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In reply to Post #38
I wish I had something to hide
 
Just didn't want to bore publicly ...yeah, I know, I post anyway
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In reply to Post #37
Get you Mr secret squirrel 
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In reply to Post #36
Pm 
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In reply to Post #35
Think it's back with lymm now but don't quote me on that... So where do you fish now?
Guessing we're not far from one another (Brough up in Runcorn)
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In reply to Post #34
Yes your right. Iirc its got some nice cats and Carp in it, from memory it was private for his son maybe, can't quite remember, might be a open water now.
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In reply to Post #33
It spent some time as a day ticket then come back to Lymm-I belive there's a third lake there now isn't there?
Don't fish Lymm now I'm with PAAS.
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In reply to Post #32
Spring and New hey, I had a near 2lb Roach out of one. Sad thing was the bailiff was doing his rounds and found a hand line tied to a rock about 8' from my swim, I think he thought it was me
I went back about 6 years ago, it was a hole in the ground when I fished it, it's matured very well 
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In reply to Post #30
No wasn't Geoff.... Don baines was his name
He was the water keeper on woodside for as long as I knew (he passed away a few years back)
I ended up being the water keeper for spring/new pool for abit also.
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What a top childhood Very very long shot, with you saying grandad, was it Jeff/Geoff by any chance? Reason I ask is there was a water keeper of LAC, I used to mostly meet him on Belmont after LAC got it, sometimes shot gun over shoulder, always with a pipe iirc. He didn't like modern angling but we got on quite well, probably long gone now.
Showing my age now...lol
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In reply to Post #26
That's true...
Growing up my grandad was a water keeper for Lymm ac so we spent our summers on the lakes... Making dens and helping to cut grass and such. And try and spot the huge carp.
Between that and stapeley being down the road I think the two places and the memories I hold so dearly
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In reply to Post #26
That's true...
Growing up my grandad was a water keeper for Lymm ac so we spent our summers on the lakes... Making dens and helping to cut grass and such. And try and spot the huge carp.
Between that and stapeley being down the road I think the two places and the memories I hold so dearly
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In reply to Post #26
That's true...
Growing up my grandad was a water keeper for Lymm ac so we spent our summers on the lakes... Making dens and helping to cut grass and such. And try and spot the huge carp.
Between that and stapeley being down the road I think the two places and the memories I hold so dearly
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In reply to Post #24
Thats the 1 T, Nick was great, always willing to do a brew and chew the fat. For some reason I almost bought a set of those huge white Shimanos, were they biomasters, anyway, by the time I'd convinced the Mrs they'd been sold....I'll always remember that :-( (maybe a good thing)...lol
@Phil, I dont think you had to be a kid to feel like you were and in a sweetie shop Like you I wish there was a shop like it now, they really had everything you could want. The fly section was something else I didn't even fly fish but it had me captivated.
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God I was a kid when stapley was open... Well I'm 39.
My dad and grandad used to take us there and it was such a special place to me-looking at all the carp gear and bait and not having a clue what it was.
It's a shame places like that ain't still going... And I never knew aqua was based there.
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In reply to Post #23
Boxing day sale was the one,they had some crazy prices on selected items.Nick was brilliant and his wife.Its such a shame it closed down
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In reply to Post #17
Stapely, queuing in the Carpark for the winter sale, those were the days and that was a great shop. I used to bribe the Mrs with the cafe at the Garden Centre
Nick went over to what is, or was, Fishing Republic near Lakemoor is it.
I couldn't afford the Pioneer stuff back then but I'm with you on not needing to replace quality gear, though I do look longingly at those 4 side vented Tempest for eg, and then remember how my original frontier gets so hot in France in summer.
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In reply to Post #10
I agree..... got to say ive had a both the pioneer ultralight and then for the past decade at least the tempest bivvys and all have been superb bits of kit that i have only had to replace the odd pole on. For me none of their other competitors come near to the tempests despite looking similar. The only downside is the last 2 models are expensive but in the end 3 days a week on the bank in all seasons staying dry and comfortable wins the day everytime despite the ridiculous price tag.
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I remember talking to Chris on the phone about the aqua dome,having seen one locally..
Anyway ,he asked for my address ,and sent me some photos and diagrams of this new bivvy he had designed ,this was the Evo..that was years ago,years..!
Anyway ,after Chris moved to Devon and started his fish farm,I bought some cracking fish from him which he delivered..During the ensuring conversation ,he asked which bivvy I thought better ,pramhood or tempest ,I said pramhood as I like the simplicity and strength of them ..
Then I mentioned,do you still wait for them to come to you ,heavy baiting ..he looked shocked, and then twigged I was the guy on the phone all those years ago..
A nice little true tale...or tail....!
Real nice bloke...
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In reply to Post #19
@ braders1978
posted QUOTE
Not closing down at all,getting rid of current range and doing big product release towards end of the year
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Shame if true. The pramhood is still the best ever bivvy design imo
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In reply to Post #17
Did Aqua ever sell a 1.5man Mk1, my mate is selling one but I thought it was 1 or 2 man?
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In reply to Post #15
My first Aqua bivvy was a 1 man Aqua Dome and was bought from Chris’s house as he was just starting. Still have it in the attic - last outing was with my son to Glastonbury 😂
All my other gear (as per my earlier post) was bought from Stapely Water Gardens mainly. Only recently I picked up on here, a Union Jack super extended wrap and extended wrap for my M3 and MK2 Dillo, my existing ones to be kept as spares or for repairs.
I get it that time has moved on but most of the early luggage is still better than most modern stuff, unhooking mats are still snapped up for high prices, although the slings are now dated. I had a very early Blue Label Bedchair bag which I sold on as it no longer fits the more modern bedchairs as they are too big, even the compact ones  which shows how much things have changed.
My M3 and MK2 Dillo aren’t cutting edge but suit me fine. I can put them up quick enough for me and I’m not bothered about spending hundreds of quids to shave off a minute setting up. I fish a few days at a time so they suit me fine and are still 100% waterproof. The M3 is very versatile
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Mk4...........I do wonder what upgrades it willl have over the mk3.......A good start would be 5000HH material rather than heavyweight 20000hh Aquatex or similar...... 
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In reply to Post #13
Got a notification from the Tackle Tavern about pre ordering the Mk4 last night as it happens
Stapeley, that takes me back
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Not closing down at all,getting rid of current range and doing big product release towards end of the year
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In reply to Post #1
Why would they just be about to release the MK4 armo then?
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Sad, but this is the way of business these days. Smaller/independent companies innovate and spot gaps and then get bought up by the bigger companies who then want maximum bangs for bucks and 💩 all over the legacy of the original company and their products. Happened to Hutchinson, Nutrabaits to name 2.
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In reply to Post #10
Christ I went to Chris when he was in Crewe -before Stapeley in the days of the first bivvy's and bed covers!
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In reply to Post #1
Sad but as suggested inevitable if true. . . as for Chinese tat this applies to ALL the major brands and is not just limited to Aqua who have been living off the CM reputation longer than expected!
In truth I've had quite a few original Aqua products in the past; Blue Label & Union Jack (1 & 2man Dillos / Extended Wraps / Super Extended Wraps) and whilst at the time they were a cut above the rest I think a lot still view them through rose tinted glasses when directly comparing to todays offerings . . . for example the current Ultralite is IMO an improved variant compared to the original in lots of ways, irrespective of whether it was made in a Qingdao sweatshop or hand stitched by Dawn out the back of Stapeley Angling. . . 
Either way it looks like I may have to buy another one quick!
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All my soft gear is Aqua Union Jack or earlier blue label - bivvys, bags, slings, mats and some clothing. All have stood the test of time and are still going strong. I have non of the newer stuff and have no intention of having any either. Under the Trakker/Cypher brand it went downhill fast.
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Let’s face it Aqua has been trading off its old school quality reputation for years. When in actual fact most of what was sold since the Manifold days wasn’t fit to carry the badge. Just more over priced Chinese tat but with an extra slice of premium price for the tackle slags.
Trackers whole ethos when they started mass production of the Dillos was basically “Aqua only cheaper and a bit *****r” and it seems they’ve taken that mantra all the way to its destruction then.
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In reply to Post #6
As do a lot of other business in any other industry lol
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In reply to Post #5
As do a lot of fishing tackle company’s and dealers. Tough times and massive levels of stock.
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There last submitted accounts make interesting reading…… 
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Wouldn't surprise me,Cygnet were bought under the Trakker brand as it were. Aqua could go the same way also. Streamlining I think they call it.
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In reply to Post #1
Part of the Cipher Group which was Trakker, Cygnet & Aqua. Aqua haven't existed as a company since 2016.
Aqua isn't anywhere near the standard of yesteryear and unless they were thinking of relaunching a "premium" product, which lets face it would be hard to do given the profile and price point of Trakker, it would probably make sense to bring it all under the one.
Sad if true if one of the "old school" labels goes but in reality Aqua has probably run its course to be fair.
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Hardly surprising. The quality has been awful for years.
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Have just been told aqua are in the process of stopping? Is this true? Anyone shed any light on it?
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