bluelabel

I wish.... I hobble in.... jump in the deep end and they laugh em'selves sick as I flounder about... but as well as the fitness side if you work out with other folks, the social side keeps you going back, as you don't want to miss hearing about Ethel's "Problems" or Joan's "Little Trouble"...🤣

I found the best way to keep in shape was aquafit... when I retired I started eating properly not junk on shifts as I was before and I put on weight... I started going to aquafit as the low impact work was kind to my back and knees... its great... twice a week and I was toned and fit... then lockdown hit... I have an exercise bike but its not the same... sadly the pool is closed til further notice... I'll be glad to get back after all this is over... theres a social side too and as most of the folks in the class were ladies of a certain age, I was the eye candy🤣🤣🤣🤣
62 and a cobra-back studmuffin...🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

Oh well... its a ride out I s'pose...😛🤣

May pop over for a look see... Harlow's not too far from me...

Good luck to those that chose that route... I will say though that there should be an element of mystery about fishing and with every advance in technology that element diminishes... eventually to the point where it's not "wonder if I'll catch" but more... "wonder if my catch will be bigger than the last"  and to me the allure of angling will have died when that happens....
My view... don't take offence

Over my club lake... nothing yet, don't really expect anything, but I'm out and its like a huge exhalation of pent up worry....

My receiver coating has gone manky after about 10 years use... but its in a case so its not an issue

Zackley... been carping since the mid-late 70's... stuff changes, tech moves on... do what you like (within reason) hell... I sometimes don't use hair rigs, or leads.... go figure... carping has got too formulaic as time's moved on.... I'll pass ta

Good luck to those that chose that route... I will say though that there should be an element of mystery about fishing and with every advance in technology that element diminishes... eventually to the point where it's not "wonder if I'll catch" but more... "wonder if my catch will be bigger than the last"  and to me the allure of angling will have died when that happens....
My view... don't take offence

Good luck to those that chose that route... I will say though that there should be an element of mystery about fishing and with every advance in technology that element diminishes... eventually to the point where it's not "wonder if I'll catch" but more... "wonder if my catch will be bigger than the last"  and to me the allure of angling will have died when that happens....
My view... don't take offence

Ooooh that gap twixt the islands looks inviting

Ooooh that gap twixt the islands looks inviting

See Angling Direct are doing the Fishspy camera for £59.99 instead of £264... bargain if you are that way inclined

I still have a Nash Trax Micro sitting in me shed... not used it in about 4 years... I use my old match platform that now has been fitted with 4 wheels and high handles so you can just push it along, as opposed to lift and push... my bedchair fits on it better as well.. with everything inside the legs of the chair... bit of a beast but it does the job admirably

I still have a Nash Trax Micro sitting in me shed... not used it in about 4 years... I use my old match platform that now has been fitted with 4 wheels and high handles so you can just push it along, as opposed to lift and push... my bedchair fits on it better as well.. with everything inside the legs of the chair... bit of a beast but it does the job admirably

As a general rule of thumb, if the fish only run to doubles, I use stepped up match gear... over 20lb I use proper carp gear... fishing a lighter softer rod will alleviate any damage in smaller fish... plenty of stepped up match rods, float or feeder, that are perfectly capable of landing doubles.... 3000 for float and 4000 size reels for feeder is plenty for carp up to mid doubles

A water I fish for carp to double figures, I still concentrate on fishing the float with sweetcorn and lift float. 
 
If you put in much groundbait, you get other species more than carp so I use loose fed sweetcorn. 
 
On occasion I do use pop-ups I don't put any, or very little, feed around them. In fact I almost fish them zig rig style, well off the bottom. 
 

Thanks all, good to get different suggestions. I am aiming for doubles and up and the fish yesterday in particular were not expected to say the least! I do use a float rod too and yesterday caught an 8lb mirror on a size 18 hook on it 🙄
I think I've picked the other species up and more smaller carp when I downsized the pop ups I used in winter so as mentioned I may increase this and get a spool of lighter line set up. There are bigger fish in the waters I fish I just haven't found any yet. Saying they a few weeks back a smallish orfe took my pop up with the set up above and there was no damage at all.
Will have a think, thanks.
Edit: yes I have a carp care spray etc so all fish are treated and rested before return to ensure they go strongly

Re read this and seeing the fish you are catching I would go down to a method feeder rod or float rod or like Nick has suggested an Avon style if you can find one nowadays 
Match style route would be better 

Sometimes smaller fish take a a hook too far back in the mouth, on waters with a stock of fish up to the 10lb mark  it's a rod in hand job hitting bites before they hook themselves might want to avoid using a hair rig if you are.

I must admit I would only be using Specialist or Avon style rods on a water like this, with 8lb line. 
 
Hook size sounds possibly a bit big, for me it would probably be a 14 or 12.

Small carp have much softer mouths and are more susceptible to damage... if the fish don't go over 20lbs in the water I'd consider a softer rod and lighter line... the thing with using a 15lb mainline is with small carp you tend to get em in quick so the damage could be occurring at that point... and if, as I said, the fish don't grow much over mid double size then I'd say that a 2.75lb rod is a bit heavy... I'm sure other lads will have their own theories... but thats mine for what its worth

The daiwa gs4000 is the modern take on the ss2600 
with better line lay and less wobble and a much nicer reel to use.
 
it also has the infinite anti reverse so you can actually line up the rollers without them moving so you can fold the handle in the right place if that floats your boatlol

Have a look at the Daiwa SS2600, not a baitrunner but a lovely stalking reel... the 4000 baitrunner is a good one too (especially the 4000 Aero X)

Just been and got a mantle for my gas lamp and a bottle of the Coleman 100% propane gas,  do need a warm glow at this time of year, more for the mornings than anything and sitting outside the bivvy at night had it for years a little micro lantern from Coleman got the metal mesh cover. 
Didn't fancy using the butane propane mix so ponied up for the proper lantern gas, like to make the most of my go out doors discount card, they have a very good bait range in too.