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Julian

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Everything posted by Julian

  1. Excatly, it's one of those sayings that has almost been accepted as always being misused. There was a regional reporter on central news a few years back that always used to get it wrong, but he thought it was a clever word so kept using it... Funnily enough, think he's now in prison for attacking somebody!
  2. It looks like a Titan 2000, which were a bit bigger than the originals. Had one myself. Great design... shame about the build quality!
  3. Interesting link, Elton. The words 'steer' and 'clear' spring to mind! And as for the price... I think it's him that's having the dream! At £5k for the 250lb, if you say they are all 20lb at best, that's over £400 each - though as he says, some are double figures so you're paying best part of £400 for a double figure fish! He's not even mentioned if they are health checked, so I can only assume they are not, which would add another few hundred pounds on it (not to mention you may have to kill some to get it!). No mention either of age – if they are old fish the doubles could stay doubles! Far better to buy a healthy, young stallion with a proper pedigree from somewhere like Priory. I pay about £100 for a four year old fish between 7-11lb, which could easily be 20lb in a year or two, and in the right conditions go on to do a whole lot more. Julian
  4. Nice one, Elton. Cracking fish that one.
  5. Sounds like the conditions were challenging to say the least! Some cracking catches and some great images – credit to the continuing work Steve does with the water. Just wanted to congratulate Elton with his first 30, well done mate, can’t wait to see the photos! Well done to all
  6. Hi All, I had a special 2008 Limited Edition Carp Calendar published for my NorthWestCarp website. I have just ten left over after all my orders have gone out, so after clearing it with Elton, I thought I’d give you guys first refusal should anybody fancy one. The calendars are A4 in size, and have a page for each month and an additional cover page. Each month features a stunning waterscape image, with all types of waters featured. Although it’s been done as a carp calendar, there are only two shots which show rods, so it would suit any angler to be honest. I’ve posted a couple of examples below. The price is £9.99 which includes postage in a card mailer to any UK Mainland address. Any payments received on or before Thursday will be posted same day by 1st class RM, so you should receive pre-crimbo, any after that will be posted same day but obviously may not arrive in time. All payment details for pay pal and cheques here: http://www.northwestcarp.co.uk/Latest-News...endar_2008.html Many thanks… Julian
  7. Hi All, I had a special 2008 Limited Edition Carp Calendar published for my NorthWestCarp website. I have just ten left over after all my orders have gone out, so after clearing it with Elton, I thought I’d give you guys first refusal should anybody fancy one. The calendars are A4 in size, and have a page for each month plus additional cover page. Each month features a stunning waterscape image, with all types of waters featured. Although it’s been done as a carp calendar, there are only two shots which show rods, so it would suit any angler to be honest. I’ve posted a couple of examples below. The price is £9.99 which includes postage in a card mailer to any UK Mainland address. Any payments received on or before Thursday will be posted same day by 1st class RM, so you should receive pre-crimbo, any after that will be posted same day but obviously may not arrive in time. All payment details for pay pal and cheques here: http://www.northwestcarp.co.uk/Latest-News...endar_2008.html Many thanks… Julian
  8. Thanks for the link Newt, Though I have to confess I’ve already found that site and watched most of the tutorials! Only problem is, most info refers to new carbon type rods that don’t require a varnish or old cane – can’t find any info on varnishing a fibreglass rod – unless I’m looking in the wrong place! Cheers… J
  9. Thanks for the tips guys. What sort of varnish should I use? Can I use the same varnish for the guides or should I use an epoxy resin? Cheers… Julian
  10. I’m looking to restore a 10ft 2-piece fibreglass leger rod passed down to me from my late father. I think I’ve learnt enough to have a go at whipping the eyes, etc, but I’m after a few tips about restoring the actual blank. I’ve read that fibreglass blanks don’t really need varnishing as they are waterproof anyway, but the rod looks to have been varnished in the past – probably when it was made judging by the poor state it’s in! I’d like to restore it ‘as was’ and so need advice on how to get the old varnish off, and put a new one on. I’ve read that glass from a broken beer bottle, or the back of a razor blade in the best thing to scrape it off with but would like to be sure before attacking the rod! I’ve read that a lot of people finished fibreglass blanks with wax as apposed to varnish – might this be a better way forward once the old varnish is off? I’m a complete novice when it comes to materials, methods and techniques so any advice would be greatly appreciated. Cheers... Julian
  11. Thanks for the comments. No worries with links Chris. Cheers… Jules
  12. Hi All, As some of you might already know, my wife is a designer and for a number of years has produced designs for furnishings and wallpapers sold via High Street outlets such as Next, Ikea, and B&Q. After Izaak was born she was unable to go back to work on a part time basis and so has decided to start her own business doing high-end wedding stationery. Although I do say so myself, she is a really talented designer and all the products are handcrafted to the highest quality. With Elton’s help I’ve just finished a website that you can view here: http://www.inspiredbylisa.co.uk If you know anybody in the market for wedding stationery either now or in the future, I would be extremely grateful if you could give Lisa a mention. There are loads of designs to choose from, though as everything is handcrafted, Lisa can create whatever the client requires. I’m also sure we can work a bit of a discount for anyone that comes via an Anglers Net recommendation . It’s early days yet but we’ve just completed a few wedding fairs and orders are starting to come in. My plan is to help Lisa create a thriving business so I can become a husband of leisure and go fishing all the time – so please, help where you can. Thanks for reading, and thanks to Elton for letting me post this up. Julian
  13. You’d be best with a rigid-frame bivvy if you want it to stand up to the elements. Forget anything anything ‘dome’ related or with fibreglass poles – they won’t stand up to a big wind and are a nightmare to get up in a stiff breeze. You just want something you can whip open and peg down with zero fuss. The easiest for this would be something from the Nash range. I have a Titan Viper and swear by it, I’ve had a few now and they will stand up to the harshest winds whilst others all around me get swept away in big winds. I use one without a groundsheet and can set it up and peg it out in about a minute. Your only problem will be the price if looking for new as a Titan will set you back over £400 new. Ebay is an option for second hand but some of the older models were prone to leaking so you need to ensure you get a good’un. Other option is an Armadillo but cost would be similar to a nashy. There are cheaper rigid frame bivvies out there; I’ve seen this one in the flesh and it looks very good for the money: http://www.trevstackle.com/content/fr300__1_man_xs_bivvy Cheers… Julian
  14. Hi all, Can anybody help with this visitors question to the forum? The Visitor has been directed to this thread so could any answers / help be posted below. Cheers, Julian. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- I want to replace my baitrunner reels and despite reading some reviews I cannot decide between the Shimano XTE A 10000 or the Fox Stratos. Any advice and opinions would be very welcome. Thanks John Walker --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  15. In addition to suggestions already made; If you have actually watched them swimming over your baits and ignoring them, then there is obviously a problem with the bait or presentation, in the first instance, it could also be that they are ultra shy carp. I would have a play about with a few different baiting strategies. If you want to stick to boilies I would go for a fresh rolled bait rather than a ready made, and would try a few different tactics – tight baiting with minimal freebies, or scattered and liberal baiting over a wider area, or stringers, bags, etc. From what you have said I get the feeling the fish may be clued up so I would tend to stay away from PVA bags as I have noticed fish on a number of waters steer well clear of very neat little piles of bait. I would also explore other baits - naturals for certain if they are allowed – I’ve yet to find a fish that won’t have its interest aroused by a worm, a few grains of corn, or some hemp, when offered in the right way. Carp are very inquisitive creatures, and often if you offer something different from the crowds, in a way or place that they are not used to seeing it, you stand a much better chance of success. Aside from the fact that every boilie may have different ingredients, they all remain small round balls that most carp have already been caught on before – have you tried making your baits small squares or odd shapes – I’ve had results on this in the past when targeting shy-feeders. It sounds like you have a few good vantage points where you have spotted the fish so I would do some testing and leave the rods at home. Take a few different baits, apply a bit using different techniques, and see what they do. If they ignore neat patches, stay away from PVA bags, etc. If they get their heads down over a carpet of hemp or corn, then try a grain of corn or just a single boilie fished over the top. If they respond to a liberal scattering of bait then use a single boilie over catapulted bait. If they mop up a light scattering of maggots, then try a maggot ring – you get the idea. In the same way, by observing what they do when there are no rigs in place, you can often work out where the problem lies. If they still ignore everything you do, then it’s likely that the lake is either high in natural food so they don’t have to take the chance on introduced bait as often, or it may just be that they are clued-up fish. If they get their heads down straight away, then you know it’s something to do with your set up. As has been mentioned, I would refine gear a little, rarely do I fish hooks bigger then a size 8, and they are more than enough to land carp of such sizes. Also, try doing away with the leadcore for a while; see if this helps, with 15lb line you should have no problems casting, etc. Also, try experimenting with different rig lengths and types – try one of four inches or one a bit longer – I have most success on rigs of nine or ten inches. Try a fluro hooklink instead of braid – again see how they react and alter your tactics accordingly. Have a think about line lay also – are you back-leading, slack lining, etc, - if you think something is spooking the carp – try and observe different techniques to see what happens. If they feed over spots with no rig, but then ignore the spots once a rig is back on them, then I would say they are clued-up. The way I usually get around this is by fishing spots where they are not used to finding bait or getting caught. Supposing everybody puts a bait on the same spot on the most popular swim, the fish will soon become conditioned to the danger of investigating bait in this area, which could be one reason why they have ignored your offerings thus far. You’ve done some feature finding which is great, so I would have a go at baiting a few spots that others might ignore. Try and apply some bait a few times a week in a spot they are not used to getting caught from and they will soon respond – I have used this method time and time again on pressured waters, but the key is to bait areas that others won’t fish. Hope this helps… J
  16. Hi SW, Thanks for the kind words about the article. In relation to the images, we’ve been here before. My primary concern when taking a photo is the welfare of the fish. As such, nine times out of ten, my mind is concentrating on just that, rather than worrying about wearing a cheesy grin. I’ve seen too many fish damaged on the bank by those who are more concerned with the outcome of the picture than what’s actually happening with the fish. As I mostly fish on my own, the vast majority of my images are self-portraits, where it is of even greater importance to do the job quickly and safely, and if the result is that I’m not wearing a smile when the shutter closes, then so be it – I can live with that. I’m not going to sit there rattling off tons of photos just to get one with a happy face. The shot of the 33lb carp slapping my face shows just how much power a big fish can have, even when fully cradled on the mat, and having witnessed some terrible scenes in the past, I feel it’s all too easy to take your eye of the ball. On the rare occasion that somebody else is behind the lens, and the fish behaves, you’ll often see me with a smile on my face, after all, I’m never happier than when I’ve got a fish on the bank, but I don’t look to sort my images on the basis of whether I’m smiling or not, I select images to accompany my work that I feel show the fish to their fullest, because as far as the image is concerned, I feel it’s the fish that’s important, not me. As a writer, I would hope my words express my thoughts, rather than relying solely on an image, which after all, can only ever convey a split-second in time. However, if I think on, and I’m able, next time I have a kipper on the bank I’ll wear a big smile and a party hat just for you. Tight Lines… Julian
  17. Hi all, Can anybody help with this visitors question to the forum? The Visitor has been directed to this thread so could any answers / help be posted below. Cheers, Julian. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Hi there, I am new to Kayak fishing and trying to get info on Kayak fishing in the Essex area. Could anyone that is involved please let me know how best to go about this or if there is a local club/group. Many thanks Cracker --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  18. Hi all, Can anybody help with this visitors question to the forum? The Visitor has been directed to this thread so could any answers / help be posted below. Cheers, Julian. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- To bury or not to bury!? I have been seeking advice on the best way to use the "method feeder" on my local river, it appears that majority of articles I have read, and the same goes for all the illustrations I have looked at, all prefer to bury the hook length deep in the centre of the feeder. I would expect, that if you are guaranteed to land in the centre of a feeding shoal then this way of presenting it would be preferable, but I’m fairly sure that river fishing (as opposed to a commercial) would be more unpredictable and less beneficial. Am I right in saying this? All replies and advice would be most grateful. cheers Danny. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  19. Hi all, Can anybody help with this visitors question to the forum? The Visitor has been directed to this thread so could any answers / help be posted below. Cheers, Julian. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Hi All, I have just taken my kudos braid feeder 350 to bits to clean it at the end of my season and I now wish I had left it well alone! A spring shot out of the bail arm end and I don’t know how it fits back. Can anyone help please? Cheers… Tony --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  20. Hi all, Can anybody help with this visitors question to the forum? The Visitor has been directed to this thread so could any answers / help be posted below. Cheers, Julian. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Can you use vitalin dog food for method fishing and if so how do you prepare it? Thanks, Gary --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  21. That pretty much sums it up for me. Also, your actual breaking strain might be less, or even more, than stated on your mainline/hooklink packaging. Some manufactures are prone to exaggerating breaking strains and others are found to underrate them. As such, using a 15lb mainline and a 12lb hooklink is no guarantee that the hooklink will always snap first. So much is dependant on the type of knots used for both hooklinks and mainlines, that unless you’ve actually tested your knots on a tension meter to see what they let-go at, it’s all pretty immaterial.
  22. Have a mate down in London who’s in a band called The Fallen Angels. They appear to be on the verge of big things, and he’s certainly a very talented guitarist. Just sorted My Space so you can have a listen here: http://www.myspace.com/thefallenangels5150 Peace out. J
  23. Thanks for the kind words. As for the canal carp, lets just say the next couple of pieces should make interesting reading. J
  24. Hi all, Can anybody help with this visitors question to the forum? The Visitor has been directed to this thread so could any answers / help be posted below. Cheers, Julian. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Hi, Just wondered if anybody has been fishing off Cuba? Any info or tips appreciated. Cheers… Lionel --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  25. I think the main consideration with a bed chair is how often you are going to use it. If you are only doing the odd night then it’s pointless shelling out lots of brass, but if it’s going to get some stick then you obviously want something that’s going to last. Also, weight comes into it. If you can unload behind your swim or it’s not a big walk to your lake, then a large three leg job might be fine, but if like me you have to walk half a mile to your lake and go over two stiles – then the lighter the better! I started off with a cheap padded sun-lounger from B&Q that I paid about £15.00 for. Worked fine but as the legs were not adjustable it was a bit of a pain on uneven ground. Have always used JRC bedchairs, light and versatile – just the job. J
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