat her pb, which currently stands at 22lb. Looking at the quality and size of the fish over there, she should do that. I'd like to beat mine, but if I don't I'm not too fussed. My only "concern" is that she loves to spend her time on social media, even when we're fishing. She is constantly posting on FB or texting her friends, which annoys me immensely. I'm going to get my own back on her by pitching my bivvy close enough to hers so that my snoring will drive her mad.......😉

If you've ordered them already, I can guarantee they'll be here well before the week-end. I have never been let down by Bank Tackle. It's usually next day, or the day after at the latest.

The net itself gets bad reviews. Really thin apparently

As somebody who tends to go by line thickness rather than breaking strains, those ultra thin diameters worry me... 18lb 0.30mm?????? 😱😱😱

Have a look at the Asso "Sinking". I have it on my reels at the moment and very pleased with it. Does everything well.... I'm using the 16lb (0.35mm) and it's as tough as old boots but with low diameter. Sinks well too (as they name suggests lol). http://www.assouk.co.uk/Asso-products-Sinking-Mainline-Carp-Mainline-fishing-line.shtml

29 days. But who's counting.....😁

Drennan do a twist lock "specialist" extending net handle. I've got one. Super light and packs down really small.... https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Brand-New-Drennan-Super-Specialist-Compact-Twist-Lock-Landing-Net-Handle/121660812345?hash=item1c538cac39:g:n60AAOSwl8NVYzKV

Looks superb. Hope you have a great time!! I picked up these little snippets "elsewhere" regarding bait, hope they help.... "Hi.. I've fished and taken groups to Chateat Moulin for approx 12 yrs .You won't be disappointed, stunning venue,great owners and a lovely place to fish/spend time. Only been once in June (a bit hot for me) although I still caught well, normally go October and or winter.. Going swims.... as with any lake there are the popular 'hot'or 'going' swims that tend to produce more chances but don't be disheartened if you come out 'down the draw' .. I always take last choice and do ok every swim on the lake will produce.. Bait .... mmmm .. now I would say the Housebait , but I supply it.. So .. with all honesty, take a good quality bait and you'll be ok..But especially in the warmer months don't take small baits and don't use stick mix etc as there are lots of silvers that will plague you.Have a look on their website some helpfull tips etc and details of restrictions on hook type etc . Most of all .. enjoy the surroundings . Any other info feel free to pm me or message Steve through the Chateau Moulin facebook page and he'll put you right" "Went last year,min size 4 hooks(as your fishing against Lilly pads) simple flouro d rigs is ok.Take plenty of bait I personally did ok on Premier baits quad.£6.50 kg. Fishmeals tend to attract cat fish also use nothing less than 20mm as there are lots of bream. Lovely water,Kim and Steve are great people.I had 25 fish mainly 30s everybody else was catching 50s I fished rods up high with heavy indicators.Don't be afraid to put plenty of bait in,they love there boilies!!Don't use particles as you will just get breamed out.Hope I've been of help."

Cheers Chris. 👍

Not yet. But the missus has started putting together a box of the "necessities"... coffee, sugar, plug adapters, mozzy repellent, that sort of thing. 👍

Add a nice roll up and it was mine too....... 😁

It rained a little just after we got to the lake on Tuesday evening, nothing heavy, just a light shower. Stopped after about an hour. When it was time to hit the sack I didn't even bother getting in the sleeping bag, it was that humid still. Woke up just after 4am just as it was beginning to get a bit lighter, could just make out the rods and it was still warm. T shirt and a cuppa. Sat there listening to the dawn chorus starting up, just the sound of the birds and a distant clock chiming 4.30 thinking "all's right in my world". That first cup of coffee, accompanied by the sights, sound and smell of dawn, is the best one of the day. A bit of dew on the rods and reels, a few tell tale bubbles rising along with the odd tail swirl. The anticipation of first light. God I love it.

Now 35!!! 😁

I personally think the weather over the last few weeks has been perfect. Bit of rain so we don't get parched, a few thunderstorms (don't mind those) and a nice cooling breeze at times.

We have one Cat in our lake that goes "about 90". A guy locked into it the other week, had it on for 4 hours before finally getting snapped up. He was using carp gear (it picked up his bright yellow pop up!!) and didn't stand a chance of stopping it. Apparently it holed up under the bank and wouldn't shift. When it did eventually decide to get going again it snapped him up with ease. I personally detest Catfish. One of the ugliest fish to grace our waters and I wouldn't go out of my way to deliberately fish for them. But if I did target that old girl in our lake, I'd be investing in a "proper" Cat rod and some heavy duty (40lb) line. Some might see that as "overkill" but if I hooked into that fish, any thoughts of "finesse" would go out the window. You've got to be as brutal with them as they are with you.