Just recently I have noticed an increasing trend to have the Hair coming off the hook further down the hook, even on the bend. For many years the advice has been to have the Hair coming off around halfway down the shank. Is the new trend better, an improvement in some circumstances, or are people just doing something a bit different?

I have recently decided to step up my carp fishing and for the first time I have joined a local syndicate water. The water itself is about five acres and contains about 50 lovely old carp up to 25lb. The main problem is that I don’t know where to start!!! The lake is very weedy and contains a large amount of birdlife. What would you advise regarding tactics, tackle, and rig? I’m told that the lake holds loads of tench as well as some smaller fish, such as rudd and crucians. Please help because I'm totally baffled as to how to start a campaign.

Recently I joined a small syndicate water with just nine members, all of whom catch regularly and at different times of the day. I, however, seem to catch at night and have great difficulty in recasting in the dark. I have been told many times about using the horizon or treeline to locate my baited area, but still seem to struggle finding my way in the dark. Please help me to avoid the brambles again!