Ian.B

A couple of weeks ago it was suggested I try a no3 elastic, lightest elastic I had set up was a no5 & I never really expected to use it.... thought it must be for sticklebacks.
Anyway I followed what turned out to be very good advice & elasticated one match top with a no3. I've used it in two matches so far & after a short practice session yesterday I decided I want another top set up with a no3.

This means jigging things around a bit with regard to my tops & got me thinking what is the lightest elastic I should put in a power top ? or does it not matter if you make the elastic do the work ?

richie

Their are no set rules to what laccy (lightest) you can put in your power tops but you really want to be putting the finer grades in your standard tops , say up to grade 8 and saving your power kits for 10/12 and above . If you were to run say no 3 in your power tops it would still work but for one , the strike rate would be slower (action) and if you hooked a bonus and the laccy bottomed out , you've not got the same amount of finesse that you've got with the thinner match kits . Hope this helps

bad.boy bagger

don't think that it matters that much think richie is right thou
but i would never go the other way and cut my match kits down to fit my thicker elastic as so many people do in order to save money

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stevelockett

Think you'll find BBB, that the reason most anglers cut their match kits back to take strong elastic is because they are lighter than a power kit and easier to fish long.
That's also the reason why it would be better to run light elastic through a match kit, so you can use it more comfortably at the longest lengths.
As I suggested in the original post, get yourself winder bungs and have different strength elastics wrapped around the bungs ready to swap to suit the venue you're fishing.
If you have three top kits, try having 3xNo3 and 3xNo8 and 3xNo12. You can mix and match them for the situation in front of you.

Have to say, the match I fished on Sunday, I was catching carp in my silvers swim, most around 2-4lb on hollow 6, when a proper lump saw me off on 0.12 (probably foul-hooked). I am lucky enough to have several spare top kits, so just swapped my rig to a solid No10 and an 0.14 rig and went on to land a couple of 8lbers to win the match.

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Ian.B

Well done on the win Steve.

I have to say that using a no.3 has been the single best piece of advice I've had since I started pole fishing (mainly down to you & oneabung but thanks to anyone else that contributed to that thread) .

I honestly believe it will transform my fishing... not that I'll only be fishing with a no.3 from now on but having used it a couple of times I can't believe just how overpowered something like an 8 feels now (which I'd always considered to be light )
Called in for a tin of hemp & some kamasan 22's to 0.07 line ready for the knock-up on Sunday.... wonderful thing this confidence.......

Ian

P.s. keep an eye on the site Monday... could be a pole for sale if it all goes t!ts & I come last again this week

stevelockett

Lots of anglers get despondant after a winter match, but with fish shoaled up tight, you can be on a hiding to nothing. Try to find a venue with F1s, roach or chub in, they will be more spread out and give you a better chance of fishing to your potential.

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rossi

Steve, you draw better than Rolf Harris, if you had fallen in on Sunday you wouldn’t have got wet, same as the week before, it’s a shame your ground baiting aim leaves a little to be desired, ive seen you and it seems as long as the ground bait is thrown in the general vicinity of the water its good. I watched you at Stafford and thought you were feeding 9 different swims!! Back down to earth for you. I wasn’t despondent on Sunday, watching you catch fish all day (again), the tears were due to the wind in my face. Pmsl

Ian.B

Ha ha ha ... he's good is he !

Just to confirm I don't get despondent, the harder it is the better for me as long as it tough going for everyone. Don't get me wrong I like to catch just don't want it too easy. I'm more impressed by 10lb of hard earned silvers in winter than 100lb + of carp in summer.... but that's just an opinion & yes I do fish for carp in the summer myself.

Was only joking about selling my pole as last match I really struggled & came last, I was the only one who didn't make double figures .
The match before (same lads & same venue) I was 4th out of 20 & well chuffed.
Looking forward to a knock-up again this Sunday, although not looking forward to sitting out in the forecasted wind & sleet

stevelockett

Oh that's right Mark, I drew the peg that came last on the pond last week, and the previous match I fished with you, my peg was next to the flyer.
Funny how they both turn out to be solid when I draw them ;-)

Sorry about the hijack Ian, some people have no respect. lol

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stevelockett

Tell you what, I really fancied drawing one of the island pegs last Sunday...now where was Mark?

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