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New rod shot, need smaller butt grips now I'm no bubble butt

Hi guys I thought I might start a thread for the blankers, I always think it's important to learn from your failures so here goes, Fish were still active so I assumed they might still like some bait 😁I didn't give them loads but in hindsight too much 😱either that or they weren't visiting my spots on the other side of the pads (should've continued pre baiting but life got in the way) Chicken Pad Thai is a nice easy meal to cook Should've prepared better no cutlery, Casting the new rods at the end I whipped the rig off and learnt about fast hands when casting, I tried chucking some around 90 odd yards to see how it went and thinking fast hands and focusing on that seemed to help, it got me hitting the clip consistently anyway, Was it a waste of time nah I flipping loved it being out again 😁

Until a few months ago I hadn't been fishing for over twenty years. Since I've been back I've had some solid results culminating in this cracking scrapper that went 22lb 9. Not the biggest fish but it really put a huge grin on my face.

This morning at 9am

Well I had to try the reel on didn't I 😂 Well happy with that set up now, good choice I think

Hi Griffindor, one of my business neighbours does work in canvas and assorted other water-resistant materials, in the past they've altered a bivvy groundsheet for me. They'll probably be able to make what you need if you have one to copy.. Comptons 2000 Ltd is the company's name and 0121 622 5562 is their landline number., they're in Digbeth, Birmingham. Ask for Steve or Reece Hennessey and tell them that Ian Whitaker passed you their details. Ian.

Take some maggots next time. A few pints of reds will have them, especially if you're seeing fizzing up. If you see fish showing but no fizzing then chances are they're up in the water column and zigs may well do you a bite.

I need a bigger lake

Don't think much to your lunch choice 😂😂

They've arrived, love them they are so slim and nice, well happy, misses isn't so pleased though 😂

I need all the help I can to tie rigs 🙄

Appropriate NO - but excited to use these new Rapala bad boys lol Sorry theres always one!

Three fox fx9s for my 10 ft rods and some Gardner GT HD to load them with.

A full moon on my local river in France , i just had that feeling that i was going to catch , shame it was spawned out but still a cracker , untouched mouth , everyone should buy a permit for fishing in France once in their lifetimes and experience these amazing rivers !

Could you use it for a Icy path ??

Thanks Father Christmas. Also got it in a Black Friday Sale so £110 instead of the RRP of £140, although it had been £120 on Angling Direct for a while.

Tempest T100, infill, groundsheet winter/skull wrap and the storm poles. i have the V2 and needed more height so grabbed this in Black Friday sale from Parkfield Angling. Parkfield Angling are worth a look. Always does a deal and the customer service is the best i have had. I think they are based in Liverpool.

Not been fishing this weekend but what did I learn? I wanted to go fishing, I thought about fishing, I watched fishing videos and I got bored and bought some bits of tackle for fishing 😂

Just done my first night on my new bedchair. Early birthday present, the avid benchmark lite system. Been a long time coming as my old one was literally falling apart! I will be purchasing a bedchair cover for the colder nights as it 100% needs it. Got my eye on the cult tackle Sherpa lined one. Other than that it was very comfy!

They also make good cooler blocks so you can take a few frozen to use in a few days time for the longer session 👍

This is key, freeze with the water its cooked in or normal water. Alternatively when defrosting make sure its covered in water or saved cooking juices. Otherwise you end up dehydrating it again. defrost 2-3 days beforehand too so it has time to soak the juices back in!

Had my biggest hits ever on a particle mix from Hinders, can't see it on there now but it contained aniseed, was incredible fishing. Mix probably wasn't important just right time, place, food. I prepare mine and freeze with water in the bags.

Get a big stock pot from eBay, about £15 I think. Some calor gas and a big camping burner and away you go. I moved on to this set up from a burco and it’s brilliant.

The coots definitely tell you when there is an otter about, and otters will get a few of them. It was the bird life disappearing that gave away the presence of an otter on a local club water. No dead fish were found, but the moorhens and coots disappeared. The water is now fenced and the public footpath alongside the water has auto shut gates to keep otters out. Sadly the otters have been on the big chub instead. I've had Sky rip her lead peg out of the ground when there is an otter on the bank near me, she wants it! She slipped her lead one day, took 45mins to get her back, she followed the otter to the island and didn't come back until she chased it off there.

Caught on all of those except Walnut. You can also add Macadamias. Tigers are the timeless classic for me but a Brazil takes some beating as a hookbait! Just a pity they’re all banned on my waters and I would rather lose a kidney than my Gold card🤣

I love any sort of Nut - Walnut, Cashew, Peanut, Roasted, Brazil, Almonds, Pistachio...bet there all good Baits 😁

New to carp fishing. I learned from watching videos from you guys in UK. I make my own bait and I'm doing very well so far. I fish all wild water here. I love it and it's a growing sport over here now.

Another centerpin..., (pending inspection and transfer of funds) A pre-war Hardy Eureka... Eeeerrrm.... I think I may have a Pin Addiction

3 diawa crosscast tt 12ft 3.25lb rods, No Cork either gone for shrink grip 😂 I haven't told the misses yet either 😳

This government blaming the NHS or other utility for shortfalls is totally the governments fault. The government have not increased sizes or built new prisons, but settled for privatising them. Exactly the same for the NHS, water companies, even British Rail. British Rail was in the midst of modernisation when it was privatised. Lines were being electrified, locomotives and coaches were being upgraded. Britain had become the 2nd most modern in the world behind Japan (!), and 2nd most successful on timekeeping and profit in Europe behind only Germany. Strangely the Big 4 rail companies in the UK were nationalised in the first place exactly because they were putting profit over safety and service back in the days of steam. British Rail back then didn't want to modernise but had no choice as the 1960/70's came. Too many providers are behind the population. By that I mean we have a population of around 65million,yet hospitals that can only cater for 45million, prisons that can cater for the criminal percentage of 45million, not 65million. It is exactly the same for the water infrastructure, and we are still not adding additional infrastructure for new builds. I believe Bazalgette catered for a London population of 4million back in Victorian times (double the actual of the time) yet the population is now over 10million and can't cope. The London sewerage system being increased is a high profile to hide other failures. Sussex water pumping and piping sewage 2miles out to sea to hide it. If it is clean fresh water why is it not going back inland to be used for irrigation?

Shimano Tribal TX7 13' New rucksack for the Actor Baitboat

More Gardner Pro blend light, pva mesh and a few packs of mackerel and herrings for pike fishing. Got to get some smelt but Birds had none in, so that will wait. Still a bit warm for pike fishing for me

The 2 Ardleigh fish

Deffo, what goes around comes around? If can give it, have to take it too?

Gardner Ultra Blades …like the idea of the case for I’m fed up of stabbing my leg when I leave a pair in my pocket…. and I could trim my beard for my fishy pics

Hi mate that rig doesn't look very nice tbh, if it snaps the fish would probably end up snagged with a lead attached, I would start again with the right items of tackle if it was me, I would use a lead clip set up, this video will give you a good idea of a basic set up with lead clip

I almost made a boo boo last time I was in the local tackle shop almost got myself a ESP Rucksack but wanted one with the loops on the outside pockets for my buzz bars and sticks so left it …fast forward a week and ESP updated it with the loops and a extra bag on the top Iv ordered one

Honestly, couldn't choose 1 or 2 items, as I practically take the same on days as I do nights, just more food on nights, so I think it would have to be the Food and Coffee's...

I had an otter give me a savage liner on St Ives, swam through with no fear then just went underwater never to be seen again once it clocked me, I found lots of evidence on there though a dead pike, loads of zebra mussels all over the bank, I seemed to think there didn't seem as many birds on the lake I am fishing now earlier this year, but last time I thought there were more so I will keep an eye on them this winter see if they dwindle again, that could be the duck eating catfish I've heard about though 😬

Many thanks for all your help , everyone . Later this week I hope to visit the lake again , and have a mooch around the far ( out of bounds ) margins to see if there are any more corpses - hopefully not . 😔

Seen Hamidi eat a Handful 😂

🤣 I find there is no better test of quality!

Don't like monster particles myself had a bad batch of tigers and they wouldn't refund them, as yonny said get yourself a burco boiler, now I just do mine as and when I need them, fresh is best, and it just adds to the excitement of going fishing, Tigers soak for 24 hours and then in a burco I tend to boil them for an hour or so as it heats and cools more, Otherwise if using pigeon conditioner soak for 24hrs and Boil for 30 I think I need a more industrial sized burco though as mine isn't big enough for a massive hit of particles, it's good for tigers and odd bits but needs more girth for a big job of hemp and that

The sightings on the water I fish are very, very ziggy already. The place hasn't done a bite off the deck in 3 weeks now. Although it's not done a bite on zigs either like.....🤣

I have to agree with Yonny. I don't think that carp change their diets during the colder months, they just feed less often. IMHO If Tigers are what they're used to then just carry on using them. Ian.

Pair of Ringers 1 pint bait boxes...