SpecimenSean

Most places i will, some i wont and even that sometimes depends on day of the week. Theres one pond that is empty through the week but at weekend you get about 500 "smashed on cider" chavs but come Sunday evening its empty again.

hes from Stockport as well! Home of all the greats!

Ive bought the overwrap for my Chub S Plus shelter as a short stay alternative to the bivvy so that i can get it in a quiver. I put it up, yea great but this evening got home from work and checked up and it was literally dripping inside with condensation in the door area. Has anyone ever used a system like this and had similar problems?

ok from the man himself. Can i just say, i never said or thought Mr Wilson invented this method. Here we go.. ..."Stret-pegging is a highly effective method both in summer and winter. This involves presenting a static bait on the riverbed below a float attached top and bottom" then some blaaa blaaa then ..."the float is fished below the expected depth". some more blaaa blaaaa Hmmmm as i read on it says "the float should lie flat on the surface, if it disappears or tries to cock, lengthen the line between float and hook" Re reading this has only served to confuse me more, but im really eager to try this now! Maybe i could have a weekend off the crap OH MY GOD I MEAN CARP!!!!!

My idea of strett pegging is a method that enables you to fish a static bait in a flowing river. This comes from dun dun dunnnnnn JOHN WILSON!! I have a book at home, i will post an exert tonight!

Its easy enough to say "i would rather go fishing than watch telly" but no one fishes 100% of the time, and we all (well the normal people) watch telly so why not have a bit of light entertainment as a break. If theres a fishing program on 90% of the time i will watch it. Not for tips or instructions on how to catch my next specimen but more just to see someone catching a fish somewhere ive not fished before. I get more ideas for location than technique. These days i prefer Jeremy Wade to Matt Hayes for that reason and occasionaly that geordie prick but again, because of fishing location. I would happily watch more of these style shows than the standard "match tip, carp tip, bankside dinner tip" style of show.

Janet that bottom picture is stunning, you want to show them that, its a good advertisement!

Is there anything you can make from slightly turned freezer baits?

just to note, my view of strett pegging (i havent done much at all) was the float ledger style like Alans, i wasnt aware that you could also kind of trot it down stream!

a very imformative read, after all he is one of the angling greats!

did it not come with the pan/frying pan etc? why do you feel the need to cook everything in the tin? Get a steak and a baguette and have a steak sandwich!

what are they, XTR's, ST's etc? You cant really go wrong with any shimano baitrunner

good stuff, what did the problem turn out to be?

ive caught plenty of summer pike and all have gone back alive. Not saying it doesnt happen mind, but no need for a ban!

im seriously considering some sport fishing next year and Tarpon seems to be the more "affordable" of the bunch. I may just not eat for a bit. :|

Dales, do you read any of the carp mags? Grab a couple and have a read. Total Carp is a good one as most of the writers have regularr day jobs. Its put it in perspective a bit and you will see that there are more carpers out there like myself and others than you think, infact quite a few share the same views as some of the other members on this forum. Its good to see and makes for interesting reading sometimes!

I would like to see stupid projects like Archmedes screws being abolished. My local rivers are only in recent years recovering from pollution, now they are planning these at many wiers up the river. Also for years a bypass has been planned that would run through Woodbank park. I hope this never gets the green light as its about as peaceful as stockport gets down there at the moment. I would also like to take John to one of my secret little carp ponds and show him that not all carping is bad business but proper angling at its very best and that were not all chavs of the fishing scene!

my hero! Nice fish mate, as Dales said its got a lovely patterning to it and a real accomplishment on that tackle. Welcome to the family.

Dales, im a carper. My main stay of fishing is catching carp. I dont fish big commercials much (unless ive had a run of bad luck and need some catching to boost confidence or alternatively to test new tecnhiques etc). Being a carper doesnt mean sleeping all day waiting for a beep on a over stocked commercial. This is just how some choose to fish and so be it, good on em, i hope they have fun! I tend to target estate lakes, resers, mill pools etc. I prefer the more natural surroundings and they are generally quieter. Lower stocked waters also, in my opinion, offer much more of a reward. You will get just as giddy catching a decent double from a lower stocked water than a good 20 from a commercial. Carping has over the years become relatively easy to "catch" but so has many other disciplines. Its as easy to setup a float rig than a bolt rig and just as easy to catch on either, so anyone who says there is a lack of skill required in that department hasnt done much carping. My carping involves a lot of planning and patience, a lot of fine tuning and adjusting and it pays off. Anyone who thinks that carping is just turn up, chuck in, catch is more than welcome to tag along with me sometime. I think you will be amazed at how much actually goes in to catching a fish or two! HOWEVER, again, im not saying all carping is like this, you do get people who want to catch easy (and so be it) and unfortunatley you do also get the people that treat it as a mini social, get bladdered and get noisy. Another reason why i avoid commercials espeically ones just outside of urban areas. AND, it does highten my appreciation of the river etc when i take a break and get down there or get on the local mill pool and quiver tip for tench. After all, variety is the spice of life!

i was thinking, are you possibly putting too many loops in a blood knot (if this is what you are using 6 is enough). If you have a big long knot it can actually create a weak spot in the line and will cause frequent breakoffs.

try playing the fish with your drag set so lines takes when the rod bends about 60-70 degrees then control the spool speed with your hand. If a fish is running gently apply pressure to the spool with your fingers and slowly bring the fish under conrtol. If you feel the fish really wanting to go again take your hand off the spool and let it run again. Rinse and repeat. What knot you using to tie your hook?

the thing about the lift is its dead simple to setup and adjust. Just band a float (at the bottom) to your line and put an SSG about 1-2'' from the hook. Cast in, if the float goes under move the float up and if the float wont cock and stand up move the float down. When you get a bite the float will lift in the water and fall over, then stand back up and pull away. When it starts to pull away, strike! I love fishing like this early mornings and havent done any this season and as i type this i know what im doin next weekend!

hah me too, in the shed from weekend, they will be buzzin now im sure!

sonubaits soft hookers, no problem staying on. Otherwise dry them ever so slightly so they toughen a bit on the outside.