greekskii

Sooner or later an unfenced lake will be victim to an otter and become barren. Example; a club pit, 28 acres, about 75 fish, if that. Otter was taking 1-2 fish a winter for 3 years...not nice but no impact on the fishing. Suddenly we were 6 fish down in Dec to Jan, including two 30s. And those were the ones we found. Following year the lake fished so poorly as the fish were in the weedbeds out in the middle and reluctant to venture out to feed for fear of being eaten. Another 8 went the following winter. I dropped my ticket. From what I gather similar numbers went winter 2016/17 and more this winter. It's also fished equally as poor as my last season. It'll soon be ultra low stock with 10-20 carp left which are super wary. The otter will move on to easier hunting grounds but those fish will still be spooky as. It becomes a different challenge, a different lake. Likely the tench population will explode and it'll be producing more big tincas than it has done in recent years. One mans loss, another mans gain as they say. No doubt some hardcore guys will enjoy the challenge of a handful of carp amongst hundreds, if not thousands of tench.

and that was before the dropping the lead fashion! Some likely lads will be doing this around the local commercials making mega bucks!

I seem to carry a fair few. But that's mainly due to the water I'm fishing at the minute. And my laziness to not bother organising my lead pouch. Probably around 20-30 leads from 1oz to 3oz. Also that extra weight in my rucksack helps burn some vital extra calories whilst I'm barrowing about. That's my justification anyway!

Tbh I was going to borrow one off one of my mates that buys them 😂! I only need one to put on the rig and see if I think it works or not. I might ask for a single hook sample from Gardner.

fair enough, I just saw a video with it being shown with a ronnie rig, assumed it was it's main aim for the market. Especially as its the 'in' rig at the minute. Just like when the chod rig was the 'in' rig all the stiff rigger hooks got renamed

Im pretty sure it's a hook with the intended purpose of being used for ronnie rigs, as well as applied elsewhere. From what I've heard it was developed with the ronnie in mind.

I might try the CVR hooks on the multi rig for snowman baits. Again, not too sure about how aggressive they are and if that would impact on the way the rig works. Only one way to find out.

One carp means different to everyone. Depends on venue. At this time of year any carp is a good carp.

I fish two on tight buzz bars and my third on singles wherever it needs to be. If you're fishing tight to snags do not fish with rods pointing at the lead. You'll have a problem with fish getting straight in to the snags. I prefer to have a slight angle from rod tip to lead to increase resistance on a take. It also makes the fish have to exert more energy to pull line off the clutch. To avoid tangles, just plan what you'll do in advance. If you're fishing tight lines you can go under/over to try and untangle lines. If fishing slack you shouldn't have a problem

Cheers for the heads up. Hopefully won't Be too much of a problem. Don't mind a longer walk if needs be.

Yeah we have it all booked exclusive. Just after snippets like weed, crayfish, stock (it's on the website but I never believe it unless it comes from anglers, how many times do people claim stocking levels and it just isn't true). Whatever the stock, there is some real nice looking fish. Should be okay in a van? Mines not huge but I know one of the lads has a transit.

Anyone got any info on this place? Heading there in April for a social and can't seem to find much about it.

The EA do more than the average joe knows about. Could you imagine the state things would be in if they didn't do anything. Imagine how many fisheries would be empty without the EA providing emergency response on a Sunday afternoon for free. Any consultant would be charging no less than £2-300 an hour + any equipment you require.

Every fishery is permitted by the EA to be a fishery. Therefore anyone fishing needs to be a license holder. I believe it's in the permit they have. Same as if you register your land as agricultural you are then subject to all sorts of rural obligations and also inspections and fines if required.

Rushed that end bit as I had a few bleeps... we all pay for all sorts of things through tax but may never need it. NHS, welfare, etc. It's exactly the same situation. You pay for it but may never need to use that service. Thing is, we pay the rod licenses and the fisheries get the benefit if they need it. Free of charge. As I said. Many people don't understand the actual costs it takes to inject hydrogen peroxide in to a lake to save the fish. Or true costs of hot footing a number of aerators across the country. The license money also pays for the fish health team in Brampton. You can send a mortality to them and they'll carry out a post mortem free of charge and if it's a disease that's needs treating they'll help you save your stock. Im done. Back to fishing. Really grinds my gears when people don't have a clue. The EA fisheries are the only ones not charging for licenses and permits. They don't charge for advice. Don't charge for saving fish in emergencies. They do however refuse to help commercials free of charge. They will advise them and help organise the necessary equipment. They will help free of charge smaller clubs with low incomes.

To run a fishery as a business you have to be registered with the EA. therefore they have everything to do with it. They publish how they spend the money on an annual basis. So you know exactly where it goes. I see these views from many people however they have no idea how the EA works internally whereas in my job I work with them and see exactly how money gets spent. They have a fund you can bid in to for fishery improvements. Including otter fencing. They money gets spent restocking the rivers. Doing habitat inmprovement schemes and paying for the enforcement officers to go and check licenses amongst a whole host of other things. Id to see it run as an invoiced help. Imagine them saving the stock of a small club and then hitting them with the £50,000 bill. You might never need them to help you personally. Same as the NHS.

The agency can still check you on syndi waters though @yonny

Put it in warm water.

too right. Everyone has the authority. It should be on the fishery owner to check and not sell tickets to those with no license. If they all ran this way, everyone will be forced to buy a license and those that dont will be fishing where they know they wont get checked. It should be part of possessing your fishery license. I know the AT is working on this all the time. I sit on my local consultative and enforcement is a permanent item on the agenda. EA as a government body are not for profit. Any license monies are put back in to the Fisheries team. I know they are starting to increase the amount of warranted bailiffs. How it works is that any member of staff or anyone can ask for your license however only warranted bailiffs can take details and put you up for prosecution. Historically this has just been the enforcement officers, however now members of the FBG (fisheries, biodiversity and morphology) team are being warranted so they can carry out checks whilst out on site and also be on call to respond to call-ins. One thing that I see as counter productive, and it's too late to change now is not charging to get fish movement licenses. This would have increased fisheries revenue massively but wasnt done. Now the system has been changed to an ongoing license, not per movement, the chance to charge is limited. Most fish farms will already have their licenses in place. Unless a new reform on that comes around (unlikely) then you cant introduce charges really as the bulk of the income will have been missed.

Personal view... YES! before a ticket is issued a valid rod license should be produced. Clubs and syndicates should do it too. A very complex system would be required for the online purchases though, some form of verification with the EA database. Problem is it creates more hassle than its worth. You'd lose money, have to chuck someone off the fishery which could result in aggro. An EA officer was assaulted recently http://www.anglersmail.co.uk/news/rod-licence-dodger-guilty-of-assault-74962 A responsible fishery owner would check, one that cares about the industry/environment/etc. unfortunately many are only in it for the money and dont actually care beyond growing the bank balance.

It's double figures still. Nice and mild tonight. One pair of socks and open front with the sides clipped back on the bivvy.

Well I'm out tonight in the mild weather. 4 others were here when I turned up and meant I couldn't fish my normal area. Luckily last week I spread bait all over the lake before I left. I'm giving the other open water area a shot after seeing nothing for 2 hours worth of looking apart from silvers. Three rods cast out with pub chucks looking for a decent drop. Had a single bleep on one but still yet to see/hear a carp! Fingers crossed they get active during the dark and I can locate them.

true. I just feel like I've been missing something and I should have been catching. They are still using the area I have been baiting and catching from. The bailiff saw a fish bosh over it the Wednesday and I fished the Friday night. In the cold water temps i'd not expect them to move far. Oh well, another session is another chance to catch!

Hope to come out of the rut. 3 blanks in a row and not even seeing any signs of the carp. I may be missing something though as my rods arent out until gone 1pm on arrival and I'm packed up and off by 11am. Potentially bite time is sometime inbetween that! luckily getting to stay on longer on Friday so we shall see.

I'm off out Thursday night, the winter solstice. Shortest day of the year coupled with an almost new moon and 10c during the day and down to 9c at night, early morning 7c. Xmas eve looks even better but thats not happening! Anyone have any views on the solstices (summer & winter) fishing wise?