You can say that again ... unfortunately, I didn't get the first pole back....it disappeared from between my legs... I was totally gob smacked... lol... never seen anything like it before. It went from 0-60 in less than a second...ha ha

Yes they have a habit of doing that! Thats whats nice about baitrunner or baitclicker on a baitcast reel, it allows the fish to make a run and not pull gear out! Ya live ya learn...Im sure those big carp are very wary...thats why they are big fish! Take your time offering them freebies to get them feeding and to lower their guards on a certain bait nobody else would use>(sometimes it can take time for carp to recognize and training to get them to accept them as a food source),IE boilies,etc. or you can try something they already are familiar with...people go feed the ducks regularly. Usually bread or similar. Maybe try starting a frenzy with some bread and fish bread hookbait. In my area BIG carp love crayfish,(unfortunately so do catfish) and I do well with the new crayfish flavored boilie from Venture Baits. Just a few more thoughts...kinda trial and error till you hit on a working combo/setup.

While I have your attention, I have a few tech questions to ask. My friend back in the UK is telling me to use 10 lb. braid throughout (rig and reel) yet I am currently using 10 lb. mono on the reel, to a braid rig that I bought from scorpion tackle. This rig is made from braid that looks like 50 lb. braid...to 20 lb braid at the hooklength. Seems like major overkill to me. What would you recommend? I hate flouro ..I have it on other reels and it is just a tangle nightmare.

what I use is regular 12lb mono as my main line, I attach about 24 feet of flouro as a shock leader attached to 30lb coated braid as my hook-link, sometimes I will leave the flouro off if I am at a swim where I do not need to cast far.

everyone has their preference and opinions...me personally...I most always use 50lb PowerPro braid mainline(which is about the diameter of 12lb mono.) with either a saftey clip bolt rig or an inline running rig most of the time. I do however insist on coated and or specialized hooklink material, such as Kryston Mantis, snakebite, quicksilver, etc. It offers many rig configuations to fine tune your presentation. Some people may think its overkill, but when you hookup with a 30+ carp I guarantee you will find ANY weak links!!!! I've lost too many fish due to being under geared. Hooks included! spend the extra money to get the very best quality hook you can afford, its worth it, be meticulous on your knots and every detail of your rig! Losing a 30+ carp due to inferior tackle is something that is avoidable and heartbreaking!