My God we used to spend hours trying to cut back on gear and getting the lightest of everything I have now just about got the balance right - but as I mostly fish days it's so much easier.
My quick overnighted kit 'was/is' an avid bedchair I can lift one handed over my head with a waterproof cover that has a single bed quilt inside it so no need for sleeping bag. The old AI ribbed shelter that is the lightest I've ever known. These are the two biggies for me but I am also fortunate to have a van an converted explorer barrow.
I would love to walk to swims, but have a few dealbreakers, firstly my trakker sanctuary mat - it's overkill but perfect, I would be embarrassed by some of the lightweight options and given I use this as the barrow cover I can't see me changing. Water is another thing I can't do without as not a coffee drinker and need freshly boiled water with a barrow you may as well take 5 litres as 2!
I pret tie all my rigs, except zigs and have various light rig boards to cater for the 3 rigs I'd ever use. Spare hooks to change along with sharpening small kit. I have a chod bin and a spool of Flouro for hinges if needed. The only terminal I take is the stuff I need in event of breakage, for me that's tubing, lead clips, run rings, swivels. I fish out of a small ish pouch with inlay tray this hold needle, floss, hooks, hook baits etc. the only bag I need to get fishing. I only put waterproofs in under barrow storage as find these bags the least efficient to actually use.
Buzzers, for me are absolutely essential - I nod off occasionally- am forever snooping in the next swims up and if I was swing tipping I would probably be live baiting most of the day!
My care kit is clipped on the zip on the mat as are focepts, a foldable wychwood retention sling goes into the sling (there is a zip at end of mat on mine) - as does collapsible bucket.
Once you have it right LEAVE IT and don't get tempted by the latest thing it will ruin your feug shai
My quick overnighted kit 'was/is' an avid bedchair I can lift one handed over my head with a waterproof cover that has a single bed quilt inside it so no need for sleeping bag. The old AI ribbed shelter that is the lightest I've ever known. These are the two biggies for me but I am also fortunate to have a van an converted explorer barrow.
I would love to walk to swims, but have a few dealbreakers, firstly my trakker sanctuary mat - it's overkill but perfect, I would be embarrassed by some of the lightweight options and given I use this as the barrow cover I can't see me changing. Water is another thing I can't do without as not a coffee drinker and need freshly boiled water with a barrow you may as well take 5 litres as 2!
I pret tie all my rigs, except zigs and have various light rig boards to cater for the 3 rigs I'd ever use. Spare hooks to change along with sharpening small kit. I have a chod bin and a spool of Flouro for hinges if needed. The only terminal I take is the stuff I need in event of breakage, for me that's tubing, lead clips, run rings, swivels. I fish out of a small ish pouch with inlay tray this hold needle, floss, hooks, hook baits etc. the only bag I need to get fishing. I only put waterproofs in under barrow storage as find these bags the least efficient to actually use.
Buzzers, for me are absolutely essential - I nod off occasionally- am forever snooping in the next swims up and if I was swing tipping I would probably be live baiting most of the day!
My care kit is clipped on the zip on the mat as are focepts, a foldable wychwood retention sling goes into the sling (there is a zip at end of mat on mine) - as does collapsible bucket.
Once you have it right LEAVE IT and don't get tempted by the latest thing it will ruin your feug shai
In reply to Post #16
Once you have it right LEAVE IT and don't get tempted by the latest thing it will ruin your feug shai
Nah.... slowly adding to it over the course of the year until you're back to square one is the way to do it
Once you have it right LEAVE IT and don't get tempted by the latest thing it will ruin your feug shai
Nah.... slowly adding to it over the course of the year until you're back to square one is the way to do it
In reply to Post #14
Those Korda bivvy wraps are fine for just the basic shelter but if you have a skull cap fitted and want to include your groundsheet and door panel they are too small!
Those Korda bivvy wraps are fine for just the basic shelter but if you have a skull cap fitted and want to include your groundsheet and door panel they are too small!
In reply to Post #18
Not just Korda but who the **** is designing this stuff, ****ing muppets
I bought a Nash scope ops 2 rod sleeve to fit my scopes in, you know, made for the job, Nash. Shimano 5500 won't fit in it ffs!
After reading on a bit I bought the Korda compact 3 rod. Cracking bit of kit and it fitted my 2 rod scope set up in perfectly. Big mistake, bought another rod set up. With 3 in it I struggle to zip it up ffs. It does but it’s tight!!!
No wonder people are continually swapping their gear, there is some utter ***** around ffs
My advice, save your cash and wait for the MK15 version, they might have got it right by then
Not just Korda but who the **** is designing this stuff, ****ing muppets
I bought a Nash scope ops 2 rod sleeve to fit my scopes in, you know, made for the job, Nash. Shimano 5500 won't fit in it ffs!
After reading on a bit I bought the Korda compact 3 rod. Cracking bit of kit and it fitted my 2 rod scope set up in perfectly. Big mistake, bought another rod set up. With 3 in it I struggle to zip it up ffs. It does but it’s tight!!!
No wonder people are continually swapping their gear, there is some utter ***** around ffs
My advice, save your cash and wait for the MK15 version, they might have got it right by then
In reply to Post #19
Im sure it's all made terribly and nothing fits on purpose.
Im sure it's all made terribly and nothing fits on purpose.
In reply to Post #19
Made to fit scope 4000/5000 reels?
Design is one thing, manufacturing and QC is another.
Gear arrives in a container after months at sea, gets unloaded and shipped out to the dealers who paid for it weks before they got it in their warehouses.
Doubt if anyone checks the quality unless its a new line.
For example, Doc Martens boots, all made in the UK until they were so far behind with orders (40-50 thousand pairs) in the 90s that they moved production to the far east.
Closed the QC dept- now QC starts when the customer opens the box.
Made to fit scope 4000/5000 reels?
Design is one thing, manufacturing and QC is another.
Gear arrives in a container after months at sea, gets unloaded and shipped out to the dealers who paid for it weks before they got it in their warehouses.
Doubt if anyone checks the quality unless its a new line.
For example, Doc Martens boots, all made in the UK until they were so far behind with orders (40-50 thousand pairs) in the 90s that they moved production to the far east.
Closed the QC dept- now QC starts when the customer opens the box.
In reply to Post #21
Sign of the times. Design is something else and I suspect predominantly in the UK.
****ing idiots trying to get things on the market asap. Best thing about it a lot claim to be anglers. Obviously not using a bivvy with a skull cap and ground sheet reading this or small reels with small rods ffs
I’m guessing they just knock something up on CAD, make me a few thousand of these. They must do because they are not obviously testing them
Sign of the times. Design is something else and I suspect predominantly in the UK.
****ing idiots trying to get things on the market asap. Best thing about it a lot claim to be anglers. Obviously not using a bivvy with a skull cap and ground sheet reading this or small reels with small rods ffs
I’m guessing they just knock something up on CAD, make me a few thousand of these. They must do because they are not obviously testing them
Cheers All, some good bits here!
In reply to Post #18
Have sacked skull cap off on new RS and have vapour shield thingy permanently fitted instead . . always carry groundsheet and infill separately anyway (Nash rear pannier bag), and either leave in car or hang off barrow handlebars
Have sacked skull cap off on new RS and have vapour shield thingy permanently fitted instead . . always carry groundsheet and infill separately anyway (Nash rear pannier bag), and either leave in car or hang off barrow handlebars
Worst piece of kit for overnighters is indeed the bedchair. And the tents today.
Bedchairs weigh the best part of 20-30kg and both bedchairs and the tents are huge.
I have a bivvy type tent but without the front the mozzies kill you.
Only the bedchair and tent and my barrow is already full. I can scale down as much as I want but I will still need a rucksack, unhooking mat, weighing sling etc.
Thats why I fish from my bus and restrict myself massively in swim selection. Also I am lazy and dont want to carry around all that tackle around the lake when I have to pack up at 7 in the morning.
Bedchairs weigh the best part of 20-30kg and both bedchairs and the tents are huge.
I have a bivvy type tent but without the front the mozzies kill you.
Only the bedchair and tent and my barrow is already full. I can scale down as much as I want but I will still need a rucksack, unhooking mat, weighing sling etc.
Thats why I fish from my bus and restrict myself massively in swim selection. Also I am lazy and dont want to carry around all that tackle around the lake when I have to pack up at 7 in the morning.
Overnights for me ( when i last did them) involved a 400 yard walk to the swim. Cant be bothered with a barrow or a van.
Small rucksack with sleeping bag in stuff sack clipped to the bottom with 2 carabinas.
Unlined goretex cover inside rucksack.
Light bed.
Jrc mat / sling holding 2 rods, net and throwing stick.
No shelter, no buckets, no cooking gear.
Kilo of boilies.
Jag sticks and bars, small tackle box. Phone for camera. Catapult, tiny scales.
Small rucksack with sleeping bag in stuff sack clipped to the bottom with 2 carabinas.
Unlined goretex cover inside rucksack.
Light bed.
Jrc mat / sling holding 2 rods, net and throwing stick.
No shelter, no buckets, no cooking gear.
Kilo of boilies.
Jag sticks and bars, small tackle box. Phone for camera. Catapult, tiny scales.
In reply to Post #27
From May onwards I’m usually doing away with a brolly, storm poles, pegs etc and using one of the Edel Maya unlined goretex bed chair covers as recommended on here. It is the nuts and I could quite easily get away without my sleeping bag too if I have a long walk with the barrow.
From May onwards I’m usually doing away with a brolly, storm poles, pegs etc and using one of the Edel Maya unlined goretex bed chair covers as recommended on here. It is the nuts and I could quite easily get away without my sleeping bag too if I have a long walk with the barrow.