In reply to Post #185
It just has a narrow strip of material to connect it to the reel seat. Spins for nearly 2 minutes

I was given it as a leaving present from my last job. I did the drawings and the Engineer did the machining.

In reply to Post #176
Line off the bottom is far more common than having it coming off the top, although I have seen the odd person using it with the line coming off the top.

Many pins have a line guard which makes it impossible to fish with the line coming off the top, and it feels unnatural to anyone who has used a fixed spool.

My new 'pin is custom made in aircraft aluminium, just a spool and bearings, no backplate, no handles, no line guard, nothing - a proper 'back to basics' reel, although I'm sure the traditionalist wouldn't approve! Only had a quick go on the lake so far, the river awaits!

In reply to Post #103
http://www.baitandfeedcompany.co.uk/

Have a look at their assorted mixes, £17.50 for whole and £20 for 5kg of chopped baits.

In reply to Post #78
mrToprods

I notice you sometimes have an odd way of not leaving any spaces between your full stops and the first letter of your next sentence. I've never seen this before, except, strangely, from the very Ebay seller you claim to be buying your 'wonder paste' from!

Also, you don't use an apostrophe when writing "I've" - and nor does the Ebay seller!

Ever more co-incidentally, he is also from Manchester!

Could there perhaps be something you aren't telling us?

In reply to Post #14
I went to Willow Grange last night, first time there, and was impressed! The quality of the bait is excellent and the guy was very helpful. They stock the cheapest hemp I can find, and in three different sizes too!! Plus a huge range of pellets and they stock the entire CC Moore range too.

www.willowgrange.co.uk

PARTICLE PREPARATION GUIDELINES

Thanks to www.ccmoore.com for the following table:

Particle, Pre-soak minimum (hours), Boil/Simmer (minutes)
TIGER NUTS 24 30
MINI TIGER NUTS 24 30
JUMBO TIGER NUTS 24 30
CHICK PEAS 12-18 30
HEMP SEED 24 Until kernels split
LARGE HEMP SEED 24 Until kernels split
TARES 12-18 30
MAPLE PEAS 12-18 30
MILO 6 30
FRENCH MAIZE 24 30
BUCK WHEAT 6 10
GRADED WHEAT 6 15
GRADED BARLEY 6 15
PEANUT KERNELS 24 30
ADZUKI BEANS 24 30
WHOLE BRAZILS 24 30
BROKEN BRAZILS 12-18 30
HARICOT BEANS 12-18 30
RED KIDNEY BEANS 12-18 30
PINTO BEANS 12-18 30
SOYA BEANS 12-18 30
BIRD MIXES * 6 15
MAIZE 12-18 30
RED MAIZE 24 30
SWEET LUPINS 24 30

*bird seed mixes must not contain peanuts, these may be hazardous to the fish.


NOTES

1. Hemp - during certain times of the year, when hemp becomes difficult to split, follow the above process and then wash it with fresh water, pour boiling water back onto it and leave it to soak in a bucket or pail until it splits (maybe a further 24-48hrs). Don't panic it will split!

2. When any product is boiled or heat treated the molecular structure and nutritional profile (including attraction properties) are denatured and damaged. This means that the less boiling time required to make the particles suitable for use, the better. However, it is vital to ensure particle baits are correctly prepared to avoid fish damage. Therefore, pre-soak particles for longer than usual, making required boiling times shorter.

3. To improve attraction properties, leave the boiled particles to soak and partly ferment in their naturally occurring sugars that remain in the boiling water. After several days certain particles will start to form a caramelising liquid that makes the final particle much more attractive.

4. Tiny particles such as hemp, wheat, barley, dari, rapeseed, or mixes of tiny birdseeds, can also be prepared by putting in a lidded bucket or coolbox overnight, with boiling water added.

5. Peanuts MUST be human grade, non-human grade nuts may contain the Aflotoxin fungus, which KILLS FISH. If in doubt, don't use them, or buy peanuts from the Supermarket still in their shells.

6. Maximising soaking times and minimising boil times will result in better nutrient levels in the finished particles. Most particles can be soaked for up to a week before boiling,