commonly

I'll let you know, my minds made up! For now anyway!!! 🤣 it's so simple. I love the concept! Fine tuning to my current kit and set up, required, but I hope to get it together in the next few sessions. I couldn't care less about feeding puddle pigs for someone else's benefit. My current venue doesn't get kilos upon kilos of bait thrown in, so the average is late double early 20's. Nature has its balance is the owners philosophy and I tend to agree.

Do you and your gear get covered in gloop, though paws?

From what I can tell the blokes who do zig fishing well, on this forum, don't spod either and they advise not to glug the foam or bug either. I'm not experienced at it, by any means but I plan to fish this way from now on. No more boilies😉 or bait of any kind. Environmentally friendly way to fish. You can have a 50mm zig if you think they are on the bottom of the lake!

Someone on here told me they use this weed rake, to stir up the lake bed, thus drawing fish in for the naturals and/or out of curiosity. I've come to thinking having tried it once and having fish show on the spots within 20 minutes, it is the way to go. From what I've seen of sloppy zig mixes, you need to be prepared to get messy. Condensed milk, custard, honey, ground bait, bread all kinds of different baits. The rake, I hope will do the business!

I've got Cygnet, had them a few years and lasting OK so far. Reasonably priced. Hardly ever used though, so probably not properly field tested! 😢 yonny wouldn't steer you wrong if you can afford them

I've got a 48 on Friday. Can't wait. Nuisance insect I've got to contend with are European/wood ants. Little flippers are everywhere, I believe, due to the army doing exercises on the estate. They bite hard! Got powder to form a ring round the bivvy, but I'm concerned that they will find their way in eventually. 🙁

😎 🤞 Yes mate. Roll on Friday got 2 nights, first time since march. Can't wait. ZIGS all the way, using a rake to get some spots going

As I said, when ive superglued them to a cut down pop up or Cork ball, I get plagued by small perch🤪

This was good viewing too. I liked the presentation of the hook, not so sure I'd use maggots, as I only seem to catch small perch,. I hope Nige will like the product plug.

Dooh! You know I'm bad with names yonny, not nash fox! 🙄

This is interesting

I watched an underwater nash video on zigs at Thorpe lea. What I've always called silkweed turns out to be an algae, which actually moves about alot, they reckon that bottom baits or baits within a few inches of the bottom would get covered over in a very short space of time. Hence not a great chance of getting into the fish, thus I'm convinced it's the way forward for me.

So on balance you'd use micro barbed. Fish safety first imo. The palatrax appealed to me in this regard,when I read about it I'm (if I ever can get fishing) trying to focus on zigs (contentious in certain circles, re. above) , so would worry that a barbless hook is more likely to be ejected and cause damage before I'm even aware of any bite indication. I'm not on a barbless rule venue btw

That's a concern with barbless though, this can cause damage to the fish externally in the net! Dodgy batch maybe? I've mainly only used Korda, other than the Kamakura range, never had that type of issue

What hook was that?? As yonny made mention to, is that likely to of happened on retrieval banging against the lead? So any sign of mouth damage with the pallatrax jh? Do you like the hook hold you had?

Good stuff smufter! Interesting to hear. The only response I got a while ago on these said the same about size. So little to no mouth damage? Shame you lost two, what makes you feel it wasn't the hook mate?

This is what I currently use, actually named bobbin. I saw an underwater film on zigs and it would appear I need to change. Heavier bobbin or an actual swinger that shows up better drop back indication, due to movement from hook length before the lead is moved giving a better indication. Maybe I should start different topic in this regard? Curious to hear what you or nige use

Swi Swingers! Lol & yes auto correct is great. Not the car keys in a bowl either🙄

I'm also minded to get some new heavier singers, what's your thoughts on that yonny??

I pondered chods, but wondered if it would set so well with the distance to the lead??

As we said before mate, it will always get a flick with the file before going out! The bend issue was highlighted before I tried them, I had the same issue so chose not to use them as I never had it before. Which pattern do you use for zigs. I've been trying wide gap, but am open to good advice. Also whether or not to use an aligner?

I had the same thing with korda kamakura, straight in the bin!! 🤣 I sharpen the Kranks up, never had one of them bend on me since they first came out.

I started stiff rigs with IQ2, it can fray if snagged on certain underwater features, but most hook link materials would deteriorate too. There are previous topics on it mate. Have to say it's been left in the garage, once I saw rigmarole version, no need to steam it straight, just pull tight and it's perfect. I prefer the hydrolink in there range, it is far more versatile for different rig types. Give it a go! It's a preference thing I guess?

Or use distance sticks, the wraps will always be the same distance!

Hi, You can't go wrong with shimano. I've used them since starting up carping a few years ago. I have the aero xt 10000, a bit pricey at £170,but I love how they look n feel, nice balance on my rods. My spod reel is shimmy. XTRLC or whatever, similar price, but very good reels. My fishing mate has the rb's, very similar and equally efficient. My advice is to buy the best you can afford mate, as with most things. It would depend on the type of fishing you plan to do, long range you may want a bigger spool, so look at pit type over baitrunner.