Hi all,

I'm getting back into carping and have always struggled with feature finding and casting. Due to limited time on the bank like many others I've thought about a tuition day to try get to grips with feature finding so I can put my time to better use when I can get out on the bank.

Has anyone else had any tuition and recommended anyone? Or have any other ideas, I've watched multiple videos on feature finding and feeing lead down however still struggle with consistently doing it. I'm based in Reading area but can travel.

Thanks

In reply to Post #1
Feeling the lead down is a fashion in my view. How did we catch carp before.... As long as you clip up your fishing rod same distance as your marker rod you'll be fine.

In reply to Post #2
Could not be more wrong about that I think,fishing around bait with your hookbait available is imperative, cast a lead among thick weed without being a very competent angler means failure all round.

In reply to Post #2
Load of tosh lol.
We caught carp before feeling the lead down because we got lucky we were presented. I dread to think how many hours/days/weeks were wasted with the rig hung up or buried.

In reply to Post #2
Rubbish. That's like saying we used to catch them on spuds so why use boilies. Times change, things move forwards...

In reply to Post #1
Get yourself a Deeper sonar, it's a massive edge when time is limited. Your going to learn so much more about what your actually fishing over and where all the likely looking features are.

In reply to Post #2
Do you still use a 1/4oz Arlesey bomb running freely on 10lb big game too?

Don't forget the John Roberts rubber bead, you def don't want that lead smashing against the diamond swivel.

In reply to Post #6
Are these good? My only concern to using this is that if I got it snagged or something I'd be fuming ! What sort of range do they have, for example how from the sonar ball does it reach? Would you need to cast right up against an island for example to get the topography of the we lake bed or within 6ft for example.

Agree that without feeing lead down I don't know what I'm on always so could do 24 hour in weed thinking I'm on the gravel patch.

Thanks

In reply to Post #8
Yes they are good
I wouldn't be casting tight up to an island With mine possibly wouldn't with a marker and lead either

In reply to Post #4
I'm not suggesting you don't need to search out a fishable spot. The point is that you can do this numerous ways, marker float - a lot of good anglers I know use a small marker float, they wind it down then let go, if it surfaces they're happy. I use a bare lead myself, not interested in a hard drop / crack down (again it's a myth that if you get this indication that it's a fed on spot, it might be it might not). As long as I get a nice pull back with no lock ups I'm happy. Clip ur rods are the same as your marker and you're good to go, as long as you don't go either side of your spot.

In reply to Post #7
How dare you. The arlesey bomb is a classic, of it's time . You just cast your ronnie out like all the other sheep 😉

In reply to Post #2
With regards to clipping up , I think leads have been felt down by those in the know for a longer period of time. No idea who introduced the notion of using that sharp little clip as a means of 'hitting the mark'..Probably Nash or Danny F who suggested to someone/company a sprung smooth metal clip would be oh so much nicer! As for when it first became a recognised method,im guessing late 80's /early 90's by a minority of secret squirrels

In reply to Post #12
Match and specimen anglers were clipping up long before then, using elastic bands, bits of inner tube and all sorts of fiendishly clever tricks to get an edge nby being spot on accurate.

In reply to Post #12
I'm pretty sure that it was first used by Zenon.

In reply to Post #1
Why not ask on here if one of the experienced guys from your area would give you a few hours of their time to show you the basics?

In reply to Post #8
They are good to a point, but no substitute to feeling the bottom with a lead. It's also like a cannon ball landing in your swim, has a battery that can go flat and can be temperamental for no apparent reason.

Just practise casting to a clip with a 3oz lead and braid. Cast, cast cast on a lake where you know the bottom is pretty hard. Once it clicks, and one day it just will, you have a skill for good. There really is no substitute on my opinion.

In reply to Post #15
I would do this if someone was to offer, could pay for their time with tea, beer or money.

I feel I can occasionally feel it down but it's pretty inconsistent.

In reply to Post #14
I think it was on harefield he thought it up..or could of been over layer pits?

In reply to Post #18
Probably Harefield