smufter

Got my "interview" on Wednesday morning!! :mrgreen: :mrgreen: Membership includes 4 x "Guest" tickets.... :wink:

I can also fish a 12 hour session from 6am for £15.00. A day ticket at somewhere like Stream Valley in Crowborough costs the same. Basically I'm paying £100.00 a year to keep the chavs off. I'd pay that anywhere.

No more expensive than fishing somewhere else locally Chris. If I fished one of the speci lakes at Elphicks for 24 hours it would cost me £40.00 each time. That would cost me over a grand for the same times. Bear in mind I am a self confessed "fair weather" angler, so you could possibly rule 5 months of the year out. I can book a swim in advance and know that nobody else is going to be on it when I get there. Plus, there aren't going to be any chavs there spodding away for England, or casting into my swim.

Well, I've heard back from White Cottage Lake..... http://www.whitecottagelake.co.uk/ I've been offered mid-week membership which allows me to fish from Sunday PM to Friday mid-day, and week-ends if a swim is is available. That suits me at the moment, as I say I get one day off a week which is typically a Wednesday but if I could manage to change this to a Monday it would be ideal. As a mid-week member I would automatically go on the waiting list for full membership and be offered a place should one arise. It costs £100.00 to join in year one, and £80.00 thereafter. Doesn't sound too bad. You still have to then pay for a ticket to fish, 24 hours costs £30.00, 36 £40.00 and 48 £50.00. Typically a 24 hour ticket for most day ticket fisheries around here is about the same, if not more, so not too expensive in the overall scheme of things. And I'm not likely to encounter the kind of numpties that I had to endure the other week that ruin the peace and quiet. All I now need to do is contact the owner to arrange an "interview" and a tour of the lake. Very, very tempted. It looks exactly the kind of water I enjoy fishing.

Their booking system is pretty strict by all accounts. To be honest, I'm going to be more likely going midweek as I get a day off (Weds) for working every Saturday. Week-ends would be a bit tough for me anyway. Having said that, this particular lake is only about 20 minutes or so up the road, so I could finish work at 5 on a Saturday, go home to get all my gear and be up there by 7 in the evening. So not too bad. It does look a lovely water though. Not too big and very natural looking. Just how I like it

Here's one I've applied to join. I applied about 4 years ago, but was told I wasn't experienced enough...... http://www.whitecottagelake.co.uk/

N No problem mate. I appreciate your input .

Problem is, I live about an hour or more from Burgess Hill (on a clear run) so Farnham is quite a trek on. I've got a mate who lives right by Frensham Ponds and it takes me a good two hours to get there. Thanks for the link Dayvid but I think that particular one would be a bit too far out mate.

Few and far between mate. I have applied to a couple of syndi's as I say, but so far haven't heard a dicky bird back. I am just getting fed up with the local(ish) day ticket waters. Nothing nearby has a decent head of LARGER fish, and some of the chavs that turn up leave a lot to be desired. I was hoping that Wintons might be a bit different due to the membership fee putting a few of the more casual "geezers" off.

Couple of vids on there but wondered if anyone had first hand experience of fishing "Kingfisher". Just to repeat...... I have absolutely no interest in catching catfish. I hate them. Ugly, horrible bleeders.....

Has anybody on here fished it? Three lakes, Mallard & Heron (which both hold cats which I'm not "into") and Kingfisher, which is carp only. https://www.wintonsfishery.com/the-lakes/kingfisher-lake/ £60.00 a year membership, and then pay per session. Looking for somewhere different to fish with an opportunity of beating my pb. Says it doesn't get too busy midweek, which would be ideal for the odd overnighter. Any info gratefully received or ideas for somewhere similar else in East/West Sussex. Have approached a couple of syndicates in the area, but as yet have heard nothing back.

I have never stated anywhere that I am not an idiot

I was just making conversation during a quiet moment of reflection.....

Recently bought a new TV stand and it came with a little spirit level to make sure that everything was nice and neat and tidy. Nice little spirit level it is. Clear plastic, square, easy to read, not too big. It would only take a little dob of superglue to mount it beautifully on the front of my rod pod to make sure that my rods are all looking nice and neat and dapper. But I'm worried that people might think I'm a tackle tart.........

As I mentioned above, I am using the 18lb flavour as I tend to buy my line based on diameter rather than quoted breaking strain. The 18lb seems to be somewhere between the thickness of the 12 and 15 of my previously preferred Technium Black. I've certainly had no problems at all with it knotting satisfactorily. It sits on the spool nicely. Also casts very well, and sinks really quickly, which I like. I haven't lost any fish on it yet, but having said that I've only caught one since I've been using it, and that was hardly a "monster" at about 8 or 9lb. The only thing I have noticed is that I am getting a lot more "liners" with it.... could be coincidence, but could it back up what Wychwood are saying about it being more invisible to fish?? Dunno. Jury is out for me on this line at the moment. Like I say, I am enjoying it's "bankside" properties but I've hit a barren spell with regards catch rate since going over to it, so not sure if it's the line, my bait, the fish just not wanting to know, or me being a numpty! A few more fish on the bank will up my confidence with it. I have bought a bulk spool of Technium Black to go on my spare spools "just in case".

I've got a Wychwood Solace HD 60" which is a fantastic piece of kit. Out of all the brollies I see on the bank it has to be made of some of the best material ever. Like others have said, if the forecast is looking good, with no rain on the horizon, I'll leave it at home. If their is a likelihood of a shower or two, I'll take it with me. During the cooler months I'll use it just to stay out of a chill wind. Doddle to put up and take down, and if there is rain but no wind at all you don't even have to peg it down.

Cygnet Quicklock. http://www.anglingdirect.co.uk/cygnet-quicklock-d-l-pod-length-26inch-45inch?utm_source=bing&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=Products%3A%20ALL&utm_term=%2Bcygnet%20%2Bquicklock&utm_content=CY12052801 Absolutely brilliant pod for the money.

Just a "bumplington" in case anyone missed it

I've never fished there but carrying out a search on another forum indicates that it's not too bad at all. Some of the more positive comments... Hope they help. "Go & enjoy. Listen to Bill, he gets a lot of stick but apart from being a Brummy he is sound. He leaves you alone to get on with it but if you want some help he will offer it. enjoy" "Well said. Have fished Bills Lake 1 in the past, nothing wrong with the place or the bloke. would I recommend to a friend.........................YES!!!!!" "Fished lake 1 with 4 pals and had a great time. Fishing was slow but had no problem at all with any of the grievances that other anglers have had. Lots of info on here if you search. Don't get me wrong, there are prettier lakes with nicer looking swims but what do you go to France for? I had 4 fish, 2x 50's and 2x 40's! I went home like a dog with 2 pr***s!!!" "Bill is a gent. fished it last September . go for lake 1 or 3 . listen to bill and take notice YOU WILL CATCH will be back this September . stunning fish a supermarket 5mins up the road . i didn't have the food package but must admit it looked good"

Have now got the week 30th June to 7th July reserved.

I've fished quite a few silty venues over the years and have just lengthened my hooklength a bit, gone lighter with the lead, and used a lighter coloured bait or at least a "sighter" of some despcription. Something like these https://www.avidcarp.com/Products/Imitation-Bait/SIGHT-STOPS

You've obviously never been to Amsterdam..... :oops: :oops:

You know what they say.... "Pods are for Nods, Sticks are for ******"

Almost as silly as you'd look trying to hammer bank sticks into a stage...

I class "drive and survive" anything without a slate/tiled/thatched/flat roof and a proper bed.