Cheers all. Just wanted to check I wasn’t going mad. The more I thought about it, the more insane it seems - my rod resembles a straw 😂

I have contacted the manufacturer directly and clarified the situation - it could be that the supplier didn’t quite relay things correctly (ie maybe they thought it was just the odd droplet of water in the tip section or something?) - so hopefully they do the right thing and resolve it soon. When you’re talking about a near £400 rod, there’s an expectation on quality and service.

I have a set of 13ft rods from the same company and they’re fantastic rods. They all have been apart from the one I can drink through 😂

I won’t name the company at the moment, as I happen to really like their rods and their general company approach. However, I recently got 3 new 12ft rods via an online supplier. The first time I used them, about 2 weeks ago, when breaking them down I noticed a reasonable amount of water pour out of one of the tip sections. I’d had my tips dipped (about 18in submerged) but also seeing as we’d had days of torrential rain, I presumed I had probably not pushed that tip section on tightly and rain had ingressed around the spigot.

This past weekend, I used them for the 2nd time and lo and behold, had the same experience with just one rod. When I got home I filled the bath and left 18inch or so of the tip in question submerged and indeed, it seems to take on water via the tip eye.

I contacted the supplier who in turn contacted the rod company. Their response was one as if they were a bit miffed. They said it’s a hollow object and there is a chance that water can ingress, and that there would be no adverse effects from this, as well as saying it doesn’t warrant a new tip section as it’s not a fault.

It only happens on one rod even though they were all submerged by the same amount and for the same period of time. My concern is that the eye could be concealing some damage to the tip itself, and also that in 35+ years of fishing, I’ve never known it to happen!

Should I push a bit more for a replacement?

I feel the frustration and I wouldn't even call myself a ‘bait maker' on the same level as anyone else here. But after years of reading bits and bobs and having ideas, making notes, I finally kitted myself out with a few bits and have a few pop up recipes I really like. Very much still trial and error, and it would have carried over into boilies too as once I get into something I tend to go whole hog. The pop up mix was great for an amateur such as myself, plus I liked plenty of their flavours, additives and other products for general fishing too.

Quite surprised, but I guess there's quite a few potential factors behind it.

In reply to Post #5
Looks great! Cheers mate

Hi all

Delving back into bait making and wondered where nowadays is best to get BP oil.
Will be mainly for hookbaits to start with so not massive volumes. I know Nutrabaits and AA, and I am sure BAF all do it. Just wondered if there's anywhere else. Happy to pay for good quality.

As an aside, any pointers on the same for asafoetida oil also most welcome

Many thanks

In reply to Post #23

In reply to Post #50
Glad you've got that off your chest mate

Haha. In all seriousness you're spot on. I've been thinking about this a lot recently, how the fundamentals of carp fishing are very easy. You need a rig that ideally resets itself, with a sharp hook in a presentable spot in an area you know the carp are in. That's basically it. There are variables of course, but having the latest wonder bait, or for that matter the latest bivvy, stove, tools or whatever other gimmicks there are does not alter those variables! Your hook bait needs to be where the carp are, and ideally the conditions are such that they feel like eating!

Bait is a big thing and a small thing. I know someone that caught one in france off the top on a fag butt. Carp dont have arms, they use their mouths to investigate. You can nick a bite on practically anything (especially in early spring when it's like lure fishing with bright singles in some places)
But finding a decent, sustained food source is something else. Without doubt the best way all round is to learn a bit about the science behind bait, go through some trial and error with making your own, and then arrive at something you have no reason to alter.
I am stuck for two reasons - one I could I am sure put together something half decent, spend a week in March rolling it all and be set for a good portion of the season. But the other side of the coin is I wouldn't be content with half decent. I am one of life's great over thinkers, I know for a fact I would do my own head in if I picked up a book about bait. I'd never know when to stop!
The other part is I have a tiny freezer so have to use shelfies.

In reply to Post #44
You're right about it being a cut-throat industry. I'm sure I read years ago that after a certain amount of time, 9 out of 10 bait companies will hit a peak and then gradually lose money until the: vanish, change tack, try and hoodwink people with big reputation but low grade ingredients

I've purchased some shelf life Techni Spice just to use as a high attract, low volume thing for the first few weeks of the season before going onto another brand and a wholesome food bait for the rest of the spring and majority of the season. I am limited to shelf life baits apart from 5kg that I might be able to get in my freezer.

Reason for choosing is because I just think it's different to what many will be doing for the first few weeks when the fish are waking up.
First impressions- smells good. Baits break open and break up ok, not too soft but not so hard that I'd be worried about them breaking down in the water. Texture seems ok.

Couple of pop-ups with hooks in currently in a glass, let's see how long they stay up for

Will probably keep a bag of it back as I sure the chub and barbel will love it in the summer.

In reply to Post #40
How long ago was this? And what was it that made you think it was substandard?

I'm not trying to be argumentative I genuinely want to know. As I say I wasnt a user of anything but their pop ups for a while so I cant compare nutrabaits now and then, but I see a few people saying they're unimpressed but not elaborating.

I'm gradually trying to learn more about bait in-depth so I'm genuinely curious