The Reel Deal

Yes. I have the four magnet jobs. So, he whipped out a magnet, did he change to mono, end of problem?

I have a set of them and really liked them at first but am driven to the edge with them now. The problem is that I`ve been using braid mainline since I got them and any sort of wind will have them incessantly bleeping, driving me and fellow anglers batty! Batteries can run down in a session and I`m out with my screwdriver farting around, replacing batteries. Not what you want. I`m going to sell the little swines! Have any of you users have changed from braid to mono and noticed a BIG difference? I know I probably should change to mono but I love the braid as most of my angling is carried out at distances of, usually 80 yards or thereabouts. Will a change to mono rekindle my troubled love affair with "The Neville". Tell me before I give him the shove.

Always wanted a set of those beauties

County Cavan is said to have 365 lakes! What more can I say.

County Cavan is said to have 365 lakes! What more can I say.

No Tony, they seem to be hulled oats, maybe it`s a pet store product. Used to bulk out bream groundbait as a particle.

No Tony, they seem to be hulled oats, maybe it`s a pet store product. Used to bulk out bream groundbait as a particle.

Groats are hulled oats but when I went to the local agri outlet they didn`t know what I was on about. They showed me rolled oats. Do you buy them in these places or pet shops and are they know as something else?

Groats are hulled oats but when I went to the local agri outlet they didn`t know what I was on about. They showed me rolled oats. Do you buy them in these places or pet shops and are they know as something else?

Obviously the Starship Enterprise, common enough occurance, wouldn`t worry about it too much. Now, if it was full of Klingons........... Did it bring the red eyes on though?

Obviously the Starship Enterprise, common enough occurance, wouldn`t worry about it too much. Now, if it was full of Klingons........... Did it bring the red eyes on though?

Nice one Hoppy. In the shop it indicated on the Petzl stand that you could get filters that replace front plastic/perspex face, in blue and green. Anyone try them? Where was I reading last year, probably here, that you`re nightvision recovers much quicker when exposed to red light, I think.

Anyone with a Nokia phone or similar, I`m sure, with a "Composer" function can make up their own screamers. I have three different ones on my phone which I`ve made up, so if my mates have copped the first one it`s on to another, as the bivvy door comes crashing out.

Anyone with a Nokia phone or similar, I`m sure, with a "Composer" function can make up their own screamers. I have three different ones on my phone which I`ve made up, so if my mates have copped the first one it`s on to another, as the bivvy door comes crashing out.

Got my new shiny Petzl Zipka LED head ornament today. Cracking piece of technology, more toys for boys! Don`t tell the missus. However, one is in a quandry as to what to do with my perfectly formed Petzl Zoom and back up Maglite torch. I`m sure I`ll store them in a box, wrapped in soft tissue surrounded with sprigs of Lavender for a start. What happens next year when you can get a LED implanted into your forehead? Enlighten me.

Aha, nice one Rob, but I think we`re all a bit guilty of having the "Boots Perfume Counter Syndrome" wafting about us as we unveil our latest dip, bankside, with the lads downwind. Like the Bisto add on TV. Yeah, a big problem with wind retention would be a zipped bag and it`s clinging ability. Fox dome nicely expels unwanted wafts thro`it`s vented roof, what an invention!

Mate of mine hangs two small sacks, like the ones you get with washing powder, as it used to be, but now tablets, full of Active 8`s in the doorway of his two "person" bivvy, one each side, must ask him the next time. The area around his bivvy is barkin`

Just recieved my bag of Solar Pop Up mix, yes the Dayglo Pink girls!. Followed the very easy instructions and made a three egg mix. CONVERTED. No cork balls for me anymore, this has to be the best gear around! Rolls like playdough and cooked in a dry saucepan, non stick for 3 mins. Couldn`t be easier and no slopping around with mucky water and the likes. Dozens of pop ups hardening off for the next blank.

Does your sleeping bag smell like Steptoes` wardrobe? Then, when you unpack it after each sessions angling!!!! to air it on the clothes line, before you roll it up and bury it with it`s old codger scent, throw in a few sprigs of lavender from the garden or leg it down the garden centre and fill your pockets with the stuff. Works a treat. How do you fumigate your`s or do you?

There is a private/day ticket water near Roosky, run by an English angler, Lakelands Fishery I think, that has carp to 22lb(out last year to a match angler fishing pole in margins with sweetcorn) and large tench and bream. Apparently it`s a one rod only water and no night fishing but is usually busy. This sort of thing is a novelty over here as there are few if any day ticket waters with a big head of good fish. It`s a small lake, a couple of acres at most but has all the facilities. Otherwise, throw a shed load of bait into the Shannon and sit on the spot for a few days. They say that this is essential, ie to stay on one swim because they will come to you.

There is a private/day ticket water near Roosky, run by an English angler, Lakelands Fishery I think, that has carp to 22lb(out last year to a match angler fishing pole in margins with sweetcorn) and large tench and bream. Apparently it`s a one rod only water and no night fishing but is usually busy. This sort of thing is a novelty over here as there are few if any day ticket waters with a big head of good fish. It`s a small lake, a couple of acres at most but has all the facilities. Otherwise, throw a shed load of bait into the Shannon and sit on the spot for a few days. They say that this is essential, ie to stay on one swim because they will come to you.

Piker, http://www.mainlineangling.com will give you alot of info on Active 8 and other base mixes in the range.

Not a tip, quiet the reverse. How do you stop your lens from misting up on cold nights just as you hold your fish for a timed shot. Someone told me that you can buy some chemical to coat the lens with. Correct?

With the new, probably not so new now, Dayglo colours etc available for making hookbaits, how critical do you think colour is? I`ve caught equally, one morning recently with my mate using bright baits and me using dark fishmeals, so what`s the crack? Is it another commercial buzz? Does it really work when you`re fishing in, say, 14`, on the bottom in silt, even popped up? Are you going to be able to distinguish shades at deep depths? I imagine it`s a touch of both. Both attractors, firstly and then colour, if at all. Unnatural or what? What living creatures in the waters we fish are fluorescent? But I know they catch and would you switch over completely to a new fad?

Gaffer, I roll my own and roll different sizes and use all sizes and shapes. Guys take a look at my boilies and, you can see them thinking, Jeez, they`re not perfectly spherical and they`re all different sizes, gross. Had one guy tell me that if they`re not perfectly formed you wont get those extra yards on the big chuck! Could be, as you haul them from the margins.