In reply to Post #1
I got Nitrile Rubber O rings off eBay. You can get 50 for £3.10 and that includes postage.

The fact that Solar sell three for £2.50 is shameful.

Here you go: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/143043257699?hash=item214e0ae563:g:I-AAAOSw~5dcCo4D&amdata=enc%3AAQAHAAAA4EKy6ykn688kKRwNwyGOdCk4NLORdpkB%2F115jtOz6Co55CBUFm4IjCWW27eMUZEN1PIHlPJ3oKwo6k%2B6RYo2PHpsh3DUSvew2ONzR%2BHS9DbyYCaQtBMZ8xl5%2Ffc1Dp7BKcJuFDxrPif4jlQbnt09ai00pyO00osT25mhkMDH%2FfaLl%2F3Ea9H9fy6If07xSfFDpT%2Ba8%2BViIW6mS8w1mxHsUUCWovqmtnpEFdCVhgnUWL1nusXM9HPGl4rk4eN7cZx9oP0tSd1K6bnhKSTGnEjoJKA5l0lcoRgRyCEWsYIwcg4B%7Ctkp%3ABk9SR76d-PLZYA

In reply to Post #1
They're all crap. I've had issues with every courier you could name. Makes me laugh when some Albanian in a 20 year old transit turns up with your stuff - that's where the courier has subbed the delivery to a third party, they all do it. I often get those kind of deliveries when I am expecting the likes of DPD, DHL, Hermes, etc. I had one last week, was meant to be Hermes - bloke left the parcel on my doorstep, didn't knock and that was 8pm. Tracking then said, parcel was handed to resident!

Common issues... saying they tried to deliver and you weren't in - when you were in, knocking on the door and waiting a few seconds, then when you open the door they're driving off, sending you notifications with a delivery slot, then not turning up or delivering before/after the time they gave you, delivering to a random house nearby - when you are in, delivering to a collection point without attempting delivery to your home (UPS do that all the time to me) and then when ordering from the EU... charging you VAT when it isn't due (goods have to be over £135) and also, charging an 'admin fee' which they basically make it up as you they go along. I have three ongoing disputes to recover charges that were incorrectly applied.

Finally... these courier firms deliberately make it hard to contact them, they ignore emails, never answer the phone and their tracking is often fictional.

After saying all that - Royal Mail, despite their faults, are the best I have dealt with and Tuffnels the worst, buy some margin. The rest are just sh1t.

In reply to Post #1
Everyone is different - I had a set of 13ft from Simpsons, Eclipse, Jim Gibbinson? I can't remember exactly, but I never got on with them and they were a pain in swims with over hanging trees. I sold them after a couple of seasons use. I find I can cast further with a 12ft rod and technique matters much more than the rod. I am a very capable caster, always have been. Based on what I see on the bank, many people aren't and also could be using gear that isn't helping them. As someone else suggested, have a casting lesson and see what that highlights... I did some guiding for a while, pike fishing from the boat and the one thing I worked on with clients more than anything else, casting - with baitcasters of course. Amazing how you can improve things for someone with some observation and helpful tips.

I use zig extensions on my Free Spirit Hi S and S rods, making them 14ft and casting out zigs is such a faff, but crucially playing fish with long zig lines is way better. It's a trade off I live with

In reply to Post #29
But some fisheries, one day ticket water I know, have not taken any steps to reduce pressure on potentially distressed fish or bother to check on DI levels. I called the EA about one place last week - the fish were clearly struggling and there were a couple lying dead under some trees. Yet this place was open and one idiot was even casting to the tree where those dead fish were! I questioned the owner - he seemed to think it was normal for the 'odd fish' to die in hot temperatures and shallower water. Unreal. The EA shut them down, how's that for a result! I walked up there a few days ago and there's aerators now running in two of the shallower lakes. Then I look on FB... several *****s moaning about the place being closed as they want to fish there this weekend

In reply to Post #4
You're wrong mate... yes, when it comes to carp and general coarse fishing, the tackle companies are pedalling some very dire stuff. Even the 'better' jackets and bottoms are only 10k rated. You really want a minimum of 20k and higher is Gortex or similar materials. By the way, Gortex isn't the be all and end all, it can still wet out and isn't mega durable on the cheaper clothing that uses it. Items aimed at trekking and what not? Better than fishing branded, but still not brilliant.

Back to fishing branded - look to the game fishing side of it. There are three companies I have gear from that offer fishing clothing that is designed for the job and 100% waterproof... Vision, Simms and Grundens. I have two Vision jackets that I use on the bank and in the boat, neither are Gortex, instead they are 3 or 4 layer laminates - I have never got wet, ever. Even fishing in the boat over in Ireland, with heavy rain all day - bone dry. I have a couple of Simms bibs and they are mega quality, again, never got wet wearing them, ever. One is unlined and the other has a thermal lining for winter. These are designed for fishing, not walking the dog or climbing a hill. Grundens fishing clothing is also awesome, I have a couple of their Gortex items I use when carp fishing, also two of their insulated jackets and use their deck boots a lot - not just in the boat, I also use on the bank, on super wet days - the only way to get wet feet wearing those is to submerge them! Best places to buy all this are the game fishing retailers and most of the larger EU retailers, especially in Sweden and Germany.

In reply to Post #14
Fish can see at night and a food item doesn't have to emit a scent to be attractive. I catch carp on wooden balls when fishing crayfish infested water... they look like boilies to the carp, even at night

In reply to Post #1
Thanks for that. I only wanted to have an evening on there and live over 100 miles from the location. Just thought it would be better than sitting in the bar watching all my work colleagues getting pissed... thanks again. Harry.

In reply to Post #1
Low stock, but there are good carp in there. Some massive bream - I had an 18 and a 17, different fish. Not an easy water, I fished it about ten years ago and was more or less the only person on it. Not a water you can just ruck up and catch, needs work. I had several good fish, but not saying any more. Just walk round it and it shouldn't take long to spot a few... a few cats in there too, something I didn't know until I caught a couple of them.

Trying to find out about fishing at Fawsley Hall, Daventry. Can't find a thing on the two lakes near the hotel, one is called 'Big Waters'. Asked the hotel, said fishing allowed, but didn't know who to speak to. Grrr. Got a business meeting there in a few weeks... thanks gents.

In reply to Post #1
None - it's a con. People buy into it and think it's catching them more fish, well, I've never used it and seem to catch more than those who do, i.e. a couple of my mates that I occasionally fish with. In fact one of them got onto a syndicate I fish last year and never had a run until he stopped using the stuff. Go figure, but we were catching carp easily enough before this **** came out. Waste of money, you may as well dip your baits in bin juice.