commonly

Im still recovering from one of the worst nights fishing ever, last weekend. Getting my companions and the gear to the lake was a separate fiasco, but won't bore you with that. Rods out all quiet until I started falling asleep around 11. Beep. Beep first bin lid🙄 I was then plagued by them until about 4.30am. Despite changing spots, going out as singles. I got a few hours kip. With the odd carp cruising about, I switched to zigs at 2 /12ft, about 2/3 depth. First blip after an hr, as my son reeled in, seemingly with nothing on. As the lead became visible, a fish rolled off in the margins. All I saw was a bronzy/gold flash. Back out, 10 mins later a few beers, my son struck. Again seemed like he lost it, but kept the line tight and felt something on. As the fish broke the surface, I quickly pulled the net in to avoid the bream slime. Ive only ever had perch or carp before on zigs, so this seemed a bit weird. Recast and same again 🙄. I changed them all over to 3 1/2 ft, nothing after that as it went overcast. One to forget 😀

Shock beads, pack of Hex size 10 hooks and 8 lb zig line from Bank tackle. Bargain at just under £15 with nearly £3 for the delivery.

The trap door ones appear to clean up the detritus, which could be useful. Do you know of anyone that's got any experience of them?

Have you got any snails in your pond @yonny? I looked at them once and keep getting ads pop up

Really sad to hear that mate. Sound like you did everything you could have Could it just be old age, with a fish that size?

Oz ponds is very useful. He says to base the bog filter on about 20% of pond volume He was bang on 2 weeks for clear water. Very low maintenance, although im forever tweaking my makeshift skimmer, as the liner isn't big enough to go under my tub

Ive made a start digging out the new one

Sorry to hear that @yonny, fingers crossed I recently purchased air pump from Swell UK & happy to report its brilliant. £25 https://www.swelluk.com/swell-pond-air-pump Im forever tinkering with my pond. Plants, bin bog filter and DIY skimmer and everything is gin clear. That was until I thought I'd give them some essential cell, which has put a yellow tinge to the water🫣 The more research I do, im finding the koi pond market to be a massive con. Basically, you buy the fish and food, then you need various types of filters which need loads of maintenance and then you need to add chemicals to alter certain parameters. £££'s scam! My system is replicating nature, with plants and stones acting as the media & providing a natural food source for everthing in the pond.. After all, the fish in nature dont need all the expensive equipment and chemicals!!!

Lake exclusivity is a great result, good for you We'll look forward to hearing about your campaign.

No need to criticise people on here mate. Im sure other social media is more suitable, if that's your bag? I am fascinated by the OP's methods. I mean the kit he's using to take account of the conditions, is absolutely next level. Not so sure its going to catch on here, particularly as we have our traditional, (usually dated) British methodology in nearly everything we do

I guess pre baiting is out of the question (which is a good edge), judging by the distance you travel? Is there nowhere closer to home to hone your tactics? As others have said before, your eyes are the best tool you have to try and locate the fish before you think of putting a rig out. Although its all guess work, if you can't see any signs of them. What makes you fish at such range and depth? Ive caught nearly as many fish in the margins. Benefits such as, easier to bait up and also determine if the fish are taking your freebie bait. Its all part of learning how to unlock the puzzle of the venue. Its called fishing, not catching😉

Sounds like you @OldBoyare the one who would be more at home on the other forum As yonny said, if you've not got anything constructive to say, then its probably best you dont in future??? Thanks in advance

Sorry about the typo, its actually about 3000 ltrs. Water quality is improved since using a stone/media bio filter for a few days. I dont need to clean sludge off any more, so feel im on the right track Planning on just under 11000 ltrs for the new pond. Im hoping to use the existing pond as a kind of bog pond with a small stream feeding into the new one, with catch pool to a skimmer run off. Might take a while, but it's captured my attention from the rat race grind

Looking at a bigger pond etc. I read that you ideally want 1000ltrs per fish. Mine are only 6-8" atm so im already short with 5 in just under 300ltrs

The more I research probably not. Its a 5 in 1 Blagdon 2000. Ive now set up this bog filter which seems be reducing the sludge in the media.

Its a tricky one. The Mrs suggested having a word, but its about 20ft from a stream, so it wouldn't take long to attract his mates. We only started composting since our council changed the food bins a few months ago. I guess its always going to attract vermin and pests🤔 Im now trying to sort the high nitrates in the pond. Trying to keep koi on a budget is proving to be a minefield. What's your thoughts on Envii products?

Just discovered i have new pests, that may have a go at the fish Ive found a massive rat nesting in my compost bin🤔🫣 Should I be concerned??

Its a blooming nightmare! I treat against blanket weed with Crystalclear. I am now experimenting with a diy bio filter. Mainly gravels, with fabric media and a couple of bog plants at the top. Its been on 24 hrs and the media in the pump shows signs of reduced sludge so im hoping im on the right track now🤞 Im now considering digging a bigger pond alongside and use that one as a bog filter

Mine are now feeding 3 times a day on the pellets. They work as a pack and smash them. It's cool to see. I am now dealing with murky water. Brownish. If I had the cash I'd buy a few more plants, chemical treatments and an aerator, but sadly not atm. There was a layer of silt, built up over 6 years, which didn't seem a problem with the goldfish, but the Koi seem to be churning up, along with Canadian weed that was just coming up. After a bit of searching, im trying 20mm shingle just overlaid. I have a small 5in1 submersible Blagdon pump and with cleaning the filters out every couple of days, I appear to be getting slightly clearer water.

No sign of cats, or birds? Ive got both. Luckily not a heron, but a magpie (which have fairly large beaks I've noticed) I nearly got a fake heron, but wondered how long that would deter the cats. The hexagons do keep the food in the middle, they're not ideal, but dont fancy having a net.

How do you keep pests out? Ie. Cats, birds and the like. Ive noticed a few animals that'd take them given half a chance. Im trying these floating hexagons

So, they dont appear that 8nterested in these pellets atm. They have taken a few, but I end up taking uneaten ones back out?? They do however seem to like boilie crumb, which I tried this morning. Should I keep feeding them crumb, or persevere with the pellets?

How comes you dont think after years of dropped leads on a well known spot would feel like a gravel?

Interesting topic. I suggested years ago, a lot of these spots that everyone thinks are gravel, are most likely several hundred leads, from the time when it was fashionable to drop them. I thought the use of lead shot was banned in the 90's, why wasn't it the same for actual leads?? I'm sure alternatives could found, but would have an adverse effect on the environment at some point in manufacturing. When you consider the amount of pollution in our water ways and the coast, using a stone instead of a lead isn't really going to make a lot of difference.