Blank

I've got the bug, really into this challenge, and i must say, it makes you get off your ass! I wouldn't normally even think about going fishing for one hour - pointless, but with a bag of mixers and a rod, it's great!

Will fit in the quiver, but not as strong in wind, easy to erect...etc {2008 Editor's Note: Trakker bivvies for sale - please click here}

Now that wud explain a few things!

I tried to knock January of the list for the Surface Fishing Challenge today. The weather was cloudy, with little wind. Water temperature was cold due to it being frozen two days earlier, and an air temperature of 5 degrees. I cycled to the venue and scattered a liberal amount of dog biscuits in each of the four bays of the lake, in the hope of getting the fish feeding, and then leaving them to build confidence whilst I went home to get my gear. As I left the local EA officer called in and we had a brief chat before I cycled home. The fish had not showed any signs of feeding, but I would "chance it"; go back with some gear and hope they were feeding. I arrived back at the lake around 20 minutes later, to find the lake was still; not any wind whatsoever - perfect. There were ample amount of baits in each of the bays, which suggested that they were not feeding that confidently yet, but as I walked round, I saw fish starting to take the biscuits in a couple of the bays. I crept along the bank, keeping myself hidden behind the marginal cover. I sat and watched fish feeding in each of the four bays, and saw the two largest residents take biscuits within four feet of me; a common known as "The Eye" and a mirror knwon as "The Pig", of no real size, but of great importance to me, as the venue has a place in my heart; it's where I grew up...with a rod in my hand and carp in my net! I saw around 12 different fish all between around 6lb and low doubles, with the exception of one small fish, around 2lb. None of the fish seemed to feed with great confidence, and with fast fading light levels, the feeling that i was going to blank grew. I stuck into until dusk, but unfortunatly blanked. School holidays over now, so back to school now (please, NO!) and six months of hell! I mean, exams!

Tree People Nigel Weston 3rd January 2006 Konica Minolta DiMAGE X 31 Biddulph Country Park

Yep amde that mistake myself *wanted* a carp outfit, got it, and realised it was rubbish. Then had to fork out a fortune to get quality gear. Best just to use what you need at this stage, and then upgrade later with quality tackle.

Hi Mate, Personally, I wouldn't buy a carp fishing "kit" as they tend to be of very poor quality. I would go for items of tackle from the wide range of tackle under the "budget range", many companies now produce tackle to be sold at cheap rates to beginners such as yourself, or those not wanting to spend a fortune. I would personally look at the Wychwood Rage and Rogue range of equipment, aswell as Nash Outlaw, and Fox Warrior. Hope this helps, and good luck this year, Nige.

Personally, I would look at another dealer than bennetes, someone like Climax, Billy Clarke...etc will provide better service and products at better prices.

Yep agreed, why have 6 rods of the same test curve? I have more than two or three, but of varied strengths.

Winter Morning Warming; The mist rises... 3rd January 2006 Nigel Weston Konica Minolta DiMAGE X 31 Taken at Biddulph Country park

No offence, but thought you had 3 Rage's?

I ventured out to a totally new venue today. Had never before seen, let alone fished the venue in question, Biddulph Grange. I arranged the session with a mate, and both myself and Steve Baker arrived at the venue by around 9.00am. Upon arrival we noticed that around three-quarters of the lake was frozen. Fortunately, an area around the inlet was free; and was the area that we wanted to fish. I placed my baits at points in the overhanging trees that came from the island in front of me. Steve placed baits off the trees by the inflow, and in the middle of the bay, which was to my right. The weather conditions were quite mild, and as a result the lake steadily defrosted, and the like was ice-free as we left. It was cloudy, and quite misty, and we were quite confident in catching a kipper. A few hours passed, and we had recieved no indications whatsoever, until Steve recieved a series of bleeps. He left it as the line had stopped moving, and this payed off when it rattled off "good 'n proper" around 10 minutes later. The fish scrapped well and was in the net within a minute, and on the mat lay Steve's first fish on his home-made boilies - a chub! The rest of the day was very much unproductive, and the day soon passed without so much as another bleep. Temperatures started to drop steadily and we felt the cold more, as we began to see our breaths. We knew it was getting cold and that another fish was surely not to be, and we were right! Another successful blank for me, but a first for Steve, well done fella! Fishing to the Island at Biddulph Steve Baker, with a not-so carpy Chub

If we could all post favourtie shots and then maybe have a vote on the best?

kk, will do

Been with: Bavarian Guiding Service, my biggest 105lb my dads 143lb. carp to 26lb, Fully unguided Catfish Concept, my dads biggest cat was 173lb, and i ahd an albino of 137lb, carp: loads of 30's and the biggets, my 37lb (plus carp and cats for rest of group) fully guided and good servcie was experienced. Catfish Capers, Phil had biggest of 122lb, we all had cats over 100, and two carp to 21lb,. Had 50 fish in 3.5 daysd fishing, fully guided, great service.

They are basically an oil based additive in which you dip a selection of whatever your bait be, and allow them to absorb the given ingredient. Thus giving you an enhanced hookabit with that little extra.

Ok if we start a Picture competition? Your nicest pics of 2005.

Intended to fish a pit local to my home today, for both Carp and Roach. Armed with a pair of Carp rods, float rod, and a bag of dog biscuits for the Surface Challenge, plus other tackle, I walked to the venue in question. The walk is probably just under a mile, although it felt like a hundred miles as my tackle bag dug into my shoulder during the journey! After anticipating the sport of the day ahead, I was then very dissappointed to see the water, which hardly ever freezes, frozen By this time, the rest of my family were awake, and I managed to get myself a lift home - thank god! Lets Hope for some better weather tomorrow, I want to catch my 2006 kipper soon!

Having never fished in France myself, I can't really answer. I have a close friend who has fished all around France, and was a little unsure about trying Spain, after so many happy years in France. He was overwhelmed! He went from being a carp total man, to loving the scenery, cats, and the whole holiday! I defintaly love the Ebro, one reason being that if you hit the right spots, you will not see another angler for the duration of your trip, somthing which *I hear* is quite an uncommonthing among French lakes, unless you book the venue to yourself. In my opinion, whatever happnes you will enjoy your experiences abroad, I find that nice weather, combined with a nice relaxing week beside a fishery does the trick, whether it be France, or Spain, I'm sure you''ll enjoy it, and you never know, you might catch a fish too! I have really loved my experiences of The Ebro, and the carp and catfishing it has to offer. And will *fully* reccomend it to any angler wishing to get a rod bent like never before.

LOL - no joy, frozen solid

These may be of use to you: http://www.anglersnet.co.uk/authors/nigel01.htm and http://www.northern-monkeys.com/MONKEY-JUNIOR (if that's OK with Admin/Mods)

Good Luck, fully recommend the Rage's but get them in a shop together and have a play and a fele of them and then go for which u prefer. Nige

I would also look at: http://www.carpandcatbussters.com/ Steve Buss's company, well run and ex-spanish record holding company, with both excellent carp and catfish specimen fishing.

http://www.catfishcapers.co.uk/ Loads of options, accomodation included, went with them a cuple of weeks ago, great survice, plenty of action with all four of us having 100lb+ cats. Carp present, but a little hard to tempt, managed two carp to 21lb.

Cheers, will let you know how i get on