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No stockists anywhere near me unfortunately (2hr drive plus) for Free Spirit. I've taken a punt and ordered 2 x Powermesh from Angling Direct online (so I can return at my local branch if it doesn't fit the bill). I will wait on reviews for the Free Spirit Helical which might be a future...

Any sugestions for new rods around ~£130 mark for barbel and chub fishing. I used light carp rods last season and would likely continue to use these when heavier leads/feeders are required. I quite like the look of Daiwa Powermesh twin tip 1.5lb with avon top and 3oz quiver top...

I wonder whether you need the stiff boom section of a combi rig on flowing water? I 100% see the benefit on still slack/water

Some anglers are of the opinion that honing a hook can improve sharpness/hooking ability vs straight out of the packet: https://advancedcarpfishing.com/blog/point-proven-with-jim-shelley/

Agreed, definitely worth emphasising. In addition to the top bead being able to slide up with minimal pressure, I've also been fishing with a size 8 swivel that can pass over the bead with pressure. This gives an extra margin of safety in case there is a small tangle in the line which could...

Cheers Paul, some good ideas there mate, like the PVA bag solution.

Good points, I'll bear that in mind in future and get a few feeders to give me the option of switching approach if needed

What lead setup Mark? Semi-fixed leads (i.e. leadclip) can sometimes allow the fish to kite without giving any indication on the bobbin. I recall seeing it demonstrated on Korda Underwater. I assume you mean line down the margin as opposed to the rod/reel had come off rod rest and ended up...

I'm targetting barbel for the first time and coming from carp fishing naturally favour a more stealthy PVA bag over bed of bait, sit and wait approach However, fishing the Wharfe this week a guy in the next swim (which to be fair was a much better looking swim) was fishing a feeder with regular...

Thanks Alex I did a quick session on Wednesday and started with a heli rig but swiched over to runnung lead which is going to be my default method going forward. Reason being I was positioned higher up the bank and it occurred to me that if the hooklength had come back to settle in the apex...

Thanks for the info on the 'dink, dink', I'll take a look at that. I ended up picking these up, similar thing but without the top bead:

Terry, no problem as such, however the helicopter rig is something I've got confidence in (on stillwaters) as a safe/fish anywhere rig. It seems from feedback so far that this might not translate to running waters I'll perhaps split rods (running rig on one, heli on the other) and see what...

Graham - I was thinking about a shorter hooklength, so I'll give that a go. There wasn't much flow in the river so I'm thinking the 1m hooklength probably wasn't extending away from the hook. I was fishing in the dark so in hindsight no advantage to longer. Re the paste, my original plan was...

Does anyone use a helicopter type rig (lead attached to mainline, hooklink free running on large eyed swivel) for Chub and Barbel? I'm thinking it could have 2 advantages - 1) safer for fish in the event of a mainline break, 2) if you fish with a bow in the line, the hooklink could slide back...

I've just respooled with Drennan Specimen Camo in 15lb. Looks good so far and fares well in tacklebox tests. The conclusion I came to when considering Fluro is that a lot of tests show it as being less abrasion resistant than mono and this was the key factor in my decision.

Each to their own. But personally I'd rather fish heavier to give myself the best opportunity to get the fish in. Losing a fish to snags and leaving end tackle in the river/fish is bad angling in my opinion. Also I want to be able to fish the far bank and fish heavy leads if needed.

Hello, I've done tests in the past using spring scales with mono, braid, flouro and found the palomar knot to consistently provide the highest knot strength when compared with clinch, improved clinch, figure of eight and grinner knots. Hence I use palomar and knotless knot where possible or...