The_Viking_Angler

Anyone used Bank tackle for terminal bits?

I use bollies for probably 90% of my fishing and the other 10% i use a standard particale mix of hemp, maize/corn(red and yellow) and some micro pellets thrown in to help soak up the moisture. My bag mixes vary so much that it changes almost session from session but it usually consists of blended up bollies, hemp, corn and a few various liquids. The bollies i use are usually Nash instant action any flavour, Crafty Catcher king prawn/peanut pro and sticky manilla.

see i do this with every fish i catch, always break down the net and roll it up with the fins tucked away. I'll always unhook it in the water too if possible. I guess it just rubbed me up the wrong way when i read his FB post this morning

Morning Guys, I saw a post from Ali Hamidi this morning and in that post he was saying that it was unfortunate that whoever caught the fish before him had lifted the fish in the net and then proceeds to say "Shame on all you who do that"and that we always should transfer the fish from the net to the sling in the water. Now i always was under the impression that 9/10 that lifting a fish in the net is perfectly acceptable, and i always then transfer the fish from the net into the sling that is already waiting on the cradle. Granted he was holding a 46lb common and i am sure that it is probably easier and a bit safer to transfer larger fish in a sling from the water if this is feasible but i know on some of the lakes i fish that you can't safely do this as how high some of the are swims from the water or would be too dangerous to attempt on your own. I personally like Ali but i think he was a bit of a numpty for saying shame on those people who don't transfer in the water. What are your'e guys thoughts on this?

Amen to that.

That is quite a scary tbh mate, Its a miracle that the mouth wasn't cut or damaged. Just goes to show that even when we think we are fishing 100% safe, there is always a element of risk involved.

I recently respooled my reels and i loaded them with ESP Syncro Loaded XT which is the first time i've ever used it and i must say it is absolutely superb. It sinks like a brick, can cast miles if i need it too and it comes in a lovely olive green that i find blends in to almost any lakebed.

I just have the worst luck with any forms of technology so i always take the extra precautions Yeah the way i see it, £20 quid for a good couple years is definitively worth it, the one i had before was the model before my current one and that last 3 and a half years and that took a beating, took it to multiple music festivals and the multiple nights fishing.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Poweradd-Portable-Universal-External-Red-Black/dp/B00XVTJKCQ/ref=sr_1_3_sspa?s=telephone&ie=UTF8&qid=1535701969&sr=1-3-spons&keywords=power+bank&psc=1 This is the newer model of what i have. Mines excellent, i only really use it for my phone but will charge up my S7 about 5 times. Perfect for a few nights. Not sure how it'll stand up to a week session as i've never done one but i'd happily buy a second one. Also with whatever one you decide to go with, it's worth buying a waterproof/shock proof case for it too. They're about a tenner and are essential for making sure it stays in perfect condition. Mine even has a netted pocket inside so i can charge my phone while the case is completely zipped up if i wanted too.

Fly fishing has got a bit extreme now...

I bought a westlake bivvy from Go outdoors back in january, It was the particle ventilator 2 man for £120. Personally i quite like it, does the job and loads of room.

I can see the cheating argument and somewhat agree with it, however on the other hand, i have always believed in using the best kit and technology i can for the job at hand. Personally the way i would look at it is its just another tool which we could have at our disposable. Its a choice if we use it or not and i don't necessarily think it makes anyone a less of an angler for it as using one won't catch you more fish, you still have to angle correctly, it gives you an advantage sure but we would always take every advantage we can get? It's just an advanced version of going out in a boat with a bucket with a clear bottom and using that to look below the surface. And remember, predator and sea anglers have been using sonar for years and no one questions their ability! I do think everyone should learn the classic ways first, learn the vital skills of watercraft and feature finding with a lead/marker and then if you wanted to, use a deeper pro or a device similar, you'll understand a lot more of what your'e looking at if you learn the old way first imo.

Is not having the new on the jetty/boat really a big issue? It's not going to add any time onto getting to his rods at all. I can see the argument that he was too far away and yes maybe in some circumstances he would be but after watching the video a couple times, the time it took him is no difference to someone to waking up, getting out the sleeping bag, unzipping the bivvy(if its winter/cold/raining ect) then grabbing the rod. He wasn't snag fishing, he wasn't fishing in weed, So clearly he had no immediate concerns for the fish. Unfortunately you'll always have that risk of a fish weeding you up ect when there is weed in the lake, If it happens, you just have to take every step to help ensure the fish's welfare. Remember, whatever form of fishing we do, it is never risk free for the fish, there is always small amount of risk to the fish health/welfare, it's just our duty as anglers to ensure that risk is kept to a minimal as possible.

Two Different fish...Both beautiful fish

They will dissolve in water mate as they are bio degradable however there is no time limit on that, just mean's it'll disappear over time. Best thing to do mate is to test them, grab a couple Gardner ones and a couple of your ones and thrown them in a tank/bucket of water and see how they compare. Remember it won't be 100% accurate as flow and currents in the lake/river your're fishing will affect the dissolve time a little bit however it'll give you a rough idea. Or another way to test it and it is a risky way is just go fish with them, put one on your hook and leave it in the water for an hour, reel in and see if it is still on, if it isn't, repeat the process but reel in at 30 mins instead and so on. If it is still on the hook, i'm gonna say they're not worth it. Personally i would be paranoid of them not dissolving and masking my hook point so i would stick with the ones i Gardner use, which i also use and they seem to last me a while if i'm honest, however i do sometimes cut them in either half's or even thirds so they do last a lot longer.

Yeah same here, i'd love to see a write up of your session mate.

Another vote for the Wychwood flat tactical bedchair, My dad got me one for my birthday a couple years ago and i love it. I have the wide boy version and even that is still incredibly light.

I do like using the booster sprays and i use the manila one quite a lot but i use them to spray/inject straight into solid bags, ejecting 5-10ml in each bag doesn't make it last long but it works a treat.

Check out Fox's channel mate, loads of good stuff on it. If you want some easy watching where you'll pick up the odd tip or two then check out The Challenge with Mark Pitchers, Essentially just two mates having a laugh while fishing but they are hilarious to watch and you do learn a thing or two at the same time.

try 2 bottom baits on the hair mate.

I've had a few sets of rods but my currently carp rod arsenal is the following. Fladden Extra-Flex Carp Rods, 2.5lb TC 12ft. These are superb rods for the price and are Fladens Premium range of rods, They cast pretty well for what i need(i don't usually fish further than 60 yrds out). They are made from basalt fibers i believe which make them unbelievably strong and they are marketed as "unbreakable". I absolutely love them. If i had one gripe with them then it would the that the handles aren't slim and they're kinda heavy compared to other rods on the market. I use these for all my Carp fishing, as well as for Pike, Zander and Cats. I also have a custom 10ft 1.75 TC rod i use for Floater/Stalking, My favorite rod as it was my dads and he gave it to me this Christmas.

Just seen this. Might be useful to have. https://www.carpology.net/articles/reviews/rod-hutchinson-netsafe

ALways sad to see this. It is very important to dry out all your net and mat between sessions. I also use super strong alcohol wipes from work on my matt between sessions as well as the wipes will kill anything. Sadly not many people will do the same and i have seen people fish completely ignore dipping stations on fisheries in the past, i know many of them will have probably have fished there on the last trip so not much need, however i can't imagine all the people i see ignoring the nets have only fished the same fishery.

Found it. http://www.gooutdoors.co.uk/lifemarque-exped-plus-100-spray-100ml-insect-repellent-p115067

I forget what it's called mate but i have just started using this extra strong stuff from Go outdoors, about a tenner for a bottle but works very well. Also i always use those scented candles that keep flying pests away around my bedchair/stove and they work wonders.