InteraX

Firstly, it's great to hear of the sport growing in popularity in China. I last visited China (Shanghai) on business in late 2019. It was a really vibrant place back then. I'm not sure I would be comfortable going back there ATM, but who knows what the future holds. Personally, I've never come across TICA. I suspect they're more aimed at the US market, but please correct me if you think I'm wrong on that. Whilst bait boats are great tools, they aren't cheap. In fact, compared to a set of big pit reels, a decent bait boat with GPS is very expensive and it's big and heavy. Whilst I'm sure you can be much more accurate with a bait boat, when you have to add that to a barrow and potentially lug it up to a mile to get to your swim, potentially sacrificing something else, the bait boat will probably be one off the first things to be removed from the barrow. Even though I could probably afford it now, I've got other things to worry about. The IP disputes is probably only a matter of time. Once a big manufacturer gets a significant new product copied and put onto the market very early on in production, then the issue will be taken seriously and something will get done. Right now, from what I can see, it's lots of small things such as line strippers, swivels, rig bits etc. being picked up and sold cheaply in bulk by small discount sellers here in the UK. As for design, that comes from necessity. Once there are anglers with specific new problems to solve, then people will start designing solutions for those problems and those problems may be specific to the location. It'll be interesting to see what comes in the future when new problems come up. That's an interesting blowback rig. Personally, I prefer a shorter shank, but it's whatever works. Is that what you caught the fish on? Is that a grass carp? Most of our fishing over here and on this forum is for King/Common Carp (Cyprinus Carpio), but doesn't mean we won't discuss other species. Tight lines!

Can you share that YT video. That might be interesting to see. I agree that I prefer the modern bedchair. Thankfully I missed out on the sunlounger heyday. I've got a Trakker RLX flat 6 and I don't have any problem with the big snooze I've got on it. There's only 1 strap across the centre with a hood both top and bottom and no issues. I've even got one of the big trakker pillows on there with a strap around the head section, again with no issues. I don't think having 6 or 8 legs should cause problems to sleeping bags. A sleep system may be able to reduce some weight, but I suspect for the biggest manufacturers it's there to turn it into a disposable item. You can't take the bag off to wash it. If the zip breaks, you've got to replace the whole top or complete bed. With a separate bedchair and bag, you can swap out parts as necessary. As I suggested earlier, I wouldn't be surprised if a less honourable reel manufacturer tried to make it so the reel was sold with line and you couldn't replace it yourself. Anything to lock you in. Look at the way tech and the car industry has gone. I don't doubt they are much more advanced and have a lot more advanced features, but I don't want a subscription for heated seats/headlight arrays or anything else and please stop snooping on what I'm watching on my TV thank you. That's just creepy! Of a certain age? I'm in my early 50's. I wouldn't have ever thought that description would apply to me, at least not until I'd retired, but maybe we were brought up in a different world (I first came across the internet and email in 1993 when I started at Uni and the only GUI web browser was NCSA Mosaic running on Sun SPARC computers). I don't want to be beholden to the uber wealthy and tied into subscriptions for everything. It may cost me more initially, but I still buy CDs/Vinyl for music. I then have it for a lifetime. If we just allow it to happen then we'll loose everything we gained over the 20th century. The NHS, social security, extended lifespans etc. We've allowed our politicians to be influenced by those with money too much and that's on all sides.

They're trying to create a captive market where you have to go to them. Look at landing nets. You used to be able to easily get a handle and a net separately. These days about the only people doing a reasonable carp net without handle are NGT. As for handles, they should last a lifetime if you can find a decent one. Everything is now being integrated For your convenience or to lock you in. Eventually, I can see a time when reels will come with Line and you can't reload them without specialist equipment or other things like that. You won't own anything and you'll be happy. Sorry if I come across a cynical, but it's what's happening in many other industries. Just look at cars. When most people get a new car these days, they're not the purchaser, the pcp provider is, so if anything goes wrong the dealer won't speak to them. Late stage capitalism.

I hate them! A bit of floss on the end of a micro ring swivel gives the bait a bit more movement.

I was out Sunday as soon as my fishery reopened. Whilst it was still hot, it was overcast. The fish were a lot more active. From about 11 am, I had 8 bites and landed 5, all mid to upper doubles. I lost 3 in what I think was snags that were unknown to me. My mainline just parted which started to get concerning. Overall I used least thank 1/2 a kilo of boilies and packed up around 5. I think they're on the feed now. It's good to hear others are able to get out and are having good sport.

TBH, I recon now the temps have eased off a bit the fish are up for a feed. I don't think they've been feeding much whilst it's been so bright and hot, not there's a bit of a breeze, the temps have dropped and we're getting occasional cloud cover, they've got to feed in some shape or other. If you're luck enough to be there when they switch on and can keep them in the area, you'll get a great result. I haven't been back to my local pond to check water temps since last weekend, but I hope they've dropped a bit and I hope the breeze has helped oxygenate the water a bit.

As I'm not allowed to fish my local lake, I thought I would stop by to see what's happening. As expected, there's people using it as a swimming pool/somewhere to go paddle boarding/sunbathing. I bought an aquarium thermometer off amazon just so I know what the water temperature is. I was shocked to find the surface water between 26.1C and 26.3C. Hopefully the temps are going to start dropping soon. That can't be good for the fish.

I was out Sunday early and had a good result whilst it was overcast (see July Catch Reports), but ibthink that was very much down to local conditions. The club shut all fishing as of 11pm last night die to hugh water temps and their concern over DO, so I can't fish my preferred venue. I'm not sure I would go out locally right now. Its 30 outside as I write this and forecast up to 33/34 later today and throughout the week. Just unpacking the car, getting to the swim and setting up can be very unpleasant in this weather.

Happy birthday Kev.

I was out on Friday evening from about 6 on my local lake (old deep clay quarry) with nothing to show. It was funny listening to and watching the teenage kids in one of the posh houses opposite having a party. Once they started swimming and diving into the lake it was game over, but I kept on for another hour before reeling in. Back out again early doors 6.30am this morning. Previously bites have dried up by 9. I had 2 strange aborted takes where the bobbins pulled tight to the alarms and then stopped around 9. Once it got to 10, I though it was too late, but thought I was planning to go until lunch, so let's give it a while longer. 11AM and my right hand rod screamed off. A nice little 12lb 12oz lightly scaled mirror. That was a nice surprise for the time, but I noticed it was overcast so that may have played into it. 30 mins later and the right hand rod was off again. A 12lb 14oz zip linear this time. As I was bent over returning the fish, my left hand rod screamed into life. After releasing the fish, I went to pick up my other rod, then remembered my net was still broken down, so left it to run for a bit whilst I sorted that out. The run slowed to a stop then sped away again by the time I could get to my rod. I tightened down the clutch and pulled into it and could feel a much stronger pull back. After a 10 minute fight, I managed to get it in the net and could see it was a much bigger fish. I secured the net with a bankstick whilst I refreshed my bucket and prepared everything. A lovely long lean 25lb 4oz fully scaled mirror. It's about the size of the largest fish in the lake. I'm not sure if it's the 'big one' or if that's a common, but I'm more than happy. I returned it as soon as I had finished with everything and then sat down deciding I'd had my fill and the fishing gods had been more than generous. That and the fact I had other things to do this afternoon. Overall, even though it started out quiet, it was a really good session.

Hi all, Locally (SW London & Surrey), I have 1 club that's closed all fishing until 24 hours after the heat alerts have been cleared (currently means late Sunday), I have another that's closed fishing due to low oxygen and a local day ticket shut up shop last weekend due to the weather. Whilst I fully understand low oxygen resulting in fish welfare concerns, I don't understand the club closing all fishing. Apparently it's for the member's safety and fish welfare. Fish welfare, OK maybe if the water has low oxygen, but as for member's safety, we're adults. Is this a widespread issue? If we are to start getting this type of weather going forward, what will it mean for us? I've been starting work early and doing some extra hours this week with the hope that I'll be able to get out tomorrow PM for a session. It doesn't look like I'll be able to now or if I can, the venue will probably be rammed. How do they manage it on the continent? Surely they have worse issues, but they don't seem to have to shut down because of it.

Welcome! I had to look up 'Fischerprüfung'. How on earth do tourists get to fish in Germany if you have to take a course and then pass an exam before fishing? That sounds a bit too much, but maybe it would keep out some of the less desirable fishermen. 😁

Mainline straight through to the lead. Personally, I wouldn't trust that any bead or similar could make it over any knot for any leader. I've only recently started trying out a helicopter style rig and found that mainline straight through seems to be good enough for me so far. What is the purpose of the leader in your setup?

Shh.... You don't want to jinx it!. 😁

That's great to limit account creation, but can you set new users to moderated (all posts need to be approved by a modertor). That may be the only way to stop the current issues. It looks like the spammers have found a new way to hit the forum en-mass.