reel problems

[tudders]

yesterday i went carp fishing on the top with dog mixers and a bait called pukka floaters (halibut) and early on i had seen a double figure carp top and suck up about 4 mixers one after the other so i droped my hook bait right infront of its face, it came up to my bait very very slowly and sucked it in so i strook and missed it so i chucked more mixers in and stood there without my hook in the water until i seen it. this happened about 3 times. at this point i was very very stressed so went for anything that took my bait, had a few 1-2 lb's. it came to the last few casts of the day and i seen it come up for one of the mixers so once again i droped my hook bait infront of it it took and i hooked it WOOHOO it went on a big run but no line was comeing off my reel (take note i was on 6lb line) i looked down at my reel and i had one hell of a birds nest and god knows what else. i tryed to sort it out with the fish on the hook but it was just getting worse the fish was running close to the bank so i shouted my dad over to bring the net and he very nearly netted it but it went on another run. all i can say is i was lucky my dad was there because he gave me a tip of holding my rod tip close to the water wilst side straining the fish and i finaly got it out. 10 - 11lb beautifly colored mirror. wont forget this one for a long time

[semper paratus]

Surface fishing for Carp with only 6Ib line is quite brave, I'm surprised you didn't snap off. I personally wouldn't go under 8Ib and almost always use 12Ib. As for the birds nest, I find a lot of that happening when I surface fish, so if anyone has any ideas for preventing it, please let us know? The tip about lowering your tip when giving side strain is a good tip, I would go further by adding that you might try dipping the tip just under the surface of the water. As for the misses, well from what I've learned, that just seems to be part and parcel of surface fishing.
_________________
Clear your mind and tight lines

Semper Paratus

[tudders]

i was using 6lb line because not long befor this all started i was doing a spot of roach and rudd fishing (got a nice net of roach and rudd with a few skimmers) and i couldnt be botherd to set up my carp rod with the pit reel and 12lb line (i think thats the line).

This is the first time i ever remember getting a birds nest surface fishing. I think its most likley to happen when free lining or using a small float, i usualy wack on a big carp controller and keep my line tight to it.

I shall take note of dipping the tip under the surface if this ever happens again or anything simlar (witch i hope not )

And finaly i agree completley, missing bites when fishing is something to expect. One tip, if you are surface fishing close in where you can see the carp taking clearly, look at what direction the fish is taking your bait and stike in the other direction, ive seen so many people striking in the same direction that the fish is taking and pulling the bait out its mouth and scaring the swim.

But as we all know, sometimes (no matter what you do) you miss bites

its simlar with waggler fishing, if you get a run, look at what direction the fish is running and strike against it.

thanks for reading

.Tony