Ddgx

Triple backleads!

Yep, the canals are all miles away! Open season I'd have the Chelmer, The Stort, Blackwater maybe even the "Brain" to fish. Lea navigation isn't too far either. My dad owns a Narrowboat actually, a few times the Marina owners or Marina residents don't like people fishing in the Marina's and I've been told off (was only Roach bashing too with a float rod!). Often the big marina's are normally secure and you only get in if you have a boat there. You make a good point about the night fishing and people not noticing - I am a real wimp though when I know I'm breaking fishing rules and the guilt will get the better of me I suppose....I could fish the evening and from morning the next day if I was that bothered, 'dusk' isn't til what 9pm? First light is 5am-ish. I could still get probably 11 or so hours in during daylight hours.

I'm between Wickford and Basildon. Ta mate.

Afternoon Greekskii, Yes I had a check of that list and also their list of rivers which have the closed season. As far as I can tell the Grand Union is closed on a shortish section of the Leicester Line which is much further North than I would be prepared to travel anyway. Thanks mate! I've tried Tring Angling & Luton AC and they are either night fishing for members only or no night fishing :-(

I've used the search feature and haven't quite come across what I'm after. I've really enjoyed fishing the rivers last season but of course, they are all shut atm. I am thinking about hitting one of the canals as an alternative - I'm not fussed on difficulty to some extent, I have late Saturday afternoon until Mid-afternoon Sunday to fish and on a bank holiday weekend turning up most places where I am (Essex) on a Saturday night and trying to find a swim or lake that isn't shoulder to shoulder is most unlikely. I have been thinking about the Grand Union, most of the stretches I've checked out aren't day ticket, or don't allow night fishing, or are too far to travel. Not looking for anyone to share their prize locations but just a general hint on stretches that would even allow me to fish would be really helpful. I'm more after a quiet night in the countryside away from the madness than I am interested in bagging up! p.s. I'd consider other canals but most others look too far or are 'navigations' and close season applies. Thanks all.

Im assuming they would be compatible but if you want battery life probably want a 9v lithium. I think you'll get something like double the milli amp hours from a lithium compared to a regular alkaline. More expensive but it'll need changing less often. They're apparently much less prone to self discharge and leaking too. Sent from my HTC 10 using Tapatalk

Sent from my HTC 10 using Tapatalk

I said I'd come back and let you know what I thought of the Fox easy shelter. Just to say I've only put it up in the garden so far, just once. Is ok so far, I feel like will just need to practice the routine of putting it down more than anything as I couldn't for the life of me work out how to fold it down even after watching two different YouTube videos. I slightly resent having to put together those poles with the bungy cord down the middle. There is a long one for the peak which gets stuck right in the middle on the way in and on the way out which is a shame. It's also heavier overall than I realised, Fox told me it was 3.4kg. But the box when it arrived says 6kg on it? I'll weigh it later. I'll possibly be using the shelter on the bank tomorrow so will return to give some more thoughts then. Sent from my HTC 10 using Tapatalk

I've just loaded esp crystal onto my new big pits and so far prefer it over daiwa sensor. Seems more supple, doesn't seem to retain memory (curly) like the sensor did. But I've not had to chuck and rigs further than an under arm flick yet so we shall see! Sent from my HTC 10 using Tapatalk

How much? Sent from my HTC 10 using Tapatalk

Thanks for all the replies. I've had a good go at reducing my gear down. My rucksack is down to 10.5kg tonight. That includes an unhooking mat, net in stink bag, collapsible landing net handle, thermos full of hot water, a kg of bait, tackle, alarms. My rods with reels attached weighs 2.1kg. My chair weighs 5kg and isn't particularly light. So about 18kg to Carry in all (no bivvy though which would have been an extra 2kg). Sent from my HTC 10 using Tapatalk

I think you misread it Nige, (or I mistyped I haven't checked). It was a pop up bivvy not a bivvy table lol definitely won't be taking my bivvy table along! All I currently own bivvy wise is a brolly. It's brilliant and goes up so quickly but it's extremely long and awkward to carry and it's heavy over a distance. I think new bivvy weighs less than 2kg. Sent from my HTC 10 using Tapatalk

In anticipation of some mobile river fishing, today I am going to have a big review of what I take in my rucksack in an attempt to slim it right down. My plan is not even to take stuff to tie more rigs; I'll take a number of pre-tied rigs and thatll be it. I don't think I've ever lost so many rigs bankside that I needed to tie more than I already had with me. At the moment my rucksack weighs way more than I can comfortably carry any reasonable distance. I wondered if anyone has ever considered how much weight of equipment they lug to the bank? I plan on weighing my gear before and after my trimming down experiment and will report back the results. I have had a read on some hiking websites at ideal weights so will be interesting to see where my gear comes in compared to that. I should also be receiving new ultra light pop-up bivvy today so might give you a review of that too. Sent from my HTC 10 using Tapatalk

Let me know how you get on. Best of luck! Sent from my HTC 10 using Tapatalk

Hi David, I noticed you hadn't had much of a reply so thought I'd chip in. Newlands is a popular venue and with that in the summer you're going to get the usual issues, quiter in the cold months but not quiet. It's mostly clean when I've been recently can't say I've seen many rats. I've never fished osiers down the end but chatted to a guy once who'd done well on it and actually has some nice looking fish in it. Also surprisingly scenic. If you want a guaranteed bend the moat lake is a good fall back down there too with mostly 3lb to 6lb fish plus coarse fish plus some surprises. Goodish venue for a social in winter I'd say. I recommend exploring margins when you first arrive in morning with maggots on a madusa type rig and a maggot swim feeder. I've had 3 or 4 fish in 45 minutes like that while others have carried on chucking boiles out to the middle of the lake all day without a sniff. Best of luck be good to hear your thoughts once you've been. Sent from my HTC 10 using Tapatalk

If I'd have gotten one, I 100% would not have used it at night. I'm already paranoid about using my stove too near the door of my bivvy so I definitely wouldn't have that running while asleep. I think whoever said it's probably OK used sensibly, but why risk it. I agree. I'm glad I brought it up though it's here for others to see Sent from my HTC 10 using Tapatalk

So at the risk of dredging up old topics of conversation... saw this today... http://www.gooutdoors.co.uk/hi-gear-portable-gas-camping-heater-p142458 (Portable gas heater in case you don't want to click - £22.50) Well, I quite fancy me some of that but I know that some people absolutely swear they will never get in a tent with something that's burning fuel. I understand why, but a few reviews on this site suggesting it ought to be used in conjunction with a portable carbon monoxide detector and then you're pretty safe? What's the consensus? Also you think it will take propane canisters? (Supposedly butane wont work at very low temps although I don't know what 'low' means in this context?)

Oh forgot to add I got mine on ebay for £45 or £50. Sent from my HTC 10 using Tapatalk

I own the earlier version of the carpzone brolly and I can't fault mine either. It's up and down in no time, I've used it for overnighters in April and September but not the depths of winter. If has withstood 50/60mph gusts with no trouble. The new version with the mesh to let air through is just what it needed. Sent from my HTC 10 using Tapatalk

Yep! Sent from my HTC 10 using Tapatalk

... Oh! You're right. I have tried putting away pop up tests now you mention it and I always end up finding they fit nicely in the nearest bin. Sent from my HTC 10 using Tapatalk

I try and leave my brolly at home or in the car as often as I can get away with now. I quite like the idea of one of those ultra portable pop-up type bivvy like the Fox easy shelter but for over a tonne I can't justify it. Seems steep for what you're actually getting. Anyone own one or similar? Sent from my HTC 10 using Tapatalk

Hmm actually that's slade isn't it? Lol! Still though... I love Christmas! Sent from my HTC 10 using Tapatalk

It's chrissssssttttmasssss! Sent from my HTC 10 using Tapatalk

Boilie almost certainly has fish meal in it. Am back home now but don't get out much lately so was a pleasure catching the few carp and some snots really. Fishing there again I will have to think a bit more wisely and plan ahead. Sent from my HTC 10 using Tapatalk