A Bit Of Interactive Bank Chat

[greekskii]

Well I've just woken up to the rain and a small rat rummaging around my bivvy. It a big mouse. Regardless, not a good start to the morning. Good job I have spare cutlery, plate and mug. 

On the plus side I had a 24.02lb mirror yesterday around 7pm. But nothing since. 

[smufter]

2 minutes ago, greekskii said:

On the plus side I had a 24.02lb mirror yesterday around 7pm. But nothing since. 

That'll do! 

[greekskii]

Turned the bivvy light on to deter said rodent from returning. Didn't work. Any rat deterrents other than an air rifle. 

Could leave it a bit of grub away from the bivvy but then it's encouraging more and most likely more wildlife in general. 

12 minutes ago, smufter said:

That'll do! 

I picked up the rod cursing as it was the breamiest take ever!! When it took on a curve I'd never been in my waders so quick! 

[greekskii]

32 minutes ago, Big Common said:

Not much you can do other than leave your bait buckets outside your shelter if you are open fronted. You could try leaving a couple of traps outside and make sure there isn't any spod spill littering the swim. If you have some messy anglers on the lake, then the rats will thrive. Although, having said that, they tend to thrive anywhere......... Even with a front on the brolly a determined rat will chew through if he smells grub, especially at this time of year...... It's the same with garden sheds, if there isn't much in the way of food, they will go elsewhere.

Probably due to me frying pan sitting near the door. Never really had any problems with them here this year. Second time I've seen one. With the colder weather it must be more tempting. Warmer area in the bivvy and a whiff of food too. 

[ianain]

The problem with traps is that they're likely to catch waterfowl as well, you'd probably find that you would need to finish them off yourself or take them to a vets if they were caught in the traps.

If you reported them as a problem, would the estate do anything about it? Rats with sheep about doesn't sound very good, Weils disease?

[greekskii]

Tbh it'll get cold enough the rats don't bother soon. Always found them to disappear over winter. 

[Gazlaaar]

I found my ring in the bottom of my rucksack

[Gazlaaar]

I've been prepping, endlessly waiting for the rest of my bits to come through the post. Tied a load of rigs, tied a few leaders, zigs and surface rigs. Like a kid, I'm chomping at the bit to go Wednesday again, even though the odds are stacked against me

Edited November 12, 2017 by Gazlaaar

[chillfactor]

1 hour ago, Gazlaaar said:

 I'm chomping at the bit to go Wednesday again, even though the odds are stacked against me

it's because the odds are stacked against you ...that you are chomping at the bit .

good news about the ring 

[Gazlaaar]

It certainly is fella

[crusian]

On 11/11/2017 at 05:55, greekskii said:

Turned the bivvy light on to deter said rodent from returning. Didn't work. Any rat deterrents other than an air rifle. 

Could leave it a bit of grub away from the bivvy but then it's encouraging more and most likely more wildlife in general. 

I picked up the rod cursing as it was the breamiest take ever!! When it took on a curve I'd never been in my waders so quick! 

Hi Greekskii

You could try Irish Spring Deodorant Soap , I've read it's supposed to stop rats .

I'm trying it now in my garage , and so far so good .

[Gazlaaar]

The first batch of 20mm pop ups were made within 20 minutes of my roller table arriving this afternoon. My other batch isn't coming until Thursday so I'll probably get on with those on Friday night while the missus is at work, there a bit stinky winky.

Once these have dried out for a few days, I'll rehydrate in the glug, nothing too complicated

 

[Gazlaaar]

I don't really submerse my baits in the liquid, I pour a little onto a plate and roll the baits around the plate until their evenly coated, it's more to preserve than anything, but a little glug with added betaine isn't a bad thing.

I usually do the coating twice, the glycerin hardens the baits right up

[Gazlaaar]

All my gear is prepped for tomorrow, I'm going to do a little marker in here and there, just to double check depths as I'm getting into using zigs. I've gotten a few tied up ready, 4, 6, 8, 10 and 12 foot. Those fox jobbies, the foam is about 10mm long, the top half is yellow the bottom is black (sorry nige, you gave my the inspiration for that)

The hookbait's I made are now ready to use, they've had a glaze over. I have a pretty good idea where the fish are going to be, which will be well out of the way of any marketing. So I'll get a little bait in and leave the areas alone for a few hours. I picked up a 4 metre landing net handle this morning which should help me with the area I'm going to fish. There's two places on the water that can not be reached without a bit of skullduggery, so yes, I'm going to bend the rules slightly, I might even take my chesties. Anyway, whatever happens I'm sure I'll enjoy it

 

[nigewoodcock]

You don’t have to apologise mate! Lol

although, if you catch on yellow and black, you wouldn’t have had that inspiration from me!!! I’m black and white where ever and when ever!!!!! Lol

[Gazlaaar]

8 minutes ago, nigewoodcock said:

You don’t have to apologise mate! Lol

although, if you catch on yellow and black, you wouldn’t have had that inspiration from me!!! I’m black and white where ever and when ever!!!!! Lol

I remember you doing a little writing on here and you mentioned black and white, it struck a cord

 

[nigewoodcock]

I always say mate, if your going to fish zigs, to get the best out of them; commit to them. All three rods and really work them. Set your alarm for every half hour and change one rod each time it go’s off. Be that colour (not me though), area or depth. That way, each rod is getting 90 minutes but your still actively switching things every 30. You can cover a lot of depth and areas in a day doing this. 

[Gazlaaar]

It's why I'm doing a bit of depth finding tomorrow, I always seem to have an easier time of finding fish during the colder months, their a lot more predictable. Once I've gotten a few accurate measurements I can start fishing zigs properly, even if the casting about does destroy the session tomorrow it'll be worth it in the long run

[nigewoodcock]

Get a deeper!!!! Lol

[Gazlaaar]

I couldn't afford it at the moment, hire it out nige, here there's a business opportunity. £50 deposit, £10 a day hire

[nigewoodcock]

If you had to come past my gaff on your way to the lake, I would gladly lend you it to use mate. 

[Gazlaaar]

14 hours ago, nigewoodcock said:

If you had to come past my gaff on your way to the lake, I would gladly lend you it to use mate. 

That would be one hell of a journey

[Gazlaaar]

I've set myself up on one of the other club lakes after spotting a few fish in the shallows down to my right.

It's one of the busier waters but it's not to bad at the moment, the one bay is full of anglers so I've come round to the other, where I spotted a few fish.

These fish are used to pressure but I thought I'd do something a little different and feed and fish with half boilies.

I have only chucked in a handful of chops over each rod, with 2 whole boilies. Hopefully they'll think their the hookbait's.

My rods are well back, just the very tips hovering over the waters edge buy very low, plus I've got light backleads on. The fish are still here mooching about, so we'll see what happens

 

[greekskii]

sitting at work with just over an hour before I can leave to get to the lake, via a supermarket. I've done a total of 0 minutes work since arriving at 8:15... fishing days are always like this.

[Gazlaaar]

I've managed to get onto a local syndicate water, 20 minutes from home which is a lot better than doing a 3 hour round trip. It also means I can go down a few times a week to get some bait in.

I've already been down a few times baiting 4 to 5 swims, and I'm getting through a bit of bait lately.

I'm not due out fishing for another week or so due to a minor op I had yesterday but I should be able to get down for a couple of recky trips this week.

I can't wait, new water, new challenge and near enough right in my door step

Edited November 26, 2017 by Gazlaaar