smufter

Hi Jack
 don't know if you are on a wind up here mate, but you started three threads on this same topic on another forum and have received plenty of advice and answers.
Your response last night was... "Definitely going for a big lake now just deciding on whether to have weed guards and rig release fitted"
You've either made your mind up, our you haven't???
😱😱😱

@Bgl you're replying to an 11 year old post bud.

The price range of between £100.00-£125.00 has got to be the most hotly contested around, with most of the big brands offering decent rods.
As Framey suggests above, a visit to a well stocked tackle shop will be your best bet, there's nothing like actually holding a rod in your hands.
Personally, I like Wychwood rods. I think they are great value for money and the new "Extremis" read well and are competitively priced. 
But get out and have a look if you can.

Because of my preference for light leads, I tend to use my line clips all the time.
I like to think that the initial resistance that a running fish feels when it hits the clip helps set the hook, something that a heavier lead would be doing.
It's also easier to get your bobbins nice and aligned if your line is leaving the business end from the same point on all 3 rods.
Plus, if you have been distracted for whatever reason, a quick glance at your line clips will tell you if you have missed anything....
 

Yes Steve. Reading great reviews on it. I'm going to try it because it's not a fishmeal and I'm trying to avoid the cats in the lake we're going to. I know nothing is guaranteed but in for a penny (as they say)....
😉

Bit of confusion here I think mate.
It's not XCel who are bringing out a test bait, it's ABS. Sorry, didn't make that clear did I?!!!
My VNF arrived yesterday and it's in the freezer now. If the smell of bait caught fish, this is a winner. Smells absolutely gorgeous to my nose. But it doesn't work like that does it (sadly!).
As I say, I'm going to introduce it to the Cottage starting from next week, as far as I am aware nobody else is on it, so hopefully it might just give me an "edge". But like I say, I'll be taking a couple of K's of it to France with me as back up to the new ABS test bait. It's available to order from 10th June so I'll be phoning them and ordering sometime next week.
Sorry for any confusion.
 

Don't think so mate. I bought mine direct from Pallatrax....
https://www.pallatrax.co.uk/our-products/gripz-hooks/
Like I say, I will be using these in France as the lake we're visiting has a barbless only rule. I've got two weeks off work, and the 1st week will be spent at home. Amongst other things I'll be getting everything ready for the trip. Going to tie a few rigs up and fit a day in at a local day ticket where you are more or less guaranteed to get a bend in the rod. This will give the Gripz a good work out.
Trust me......if I have any reservations at all,  I've got some Bank Tackle Continental's in reserve....😉
 

I'm trying these out at the moment Ian, as the lake we're visiting in July has a barbless only rule. 
I originally ordered the wide gape version, but am put off by the angle of the point so have now ordered some straight points. 
But you're right............. they are seriously sharp.

I'm trying these out at the moment Ian, as the lake we're visiting in July has a barbless only rule. 
I originally ordered the wide gape version, but am put off by the angle of the point so have now ordered some straight points. 
But you're right............. they are seriously sharp.

Ours started getting Jiggy last Tuesday when I was out, so packed up and came home early.
Have cancelled next weeks session will wait until the week after to give them chance to get over it....

Ours started getting Jiggy last Tuesday when I was out, so packed up and came home early.
Have cancelled next weeks session will wait until the week after to give them chance to get over it....

I've just order 5 kg of the VNF to pop into the freezer. Might introduce them to the Cottage on my next trip out, but I'll take a couple of kg with me to France in July as an alternative.
I'm planning on taking their "test bait" with me as my main bait. Catch reports are awesome and I've been assured it will be on general release by the time I go.

As Stevo says Muft, ABS will be able to sort you out.
Or another good one is this.
https://www.xcelbaits.com/shop/
They only offer two baits, the VNF (Vanilla/Nut/Fudge) is awesome, and Shaun, the owner, is spot on.
 

Give ABS a ring Mufty,you won’t be disappointed mate.

I watched a fella using a 3 wheel barrow on my lake the other week trying to negotiate a bridge. One of the funniest things I've seen in ages.
I'l stick with one thanks
😁

I certainly wouldn't have taken that chance.
I'd have boated it out.......
 

With everything going on with the house leading up to my French trip last week , it was all left rather last minute on a lot of things . And a quick dash to my mates tackle shop was all I managed.  Needed some size 2's & all he had in stock were the ridgemonkey selection! They know what I'm like when it comes to tackle especially hooks , but after pooley assured me that these were the Ace hooks just rebranded & he uses them him self I went for them  . Well safe to say I was well impressed with them , the one hook did me the 50 lber 45 / 46 & it still was good to go , fishing locked up & giving it stick in the lillies so gave them a proper test , banging hook holds, didn't blunt on the lillie stems couldn't find fault with them tbh . Had a battle with a cat which will always test your end tackle too . I used the straight point pattern & would happily recommend them 

I did, of course, mean the number of wheels.....😉

I watched a fella using a 3 wheel barrow on my lake the other week trying to negotiate a bridge. One of the funniest things I've seen in ages.
I'l stick with one thanks
😁

Sorry, this is going to be a rather long answer on my favourite non-topic.
I am readily willing to accept that there is a correlation between change of air pressure and fish activity. I am as certain as I can be that change in pressure does not CAUSE that change in activity. It is vital to understand the difference between cause and correlation.
Science shows that a change in air pressure (atmospheric pressure) causes a corresponding change in pressure in the water (hydrostatic pressure). If you do the maths, a change in atmospheric pressure caused by a typical storm event only causes a small change in hydrostatic pressure equivalent to a few centimetres of water column.
What this means is that, even if a carp could detect that small change in hydrostatic pressure, it could not tell the difference between that change and a change caused by swimming a centimetre or two deeper or shallower.
Let me give you a true analogy. I live in a remote village in rural France with a very poor internet connection. I observed (the correlation) that, every time it rained, our connection became so slow it was unusable. It seemed obvious that the rain water was getting in somewhere and I spent a lot of time checking everything in the house to try and locate the problem. I eventually gave up and called out the telephone engineer.
I explained the problem to him and he just laughed. He said he did not need to do anything. Every time it rains, the kids in the village go inside and watch Netflix. This takes up all the limited bandwidth that is available. That is the problem.
Then he gave me his call-out bill!
So understanding the CAUSE is vital to interpreting the CORRELATION. Atmospheric changes cause all sorts of changes in wind, temperature, lighting etc. etc. And more importantly these may differ according to where you are. So what is true for say Essex is not necessarily true for mainland France where, in Summer, high pressure seems to dominate all the time.
In France I have had some spectacular catches with high pressure, bright sun, high temperature and no wind.  Best tip is to ignore pressure and watch what the locals do. It may not improve your catches but you will have some cracking barbeques 😉.
 

A mate of mine has got the cyprinus Brolly system which I think is a copy of the Aqua fast and lite. He can't fault it. 
I had a Brolly overwrap from them, easily 5 yrs old and never leaked in that time. 

I still don't like using short lengths of  fluoro , personally think they snap to easy . Give it a good test between some pullers at your required length  smuft before using it,  especially for France.  
 

I actually avoid carp tax fluorocarbon hooklink material, mine is Spiderwire in 15lb, but I don't do much snaggy water fishing. It does go through the eye three times on my Gardner Muggas for D-rigs.

Obvious one from me but have a look at the Nash Fluro link. The 15 would be fine but if you wanted that extra but of stiffness (the fluro link is quite supple) the 20lb is a great all rounder. 
 

Wife bought me a packet of these new Skittles "Chewies" last week. Lovely and fruity, bit of coloured leakage when left in water. Lots of attractive colours to entice Mr Carp.
As they have no crispy shell they are soft enough to hair rig a couple so they are sitting like two grains of corn or fish them as singles. Everything going for them I reckon.....
I reckon it's the fruity flavours that will do it. I could be on to something here.
He who dares Rodney, he who dares........