mikeakabigman

I've just recently returned from Maison Du Lac Bleu and can thoroughly recommend it. The owners are English and run the site, facilities are top notch as are the fish. They advertise in the angling press. This was my first at 40lb

Yep Aqua Dillo.......the dogs....*$*@****

Its amazing how different angling pro's reach opposeing conclusions, I'm just reading Gravel pit carping by Jim Gibbinson and he says that his experiments showed very little diffence in distances irrespective of the lead design.

I my opinion there are far greater influences on distance casting or hitting the spot accurately than lead design. I would have thought casting technique and rod/reel and line performance would feature more highly in achieving accurate / long casts. just an opinion you understand , not based on any technical knowledge.

I like to remove the swivel, but I also modify the lead's wire by stretching it slightly with a pair of fine nosed pliers. This increases the possible movement of the lead on the clip and also makes the wire a little finer so that it slips of the clip more easily should the lead get snagged. If required I also "doctor" the clip with a scalpel to widen the gap so that the lead can discharge very easily. Essential to this whole set up is not to push the rubber on to the clip too hard. I don't mind losing the odd lead , I would rather that than have the thought that a fish may be tethered somewhere and suffer a lingering death The biggest reason I like to remove the swivel is because I have had a number of occasions when the hooklink has tangled around it, especially on a big cast. Removing the swivel seems to have rectified this problem.

My best moment this year was returning to carping after a nine month lay off and catching a 26 mirror within half an hour of casting in, what a confidence boost. [ 17. December 2002, 11:16 PM: Message edited by: mikeakabigman ]

I just use a slightly converted builders wheelbarrow, I just don't see the point of paying through the nose for a custom built one that basically does the same thing. I start the load with my bedchair to create a wider base and rest goes on top...simple..... a bit like me really

A Fox x pod......I find it really fiddley to put together and the banksticks often get stuck in the x bit !!!. Gone back to ordinary bank sticks.

Which fish? ....... a 30+ Common (from Tarn ) Which permit?....RMC gold card Which rod?.........3lb tc Century NG's Which bivvy?.....Gotta Dillo How many kilos of what bait ..... 40k of Activate or NRG

Naaaah !! I get mine from one of the many second hand shops in Farnham, plenty of uuuuused goods to be had. Seems like baggylee is getting a lot of attention from the developers lately, are you a regular down there ?

Sorry Red, but I see no good reason to sack carp in the first place, let alone using sacks not specifially designed for carp. For me the sequence is this, catch carp, net it, weigh it, photograph it and release it. With as little delay as possible. In any case my club has banned the use of sacks, regardless of the COLOUR [ 20. September 2002, 06:45 PM: Message edited by: mikeakabigman ]

Can"t speak for the water that you"ve mentioned but I think this time of the year is brilliant for carping on most waters.

I ordered a one man from Aqua recently, they gave me a 3/4 week delivery time, does any one know if this is realistic please ?