kevtaylor

I borrowed my mates large gas bivvy heater, yes it was nice having the option to warm the shelter up or warm your hands after you've been outside, at the time it feels epic tbh BUT it is dangerous no doubt, can you say that you will deffo turn it off before dropping off to sleep - it's a real concern. Many years ago a guy told me that he was only alive because his mate decided to check on him at 2am, he was completely blue and non breathing (fell asleep with the stove on for warmth), his mate dragged him outside and resuscitated the lucky so and so. All in all I'd say the guys above are correct, get better clothing and sleeping bag etc. If you're going to use a heater use it in the day and switch off long before you get in bed!

Very true - god i'm so carpy!

I know the odd one has come out the mill Jan/Feb but its like a miracle not the norm lol I was in Oak in January and in the night the wind swung from West to East, as soon as that happened I got a load of liners one after the other. Speaking to a guy who moved into West End Point, he got a load of liners 20 mins after me, so they were plenty still moving about and reacting to conditions. I think that 20ft depth thing on the Mill tallies up with the slow start on other waters nearby - such as Kingy, its a good 4 - 6 weeks behind neighbouring waters for the spring switch on. The Heron and Island fish OK right through don't they as does Beedles in Leics, but thats Syndi now.

They will have been pre-occupied on naturals through Oct - Nov on a typical gravel pit no doubt as the weed drops and the bugs end up congregated in the silt troughs, frustrating to the max. Good advice so far - try those zigs for sure 👍

Whilst this isn't aimed at the original poster, it is definitely worth choosing the venue most carefully for winter. The only water I've happily fished right through and caught from regularly was a shallow pit 6ft max. Like snowmanstevo has said 11:00 - 15:00 was bite time bang on, so I'd fish days only arriving mid morning, back home by 4pm. It was a 25+ acre lake and the fish grouped in the central couple of acres in amongst the flocks of wildfowl, careful observation and you'd see head and shouldering just behind or in the flock itself. I had 3 in 20 mins whilst trying to tell a guy that it was usually difficult, he must have thought I was trying to put him off. Winter felt like the best time to be there tbh. The deeper gravel pits where you've got good depth to say 20ft the fish are much harder to catch and the fishing starts a good month later in spring than other shallower pits, that's just my observation anyway. IMO you want to be focusing on the West bank initially as it gets the first sun, also reed beds as said previously. This shallow water advice relates directly to the zigs advice for deeper water I guess.

Thanks mate - giving Rutland a go - proper noddy business!

Looking forward to giving these a go, makes it look like I know what I'm doing lol Carpy 😎👍

Thanks for the suggestion, I dont usually add anything 👍

I think you need to look at how much tiger nuts swell when soaked and boiled - because I'd guess a minimum 4 times the original size and I'm being conservative on that. If food swelled to 4 - 8 times its original size I'd be in trouble.

Cheers mate - appreciate that 👍

This reminds me that I always wanted a night scope or bino's. Too many things in my head, I forget the good stuff!

I mean the lakes are going, the clubs are going, un-fenced venues are on a hiding to nothing because of Otters. Gravel pits and new lakes being dug, generally do not have deep margins such as the old slate quarries that are nearly always Club Waters. Which is what I am trying to say to you, decent stalking waters are very thin on the ground, especially if you are looking at catching decent sized fish not pasties. The skills live on but the waters sadly do not.

Your rods and reels look lovely no doubt about that, it's great to see! Whilst I really like it, if I had the money for good cane rods and vintage reels I would still choose the modern alternative at that price range. It's a sport and I want performance. I do hope you have the tweed flatcap and waistcoat, wicker basket the full works, if you're gonna do eccentric it's all or nothing surely! The old methods will always work in the right situation, sadly the situations are dwindling fast! You need to find the wild club waters, I've been there done it, the best times, short sessions fishing under the tips, watching the line, creeping around, catching proper fish but these waters and stocks are diminishing year on year.

You've got some good rose tints on there. Who fishes tiny ponds for wildies now, these places don't exist, typical carping is now sizeable gravel pits, possibly distance fishing, margins that are probably not suitable for close work under the tips. Are you going to watch the line all night? The opportunities to float fish and freeline are so limited on typical big fish waters that I've only stalked in the edge on one water out of my last six or more and I am a mobile, roving, stalking angler at heart and would choose that style first and foremost over anything else. I'd summarise to say that the opportunities have gone not the skill set. Old kit - don't even go there

Just a bit mate he was blown away, pulling the bait away from 50s WTF but you know I'm totally calm to have around doing pics etc lol 🤣 We were both blown away - get the saddle out!