Gazlaaar

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

Edgbaston Reservoir Lifford Reservoir Swan Pool near the west brom ground Salford Park and Canals Kingsbury Water Park Sutton Park Lakes Perry Beaches Park Lake and Canals Brook Vale Park There's loads mate, most are home to carp but also contain a mix of other species as well.

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.

What are you using for hookbait and loose feed?

I can only really speak of this water at the moment, I have fished a lot of other gravel pits in the past but every one I have found slightly different. I spent the first few sessions fishing all around the pit whilst gathering info from those in the know. All of these sessions I had the same feeling, I should if been in the area I am now. Just looking at the geography of the water from a birds eye view made it stand out. To be any where and fish it properly and confidently I never go on one aspect, I suppose it's a bit like science in that respect. When you get a number of different points, pointing to an area then a picture starts to emerge. A number of points came to fruition, it's location and the areas present, the weather, ie how this area is influenced by different weather fronts, wind and sun. Angling pressure played a role at last of all, information. Put it this way, I'd need a really good reason to be anywhere else. The water has thick weed beds, Canadian and silk to name but a few, you know when you've landed in something that's just thick full of weed and you also know when you've landed in something that allows a decent presentation. The stepped up gear means heavier 4oz leads which I find I really get on with, and makes feeling much much easier even at a great distance. When I first got a marker rod years ago I had no idea how to use it, so I set about dragging a lead over different surfaces like grass, sand, concrete and all manner of materials. Eventually I learned through shear hard work and I've also learned I need to be sure. If im unsure, it's gets a recast, simple as that. I do use a sea break away lead, so if I am ever unsure, I'll cast that out and see what it brings back in. I believe once you have gotten used to your rods and all the gear associated it becomes almost like an extension of your arm, again making things easier and more defined. I'll go out on a limb here, I used to fish with solid pva bags, for years I used these, and when you use a specific method it eventually becomes yours, you know it inside out. I could even tell whether a bags had burst on the surface just by feel, and the rate it sunk. Sounds mad but true. This is what I mean about making fishing your own, take what ever your confident in doing and hone your skills around that, soon enough you'll know how everything should feel and you'll fish better as a consequence. It took me a while to get back into distance casting and im not claiming to be and expert, there are far better casters out there than me, but I've made it my own and im now completely confident in what I am doing

One thing I will say, and it's something I've honed lately, it's feeling for a donk, once you've cast out. My water has been fished for many a year by some very good anglers, the clear areas are absolute bird targets, so your not really feeling for a clear donk on the end, more a settled donk, if that makes sense. There is a lot of weed present and I always feel the lead down on a tight line, it's hard to explain the feeling and im sure somebody else will explain it better, but it's like the lead has settled onto a thick rug, you still get that bounce transmitted, and your rod tip will shoot up a little. Over a clear area you'll feel a clear donk, as the lead hits a firm substrate. What I'm trying to say is you don't always need that clear donk to be fishing effectively. If I don't feel any kind of touch down on the end, I recast, and I won't settle until I get it right.

It sounds like a good plan, good luck

Just for the record I'd like to hear about your exploits, it sounds like you have a challenge ahead

Next session plans To change round the baiting up, I have been putting in a kilo of bait before I fish every session so far, so now I'm just going to fish and do the baiting when I'm done. It's gone into the areas for 7 or 8 weeks now and I think it's enough to see me through. I may up the baiting a bit, I'm not sure yet, I'll see how it feels. I've gone back to 20 millers just for hookbaits and slightly longer rigs. Now I'm starting to think about winter coming I've got a couple of bits to get, nothing major but I want to be prepared

Back home now, no fish, bur the show was good last night, it felt so good, but as fishing is sometimes nothing materialised. Never mind, next time will be my 13th session on there so fingers crossed I'm already looking forward to getting back

Nothing to report as of yet this morning, I've been up a while, the wind has picked up, it's slightly warmer, and that chilli from last night is definitely making the inside of my brolly warm lol

Just stick to your plan, and tweak if need be,

The temp is definitely down a couple of degrees tonight,

Report away mate

Yes mate, it's the one I'm concentrating all of my efforts on, I've seen and heard more fish in this area than anywhere else. Put it this way, and I know it goes against the grain, but I'd need a really good reason to fish anywhere else on the pit, you can just feel it in the pit of your stomach

Proper clam and quite mate, we're sitting up listening, you can hear a pin drop, it's proper exciting as we've heard a number of fish roll, only subtle, but I feel close to fish, if you know what I mean. Deadly quite, beautifully calm, what an exciting place to be

All set and ready to go We have a nice buffet for tonight including a chilli

I wonder how many anglers have walked this path with the same dreams I have. I wonder how many more there will be.

Right lads I'm off, speak to you in a while

Yeah, all used up now so I've just upped the quantity of 12 and 15 millers

I need a little more weight in the spomb so I cut out the bigger baits,

If your up at dark like me, you'll also get to see some of the years best sunsets and sunrises, winter is hard but equally a special time for a lot of reasons. I can't wait to see this pit in all of its slender throughout the 4 seasons