snowman01

I think they are taska large chod beads, supposed to fit onto the eye of a swivel on a chod rig. Balance a 13mm corkball (the diameter of the Cork before adding paste layer) plus a heavy gauge size 4 hook nicely.

I like that idea, using a bit of vertical braid for the rotation. I'm imagining the curve of the stuff section and it's rigidity (25lb bristle filament so v stiff) on being sucked in should turn OK. The weights sit nicely over the knot too and stop it picking up silkweed which loves clinging to any small knots etc. I even have to trim any tiny bits of the weight from the manufacturing process to satisfy my ocd! 😂

Yep, you need to have confidence in what you're doing. Whether you can just accept logic, or have to prove something through some sort of test etc. Like if your fishing popups to combat debris etc then find a clear margin spot and plonk your rig on it in a similar way you imagine the cast landing. You can see how it lands and settles, and how it sits. Like I've just changed to a slightly stiffer coated braid for my boom section because I realised sometimes my previous one wouldn't quite boom out enough. These are the two slightly different versions of the hinge rig I use. Those tungsten weights balance my homemade 15mm corkballs out nicely, settle slow enough to sit on top of silkweed but don't sink too slowly. In my mind they are also less likely to snag in the weed than swivels, and the stripped bit of braid behind them gives the movement and rotation.

You need to commit to them properly, I was the same roll about 2 years ago. I started on a new water that I realised they would be a useful tool to have but didn't have any confidence having never caught on one. I went to a runs water for a few hours and had a few fish on popups, gave me the confidence to start trying them properly. Now I fish them 80% of the time. I'd still use a snowman bottom bait blow back rig everytime if I can guarantee how clean the bottom is, but most of the time it's a popup.

The other thing I try and avoid is that, if something works one day for you it doesn't make it some sort of scientific fact that that is a winning formula. Due to the almost infinite variables plus 'luck' we have to remember that despite what we think we know, we actually know very little and believe a lot more! Makes it interesting anyway!

Do you think that the carp needs to have the rig in its mouth and not know it's picked up a rig in order to catch? I think that once in its mouth, as long as the mechanics of the rig are sound even if it tries to eject immediately it stands a good chance of getting pricked and then bolting resulting in a run. For instance I think the effectiveness of the chod rig, especially a medium to long choddy, relies on the spring in the bent hook length. The carp sucks which straightens the hook length by pulling the bait end against the resistance of the line it is attached to. Then the elastic properties of the mono spring the hook downwards into the bottom lip once the carp stops its sucking motion. I also believe a similar thing happens due to gravity and buoyancy with other rigs, especially so with a large hook and varied buoyancy baits. I fish rigs with the idea that once a carp decides to take in the hook bait, once it's done so the hook should be contacting flesh almost immediately upon the carp stopping sucking, not relying on the carp to move off to get that initial hook to lip contact. Big sharp hook and away we go! This is IMHO though, and I'd love to see video footage of 20 odd pickups side by side of a large snowman with a size 2 hook vs a 10mm wafter with a size 10 hook.

For instance I just got a set of 4 century ng's for the price of one rod new. So they are within your budget, if you shop around.

IMHO it's mad not going second hand. So many bargains to be had from lads with loads of money upgrading, or guys giving up for various reasons.

I hate the idea of using less than a size 6. In my mind the carp, if it decides to take your bait into it's mouth, will do so regardless of size hook (this is presuming you alter the bouyancy of bait and hook together to at least that of the average freebies you have fed). Once in the mouth, what has more chance of catching hold? A size 10, or a big old sticky sharp size 2?! Hence the smallest for boilie fishing i'll ever use is a 6, i'll only go smaller for freelining, zigging or floater fishing. On hair length, on very clean gravel with a big snowman (18mm bottom bait or bigger) and a size 2 I use 10-20 mm gap between bend of hook and bait. Smallest I use is a 5mm gap, popups included.

I quite like the look of that mate, look forward to hearing how it goes in use. Sorry to be that guy, but please for the love of ocd could you spell thought with a ugh instead of r?! Cheers mate!

Hi all, its way past time I developed some confidence in using popups. I don't think i've ever fished more than one rod on a fully popped up bait for a session, and that was onkly once, and am yet to even get a take on one! To that end is there a runs water near me I could go to to catch a few on popups? I know in certain situations they give a superior presentation, and if I could get a bit more confidence in fishing them Im much more likely to use them when I think its a good shout. Im in the Medway area of Kent, and just need the most prolific runs water going really, would be nice to have a couple on each of the three or 4 rigs id like to try to get a little comparison between bite indication, hook holds etc. Cheers.

Just a thought, but on such a small water I wouldn't be casting at showing fish, with such a high stocking density they are probably more wary than usual to angling pressure. On this kind of venue with cute fish I reckon a softly softly approach, only a little bait, slack lines etcmight work better. Like getting a few different spots prebaited like you have been doing, picking spots that aren't fished all the time too.

Yep, nailed it in two days, despite being reasonably busy during the days. Terrys determination, effort and attention to detail are clearly the factors that make him such a successful angler. I know most people would catch a bell of a lot more if they put in the hours he does but that doesn't subtract from his amazing successes. Really enjoyed it, especially the fact that I have a similar preference for angling very close in where I am able to watch the fishes reactions to the angling scenario you are presenting. There are some lovely fish in there, I think my favourites are the long well proportioned 37lb mirror caught by one of the guests on the water they moved onto in the winter I think, he had a 34 in the same session. That and the big dark common at 39 I think that terry had from conningbrook. Fishing the mere when they first started they're campaign must of been bliss!

Just bit the bullet and ordered a copy. I love reading but read too quickly, so have put off buying any carp books due to the price. Reckon il read it in less than two days and reread it immediately!