Fishing

dead maggots with a feeder is a good winter tactic particularly on smaller fish/commercial venues. Also PVA bag full of pellets and crumbed bollie/groundbait and sweetcorn/fake sweetcorn on the hair can be deadly on the day

Carp rod arrived today and mounted my decent reel, feels so much more balanced and beefier than what I've been using. Really looking forward to christening it this weekend.

In the classic 3 rod carp set-up are they normally the same length/test curve, or is one a dedicated spoder?

Nope, the fourth rod is the spodder and the fifth is the marker rod, both of which should have dedicated and expensive megaline. You will also need at least 3 sets of 3 rods in varying test curves for different conditions and waters.

That's what the manufacturers want you to do. A normal mid-range rod will do all these things adequately, if the range is too long for you to bait comfortably, fish closer or in a different swim. At least one in four of my fish is caught within 15 feet of the bank, keeping quiet and keeping your rod tips back from the water will bring more fish than hurling tons of lead at the horizon. Fish love features, which is why most anglers chuck to that distant island margin, completely ignoring the margin right under their sodding noses.

Hang on... 3 sets of 3 then spod and marker rods, would be cheaper to buy a trawler and crew. Thanks for explaining that, would 3 x 12ft 3lb tc be a good starting point? Always wondered why you don't see many carpers fishing closer in, like you say that's a margin too.

Have listened to a few fishing podcasts recently and the Korda thinking tackle one is quite good, Nash Bait is like listening to Radio 1.

Yep, 3 x 3lb would be an excellent place to start, it will stand you in good stead for years. Just try not to be the fishing equivalent of the fat, slow cunt in full Ineos kit on a Pinarello. Some of the more specialised kit is useful, but not as often as the manufacturers tell you.

I quite like the Korda videos, but remember that their principal reason for existence is to sell their products. Also, you don't need to bung kilo after kilo of boilies at the water. I had a guy next to me spod his inheritance at the horizon this summer, he caught 3 small ones, I had four 20s and 3 doubles on less than a kilo.

remember that their principal reason for existence is to sell their products.

This is always at the front of my mind, as a newcomer it seems like most brands could half their product range. like the videos @EB recommended the aspirational/ones with a great story seem more engaging than how to buy and tie this knot etc.

As my local tackle shop owner openly admits to me, most fishing gear is designed to catch the angler, more than it's designed to catch fish.

That's always been the way, if one in ten amazing new (and fashionable) products actually catches more fish I would be amazed. When the Earths crust was still cooling I used to test rod blanks, an 11'6" pike blank was utterly perfect, I still use the pair I tested. At the time 11' was fashionable, they made an 11' version and told the world it was fantastic, it was shite, the 11' 6" was never produced.

It pays to remember that fish only see (or hopefully don't) the last few feet of what you chuck at them, they don't give a flying fuck about how good your rods, reels or electric bastard carp barrow are. So long as it does the job, neither should you.

Bit of sharpened bone and a worm worked for cavemen, still works now :)

Chap i was chatting to on the Nith the other week was catching on garden worms, i didn't see any of the Salmon rodders catching.....

My Bivvy came with a heater and bar :)

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And they allow quadripeds indoors!

Pity those salmon fly fishers, a Hardy rod with Tibor reel costs a mere £2350, plus a cheap pair of Simms waders, a snip at £899. Line, net and clothing with that sir?

It makes the £3450 for 3 Daiwa carp rods and reels seem a bargain.

I left my snapped and repaired £50 Shakespeare rod/reel at home :)
Walked the bank and decided wellies would do next time, also the day ticket was £60 because Salmon. when the day price drops to £10 - £20 i will go back.

Went over to the nearest fishery again today. Not so busy so was able to have a quick look at the lakes, grab some garish bright backing line and some braided loops and a pile of catalogues from the rather good shop :) and tales of 20lb rainbow trout in the lakes.....

So far one rod and 3 reels. In a few weeks be 2 rods.

Some of the fly fishing gear is vastly overpriced and like the bike world "lighter is better"

The black plastic reel is the Sigma combo set, came with a carry case, loaded with a floating line and backing, just add a leader line and fly on the end and good to go. However I can't find spare spools unless I buy another Sigma reel then it comes with a spare spool. New reel is about £28+P&P I got the combo set from John Norris of Penrith for £50 when everywhere else was £75 or £85
After much hunting around, an Orvis Battenkill III + two spare spools is around £200 nice, but not right now. Was swaying towards an old used Hardy Sunbeam as classic, well made, simple and out of favour so fairly cheap, cheaper than a Marquis reel. And spares are out there.
Then on the same website an old pair of Intrepid GearFly's popped up, two reels + two spare spools + all loaded with various 8wt lines £40 the lot.
Both needed work and all needed cleaning up, must have been a garage clear out find.
The plastic Sigma reel is getting (at some point) a sinking line and is just going to be for saltwater use.
One of the gearflys is getting stripped and all the casting marks are getting filed off and the cage is being repainted to match the new rod, going to leave the spools alone in classic grey/silver. So I can have 3 spools with Float/Intermediate/Sink line on and have a spare complete reel for freshwater work and experiment with the 8wt lines on the new rod. Both rods are rated as 6-7wt so will work better with that range but the sigma rod loses distance with the heavier 8wt, that and the lines are a double taper and my 7wt are a weight forward profile which is easier to use.
Got the gash orange and lurid green backing lines to brighten things up :)

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Korda and Nash are stuffed to the rafters with absolute bellend Essex young 'uns who all talk the same annoying as hell 'bosh come on get in the net' bollocks

Ali Hamidi and Danny Fairbrass (korda) absolutely grind my shit, can't stand the pair of them

Amazing Carl and Alex came from Nash considering. The first(?) Nash podcast with the main man Kevin himself is worth a listen.

Wot, wiv vere perfect for TV teef, innit? Bet their tiny testicles are branded too, everything else within 10 nautical miles is.... I particularly enjoy the 120 yard (furty wraps, mate) casts, because they smack in their latest mega bivvy pegs with a lumphammer and stampede around the bank like baby elephants, so every fish in the immediate area buggers off.

Have you noticed that the embryos always have gear a step or so down the sponsor's range? The top end is reserved for the alpha male fat lads.

Make the little bastards try to catch roach on a stick float in a gin clear February river, I say, then we'll see how good they really are!

Nash podcast with the main man Kevin himself is worth a listen

Kevin is a total legend. He's also brilliant at marketing terminal tackle.

Actually one lad I do like is Nash' Alan Blair. Apart from the godawful Drum 'n Bass over everything his Urban Banx series is really good.

He's really enthusiastic, absolute gent with the public and kids and comes across as a total genuine bloke.

Are we talking about the carp hunters on the TV last night ?

No idea who they are, vaguely watched it, 100lb plus fishes at the end.

Round-a-bout tale.

As EE have decided to turn my sim card off and reallocate my number, then not be very helpful when i get in touch about my phone being turned off because i am now not the account holder so they won't tell me anything......... the reason i am in your shop is because your telling me you have given my number away..... twats.
Anyways, now have to remove phone number from secure things.

James my rod builder has my mobile number.
I haven't heard anything, or paid anything, but my family might have, i hope theydidn't call "me" got the other person and shipped my rod elsewhere.....

So i call the shop. Everything is good. As predicted by shop they don't have the blank yet as waiting on Harrisons to lay up the carbonz. Might have rod before christmas :) that will teach me for ordering something out of stock for a custom build.

Think my blank just hit double figures, spent the whole day at my local commercial and no bites. Yesterday was the same but saw my first kingfisher and a guy next to us caught a barbel so they were lovely to see. Starting to think I might pause things a little until the spring.

Winter is hard going for sure. I was mad keen 15 years ago when I properly got into Carping, and would go and sit on a freezing lake or the River Ouse and catch my death, and then go back they next day and blank again

I did have a little success spinning on the Ouse for Jack Pike and the odd decent Perch though. Also on the Grand Union Canal too

The girlfriend still has the faith so likely we'll be going back next weekend. The Lea runs through the commercial some might try fishing the river to mix things up.

I'm going to waste my time on my syndicate water tomorrow, fishing helicopter rigged maggot feeders. Hopefully the eels (which form the bottom two feet of water and go to 9 12) will be hibernating, I doubt it. Blanking report to follow...

I plan on freezing my balls off over Christmas on my syndicate lake for Carp.

Bugger that! My syndicate lake is stupidly tough after November, I will be moving on to piking a huge open gravel. Tomorrow is as much in hope of a big bream or roach as a carp.

In the meantime, here's a pic for #853superfly, everything from 2 weight chalkstream to 10 weight saltwater.

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