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12.8

Some gardening is tasty ! 😬😎 Use to luv my allotment

Approx 18lbs... no scales with me... floatfished prawn in the lift method...

No.3...14.2

Just had a PB tench from just under the left rod tip. 9lb 2oz.

As that great 20th Century philosopher Dolly Parton once said, If you wanna see a rainbow, you gotta put up with the rain!

Managed to get a couple of pics of them spawning. I would have taken more but just glued to watching them. the bottom fish is one a mid 30 common. The fish just coming into the picture is one of the 40's. Some how I managed to miss a full pic of it 🤭

Float fished Prawn again... Old School = Old's Cool 🤩😍😘

Some if the highlights of my recent session the not an upper double 20lb 2oz this was no 10 looking at that paddle I am not surprised it went like a train

Mid 40 common in the middle here.

It's been a funny old start im a bit slow today things are being silly, but cast my second rod over the spodded area, whilst still setting the bobbins it ripped off, knarly old common 16lb so I've had one and I still haven't had breakfast 😁

Back breaking work. Managed to get the first "tier" of the garden dug over and de-weeded. In she moves with her plants. Parsley, Sage and Thyme sitting there waiting for Rosemary to turn up to the party..........

A 12lb Common from the Dam at Redmire

Coming along....................................

Weeding going well. My back is killing me 😥😥😥

So we're now at the start of September and after the results on the last session I head straight back to the same spot. Enjoy: Another decent weekend for me down on the syndicate water. I basically headed for the same area that I fished last time, fished the same spots and used the same tactics. I actually set up without seeing any signs which is often a huge mistake (in fact it' something I advocate against) but luckily it paid off for once. The action started with a take just before first light on Saturday morning. The fish weeded me up briefly but I got it moving and thought it was a tench; the fight was almost non-existent. I netted it without using the head torch and only put the torch on to release this 'tench' from the net. I was a little surprised to see an ugly little mid 20 common staring back at me. I recognised it as a fish my mate had last year, a deep fish with a small kinky tail (it's spine is deformed which probs has something to do with the tenchy fight) but almost no width to it. It looks like a bent bream but I quite like catching the characters so I'm pleased with it. Daylight comes, self takes done, it weighs 26.02 lb. Back she goes. Bite time over I spend the day wandering about and witness my mate have a mint common off the top. Good angling. Another mate's had a good'n too and between us we celebrate with a couple of beers. Rods out for the night and I'm supremely confident; I'm convinced I have the spots rocking now and I'd have bet money that I was having a fish or two. Up at 5 am and I can see the fish are spread out but see enough near my spots to keep me happy. I have to wait a little longer this morning but at 07:30 the left hand rod goes into melt down and I'm into the waders and enjoying a great fight from a fish that clearly has some weight to it. I end up way down the margin up to my chest in the drink attempting to keep it out of a weedbed. It works and I net a very dark looking mirror. I secure the net and have a closer look; it's mint, huge set of shoulders on it, jet black. The colour of these fish this year is mental, they've darkened up no end due to all this weed yielding exceptional water quality; gin clear all year with zero algae blooming of any kind. On the scales the mirror goes 31.15 lb and the photos turn out beautiful in the morning sun, it really brings the colours out. Back she goes, happy days. I reckon I might be in with a chance of another and it proves so when the right hand rod absolutely screams off at around 10 am. The fight that follows is the best fight I've had this year; it starts off in the weed (they all do lol), then kites maybe 150 yards to the left into a shallow bay, it's like playing a rotweiler, proper rucking. Again the waders come in very handy and I'm miles away from my swim when I finally net it. It's clear the fish aint massive but my God is it a looker; a linear with the biggest golden scales you could hope to see. Absolutely beautiful. It just so happens that my Mrs is coming to visit (she was nearby anyway so thought she'd pop in) so I rest the fish in the net for 15 mins until she arrives. She hardly ever comes to see me fishing and she's never witnessed a proper carp on the bank so she's absolutely mid blown to see this wicked looking linear. Those bright golden scales mesmerise her and for just one second she almost understands why we do this..... almost. She helps out with the weighing and she does the photos for me which is an experience I really enjoy, I'm mega happy that she got to see one of these creatures I'm so obsessed with. The fish goes 25.02, it's a stocked fish that was put in some years ago now, a slow grower which given the size of those scales is understandable. Proper minter. In all a great weekend with plenty of action. I'm a little gutted I have maybe 3 weeks off fishing now which is a shame as it seems to be coming together for me recently. I just hope I can pick up where I left off at the end of the month.

So after losing that fish at the net and fishing every weekend of that season to that point I kind of felt deflated. Daft really as I'd have taken anything as a bonus after the very slow summer early autumn. So with Christmas approaching I decided to have a break for the rest of December. As usual though I kept the bait going in no matter what. I recall no more captures to anyone for the rest of December though the weekend of the 12th and 13th of January 2 of my mates both caught. I went down to help with the photos. One mate was fishing the opposite end of the lake to where I had been fishing. So I got to his swim and the sack came out the water. Undo the zip and there was a nice 32lb mirror but what made it even better for me was that the bottom of his sack was full of my red milk protein bait. Pictures done and off down the end where I'd been fishing/baiting. My other mate was fishing about 150yds up the bank from my main baited swim. He gets his fish out and once again his sack was full of my bait. Seen enough so the next weekend I obviously started fishing again and had my good session. After that good session the next weekend just turned into a bit of beer up if im honest. The previous weekend had been amazing for a few of us so a bit of trotting and socialising was done. Nothing was caught this particular weekend mind, though we did try, kind of haha. Now the following weekend and it was my usual arrival on a Friday about 3/ 3-30. Rods out, sit back and chill. It was a big full moon that weekend as it was shining down lighting up the lake one of my had a slow take on it. I instantly thought chunk, but it turned out to be a 27lb common, my smallest fish that winter. The rest of the weekend past without anything doing but a fish was a result. I didn't fish the following weekend as I was out celebrating my birthday which was on the Wednesday coming up and I'd booked it off along with the Thursday and friday. So with my baiting up all through the season, I was baiting on a Wednesday and a Friday. So this was to be the first time I'd fish a Wednesday. I got down and one other angler on and he was fishing about 100yds round the bank from me. Sadly by this time the half dozen of us who had fished all winter had been dropped in it so to speak by someone letting on what we had been catching that winter. Still to this day I'm not sure who let it slip, but up until that point no one else had fished that winter. Still I was plotted in my swim and bang on the spots. Sadly no birthday fish for me and nothing seen by myself or the other angler. That changed around first light of the Thursday morning. About 200yds up the lake a right kipper stuck its head out, that was all I needed to see. I just sat on my bed thinking he's coming down for his breakfast. 7-00 and a couple of liners on my middle rod had me set and ready for a bite any moment. 7-10, no bite but still liners. 7- 20 and left rod starts having liners, my god they are on me big time. The next thing I know my right hand rod is melting, the last rod I thought would go due to the liners. A proper battle ensued, the fish finding every rotten weed bed it could but fortunately it was dead and steady pressure had it out of one and into another. I get the fish about 20 yes out and it rolls, a proper lump. I instantly recognized the shape of the fish and the top lobe of its tail not being rounded, it could only be "paw print", the same fish I'd lost in December. This time though I had the happy ending. My suspicions from that loss in December were right though, it did look big and at 44lb 06oz it was at its biggest weight having never been 40lb before. So my birthday present was only a few hours late. The rest of the session saw no more action. After the fish all my liners stopped and everything, nevermind, there was always the next session.

At my age, I have to do that in the loo every morning 😳😳😳

Desperately trying to get our "garden" (for want of a better description!) sorted out. Two years of basic neglect has seen it overrun with weeds/thistles etc. It's become an embarrassment. Spent the best part of Sunday starting to clear weeds. As I mentioned, thistles everywhere, and my hands are literally torn to shreds pulling them out without gloves (don't ask 🙄). It's starting to take shape, but still plenty to do, including re-painting the old shed. I'm waiting for new gloves to arrive before carrying on though!!!

You do know you can leave your garden now 😂

Back for round 2 tonight. Already had 2 shows over the right hand rod where I put a load of bait in last night. Fingers crossed.

I'm on 8 now another mid double common in the night left that rod in, no pic, got woken up by a screamer, that fish really didn't want to come in, then it probably ran 40 yards into the pads to my left, all the time staying deep, had a stalemate with it for a while and eventually it swam out and proceeded to not want me to land it, I actually thought it was a bigger one when it was on but I thought no way when I saw it, a lovely mid double MIRROR 😍 I always thought commons fight hardest but this one wow angry little so and so, I've airbombed the rest of the dirty munga out and put 3 fresh bags out to see if I can't hit double figures whilst packing up 🤣

This one was no 4 another common about 15lb I actually got the camera set up for no5 📸

This one is no 3 mat shots ftw all from my middle rod so far all commons, and all between 12 and 16lb, I'm starting to feel like I need to get organised these teatime fish aren't doing my organisation any good 😁

I've been a bit busy myself. Finally got my timber delivery so I set about building a gravel/ plant filter for my pond. Before, And the finished filter. Water has cleared up already so very pleased with the result. Just need to tidy up the oxygen lines.

Quite an apt shop name for an outdoor toilet 😂😂😂

Well It would appear, fishing is now back on the menu from Monday at 6am for me, I plan to be packed and ready Sunday night ready for an early start Monday, I think lots of people will also have the same idea so the lakes may be fairly busy, i might try and fish one of the other lakes Monday just to stay away from the crowds this week, and I think this may help me get a better swim on a less popular lake rather than fitting in around others, it's a lake I've never even walked round and have no idea about, but I am keen to see how my approach stacks up on a new water, I've cleaned and greased my reels,and have fresh line, created my pva bag mix just needs more liquid boosting, got loads of rigs tied, just need to make a load of bags, sort my kit out, etc It's quite a well stocked lake I think, so I am going to approach it in a match style and try and build up the swim with regular baiting and recasts, I have 24 hours so I want to try and make something happen with it, if I can get them feeding then I will try and keep them feeding, I'm going to fish bold, fish hard and love every flipping second even I make a compete hash of it😁

gonna take this little beast out fishing this weekend. I’ve never used an outboard before so been a bit of a learning curve, I spent an hour last night pulling the pull start getting stressed because it wouldn’t start, turns out I didn’t have the air valve open on the fuel tank, I opened it and it started first pull 😂😂😂

I had to do a few things so couldn't go fishing with Rob and Saskcarp today. Too bad, but I'm glad they both caught. Rob texted me this.

Just took one..

The best fishing book of all time IMHO is “Rod, pole or perch” by Colin Willock who some people may remember was the first editor of the angling times. Here is just a snippet “Fishermen may be many things, but they are not patient. They are probably the most impatient men on earth. They are not just sitting there waiting for something to happen. They are expecting, even willing, something to happen, now, the very next second, or the second after that. Even when it doesn’t happen, they still can’t believe that it won’t, but they know that the very first instant that they stop being prepared for it to happen, it will. That is why they are impatient.” Now who does not relate to that observation?

Little garden update the blue bush which i can not recall what it is, some sort of bottle brush bush? is looking nice from the out side as it grows towards the sun, i'm thinking of putting a maple in front of it to add a bit of colour, just moved some hollyhocks into the spot for now, as the shops are shut, Lawn seed has shot up, used a few different sorts, not a big fan of turf for small jobs, Blue ****, Sparrows and a Finch have moved in seem happy enough, there are a lot more small birds about this year, i put down to HS2 which is being built just up the road a bit.

I've definitely got a bee in my bonnet with it now Steve. Despite the pain, I got immense pleasure pulling those brambles up. Looking to buy a rotivator to help with the bigger section at the back of the garden, which is in a really bad way. Would like to clear it completely and start again, planting some nice shrubs there for a nice splash of colour. Have got a really nice barbecue permanently installed and with the work that we've done already I can start using it again. Seriously can't believe how bad we've let it go. Embarrassing to be honest. 😢😢😢

A couple from last weeks first session after lockdown. 34lb on the nose mirror and 31lb 14oz common

Friend been here since I set up.

Went out round some club lakes this morning... took the two photos while walking round the waters.... those two were taken next to an "out of bounds" section of one of them... all the fish were sitting up there while 20 odd blokes were lashing the water with every method under the sun...

Preview of Jonny 5 all 20lb 2oz of him those 2 ounces have got rid of a big old weight around my neck I was starting to think I could only catch mid to high doubles 😩

This one was no 6, about mid double but went just while I was just settling the line on my other rod, it's been mental today, I need a cider and no more runs for a bit 😁

Considering I've tripped on them, kicked them I think they are pretty straight today 😁 Im now having my first cuppa been a slow tea day so far 🍵

Still in carnage mode 😁

Welcome to Carp.com Some serious questions there, with no simple answer. Shrink tube and silicone tubing can both be used on hooks to extend the length of the 'shank', to make a fixed point for the hair to leave the hook. Silicone tubing is used more for straight line aligners as it is not fixed in shape, it is soft and pliable in use. Shrink tubing, once it has been shrunk, is firmer, does not move as far. It can be formed into shape, extending the hook shank, but creating curves and angles to form a plain kicker, L shape, or a curve like on a Withy Pool rig. You can also create line aligners, by putting the hooklink through the shrink tube with a needle as you would with silicone and then shrinking it. Zig rigs, the ideal length; anywhere between the bottom and the surface. You can use a zig rig to present a bait on the surface, or anywhere in between. Possibly the best way to find the perfect zig rig height in the water is to use adjustable zig rig set up (see picture, various makes are available). I start with the float on the surface, and tighten down so that the hookbait is on the surface. I then reel in a foot at a time so the the hookbait is pulled down a foot or so, thay way I can test the various levels within the water. I have also found doing this that I do not necessarily need to know the depth of the water. Hair rig length. I have a very simple rule for me. Look at the fish you are hooking, landing or losing to hookpulls. If you are losing fish or the hook is right on the edge of the lips, then the hair is not long enough. If you are hooking fish deep in the mouth, or can see it has scraped down the mouth as it has taken hold, even hooked in the cheek, then the hair is too long. If you have hooked the fish just inside the mouth, dead centre of bottom lip then the hair length is right. Now what constitutes how long the hair itself should be? If you tie a hook on with braid or coated braid knotless knot style, say you use 16mm boilies, then put 2x 16mm boilies on the hair, and form the knotless knot tight to the boilie. Now remove 1 boilie from the hair leaving one as your hookbait. That is how long the hair is to start. If I use 18mm as hookbaits, then I form the hair the same way using 18mm baits. It is slightly more difficult if I'm using double baits, instead of putting 2 baits on the hair, put 3 on as you tie it. Then take one off.

Orange dot belly near full leather mirror from stanwicks that had a orange dot on its belly seen a few with that marking in other waters.

Luckily this Video Explains it all, In Detail , So no confusion after you watch this .

Not quite the bivvy door, but with the owners permission, I enjoyed a good walk around, can't wait to get set up and try and nick one!!

So after catching paw print on my last session and word spreading like wild fire as it does, all the armchair anglers or as we called them "dial-a-bites" started to appear down the lake. From no one fishing midweek and the 6 of us at a weekend, it was now 5 or 6 every night during the week and 10 to 15 anglers at a weekend. I knew I'd struggle to bait up now as it was fully known now what I'd caught and where from. So to continue my baiting up on a Wednesday I decided I had to fish and hope no one would jump in the swim. Arrived down after work on the Wednesday to a busy car park, my heart sunk. Still I pushed the Barrow, passing 4 or 5 anglers in the middle area, I might be lucky I thought. Get to peg 8, this is about 200yds up the lake and find the bloke who took the pictures of paw print for me chatting with another angler. They both turned and said " sorry mate but we did tell him you'd be down". I was gutted, but as I looked through the trees the angler in question had actually set up in the swim next door. So I push my barrow round, getting more and more wound up. I get to mateys swim, " alright, scott you've done alright so i hear. Where you heading?" I said next door, " oh I didnt realise that's where you'd been fishing ". I told him the 2 lads up the bank had said to him I'd be down and where I'd been fishing, he looked sheepish and ducked back under his brolly. Now not that the swim was mine but on dinton there was an unwritten rule that you'd leave someone alone if they were baiting regularly and catching and this angler was always left alone so for him to do it I lost a fair bit of respect for him. Now with my back up I was a bit naughty and I literally spodded every half hour, all through the night. Suffice to say neither of us caught. Not my proudest moment and no excuse but I'd always left him alone and everyone else for that matter so just thought I'd get the same back. I return once again at my usual time on friday, rods out and settled in by dark. Now I recall struggling to hit my right hand spot, it was going down softer and I was pulling weed in. My only conclusion was the fish had been in and smashed it up. About 10PM and the liners started. Middle rod first, then left. Same as my midweek session. By midnight and all was quiet again. Doubt started setting in, had I been done? Was I tangled? With my bites being mainly during darkness or a couple of hours into first light I decided to leave them. I don't know why but I decided to put some more bait in, hopefully spook any fish that were present and go for a rechuck as I was convinced by now something was amiss. Left rod a pouch of boilies followed by another. Middle rod a pouch load, followed by another. Left rod, liners start again. What the ####? 15-20 mins and the liners transfer to the middle rod. Odd indeed. This went on for a couple of hours, liners would stop so I'd top up the spots and they would start again. I crashed out at god knows what time but in the morning I was going to recast. By 7-30 all rods were recast and topped up and all were fine on there retrieval. 10am and bite time had gone and no liners either. I scratched my head wondering what had gone on, fingers crossed they'd be back tonight. Midday and liners started again. I was trying to think what was going on and came to the conclusion that with the influx of anglers the fish were more active and visiting my spots more regularly, that's what I thought anyway. Looking at the spots and a fish known as "Sid" sticks its head out right on me, a 50lber, come on let's have it. 12-20 and the rod gives a slow take and I hit it expecting a heavy weight but not not be. A spirited fight, it felt decent and at times heavy, this is it I thought until a dark mirror rolled in front of me, gutted. I can honestly say that's the first and last time I've been gutted to see a 30lb mirror in my net. 32lb 08oz in fact and a nice one too. Once again this seemed to kill off the fishing for me for the remainder of the weekend. I continue baiting as and when I could but this was getting harder and harder and the following weekend there was someone left and right of the swim so I left it be. The following weekend was the last weekend of the season so I took half day on the Friday and it payed off as I got my swim. By the time evening arrived the lake was very busy, I didnt hold out much hope especially with someone to my right which meant my right hand rod would have to be moved. So 2 rods on the middle spot and left rod as it was. Due to the amount of liners I'd been having in the last few weeks I put 2kg in on the middle rod spot. I recall nothing happened until about 2am when the liners started. 4am and one of the rods on the same spot was away. I don't know how but I was lucky that it stayed clear of my other rod on that spot and netted the fish. Head torch on and nice chunky common lays in my net and at 36lb 02oz it certainly was chunky. By 10am and someone goes In the swim the other side of me, not even asking where I'm casting. After telling him that not only was he messing my chances up but more to the point his own. I walked away shaking my head but to hell with it, I'd had a stonker of a winter so spent the rest of the weekend socialising and suffice to say the 3 of us on my bank caught nothing. Now to upload some more pics ready for a few more dinton tales.