jh92

I've started a new water this year and there's a lot of Canadian pond weed, or a similar type to that sort of stuff, I've managed to find a few holes and fish them, but most of the swims there's just loads of it and I haven't been able to find any spots. I'm not allowed to use a weed rake, so been baiting heavily after each session with particle hoping the fish and bird life can clear a bit of it. What sort of lead setup and rig presentation would be best fishing in amongst it? It's a bit flooded at the moment but when it goes down I plan on fishing the margins, probably just put the marker rod through them a few times and clear some of it lol. Any suggestions would be great as this is my first weedy water and I'm starting to feel a bit out of my depth 🤣

Makes sense never thought of it like that lol 👍

Would second hand be an option mate? I've got the indulgence ss4 wide boy and it's been an absolute game changer for me, I can do a week session on it without any issues lol. It handled me at 17 stone 🤣

This might sound daft but what is the purpose of having them separated? Like if you take it to the lake, do you not mix it up and bait up with it anyway? Sort of reminds me of the match boys with the different tubs of worms, casters, maggots etc lol

A lot of my waters have been ruined by otters tbh, there's not many being caught from the tidal anymore.. we've seen otters swimming about and found dead fish in the hedges and reeds etc, wasn't long ago we found a big mirror all chewed up in the hedge, was probably a 20+. The canal has lost a few old ones as well, it does get restocked by the local club but a lot of the old fish have gone. A local pond has got a fence up now but lost most of its original stock. They were really old fish, owners estimate were around 40 years old. I cant say for certain but they were apparently priory fish? I'm not too clued up on that though lol We've got otters on the reservoirs as well. They seem to be on all the unfenced waters around here 🤷‍♂️ It's a shame but tbh a lot of these waters I've stopped fishing, I still like a go on one of my reservoirs as there's still a good stock there and still some bigguns left, but I mainly fish a fenced complex now on a season ticket and moving forward I'm gonna spend most of my time here 👍

I've managed to scale it back to point where I can move without issue, I've gone from 5 rods to 3, dropped the pod for bank sticks, camera bag, two bait buckets, hold all and cooler bag to just the holdall, cooler bag and 1 bucket, ditched the chair, just gone back to sitting on the bed lol. I got to the lake earlier and there was someone in the swim I wanted so setup somewhere else, they ended pulling off so quickly packed down and moved lol 👍all fits on one load and feels much lighter lol.

It's got to that point again where its starting to take me two barrow trips to get all my gear to the swim, to many "just in case" items that never get used 🤣 I've managed to thin my gear out a bit hopefully only one trip next time lol. Also took a laptop with me for the last 10 sessions or so to watch films on but haven't once took it out the holdall 🤷‍♂️🤣 Back to the bare essentials for me 👌

Sweetish I suppose mate, it's hard to say really, it's a got like a malty smell to it lol. I believe it's like csl but wheat instead of corn 🤣

Got myself the waterproof cover for the ss4 wideboy, will let you know how it performs 👍

@emmcee the burco is the way forward mate, I done a couple kilo in about 20/30 minutes without issue 👍 landing net mesh is a great idea i used an old net and it worked a treat, thanks 👍

Can't comment on the liver mate but all the other hydros have been spot on for me 👍 I'm the same mate, if I'm using a fish meal I want a fishy meaty spicy smell to it, if I'm using a milky nut bait I want it sweet 🤣

Never used the hydro liver, but used hydro active wheat, hydro shrimp and the ocean+. I've used them for rolling baits and also coating the baits when fishing. I normally put a kilo or two in a bucket, a cap full of hydro and some warm water. I've liked all my stuff from aa baits and have confidence in them. I will be trying the hydro liver soon when I go back to my lt94 bait 👍

Thanks for the replies 👍 I'll see how I get on, if it starts pulling through the sleep system and gets damp inside it ill get a waterproof cover 👍

Is it something to worry about mate? I'm a bit paranoid about it pulling through and ruining the sleep system lol. Nash hide xl mate and no wrap or skull cap, I do have a door for it but only use that if the rain is driving in lol. Yeah it was a bit frosty 🤣

This morning I woke up to the top of my sleep system damp, is this the heat coming off the bag and meeting the cold air? Just wondering if something like this would stop it: https://thetackletavern.co.uk/product/nash-waterproof-bedchair-cover-camo/?attribute_type=Wide I don't think its from the bivvy itself, I always get condensation on the inside but doesn't make the sleep system damp if that makes sense lol.

I'll have a look when I get home mate, didn't even give it a thought tbh lol

I'm gonna keep it in the car as a back up mate, that's if it still works to be fair it's been in the shed for 3 or 4 years now 🤦‍♂️🤣

Thanks mate I'll have a look 👍 the kettle worked this morning but next thing on my list is getting my bedchair a cover, the top of it is well damp 😬

Gas canister cover 👍

Might have to fish it out mate 👍🤣

Anyone still using a Coleman petrol stove? What's your thoughts on petrol and potentially contaminating rigs etc by touching them after using the stove? Got a few cold days ahead and I'm debating whether I should use it or not 🤣

Had this belter this morning 👍 27lb 14oz, first carp from a new complex👍

New bait done well, multiple tench and my first carp from the complex at 27lb 14oz 👍

Sadly caught it on the carp gear mate, ripped off like a carp as well 🤣 but yeah really pleased with it and has made my session so far 👍

Pb tench for me at 6lb 6oz 👌