In reply to Post #3
Outside of Covid - I go to France for family holiday every year - and at least one fishing trip per year (since 2010). Last number of years, for family holiday, we've gone via Portsmouth to Caen, the 5 hour crossing, or Portsmouth to Le Havre on the vomit comet, when it was up and running (summer only). So - I have a decent view of likely costs.

I started pricing up our crossing this year for family holiday from Portsmouth to Caen - and it was astronomical - £810 - for 5 people in my car (SUV) - and that was with a 10% discount code from the owner of the gites we're staying at. So call it £900 gross cost.

My Mrs is a teacher, so we always get smashed, price-wise, but last year we got the same crossing for around £600 (which stung).

I then looked at Newhaven to Dieppe for our family holiday - a crossing I've used a lot for fishing trips - and is usually the "cheap option". This year - much more expensive than normal - around £600 (although it's not a fair comparison - as we use this crossing outside of school holidays normally).

Ended up booking Eurotunnel at £340 return - by far the cheapest option - although we didn't look at Dover to Calais ferries.

Moral of the story, I'm surmising, is that the ferry companies are trying to recoup lost revenue from Covid - and hammering families travelling for their summer holidays. The prices have gone up this year by 50% +.

In reply to Post #7
Yep - good ideas - thanks chaps. I'm keen to be able to unhook the fish in the net (I usually (carefully) cut the hooklink in the net, or if it's awkward, I cut the mainline).

Using a net station has been a massive upgrade, since fishing a lake where you have rods on long sticks out in the lake, as it just allows you to get rid of the rod/line out of the equation and focus on the fish in which is safely retained in the net (station). I'm not keen on the latest fashion of jabbing your net handle into the lake bottom to retain a fish. That could go badly wrong, imo.

I watched the Fox vid on YT and have ordered their kit. I'm also going to have a look at the Avid equivalent.

Thanks chaps.

Keith

In reply to Post #4
Thanks chaps. DarkKnight - yep - tried that one. Does the job - but not perfect.

Hello chaps

I'm looking to improve my inline drop-off set up. For years - I've used an ESP double ring swivel, with one of the rings knotted to the mainline/leadless and the second ring used to loop my hooklink on to, whilst the swivel is pressed into the nose/insert of the lead (with the insert being ground out with scissors, if necessary, to ensure the lead will come off relatively easily - ie isn't fixed into the lead).

The issue with this is that I can't really use an anti-tangle sleeve, as it would have to go over the ring swivel (not going to happen) and I want to keep the pivot point at the ring swivel so the carp can pick up the hookbait (typically a bottom bait) and right itself - and then feel the weight of the lead.

Are there any decent inline drop-off systems out there these days (I haven't looked at this for years) which allow you to use your own leads (not dedicated leads for the system) which tidy this all up a bit - and enable the use of an anti-tangle sleeve?

Trying to get some improvements made to my terminal tackle ahead of the spring and carp being in the margins.

Thanks

Keith

In reply to Post #18
Ensure you pay with a credit card - NOT a debit card. There have been problems in the past where debit cards have been cloned off the toll system in France. At least with a credit card, it's not your money and you have easier recourse.

In reply to Post #25
Another thumbs up for the Maui Jim's. I was lucky enough to be given a pair in work. They are used by the commercial bluefin harpoon guys in the States. These guys make their living, or part of it, from being able to see and pick out the specific fish they wish to target.

The Maui Jim glasses are superb - and knock RayBans (I have three pairs for general use - and have tried using them in France for fishing) into a cocked hat.

In reply to Post #3
It's a gamble, but you may be better-off pouncing on a cancellation. There are a lot about atm, and with the cost of living soaring and the uncertainty in the world atm, I'd wager there's only going to be more available.

You can pick up a bargain on lakes you'd normally have zero chance of booking. It's a case of following the ones you're interested in, on FB, and crossing your fingers.

In reply to Post #4
Mate did a decent video of our trip. Search YT for "Lac Du Charlou 2016".

Every fish came to the Cell. Couple of boys used other baits and blanked.

Not easy - but there are some lumps in there.

In reply to Post #1
Cell, cell and more cell. We went in 2016 and had 15 fish between 7 of us, including a number of 50s. All bar one were caught out of the margins.

They were just finishing spawning when we went - and peg 8 and 10 right were the flyers. I was in 4 and a mate in 3 - and we had to really work hard for our fish.

Nice place. Great fish.

In reply to Post #41
Really good thread this, boys.

I've used Tiger Line, almost exclusively, for the past 8+ years. Can't get it for love nor money atm. Will probably give the Gardner version a look.

A mate of mine, who knows his stuff, recommended the PB Products Ghost fluro. It's seeringly expensive, but he says it's the best he's used, in terms of suppleness.

Very good read, this. Thanks.