smufter

First session of the year booked for next Thursday. Will try to fulfill your wishes... 😁

Well, the SJ3 arrived today. Can't believe how soft, light and warm it is. Absolutely amazing. They include a little stuffbag with it, I thought there was no way of getting it in there..... How wrong was I!! Needn't have worried about the size, it fits a treat. Thanks for the heads up Yonny, well chuffed.

First part of my review.......... the cardboard box it arrived in is lovely....😁 I too find spreading the brolly open "with ease" difficult. I guess there is a knack to it, but thus far I haven't figured out what it is lol! And I'd love a £ for every time I've pinched my the palm of my hand pushing the front rib in. Ouchie!

Well I did pull the trigger, and the new one arrives on Monday. Already have the skull cap (from the V2) which fits, just undecided whether to go for the optional mozzie mesh or the full infill panel. I'll make that decision nearer holiday time. Mozzie mesh is £49.99, the infill panel is £30.00 more. I have sold both my V2 and my Quest bivvy as the 100T is basically going to become my "Jack of all trades". With the prices I got for them, it's only cost me about £40.00 for the "upgrade" I'll have no qualms about using it for a week down in France..... as I mentioned above, I have been more than happy with the internal dimensions of my V2, and feel confident that I'll be able to fit a weeks gear into it. I do tend to fish light. The increased headroom will be welcome, as will the rear vents. Haven't been out much lately what with work and the weather, but looking forward to giving this a proper test before too long. I found this German video on YouTube which is much more informative than the UK one posted by Trakker. If you can understand the lingo, great. If you can't, just watch with the volume off. It's very informative......

Spent the evening reading up about the SJ3 Yonny, and after watching a video on them decided to go with one. The guy in the vid said they tend to come up a bit big so bit the bullet and went for a Large. Managed to pick one up for £102.00 which is the cheapest I've found. Camo of course.....🙄 I'll let you know what I think when it arrives (early part of next week apparently). Thanks for your suggestions guys

How do the Snugpaks come up size wise Yonny?? I usually buy extra large as I'm about a 43" chest. That's at the maximum for their large. I don't want it too tight but I'm worried that their XL will be too big

Looking for suggestions for a nice warm jacket. Don't need anything too heavy, as I don't venture out during the depths of winter. Just want something to slip on at 1st light on those "nippier" Spring and Autumn mornings, or when the Sun is beginning to dip below the horizon. Something that's going to offer a little more warmth and protection than a hoodie (don't like hoodies lol!). Any suggestions??? Thanks

I've caught fish to 37lb on 2.25tc rods, no problem. So unless they've "softened" massively, (which I think you'd feel anyway), I'm sure you'll be okay

Haven't been on much recently as been busy at work and the weather has seen me off the bank for the last couple of months. Just wanted to wish everybody on here a happy Crimble, and all the best for 2020. 🍺

If it were me, I'd be going the G50 route. A friend of mine has got two, and they are a superb looking rod for the money, and perform well (he says).

I have the V2 brolly and love it for it's ease of use. Have had no problems whatsoever with it's build quality. My only complaint, (well it's not really a complaint), is it's lack of height. It is a bit low, and I never fail to catch my bonce on it when getting in and out, but I've been prepared to put up with it for the sake of it's other benefits. The other dimensions are great, it's nice and wide so I can get plenty in, and deep enough to push my bed chair right to the back and keep out of the worst of the weather. But I'm sorely tempted to swap out to the new 100T. It's not a bad price at all, bearing in mind the benefits of the extra height, and in particular the two rear vents as standard. I looked at having a couple of vents put in my V2 by Army Andy, and the cost would work out more than a new 100T taking the purchase price into account. I've checked the other dimensions and it's the same width as the V2, and 5cm deeper, so I wouldn't be losing out anything at all. It's a win/win as far as I am concerned. I'm watching carefully, and may well pull the trigger on the new one.

🙄🙄🙄🙄

Whenever I have ordered freezer baits, if they turn up frozen I'll say "Good" and whack 'em in the freezer. On the other hand, if they turn up thawed out, or "fresh" I'll say "Good" and whack 'em in the freezer. I've never noticed a reduction in catch rates. or longevity of the bait.

No mate. I got the Quest 2 man..... https://www.amazon.co.uk/Quest-Fishing-Overnight-Shelter-Brolly/dp/B074QVR8PB I "think" I paid about £160.00 for it. It's okay but more 1.5 man than 2 man if I'm honest.

This is the actual thread on the lake. Bit of confusion at first which lake it is, but it sorts itself out if you keep reading. Bear in mind the first post is from about 2011 (so it's an old one!!)..... http://www.carpforum.co.uk/Shared/Messages.asp?TopicID=254414

Not been there myself, but here's the latest "honest opinion" I have gleaned from another site.... "Well then, suppose I should give my opinion on this place now since I have just got back from a week there myself!On arriving we pulled up and put all our bait and food milk etc in the chest box and gas fridge provided, and all our clothes in the wash room cabin.Rudolf turned up and had a walk around with us and explained it wasn't fishing very well the guys the week before had 6 fish between 5 of them (the weather wasn't helping this, it was awful we had all 4 seasons in the one week), his English isn't great, but you can get what he's saying and he's a nice chap! We got set up along the road bank and fishing was slow, nothing in the first night, but I woke the next morning to Rudolf telling me that my mate had a "Grass Carp, 1 Metre'" on the bank he was already there that morning at about 7:45 doing the bins and sorting out the toilet!Sean was doing well after this having an 11lb Bream although he won't admit that then followed by a 38lb Common then a 39lb Mirror on the same day, Sean then done it again with a banging 44lb Mirror.I got off the mark that night with a very welcome 24lb Mirror, not huge but my first ever French Carp, I was buzzing! Sean then had another 30 odd pound Carp in the early hours!Day 3 now and Jack P was getting impatient and had moved that morning, he got set up in swim 6, and almost straight away had a take but unfortunately lost this one in a snag!I with a huge school boy error had 2 takes that night but no fish on the bank, hugely frustrating,Sean then had another Common around 28lb later that day.I had moved into swim 4 and again had a take within the first hour, I lost another one, hook pull this time, I was having a bad day, a change of approach and some newly tied rigs was on the cards, that night I had a lovely 31lb Mirror. The next morning at around 7am I had a screamer on the middle rod and these fish fight like mad, great sport this was another 24lb'er a Common this time, the day was quiet, it was fishing better at night, and around 2:30 I had another Common this one just under 20lb.Sean then had a good few fish that next day nice mid 30's one special one worked really hard for out of a baited spot in a hole in the tree's proper angling! They managed a few from this bay later on, Jack P with a beaut mirror at 35lb looked forever 40lb huge gut on it lovely looking fish, they all were!The last night Sean finished up his hauling with a mid 20 mirror and me losing another in the dying minutes of the trip, gutted! But over all this trip was incredible couldn't have been better!Facilities were fairly basic all cabins and the Lodge are all in great condition and clean though and perfect for what you need fishing for the week, a hot shower, basin and sink for washing up your food bits, toilet was a bit temperamental but Rudolf was on the case and had a plumber on site to sort it out.16 Carp on the bank for us in total in the week, and a few Tench and Bream also. All pictures of our trip have gone on the Three Islands Facebook page if you want to have a look! Uploaded by me (Jack Cheshire)I for one will absolutely be booking to go here again, I feel I have unfinished business not getting among the bigger fish, it's not an easy water and has really helped me up my game and has taught me things that will help me in the future, to summarise don't be put off by some of the moaners on here, there was absolutely nothing at all that would warrant a moan from this place, top spot." Hope that helps????

If I'm fishing a bottom bait or a pop up I'll use a coated braid, stripped accordingly. A wafter will see me using fluro nine times out of ten. They really don't come any easier than this...

No mate. Went dead as a Dodo. Packed up about 4 o'clock felt absolutely shattered as I didn't have a good night sleep last night

Left Nissan about 3 years ago mate, but that fleece is so comfy. I'm glad I didn't give it back to them 😁😁😁

15.8 from "no carp corner" as everybody calls it 😉😉😉

You won't go wrong with a set of these. I've had mine for well over a year and they have never given a moments problem, despite some heavy drenchings...and the battery life is phenomenal https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/JRC-Radar-CX-3-1-Alarm-Fishing-Presentation-Set-NEW-Multi-1404484/372158423867?epid=2069713517&hash=item56a65ee33b:g:yicAAOSwA3dYRCfm

Up early again for another sesh. Report to follow......🙄

I will try to use just the amount of lead I need to get me to the spot I'm fishing. On my regular lake, lots of silt and shortish casts required, I'll be on a 1oz. If I'm on a water where I need a bit more distance I'll go up to a 2oz if I need to. But that's about it. But I always use running rigs and want to create the least disturbance I can. I hate it when I'm on a small venue and hear a 4oz lead with it's attached rig hit the water....