garyb72

I got one of these the other day and 'chiristened' it today taking 9 carp off the surface. The rod is great, 2.5tc but you would not know it, great action and miles away from my 2.75 fox carp rod. What else could I use this rod for, pellet waggler? Gary.

9 off the surface today to 11lb. Good old Pedigree Chum Mixer!

I bought the Chub S Plus day shelter a few months ago and have been very impressed. Quick to erect, good quality and very strong. You can also get a Bivvy overwrap for it.

Cheers Budgie, will try one out. What can possibly go wrong at that price? Gary.

As in this on eBay....? http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/EZE-LAP-DIAMOND-SHAR...4#ht_2253wt_854

Thanks - I will try them out. Nothing more frustrating that a fish that gets off the hook during the fight! Oh I suppose one that gets off just as you go to net it, that hurts!

So what hook would you recommend for a pop-up rig to target carp? What works for you? I usually use curve shanks hooks size 8 or 10 with my bottom bait (boilie) rigs. I've tried pop-up rigs a couple of times using the same hooks as my bottom bait rigs but with no success yet.... Gary.

I use these bobbins and quite like them. I prefer the 'micro' size bugs. I like the 'anti rust chain' description, why couldn't they just say 'plastic'? The plastic chain on one of mine broke, where can I buy the spare parts in order to repair? I can't see anything on eBay? Gary.

Fished for carp from 11.30 to 5.15 on a small private club lake (nr Ivybridge, Devon) with a mate. We both blanked. It was bitter. Half the lake was frozen and I now know not to cast onto ice even though it was relatively thin! Lost a hook a lead as line got caught in the ice. We both had doubles last Tuesday so the extreme temperatures must have shut them right down.... I think I will now hang up my rod and await the spring.... Gary.

The alarms remained quiet apart from the odd beep. A couple of times it felt like a carp had taken the bait but blown it out before hitting the lead (I'm using bolt rig). I don't usually strike (or lift the rod) until I get a run. Maybe I need to use shorter hook lengths (mine are about 7-8")? I tried size 8 and 10 hooks with 14mm boilies (some single, some 1 and a half) always usually with a PVA mesh bag. Gary.

Had another blank carp fishing at the weekend, what made it worse is my mate a few swims up from me had 3 carp.. 2 small (4lb ish) and a nice double! Fish envy or what. ;-) It won't put me off from trying later on this week. That's fishing...

Thanks for the clarification and advice guys. Seems I wasn't miles away. Gary.

OK, so I understand the concept of clipping up, ie you can cast to the same position with relative ease but what I am struggling to get my head around is.... after casting out to the right spot you have to remove the line from the clip to allow the carp to take line off the reel (else the rod could be pulled in) so when you get a fish how do you then cast back out to the same spot as the line is no longer clipped up. I have seen that you can tie pole elastic to the line or put a piece of electrical tape around the line once clipped up but how does that help exactly? Does it mean you have to walk the line out on the back to the marker and then re-clip up again (not ideal as would take too long and not enough space to do this for me) or are you supposed to recast the line to a different spot (not to your baited spot else you could spook the fish) and when reeling in you stop when you see the marker, clip up and recast back to your baited location? I just need to get my head around this concept. Only been fishing for a few months (carp) since doing some as a kid 20yrs ago so learning every day... Gary.

Seems pretty good, thanks for the heads-up.

A blank for me too today. Tried a new private Carp pond for the first time with a friend and we both lucked out. Tried all sorts of different rigs/setups but not even a bite (neither of us). We did see a couple of decent carp in a weed bed but that was it. Oh and I cast too close to an island and got caught up in branches losing my tackle, you can imagine how thrilled i was. Still it was a nice day and very picturesque and also saw a kingfisher. Gary.

I got a Fox Micron alarm a few weeks ago from eBay for approx £20 and have been very happy with it. Works a treat.... I will get another when I have saved some more pennies for another carp rod and reel.

Yes it is addictive! I have been and got a fishing umbrella today, got absolutely soaked a few weeks ago and don't want that to happen again. Let us know how you get on.....

+1 for method feeder perhaps with hair rigged pellet (or sweetcorn) buried in the mix.

There are lots of float adapters but the ones I have and think are great are the ones from A&E Angling, here on ebay.... http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Feeder-Splasher-Pell...=item35a7d65a9e I've only really float fished up until recently and have just got into ledgering (been out 3 sessions so far) and the last one things started to come together (decided to use a method feeder) and I got a 9.7lb Carp and two more around 3lb during 4hrs. The 9.7lb carp was 10mins after I first cast out! I stick the ledger rod out and then have fun in the margins with the float rod trying out different baits, etc. I bought myself a Fox Warrior Z 2.75 TC Carp Rod for about £50, JRC XLITE Rod Pod (which is the nuts) for about the same amount and a Fox Micron Bite alarm which seems to work great, OK it has no tone control but it was only £20. I have used this site to gen up on different tactics and there is so much info a mere Google search away. Classic re the tree root, we've all been there. I thought I was pulling a fish in only to find someone else's rig attached and someone else thought they were playing a fish on the other side of the lake!

I carve some of the boilie away with a small knife to make the shape of the boilie a bit more irregular. You've got to fool those cunning Carp.... What size boilie did you get, I generally use 15mm and a size 10/12 hook.

LMAO! I can't see the attraction of pole fishing either personally but what do they say, don't knock it until you've tried it and all that. A boat that delivers bait? Have you been on the beer? ;-)

+1 for Bacon Grill (from Tesco, dear though at £2.41 a tin). Leave it in the sun while fishing and you get a nice stiff crust on it which helps it stay on the hook.

Thanks for your advice Pearbo! Much appreciated. I used a feeder for the first time today and made the pellet mush like you said and within 10mins I had a 9.7lb Mirror Carp. Result. Within the next couple of hours I caught a 2.8 and 3.0lb Common Carp.

How far in advance could this paste be prepared and still be OK to use?

Yeah I'm from Ivybridge, formerly of Plymouth. I went to Cadover the other day to look around. I have just started to get back into fishing after a 20yr absence. Became a member of PADAC a couple of months ago and have only fished at Filham lake so far as it is just around the corner to where I live. Had my first double figure Carp on Bank Holiday Monday (on a light float rod). I tend to float fish but have recently bought a carp rod, reel, rod pod and alarm and have started to give ledgering a go but not much success yet sadly. Going to try an inline method feeder tomorrow i think. One thing you might be able to help with, how long should I leave my bait out there without any bites? I get a bit impatient after about 30mins and want to reel in and cast out somewhere else! I will try Cadover soon so will heed your advice about peg 1. Just hope I don't get a horrible eel! Cheers, Gary.