smufter

Appreciate what you are saying CF, but I'm not a winter fisherman and am only likely to use this during the Summer months. I know you can't guarantee decent weather, even in July/August, but as I say I'm not going to be venturing out during the traditional "downpour" months.

Looking to buy a "two man" bivvy. I've got a Solace 60" HD brolly for quick overnighters and day sessions which is fine, but want something a little more substantial as I am thinking of doing a weeks drive 'n survive next year. I don't want to spend a fortune as it's only going to be used once in a blue moon, and the idea of a two man is that I'm going to have a lot more room if used on my own (likely) but if push comes to shove I could squeeze another bedchair in in an "emergency". The two I've seen are the JRC Contact 2 man, which I can pick up for just over £100.00 new from Eric's Angling http://www.ericsangling.co.uk/index.php/bivvies-and-brollies/bivvies/jrc-contact-bivvy-1-man-2014-version.html or the NGT "Fortress" 2 man, which is about £20.00 more. The thing I like about the Fortress is that it has the additional two windows in the sides, and a ventilation window in the back. https://www.amazon.co.uk/d/i48/Large-Carp-Bivvy-Fortress-Style-Heavy-Groundsheet/B00OQPYGK0/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1501914435&sr=8-2&keywords=ngt+bivvy Any thoughts, or other recommendations??? As I say, I don't want to spend much more than I've indicated, and I really do want a "two man" jobbie. Rob

Forgot about this one Dayvid. We never did fish it in the end.... my mate's a bit of a let down. And it was near Tonbridge in Kent Pooter, so definitely not the same place mate.

I always feel (rightly or wrongly) that you will pay more going through an agent, so I always tend to book direct. For the past three years, my wife and I have been visiting here and were off again next Saturday. We were supposed to be going today for two weeks but unfortunately a family bereavement sees us delaying for a week. http://www.theretreatlake.com/ My wife doesn't fish, although she will come and sit with me in the evenings and read a book or act as my net fairy if I happen to hook in to anything decent. We rent the Gite (sleeps four comfortably) and it costs £950.00 for the week with exclusive use of the lake. The owner (Lyn Holland) may do you a deal if you are prepared to book for two weeks, but I can't guarantee it. The place is absolutely gorgeous, miles from anywhere, and the lake is pristine (as is the accommodation!). You're not going to catch a true monster, but the fish go up to mid 40's and whilst not a runs water, it's not too difficult. I had a 33lb Mirror out twice last year, and a large number of high 20's. My daughters boyfriend also had a 31lb Common out in beautiful condition. You are about 15 minutes drive from a large town (Chateau Gontier) with a very large supermarket, restaurants, bars and enough shops to keep the ladies occupied! I generally fish from 1st light up until about 10am and then spend the day either shopping, eating or just lounging about with the wife in the immaculate gardens. Two brick built barbecues make life very easy, one of them is actually in my favourite swim so you can spark up and eat whilst fishing! I then start fishing again from about 7pm until darkness. My daughter and her boyfriend fished a couple of nights while we were down there last year, but didn't catch so I don't bother. Don't want to be seen to be too selfish as far as the wife is concerned! It's about a 4.5 hour jaunt down from Calais, but don't let that deter you. It's worth the drive. The roads in France are much (much) better than over here, hardly any holdups and the drivers are sensible. It would take me longer to get to the Lake District from here so I don't mind the drive at all. Highly recommended.

Oh well. Holiday cut short by a week due to a family bereavement. Now going down on Saturday 8th.

A Shimano fanboy in disguise!! Zey gut effryver.

I'd rather have one bearing in a good reel than 8 bearings in a pile of cak

Especially if it's budget class. A cheap Japanese branded reel (Daiwa/Shimano/Okuma) would knock spots off of a medium priced "British" reel, even if such a thing is made anymore. I've never been a fan of British fishing tackle.

Japanese are best.

I still think that is too big. As I say, have a look at Shimano or Daiwa.

With all due respect, why on earth would you want a distance casting reel on a stalking rod? The whole idea behind stalking is being as mobile and as "stealthy" as you can, so whilst I commend your choice of rod, you really need as small a reel as possible to match it. Putting a big pit reel on a 9ft stalking rod is akin to putting a 250hp Honda outboard on a canoe! You'll want something that will hold a decent breaking strain line because stalking, by nature, will usually have you fishing close to snags of some description, although again you don't want to fish too heavily because you're likely to be going after wary fish and you don't want to spook them. My idea of stalking is using the smallest lead possible, if in fact I used any at all. Freelining is as stealthy as it gets. Flicking a piece of sweetcorn, a dog biscuit, a lump of breadflake or meat/small boilie into a tight little spot sums up "stalking" to me. I'd be looking at the smaller Shimano or Daiwa offerings. You don't really need a bait runner because with stalking you are going to be "on your rod" all the time, but the Daiwa Emcast 4500 which I use would suffice. These have a baitrunner which of course you don't have to use, but at least you have the facility there if you want to revert to the more "usual" methods of fishing at some point. Forget big pit reels. Unless you suddenly decide you want to buy 13 foot 3.5tc rods and start whanging it out 150 yards plus.

Lake Reaper reads well, and if I had more use for a Baitboat I guess I would be ordering one. But "my" water, and most of the others I fish locally, don't allow them. So on the basis that I will only use one when I go on holiday to France, my little old cheap jobbie serves me well!! As an aside, with only just over a week to go before this years trip I have started sorting all my gear out. I took HMS Gonads out of her dry dock over the week-end and tried her out. Started up first time, batteries still holding charge from last years trip, she's as sweet as a nut and ready to go into action. Little bit of dried weed around one of the propeller shafts, but other than that good to go. Just need to swab the decks a little. Due to the way the bait hopper works on her, it doesn't always empty completely when using particle mixes. Fine if you are sending out dry stuff like boilies etc. but sticky stuff leaves a residue. A quick wipe over under a running tap and she's as good as new. Seriously, best £60.00 I've ever spent on fishing gear. Seriously.

Can't come quick enough Ian. Just got to re-spool my reels, bait is in the freezer ready and rigs all pre-tied. Last night we are there is Bastille Day. Will give the fishing a miss that night and go out for a nice meal and celebration with the wife, daughter and her friend Charli.

16 days to go!! Sorry (my bad for rubbing it in)

Pod for me. No need to worry how hard or soft the bank is like you do with sticks. I have a Cygnet Quicklock pod which is fairly light, and very easy to set up. The supplied zip bag is just about big enough to hold a small pair of banksticks too, so these also sit in there for the odd time they are required. The only time I'll use them is if I fancy popping a bait down the near margins where the line would be at right angles if the rod was left on the pod. Having said that, I don't mind at all if I have one fishing at 90 degrees to be honest. A lot of people will say you need your rod pointing towards your bait. Rubbish. If anything picks up my margin bait I'll know soon enough. Just got to remember to lift into it sideways rather than up!

Five in total mate plus me of course!! I have one who has said definitely yes, but of course that could change when I ask for a deposit lol. So four spaces available as there is a six person limit on the lake. Hope that makes sense?

Plus the stripped braid is a lot less conspicuous at the business end. I wouldn't want what is effectively something the diameter of 200lb breaking strain mono anywhere near my fish!!

Well just to move this on a bit. As mentioned above, I have reserved a week on a lake exclusive basis for 30th June 2018. Cost is £200.00 per angler. On top of that you would have ferry costs (about £100.00 return based on what I'm paying this year) together with toll money down there and back (about 70 euros) plus fuel, bait and food. A food package is available for the week for around £100.00 which gives you full English breakfast and a two course evening meal. Car sharing is not out of the question to help cut down on the cost of fuel, tolls and ferry prices, but obviously this would depend on the logistics of where people live. I'm only bumping this because I have also mentioned it on the "Totally Carp" Facebook page, and have had a few tentative inquiries. Room for 5 people only, got to be first come, first served, with a £50.00 deposit to secure. If you are seriously interested, PM me and I can give you more details. Link to the Genesis website here, you won't read a bad report on this venue anywhere.... http://www.genesis-carpfishery.com/home.php Rob

Looking good then!!

Has anybody fished here recently? https://www.wintonsfishery.com/the-lakes/kingfisher-lake/ Looking to fish "Kingfisher" lake for the carp for 24 hours with my daughter. Just wondered if anyone knew what it was like? Cheers Rob

29 days to go!!

Unless I'm looking at the wrong "Lac Les Pins" you're pretty restricted on bait and tackle.... Taken from the "Terms and Rules" page of their website their are some pretty tight restrictions on the type of bait you can use, also the brand of hooklinks. http://www.carpanglersparadise.com/termsandrules.html

Despite now using Velocity's, I love my Outkasts and will never get rid of them. I have the 11' "Small Water" versions (2.25's) and they have never let me down. Feather light, they could be held all day for stalking or floater fishing if required, and they have a wonderful fish playing action. They are best suited for using with small leads (up to about 1.5oz) but are not really happy if I load them up with a PVA bag, hence getting the Tribals. The lake I now fish requires longer chucks to reach certain fish holding spots and PVA bags seem to be the order of the day. I had to shop around for 11' Velocity's as I prefer this length, and in the end had to get them from Holland as UK stocks had disappeared. Had I wanted 12' rods I would have had no hesitation in going for Outkasts in a higher test curve.

Nooooooo! I was only joking!! They're rubbish. Great choice