erik

why do you draw the conclusion that it the bait is the reason you're not catching? there could be many other factors at play. e.g predominance of naturals (the mealworm suggestion could compliment nicely), you're fishing the wrong areas etc. etc. if others are catching find out what they're doing in terms of bait application etc. It's all too easy to keep chopping and changing baits when they're not where you are going wrong. Whitebait does sound an interesting idea though. p.s on no account should you use trebles for carp.

also agree. would only use a pod as a last resort, i.e. when on concrete etc.

get your self an oval brolly based system. if you decide to fish the winter you can add sides or an overwrap. the amount of people you see camping with massive domes/picnic table etc, thus rendering themselves unable to move on fish is unbelievable. with a brolly you have all the protection you need and can set up and move quickly if need be.

get in the edge down there. bait a few overhanging bush spots and leave everybody else to wrestle with the weed.

don't follow the crowd and end up another angler purely stuck behind two rods all weekend without understanding the basics of fish behaviour. get stalking, you'll learn a lot more about patrol routes, feeding patterns etc. and become a better angler as well. for the price of a cheapy "beginners carp set" you could get a good quality but cheap reel, emblem s (leslies of luton i think were doing them for £48) or bottom of the range baitrunner etc, a mid range rod (£60 - 80), net (cheapest jrc 42" one is about £30, mat (£15 - £30), bulk spool of line (daiwa sensor is cheap £8) and some basic rig bits (£30 tackle shop can advise). all you need then is a small rucksack. for cheap bait try corn or worms etc. go to a fairly easy water find fish in the edge (be a bit stealthy) get em feeding and choose an opportune moment to pop your bait amoungst them. with reasonable quality kit like this you can add to it later to get a session orientated set up (add another matching rod and reel, some banksticks, cheap buzzers, hangers, bedchair,and brolly) as well and get more years use out of it. good luck and have fun. cheers erik [ 02. May 2003, 01:45 PM: Message edited by: erik ]