B.C.

It's a fairly soft rod for any marker work, but you could use it at short distance, or do what a lot of lads do, ditch the marker float and just use a bare lead to help find clear spots. But tbh, you can do that with your main rods and clip them up ready to cast...……. I find Winter time is best for a good old marker up. Fewer anglers to disturb and hardly any weed about, giving you a true indication of the contours of the lake bed. Find a drop off or a hump that's in the vicinity of the edge of the weed (once it's up again), usually pretty good areas to fish.

Hi @Ryder, welcome to the forum.... I quite often use one of my main rods as a marker, so yes, a rod can be used for both functions. Although some marker rods are "stepped up", with a higher test curve than your average 3lb tc rod... This is to accommodate, the sometimes, higher payload of a larger lead , marker float etc..... If it's stepped up to 3.75 tc or above, then you just have to be careful when playing fish closer in, as the rod will be slightly stiffer and may not absorb any lunges from the fish as well as a standard rod. This can lead to hook pulls at the net (everyone's nightmare)……. If you use a stiffer rod with a higher test curve, then balancing things out accordingly, ie, heavier diameter/breaking strain line will help things, but bare in mind that these sort of rods are not really designed for playing fish on...….. So I would say, yes to your question, perhaps as a stop gap, until you can get a rod that is designed for playing fish on...…… BTW, the rod itself will neither help or hinder the actual "hooking" of a fish, that's down to rigs, bait and rig placement...….. Best thing to do, is to get fishing and learn as you go about certain kit..... There are plenty of lads on here that can help you along.... All the best mate.

Nice going mate, that stamp of fish brings back a lot of happy memories for me. At the time , they were monsters lol..... Hope there's a few bigger ones still knocking about. A 5lber was the specimen benchmark when I used to fish for them, never managed one myself.

Plus any remaining stock destroyed and not moved on I believe. Horrible job for anyone......

Sounds as though that it's paypal covering you mate and they will be refunding you and not Fishtec…….. I don't use Fishtec much as I think they are a bit expensive. They just look like a middle man to me and don't actually stock anything, but take an order and send it to us directly from the manufacturer, or another wholesaler.( could be wrong, but that's how they come across to me as they stick to the RRP on most things) There sales mag does not get updated and resent, so some of the stuff showing for sale has been discontinued and I guess it's pot luck as to whether there are any left...… For instance, they are still selling the Aqua Atom at rrp but Aqua discontinued these a little while ago.... Dare say if someone orders one, they will have similar probs to yourself...…… Hope you get it sorted buddy 🙂

That's exactly what I thought, although wasn't sure.... I suppose the theory here is that if it did go off, the immune fish would survive and hopefully breed some resistant fish in later years...….

Yes mate, a very nice fish. One of many I've seen pics of, all hand reared from spawn collected from local lakes/rivers...…. These lads have some serious fish rearing knowledge and some serious passion too (not to mention the kit involved)……. Nerdity at it's finest, long may it continue...…. I'll be pumping out and resurrecting an old garden pond before the summer is out and I've got a couple of small tanks. So, hopefully, next year I can grow a few fry on from my Syndicate ( Train them on my bait..lol)….. 🙂 Then wait 30yrs and smash it on the lake.....

I've heard talk on some groups of the Isreali strains being KHV resistant... Building up an immunity to the virus by being subjected to it..... If this is true, then surely they would become carriers? And if stocked in lakes that contain different strains, would put these other fish at risk? Someone with more knowledge on this subject mat be able to enlighten us on this. As far as I know, it is illegal to import fish and release them into the wild, but carp fisheries are not considered to be wild...… These points came up on a FB group I follow, where some knowledgeable folk are hand rearing older strains of king carp, in a bid to keep them going. When you see the pics of some of their palm sized proper carp, jet black scaleys 1 summer old. You can see why they are doing it...…. If I had the space and funds for a decent set up, it's something I'd love to take an interest in...

Gonna have to get the "big" spectacles out for this one......

No dealings, but I'd give them a bell, make sure they have one in stock and also gauge the response...…. Can't blame the youngens for getting jobs, but it is annoying when they don't really have the knowledge to help out properly, not just tackle shops... DIY places are the worst at weekends and Bank holidays, whatever you ask for, you just get a confused look from a 16 year old who is learning the ropes....🙂

A phone call from my Brother, what can I say, Football wins tonight.... But the kit is all ready to go, off the cuff, maybe tomorrow...… Did manage to coat some semi dried baits in readiness and pop them in the freezer......

Very sad news again...…. Too little is done on many fisheries to prevent the spread of KHV and other diseases/viruses...… I have no doubt that there will be many more cases up and down the country before this season is over... In recent years there have been a lot of outbreaks later in the year, when temperatures are still mild but drying kit out is more difficult...… As an angler, you just have to do what you can to help prevent this sort of thing..... Get stuff dried out properly in the sunlight between trips especially if you fish multiple waters. I bought some steri 7 this year as I have more than one ticket, but even that isn't fail proof, so I've been told...….. I would stay off of any waters that have had outbreaks in the past..... I was gutted to find out that a water I fished in the Spring, had had an outbreak in the not too distant past (I wasn't told until after the event)….. Respooled my reels and got new landing mesh and mat, just in case.... There are some sensible fisheries/ clubs out there that do what they can, and , at least make anglers aware of the risks and consequences, often suppling "on site" nets and mats as a precaution and I guess there are lots that don't. As each year there are more and more cases...… Many believe that channel hopping day ticket anglers fishing waters that aren't well managed are partly to blame, who knows. There are probably a million reasons. All we can do as individuals is do our best to dry our kit out properly and keep our fingers crossed that everyone else does the same...…. Gutted for those waters mentioned in the OP.

I like your thinking mate..... You never know, it could be where I plopped my free offerings 😁………. It's not a very big place, that pic represents about a third of it and I don't take much notice of the wind on small places like this. But with the weed dying and the bit of algae I mentioned, I recon any where with a slight ripple will be my best bet...

Whizzed over there tonight, the gate codes were set as I left them, so hopefully a few fish have had an undisturbed snack. Split half a kg into two halves... Air drying 1 half ready for a quick coating/glug about an hour before I go tomorrow must probably end up doing it on the bank... The other 1/4 kg went on the same spot as yesterday, so fingers crossed a few fish visit the spot sometime between now and when I go...….. The light wind had moved round and was pushing straight into where I'd baited. Great I thought, but then noticed a thin layer of algae in the margin. Bearing in mind that it had been pushed there on the breeze, there wasn't loads. But, that, combined with the dying weed will suggest low oxygen levels, bites might be hard to come by...… The flip side is, that not many have been over there by the looks of it, so that little bit of bait going in may draw a few fish , on the wind, into that area...……. Forgot me bloomin marker rod again, so will just plop a small lead in tomorrow to check the bottom before a rig is cast...…. Just looking for a chill out really. Live in a high street, right next door to a pub, so you can guess what the noise levels have been like with the footie...…. (the radio will be packed, tho')…. England winning and me nicking a fish, will be perfect... Fingers crossed for both...🙂

Went over the local lake to rake out a couple of swims to hopefully fish on Wednesday...…. To my surprise, the weed that was floor to surface only a few weeks back, is now gone... (well , prob' heaped up in various spots on the wind)……. This has somewhat [censored]ed me, as I thought I'd be able to just drop in on one of the close in spots again on Wednesday... I had no marker rod, or any rod with me, so decided to bait one of the margins with half kg of boilies leading up to a swim that I'd intended raking. Here I put another half kg and about a kg of ground bait that I'd soaked in Hydros. Thought I'd messed up the ground bait as it just looked like a ball of paste. I needn't of worried , as the little walnut sized clumps a threw in, gave off a lovely cloud which slowly sunk over the boilies... Gonna nip back tomorrow evening and run a lead through the spot and chuck 50 odd baits in, hopefully setting it up nicely for Wednesday night...… I doubt anyone will be over there with the football on.... There was no one over there tonight.....

https://www.anglingdirect.co.uk/esp-cryogen-stiff-rigger I like these mate, very sharp, straight point and quite a large gape...…. Usually a size 6 depending on bait size or weed thickness... Once you go 4's and 5's with these, the wire gauge is a lot thicker and the hook much beefier and heavier..... I know what you mean about the in turned eye being more aggressive, or even a straight eye. But unless I'm using a larger size, the gape always looks a bit closed up without the out turned eye imo…… I like the multi rig for it's simplicity to tie. But a while back started using a variation, like a combi/multi rig..... Using a stiffer section to pass through the eye, which you can play with to create different angles of aggression...….. Carlos uses a similar rig.... Here's his version if it helps..... On a side note, there's been discussions elsewhere about fish not troughing in this heat, could be that your hook pulls are down to them just not feeding hard enough, plucking at food items, maybe feeding that bit harder when a few fish are about, hence your diffierent hook holds.... Just a thought... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hPwTq1n4SEQ

I deffo need one, as once the weed dies off, no doubt they'll be in the snags more......

To be fare...…. I was hoping this thread would fade away into the archives lol...… Made a rod for my own back, pardon the pun...…. I'm just going to use it , as is, with a small pot attachment on one end.. (I'll get to that in the next week or so with pics, seeing as yoiu've given me a nudge)……… Got so much to do by the end of this month , that time is an issue. Plus , when I have got out, i'm fishing so close in, that the baiting pole hasn't entered my head,

I find it best to light a candle well before dark, and place it in the doorway especially if you are using a mozzie mesh while you sleep, other wise you may trap a few inside the bivvy when you do the mesh up...…. The spray stuff has served me well for about 3 years now after a recommendation (same bottle)…. Although as Yonny mentioned, it can be down to the individual as to how effective these things are...…. I've also used incense sticks which are really good to have a few feet outside the bivvy. They are mega strong scented, they don't blow out in any breeze either... But I found , they were too potent, the oils getting on my hands just by handling them out of the packet. The few packs I had left over when I stopped using on the bank, have come in really handy at home lately as I've had to have a few windows left open in the evening due to this hot weather and it's put any bugs off of coming indoors and dancing on the lights/monitor/ TV...… The sticks don't burn for as long as the candles do, only about 40 mins, but very effective (just need to wash your hands after lighting one)……….. Have a good trip mate..🙂

They are certainly dwindling in numbers, and so important , too,... Good call Frank.

Have you got a pic of one Jock? Not sure I know what that is mate...…. Must admit I am trying to keep everything as simple as poss' these days.. I've had a habit in the past of really overcomplicating things to the point of madness...……. Welcome to the forum mate.

Haven't tried it, but it's a good shout...…… Savlon is pretty good for after a bite..

These work for me... The candles will keep them away from your bivvy door...….. The Skin So Soft gets used at night if the mozzies are particularly bad (haven't needed it so far this year)….. The candle are usually enough, but they burn out after a couple of hours...…. 🙂

Can't believe I've just watched us win a penalty shoot out..... C'mon Engeeerrrland…….. Now we lose 1-0 to the Swedes in the quarters lol