Gazlaaar

All my gear is prepped for tomorrow, I'm going to do a little marker in here and there, just to double check depths as I'm getting into using zigs. I've gotten a few tied up ready, 4, 6, 8, 10 and 12 foot. Those fox jobbies, the foam is about 10mm long, the top half is yellow the bottom is black (sorry nige, you gave my the inspiration for that) The hookbait's I made are now ready to use, they've had a glaze over. I have a pretty good idea where the fish are going to be, which will be well out of the way of any marketing. So I'll get a little bait in and leave the areas alone for a few hours. I picked up a 4 metre landing net handle this morning which should help me with the area I'm going to fish. There's two places on the water that can not be reached without a bit of skullduggery, so yes, I'm going to bend the rules slightly, I might even take my chesties. Anyway, whatever happens I'm sure I'll enjoy it

I don't really submerse my baits in the liquid, I pour a little onto a plate and roll the baits around the plate until their evenly coated, it's more to preserve than anything, but a little glug with added betaine isn't a bad thing. I usually do the coating twice, the glycerin hardens the baits right up

The first batch of 20mm pop ups were made within 20 minutes of my roller table arriving this afternoon. My other batch isn't coming until Thursday so I'll probably get on with those on Friday night while the missus is at work, there a bit stinky winky. Once these have dried out for a few days, I'll rehydrate in the glug, nothing too complicated

It certainly is fella

I've been prepping, endlessly waiting for the rest of my bits to come through the post. Tied a load of rigs, tied a few leaders, zigs and surface rigs. Like a kid, I'm chomping at the bit to go Wednesday again, even though the odds are stacked against me

I found my ring in the bottom of my rucksack

I wouldn't worry about scaling it down mate, a lot of people forget all you need is a fish to sample a bait, by which point the rig should be doing its job. It's getting them to feed that'll be the problem.

Never mind ive got a pneumatic bulb I kneel on, I did get a good pratice in a few weeks ago whilst fishing the local runs water. I'm just getting to grips with aperture settings

It's a Nikon Coolpix L100

I don't think my camera has that facility lads, there's just A/V out and DC in ports.

I doubt it mate, I lost it whilst fishing, I blame the hemp oil, it must off slipped off somewhere.

I fished it as well as I could, one thing, I lost my wedding ring

Good luck

Cheers lads I'll have a look into that,

I turned in at 10, had a single bleep about 12 and I've been up since 3am. Nothing to report apart from its not as cold as I thought it was going to be. Nice cloud cover, I'll be off at 6am, I'll put the rest of my bait in just before I leave over that silty spot and try my luck again next week. One of the weeks I'll do a day session of the local runs water but for the rest of my sessions during the winter, I'll be here, where time allows

It is starting to drop now, I'll be gone before the sun comes up, sadly. I'm leaving at 6 to get back home, but you've go to be in it to win it, as they say

The odd fish is still showing over my bait, I'm sure they can detect the hemp oil, very subtle shows, to be honest it could be tench or bream, but activity creates activity and at least something is happening. My right hand rod is in my margin about a rod length out, neatly place onto a little spot that looks like it' been dug out. It could be birds, but you could spend months looking for a spot like this when they are usually right at your feet. The rig is stretched out with a handful of bait placed around the hookbait, there is literally nothing else I can do apart from keeping out of sight and keeping quiet.

I've just moved swims to a silty area of the lake, I've seen a number of fish head and shouldering over the area, I've just put out a couple of catapults of 20mm boilies and a fish has just rolled over. I'm using 2 different types of boilie that have had a good dose of hemp oil, so I'm hoping that'll get them down. Rigs are in place and the fish are still there, fingers crossed.

I meant to add, I've got fish in front of me so I've got the kettle on and keeping out of sight.

Well, I ended up at the tough one again, I just didn't fancy the others, but I knew where the fish were going to be with the sun up. There two anglers here fishing on the end of the wind. I spotted a few fish cruising around near the surface on the back of the breeze so I've put two zigs out for now until dark, one at 8ft and one at 6ft in 9ft of water. I'e baited a couple of spots, one very close in to my left and my right hand rod will be fishing an area that' not too clean but not too weedy either. It's a tough water so I wouldn't expect to see me with a fish but I've gotten in quietly so there's every chance, we shall see

Carp Anglers Inadvertent masters of tetras I'm off

Nige I took your advice and got a bridge camera off ebay some time ago now. I also got a pneumatic bulb and fashened a bracket together. Although I'm still getting used to the settings, it' coming along nicely. One thing I did purchase recently was a quick release adapter, meant for goal post buzz bars. It just means I can leave the tripod set up in the right position and remove the camera without to much fuss.

I think the lads on here would all agree that most anglers subconsciously hold themselves back for fear of rod breakages or cracking off. Do as chilly suggests, start low until you get the feel, a day practicing on your water will bring you closer. This is the knot I've used for years, as mentioned before, the length, bail arm to bail arm.

Chillfactor (phil) will be able to tell you more, he's a good caster, he's done some tuition with Terry Edmonds. If you look on YouTube, look up Terry Edmonds and Mark Hutchinson, both are at the top of the game. I was using 12lb daiwa sensor with esp 45lb shockleader and getting roughly 115 to 120 yards waste deep in water, I'm sure I could of gotten further from the bank. The length of shockleader I keep fairly simple, from bail are to bail arm. In other words, from the bail arm all the way up to the tip ring and back.

I'm not as good as some of the guys on here and I can only suggest what I do and use. Firstly convert the poundage of your test curve into ounces then add half an ounce, that'll give you your optimum casting weight. Tighten your clutch right up Have a good drop on your line, the lead around the spigot joint on your rod is a good point. I use a braided shockleader Most importantly use a finger stall, generally speaking, if you aren't putting your casting finger at risk, your not casting hard enough. Try to get the cast as near to 45 degrees as possible. If your right handed, left foot in front, right foot behind and transfer your weight from the back foot to the front whilst casting. That's how I do it, I'm sure there will be other methods Ooo last but not least, tournament leads and helicopter rigs. Make sure your rod rings are wet.