Gazlaaar

The only con I can see is setting them up, I think they'll work just as well if not better than newer trends

Yeah, I just worry about pre occupational feeding, I'll see how feels, there's still a while left before it gets really cold, I usually find the coldest time is after Christmas so we still have a few months left

I've always done well with deadbaits and the sink and draw method. Pollen is a good buoyant bait, smelt as sink and draw. Funny thing is, I've never caught pike at night, and I have done enough of it in the past. This winter may see me sticking both rods out for pike during daylight hours and carp at night. I've used all sorts of bait, but I wouldn't give an area any longer than an hour or so, keep searching, you'll find them eventually. Look for ambush points, where there used to be weed or a narrowing of some kind. Pike love structure to hide in, as they are mainly an ambush creature try and think where you would be waiting

I got a really cheap pair off ebay, £23, they do a good job, no complaints

One other tweak I am contemplating is the use of maggots as I'm spombing my bait out, trying to tap into the electrosensory might be of benefit, so Ill be using those rubber imitation maggots as boilie stops to match the maggots I'm using

A bit of a diversion, but this brolly system is the best one I've ever used and really suits my short sessions, I've used it in the coldest weather and the hottest. I very rarely use the front, only when a lot of bugs are around or if I find myself in a position to be facing driving rain. It's simple and very quick to put up and very easy to take down and pack away. I love mine and I'd truly be gutted if anything happened to it I only mention because the colder is looming and it saw me through last year and I have no doubt it will cope easily with what ever mother nature has in store this year.

Tweak time My last session saw me getting all excited, as I was able to reach within 10 yards of the far bank in the out of bounds area, with rigs and midi spomb woohoo. It's taken a while but I think I'm in the groove of getting over there now. Strange because all of a sudden the water feels and looks smaller. I think it's just psychological, nevertheless confidence is growing. My excitement was elevated when I saw a large grey plated mirror bosh out right over my baited area, my rig must of been within a few yards, yet nothing, not even a bleep all night. So, new tweaks, I've lengthened my hooklink to 12 inches, as it's weedy, and I'm using a completely different hookbait on one rod, to see if these tricky fish fancy a fishy delight. I've been using a nutty cream bait so far and will continue that trend but I'd like to offer something a little different on one rod, we shall see

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/like/291883715675?lpid=122&chn=ps&adgroupid=33170564523&rlsatarget=pla-261451185092&adtype=pla&poi=&googleloc=1007167&device=m&campaignid=661219804&crdt=0&ul_ref=http%253A%252F%252Frover.ebay.com%252Frover%252F1%252F710-134428-41853-0%252F2%253Fmtid%253D1673%2526kwid%253D1%2526crlp%253D138747902141_563391%2526itemid%253D291883715675%2526targetid%253D261451185092%2526device%253Dm%2526mpre%253Dhttp%25253a%25252f%25252fwww.ebay.co.uk%25252fitm%25252flike%25252f291883715675%25253flpid%25253d122%252526chn%25253Dps%2526adtype%253Dpla%2526googleloc%253D1007167%2526poi%253D%2526campaignid%253D661219804%2526adgroupid%253D33170564523%2526rlsatarget%253Dpla-261451185092%2526gclid%253DCjwKEAjwps2_BRC5jduHor-h8xESJADGT-LtsUO-rfz2nkwf7Ae3v5izRBXGqsqvAfdSvlg6uY_qPBoCHGvw_wcB%2526srcrot%253D710-134428-41853-0%2526rvr_id%253D1105058375331

In that case You could use a piece of cork, I think you can buy little coils for paste to use with hair rigs.

Sensor is a really good all round mainline, I've used it a lot over the years

Why not just use cage or maggot feeders?

I agree yonny, I've found better at outdoor and army surplus shops.

Seeing as everyone on here loves Christmas so much

No worries mate, I knew somebody did them

These look like the kiddies http://www.taskacarp.com/products/baseline-tungsten-range/baseline-tungsten-rig-stops/

Good luck fella's

Have you looked at fly tying beads, I know some of those are tungsten, it made be right up your alley

What about wrapping leadcore inner?

Thinking about it, I could do sworn I saw some taska ones on the rack this morning. I'll take a look when I'm there next

Do they have to be tungsten? If not gardner, fox and esp do those,,another idea for you, I used the small korda sinkers chopped in half

One problem I have been having with the distances in need is using a Hinged Stiff Rig, I've never gotten in with putty and I've tried loads, so I went the using a fox kwik change tungsten bead on the boom just behind the swivel. Which was fine for up to longish range, but this bead kept moving on a number of rigs so I ditched the idea until I saw these little beauties from Tasks. Now I shouldn't have a problem

I've been prepping all I can at home this morning as I have a bit of free time, I find making rigs and getting everything ready quite therapeutic, and it also starts the excitement ready for my next outing, not sure when that is yet

Ditch the pellets and crumb up some boilies for your bags

In truth there is no definitive answer, maybe fishing on the outside of your baited area might pick up a carp or two, Tigers do seems to be pretty selective by carp as cm suggests but not totally impervious, it's a tactic I would try.