In reply to Post #8
Thanks for this

I popped onto site to ask a question and got distracted by this and ordered 3 x 10ft rods which I didn’t need and looks like a rod hold-all is now required. Almost as much as the rods 😂😂😂

It could be a bad memory but im sure im right😂😂😂 a named angler on MKF water getting banned years ago for placing rigs and bait whilst swimming on a lilo. I think it was the Pan lake.

Hands up i use a baitboat occasionally but awaiting surgery. So sharp swinging moves are a no no. The baitboat or should I say anglers are the problem and etiquette which is on life support is slowly dying.

My grudge or peave is against dinghies, motor boats or row boats out at range dropping bu kets of bait and rigs. If the angler is on his own how does he place his other rods without leaving the live rod unattended. Its alright if someone is watching the rods as in the YouTube video but an angler on his own?

Next peave is unattended rods on YouTube with the alarms screeching, spools churning and bobbins bouncing by named anglers. For what seems like ages. I thought the rules were no more than 9 metres from rods🤔

In the days of instant anglers and I must catch for albums.

I started fishing as an 8 year old. Usual float and ledger then at 16 discovered carp so 55years later yesterday evening totally out of the blue the neville screamed and it was all off at the races. A short while later mirror in landing net. Looked big so did the usual rod in right hand net in left a lift and on the mat. The fish was halfway out of water, ooh thats heavy. So bit the main line and a double hand lift to mat.

Then in sling and lift up scales. It was 40lb 2oz.

Woo hoo my first 40 in 55 years. That's not instant just add water carping. Sometimes you just have to wait for good things

I have just done the night under a brolly, no groundsheet, with a king size mozzie mesh thrown over.

I am like crack cocaine to mozzies and insects they cant get enough.

For the first time I used incognito, as I had run out of skin so soft, I didn't rub it in just liberal coating and let it dry. Here i am now still typing in the shade on the bank and so far love bite free .

Will be going back to skin so soft when it arrives. I think anything citronella works for me and its cheaper than a new bivvy.

Another idea if its a dry night/day cant you just take inner shell from tian and 3 poles make it into a sealed wigwam. Not pretty but worth a try.

Just looked and it shows

11 Sept 2003 at 9.04pm

Where has that time gone

Don't do many overnighters but mainly day sessions. But my philosophy if I haven't used it in a year dont take or leave in the car

Had a full on crisis in 22, lost everything and I mean everything! Gave up on life and and was at the lowest point in my life. Months of counciling, life help courses and sorting my life out. Was advised by mental health practitioners to take up some hobbies again and look for new hobbies that are not solitary. So got myself sorted mentally and stabilised my life. Started golf but its never taken a hold and clubs are still in lockup for the last 18 months. Then 1 day thought I will get rods out again.i now live 400 yards from a small day ticket water and had done so for a year. Went for a day and thoroughly enjoyed it. Usual day ticket dramas *******s etc. But good. Went for 1 day a week for a year and eventually got offered a syndicate place for last winter and now a yearly ticket. Still only doing 1 day a week and the lake is 1/2 mile away go with a neighbour as my new missus is worried im on my own but I now look forward to every trip and now spring has sprung I'm loving fishing and watching nature again 👍 its not about large carp of numbers its everything that goes with it.

My advice is if you think your life is spiralling out of control seek help dont try and cope it doesn't work.

My second bit of advice is dont get rid of your fishing kit 😎😎😎

Sorry if this has babbled on 🤞🏻

I've got the ridgemonkey 750 and use a deeper on the front.

I've got an old meccano strip bolted to front of handle and a short bar which slips through the meccano holes and moves up and down with waves 👍

Total cost of £1.49 for the strip and i had the bar in my shed. Its carpy green so all good and the meccano stays fitted and fits in bag. Not super slick but does the job

In reply to Post #2


My old tempest had a skull cap fitted since day 1. All it took was to push 3 poles in and tighten 5 straps. Never suffered with damp baldy head syndrome