RJ

Got to agree with you, that blob is in no way a safe way to construct the rig. However, if it does give way the fish only has a hook to get rid of. I would rather place an overhand knot below the bead, then blob it. Better, but not perfect.

Peter, Take a Greys Prodigy, a Prologic and a Ron Thompson C14 carp rod. You are holding the same blank!! The Prologic is the upgrade version of the C14, having SIC rings and genuine fuji reel seat and better butt grip. (Both rods being built by Svendsen Sports) If you take all 3 rods and lay them next to each other it becomes obvious. All three have the same braided butts, all three have the same plain tips, all three have the same braided reinforcement on the tip joint. There are a couple of other companies who are using this very blank as well. I have not seen a Fox rod that has the same blank construction, BUT, the cheaper Fox rods do come from abroad. I think you would be supprised at how few blank manufacturers there are and how many companies use the same blanks.

This story really wound me up..... Would barbel enthusiasts honestly stock Barbel into a still water?? There is an established population in the Clyde, having been stocked in 1967 (i believe originally from the Seven) but anyone worth there salt knows, Barbel would not do well in Lomond, and would probably die anyway. They most certainly would not be able to spawn unless they ran into the Endrick or something. Would Pike anglers honestly go out and catch small Barbel (not the most prolific species) down south and then bring them up north as bait? Besides finding enough small barbel, the transportation of this high oxygen loving fish would not be the easiest thing in the world. Also, anyone who has Pike fished Lomond regularly with livebaits would know that silver sided fish such as Roach and Dace far outfishes dull coloured fish like Persh etc. I am 100% sure that these "Barbel" were infact gudgeon. I have caught HUNDREDS of these in the Endrick over the years, upto very good sizes...and yes, I have used them for Perch and Pike on the main loch. As for Ruffe, I used to use these regularly down in Englandshire when I lived there. They were killers for Pike...if not a little unusual. I lived in an area of high numbers of Pike anglers and Ruffe was an uncommon bait and therefore on its day, a killer. As for Carp in Lomond, I believe they have been there for at least 50 years. Ther was infact a 20+ taken in 1959 by a chap fishing Balmaha for Perch using worm. This fish was killed and taken back down south. There was another carp of 20+ pounds taken in, I think, the late 70's on sweetcorn, again in Balmaha. As for "introduced" fish, have a word with Pitlochry Research Station and ask them about Dubh Lochan on the East shores of Lomond!!!! See what was stocked in there around 30 years ago!!! This will give you some answers on Ruffe, and a few suprises. Funny how they forget what they were stocking when they come to there own research. Rant over.

Newt..I am fed up with stalking it with lures..LOL. Its stuffed with small pike, but I have had Perch to over 4 pounds...which is nice. Truth is, i have lived in an area where the only fish you can catch are Pike and Perch for some 17 years and I am fed up with them! Having said that, I will be trying for the bigger Perch that I have seen..rumours of fish to 6 pounds ..and I believe them!! Poledark, Vitalin was an option too..forgot to mention that..just bough a pair of Prodigy 1.5 tc roads for the place so small method feeders will be the main attack..see whats what

Ok, here is the problem... Imagine a lake of about 15 acres, hand dug in the victorian times. It has a small dam, maximum depth of 11-13 feet, fairly rocky bottom but some areas of silt/weed growth, a few small beds of lillies, rushes, and a water ski course!! Featurs include a large area of shallow water, bordered by reeds and trees, that looks a bit like a canal. Its shallow, maybe 18 inches to 3 feet with very deep silt. This opens into a weedy bay with a rocky bottom. In the North East corner there is a steep drop off some 3 rod lengths out, but little weed or cover. There is a dam wall in the North/North West corner with deep water close in, and a natural bank with reeds. Also there is a submerged wall about 3 feet high. The water has always had Pike and Perch, but recently a stocking has taken place of Roach, Bream, Tench and Carp. The Bream were about 1-4 pounds, the Carp, biggest 6 pounds, the roach, 2-3 inches upto about 14oz, the tench, no information, but they did get stocked. Now, I live in a desert when it comes to coarse fishing, and very few people fish for them. I have seen an 8 pound carp taken off the top, and seen roach topping. I have also heard of bream being taken on sweetcorn. Suprisingly, roach to about 12 oz have been taken by fly anglers fishing white mini lures for the Perch!!. I cannot get maggots or groundbait locally and it is a 150 mile round trip to the nearest coarse tackle shop!!!! What do I do??? How do I approach the fishing? With no others fishing it, I cannot ask people where they are catching etc. What baits do I use? I was thinking of going in with feeders on 6 pound line with a 4 pound bottom, fishing sweetcorn or bread flake..watcha think? Cheers in advance