larsagi2010

Ok, so tommorow should be my first proper session of 2011! I am targeting Carp however as I am fishing strawberry sweetcorn the chances of Perch, Tench, Ide, Bream, Roach and Barbel or more than likely going to be my prime catches. Last year I found myself using the same method repeatedly (It caught fish so why fix what ain't broken!) However despite this I am thinking of doing a little experimenting to see if I can improve the results. As usual I will most likely have the whole lake to myself, so I am going to use this to my advantage Normally I would fish a quiet corner of this small lake, however I was thinking this will probably only lure a small percentage of the fish into the swim? So tommorow I am going to lay a mild bed of hemp/6mm expanders down in the centre of the lake (Spread quite widely in a 12ft squared box) And fish two method feeders loaded with soaked 6mm pellets, some hemp in them also... And on the hook I will have double Strawberry sweetcorn hair rigged .... Once I have casted out I will then lay about 15-20 kernals of strawberry corn over the top just to make the hookbait look a little less obvious.... Hopefully it will bring in results!! The lake is well stocked so I imagine fish will be nearby constantly. The bed is also pretty weedy so the mild bed of small spread out baits should really get them routing around on the bottom and hunting for the food hopefully getting their guard down... Does anyone have any tips/advice as I have never really carp fished at this time of year.... I was told keep feed down low-ish as a heavy bed can deter them.....

I think its nice to have the occasional ornamental fish stocked into my local commercial. Catching the occasional Golden Tench or Ghost Carp really makes a day special for me. I have always wanted to see some nice Koi stocked into the lake (Maybe 10-15) as I would love to catch them! Due to the high stocks of large perch in the lakes I imagine they would have difficulty reproducing as the bright orange/golden fry would certainly be a prime target lol..... But this would be good as it would help control the levels of them in there.

Is that the Shropshire union Canal mate??? I remember going up to Llangollen a while back and seeing a canal that was spotlessly clear in the summer... I was shocked when someone told me its the same canal I fish in Cheshire England.....

I would say so at a guess, it is VERY tarnished (Dull not rusty) I am sure the correct chemicals would have it looking like new as its condition is excellent. The writing is all painted in gold and sticks out, save with the oval around the edge. The background to the writing though it painted black. The only part that isn't tarnished it a marble side blob of what looks like gold-solder on the back.

I have found the odd Rod rest, weights and occasionally some floats/lures ect: on the bank. But about 3-4 years ago me and the other half found something WAAAAAY cooler! We were wandering along a stretch of the Shropshire Union canal at about 5pm looking for a nice spot to night fish. The only problem was finding an area we could access the water as (I Assume BW's) had dredged that section of the canal. Every 3-5 years or so they go along with a barge that has a digger arm on it, and scoop the bottom up and deposit it along the banks.... Anyway while we were walking along the field I spotted a HUGE safe!!!! I mean like 2 tons of safe that came to head height sticking out of the mud. Instantly I rushed home and got my trolley out the shed and also brought an assortment of crowbars ect: to try and prise the door open. After about an hour or so of working on the hinges I decided to try and move it onto my trolley, we both pushed it over and discovered the side had already been broken into (Looked like they had used a circular saw) or something..... I had a good look in with the torch and sadly there was nothing at all inside the safe I did however use my screwdriver to take of the plaque on the front which read ''E.Hipkins & Co, Dudley'' After some research I found this plaque was an insurance item put on the safe. Many moons ago to have use of the fire service you had to have insurance for the safe in the fire. If you didn't have this plaque on the safe in trouble they would simply turn away unless you paid them (Going back a long time) I have since had the plaque valued and it seems to be worth quite a bit if sold in the right area (About 2k-3k!) I still have the plaque to date though The safe I imagine would be worth alot too! If not in value for age, it would fetch alot down the metal weigh in! I however couldn't shift it Thats my strangest find while fishing!

I have used Marshmellow and had some success on it! You can also if wished drop a little food colouring on it (I chose red) and created literally red poka-dots... Carp love it lol.... I have never used them on the surface, but this summer I think it will be worth a shot.

I have been known to order Domino's Pizza to the riverbank!

I am sure I go overkill with line lol..... Mine would be 10lb-12lb for Carp

I will add that Double sweetcorn on hair rig, and soaked pellets on the method feeder accounted for nearly every Carp I banked in 2010

Bread Flake - Size 8-10 Worm... - Size 10-12 15mm Boilie... Size 8 10mm Boilie... Size 10 8mm Boilie - Size 12-14 Hemp... Size 18 8mm Halibut Pellet... Size 12-14 Sweetcorn - Size 12 Double Sweetcorn - Size 10 Maggot - Size 16-18-20 Caster - Size 16

This is my favourite reel for spinning. Its a good solid reel, excellent quality and has served me very well to date... Not baitrunner sadly but they may do a superior model?? http://www.ian-woods.co.uk/prods/mitchell-...nning-reel.html

I am located in Chester, Cheshire... So pretty close! Only downside is I am currently awaiting my driving test date (Should be end of March) Providing I pass its a deal mate

When I started Pike fishing I purchased a ''Sea fishing rod'' which was only about 4ft in length but of course very strong, I paid about £12.99 for it at my local tackle shop. He chucked me in a Shakespeare reel for £15 which came equipped with 15lb Braid and also gave me 3 small spinners free! So all in all a very cheap start to pike fishing... And I have to say 9 years on I still use the short sea rod for Pike fishing, and even the occasional float fishing session in which its landed some good tench! So it is possible to get some good gear for next to nothing. Its just a case of filtering through the bargains to find the higher quality ones Edit: http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/2-4M-8-FT-TELESCOPIC...3#ht_2551wt_905 This rod is similar to my telescopic sea rod I purchased... Might be worth looking into as you can keep the pike rig set up and literally just extend the rod on the bank and your good to go.... For the money is it worth the risk??? With mine being in the shop I could handle the rod.... so its a bit of an extra gamble on E-Bay... Here is a spinning reel to go with it.... http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/TOP-GUN-RD50-LINEAEF...3#ht_1600wt_905

I have actually witnessed Carp attacking my 45g Flat Method feeder as it sinks to the bottom. To mess with them we didn't load it with any bait and they still kept trying to suck it in (Maybe it still smells of bait?).... It seems a ledger/feeder visually has little impact on the fish at all. And in my example above... They saw the feeder, knew what it contained... and clearly didn't associate it with any danger. In fact they saw the splash of it entering the water more like a dinner bell!

I do occasionally use Floating Immitation sweetcorn on a hair rig with 1 real kernel to ''Critically balance the rig'' as they say lol..... But I have never yet had the confidence to use ''Just'' plastic. I did see on E-Bay a while back some plastic baits which are actually flavoured! These seemed much more promising to me and maybe this summer I will give em a go.

You could always try baiting up two spots... One just off the marginal shelf in front of you, then one about maybe 10-15 meters out in front of it. Start off fishing the baited swim in front of you, then when you land a fish re-cast out to the swim further out. Line bites will give you an indication of Bream moving back into the marginal swim also as the line will trail right through the first swim... if that makes sense?! Also if the far swim dries up, or you notice line bites from the nearer swim you can twitch the feeder into the baited swim that is closer to you.... Then you can chop and change with minimal disturbance.

I would say around the 1 mark. Nice surroundings, kingfishers landing on the rod... Or just watching the mist creeping along the lake in the morning light is my ideal world! Perch, Bream, Carp, Tench or Gudgeon.... Its all good to me

The red robin has been reported by many friends of mine as being a fantastic bait. I however have never used it (May try it this season!) And yep, it is red in colour (Quite dark though) and has a moderate smell. I have however used the Peach & Mango (With maplecream) you mentioned. A spectacular bait for Carp and has caught me plenty. I have always loved Dynamite Bait's products, some of my favourite baits of theirs are: Peach & Mango w/maplecream boilies in 15mm, Red StrawberrySweetcorn, Yellow Spicey or Scopex sweetcorn, and their Carp Method mix groundbait is also exceptional. I have heard good things about their pellets also but have limited knowledge on them. You can view the Robin Red on their website. http://www.dynamitebaits.com/products Click on the Boilies tab

Absolute bargain! Let me know how it is, I may grab a few for the tent when I go night fishing in the summer

And watch the cut is kept clean... A few have had Weils in our local Hospital recently!

As long as they still have them available they will normally be more than happy to do the offer for you. I signed up a few months back and got a free Mitchell avocate reel, I have to say its pretty nice

I am off to the local Lakes on Saturday... Hoping to get a couple of feeder rods out for the Carp.. Maybe swap one of my feeder rigs for a float setup if the Carp are still quiet Last year I saw a large Ghost Carp on the second lake basking in the margins, its was still patrolling the same route when I popped by a couple of weeks ago but didn't seem to be feeding.... My quest this year is to finally catch it!

I am thinking of giving one of these a go.... Really cheap, but worth a shot for the money http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vie...T#ht_1720wt_905

I presume they have a bad reputation then??? lol

I am gonna buy two of these.... For £20 you can't go wrong... and 10 tips!! http://www.dragoncarpdirect.com/products/A...Feeder-rod.html