B.C.

Next day cleaned them off and used solvent cement to attach the male and female connectors.......... This took about 45 mins as I was a bit sloppy when applying the foam....

Home made pole so far....... Screwed down some 2mtr lengths of conduit to keep them straight and squirted in some expanding foam at a few places along their length......... This took about 20mins for 8 lengths..... Had to drill out a few larger holes to accommodate the nozzle hose for the foam.

Yeah, it's a nightmare choosing, given the choice these days..... hopefully someone who uses one will comment.

I can see you point, although they don't bother me too much. Wasn't trying to put you off, just mentioning what could imo cause the odd pain in the butt. Some things you never really find out until you've already shelled out. The promo vids help with all the plus side of things, the negs, you learn on the bank..... Go for it, if you like the look of it...... Happy hauling...

Here's a decent review of it Chippie, albeit fresh out the bag..... Haven't used one or even seen one.... The overall weight of 13kg plus would put me off tbh. And I'm not too sure about a zip in ground sheet either, zips could get clogged with dirt easily. And it looks like you can't really peg it out properly unless the ground sheet is already zipped in (if you are going to use the ground sheet, that is), which could give you a few probs if you are setting up in wind and rain..... I could also see the zips going if you moved your bed chair for instance to get at something, and put any pressure on them....... Just my thoughts. I've also owned a brolly system of similar shape and design and although the central spoke above the door way offer better rain run off, the distance between the storm poles offers little stability and will have the whole of the front panel flapping about in the wind, which eventually pulls the pegs out, especially if there are gravel banks on your lake..... Like I say, it's just an opinion and I'm a big fan of brolly systems over a bivvy, but I'm not too sure about this one based on weight and the zip in ground sheet.

Well, the good thing is, having done a little test today.. The whole thing floats like a cork..... I put 16mtrs out and it floats fine with the expanding foam inside, another 2 sections will give you 20mtres.... The down side, even with the foam inside, it's still a bit bendy... pics soon.. left my phone usb in the shed..

Stage 1 complete mate...... got 8 lengths foamed up last night that's 16mtres.... gonna leave them a couple of days just to make sure they cure properly.. In the mean time I'll get a little pot soted... Was thinking of using a "clip lid " pot....... Put some holes in the lid, which can be used to create a bit more of a spread of bait with particle , say 1mtre squared, instead of a little pile, just gives options , that way, especially when prepping a spot before fishing it. I've not made one before, so least ways we can learn a few does and don'ts from this one.... I'll pick away at getting it done through the week, I've taken a few picks of stage 1 and I'll post pic's and info once it's finished and tested, hopefully by Sunday night To be fair mate, you prob could use one at 25mtres plus, I'd like mine to go to 40mtres eventually, to get up the margin in an area where there are no swims cut out. Just depends on any cross winds, but I doubt a shop bought one would cope anyway at that range in wind.

That's exactly the way to do it, only in 2mtre lengths and a small piece of pipe lagging every now and then to help with buoyancy......

They are probably too heavy mate and will sink without loads of floats.

Sorry for the delay on this one fella's, been utterly flat out on other things...... Family dog's body I'm afraid... Will post up something as soon as I can..

Didn't know anyone else did a scull cap apart from Trakker.... So with that in mind and considering they clip onto the brolly spokes, I doubt you'll find one that fits a bivvy..... Have you tried messaging the vloggers?

Hi Crusian, glad you are finding them ok... I gave mine some serious abuse last year removing snags for most of the season. I've been told it's best to hang them, up or down, but TBH mine live, folded in half inside my unhooking cradle. I think as long as you use them regularly, you shouldn't have any probs. If I thought I wouldn't be needing them for a few weeks or more, then I would hang them up in a shed, away from any windows/daylight....... I've never had that much moisture that they needed tipping upside down. Usually , no matter how warm the weather, the cold water I'm wading in will stop things getting too sweaty. If I'm in a situation in session where they will be needed, then they are sitting right next to the bed chair, upright and folded down for ease of access. Standing like this, will help dry any moisture out, if there is any......

Well in Finchey , nice one Perhaps you could give it a little review once you've used it a few times?

TBH, I doubt it will go in a quiver/ rod holdall. And yes, it will be more bulk than a shop bought version.. I was thinking, a couple of bungee loops to fasten it all together and chuck it on the barrow. At the end of the day, it's extra kit, so will take up "some" room, although weight wise, shouldn't be much of a problem on a decent barrow.................... It's a cheap offering that will get someone by and give a few more options on the bank. I can't say that it would be at all better than a shop bought one, but I've seen one in use and it did the job.

Nice one mate..... Have you had a chance to use it yet?.. Looks ideal for the days only lake. Did a recent work party over there and there are plenty of swims where I recon it would be very useful, especially when any weed or pads sprout up. Also because of the overhead branches on some swims making casting a bit awkward.......... I've literally banned myself from buying any extra kit for a while. Last couple of seasons I've been a bit of a kid in a sweet shop. Some is unused . I'm going to have a massive clear out before I start buying any bigger purchases again. The makeshift pole will do me for now, both on the club lake and on another lake I joined where there are a lot of tight,close in spots....

Ok, so I went and bought a few bits tonight, enough for a 12mtr baiting pole...I'll try and get it done over the next couple of days, depending on the weather, comes to around £30, but there will be stuff left over for extra sections....... I did see this on the bay yesterday..£150 which goes 18mtres, carbon pole, probably less bulky than the one I'm having a go at.. If I had a spare £150, I'd be tempted..... https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Corus-18m-Long-Reach-Baiting-Pole-Includes-Float-And-Spoon-Carp-Fishing-Tackle/263216597298?hash=item3d48ee8932:m:mOZ2UDDlqCR173KscnQ9m7w Just gonna try and knock something up , for those on a tight budget. Should have some pics, hopefully some from the bank too, by the weekend.

Hi Nick, I know you are not a fan of leaders, just wondering what bs line you use, and what lead sizes for a 100yd chuck?...... Not a big fan of 6+ metres of shock leader, but always worried about crack offs without a leader on a long chuck..... Gotten away with no shock leader in the past, with most fishing done at short to mid range... This season will require a further chuck now and then. There is a 15lb minimum bs rule for mainlines. Do you recon that will stand up to being cast naked (Technium black) without the need of a braided shock leader? Cheers.

I bought some 12ft, 2 rod versions a while back. The only thing mine lacked, were some retaining straps inside. There is a lot of room inside for rods/reels to move about. Other than that they are well thought out. Handy lead pocket and also a pocket for bank sticks/buzzers on the 2 rod version..... I ended up sending them back, simply because the amount of movement on my kit inside the sleeves, without retaining straps, had me paranoid about my spools getting knocked about in transit...... TBH though, most products out there will lack "something".... I just couldn't see the point of buying rod skins and then having to buy reel protectors and tip protectors on top..... Now using Wychwood system select, nice and snug, but a bit too snug for Big Pit reels....... Still looking for the perfect single rod sleeves.

I was thinking about this a couple of days ago funny enough, as I was fumbling through the shed and found a couple of lengths of conduit. I just haven't got round to it. Since new year we've had snow, rain, snow ,rain it seems, whenever I've had any spare time.......As soon as I do, I'll post something up. I'll definitely be needing some kind of baiting pole on a couple of new waters..... I've thought this one through a few times......... Does a rig lay flat on the lake bed just because it's flat as it hits the water?..... Surely the lead sinking faster than the rig will effect this? I would think that the rig is vertical to the lead as it sinks. Anti tangle sleeve, small weight/putty half way down the rig and a couple of nuggets at the hook end should help with the rig straightening out as it sinks on the deck with a semi stiff hook link.... Maybe a slight tug once it's on the deck, if the bottom allows, before the nuggets rise.. I watched a fella using a homemade set up last year on Snake Pit, similar to what I described, that's where I got the idea from. He'd cut a "v" shape at the front of the little platform and just jerked the whole thing off (There's probably a smutty joke in there somewhere ). Once the rig and lead were off, he was able to lower it slowly by paying off some line. The "v" also helped with line lay on the retrieve of his baiting pole. He'd clearly been using it a while and made it look quite easy, but probably takes a bit of getting used to. I'll try and get something done over the next fortnight....... The year is flying by already.

Hi, mate, only just seen your post..... The work party was well worth it on the Sunday, good to meet a few anglers on my club ticket and get a little insight into one of the lakes, albeit other species, tench and perch.... The carp scene on that lake is pretty hush, a good few visits needed and a bit of working it out for yourself on that front, but tbh, that suits me.......... The 48hr session on the old club lake. Well, I went for a look the evening before I was meant to go and it proper knocked the stuffing out of me.... Someone has fly tipped near the gate and no one's bothered to clear it, been there for a few months now, dirty kecks in the car park and two lads fishing with 3 rods out each and nowhere to be seen. I found them chatting at the other end of the lake , whilst I was doing a lap. Had a word, even though I don't bailiff it anymore.. It's gone to the dogs a bit, to top it off I heard that one of the bigguns was found belly up a few weeks ago, but the club aren't saying much as to whether it was ottered or not, they are a PLC and are frightened of a drop in membership..... For the record it was a nice linear of around 37lb at this time of year. So glad I'm out of that club for now. I never bothered with the session, felt gutted for a couple of days and just walked around my new syndicate a few times, didn't see much..... It peed it down for the next couple of days and then we've got the bank holiday.... Tuesday looks good for me now, back on an old ticket I used to fish. Two lakes, one being a runs water... If the main lake is busy, I'll plot up on the runs water see how it goes..... Here's the Lin at 35lb couple of Autumns ago...... RIP.

I had a far bank spot at 65 yard between two sets of gnarly old tree roots, dead clean bottom where I'd been baiting, caught quite a few from there, about 10 years ago now, until one of the green eyed members decided to cut himself a swim on that bank, right on top of the spot, taking out some of the roots in the process...... Needles to say, he messed it up for both of us. I could hit the 4ft gap with ease on the lighter rods at that range, but could only get 80yds max with that set up...... Haven't fine tuned any real tight spots on my new water, so it's open water casts to baited areas about 10mtrs squared up to 100yrds or so. There are plenty of snaggy coves like the one I described above, at shorter range, just haven't been able to get in those swims yet. The lighter set up will probably get a run out , when I do get in there. Until I get a better feel for the beefier set up, which is getting there slowly. Unless I get over there with an almost empty lake side (not likely for a few weeks).. Then it's just the one cast per rod atm on short sessions.... Need a 48hr over really to give them a good blast about, and get a proper feel.

I found my older softer rods to me more accurate, perhaps it's just because I used them for so long that I got to know them better. I could hit an area the size of a car bonnet at 70 yrds clipped up, between snags or overhangs no problem. I also think this was because I wasn't really putting my back into it, so it was a more controlled cast....... In trying to improve on distance, at this stage, I'm a bit less controlled, so accuracy suffers a little so far.. There's a lot to be gained from technique, and plenty of YT vids outlining feet and arm positioning, bit like a golf swing (not that I play golf), but if the ball hits the sweet spot on the club it goes further with less effort. The sweet spot in terms of casting, would be getting the feet and arm positioning correct and releasing the line/lead at the correct angle. Once that is mastered, then a bit more brute force can be added, after that, the fine tuning comes down to kit imo., ie lead size, mainline etc and possibly using a shock leader.

TBH Tn, I'm up there with the worlds worst casters compared to most. Think it's years spent on small waters where 40 to 50 yards is enough.... And the kit I was using was geared up for this kind of fishing and with my bad casting technique, I struggled to hit 80yds, with a rig attached..... I had Shimano XTC 5500 reels and some old Fox Aquos rods that had softened up over time and had a 35mm Butt ring, great for playing fish on, but not great for casting too far.... I then went on to purchase some Shimano Tribal Velocity 3.25tc, with a 50mm butt ring and a larger 16mm tip ring, they were not expensive , around £50 at the time...And even with the small reels, the difference in distance was noticeable with the larger ring set, gained 20 odd yards without much effort.... Also switched to using a helicopter set up,with a 3oz zip lead which is designed with distance in mind. I was getting more distance with the Shimano rods, but went through a run of blank sessions, which in hind sight, could of been down to the heli set up affecting the sort of bite indication I was used to, I should of hit more of the single bleeps I was getting.... The run of blanks, got me all superstitious (madness I know).. So ditched the rods for some discounted Sonik S6, pretty much identical, same ring set and tc, got hold of some larger reels and can hit 100-120 yds now, purely down to a change of kit, my technique still sucks...... The next step for me is to improve my technique and then start going through some different mainlines, hopefully with some advice on the forum, having learned that most of the fish coming out on one of my water's are getting caught at 150yds. And only by a couple of guys that can hit that range. The fish have yet to really start moving around and are showing around a snaggy island at about 170 yrds..... A clear indicator, that having a long chuck in your armoury, is a definite edge over most anglers in certain situations..... Something I'll be working on this year.

Compared to yester year I'd have agree. And for most of us they are adequate,,,, Every now and then, you just need that little bit of extra "something" in any kit. And I think that's where the kit in the upper price brackets earns it's keep.... Slowly getting round to upgrading my kit.... The Cotswold Aquarious Pond Creeper looks the biz,( not a rod, but a carryall) all British too, it's on the wish list..... More like dreaming list