Young man goes to France and returns with a strange fungal growth on his rod tip..how many times have we heard this sad story? However for cleanning fishing rods I have always found scrubbing with washing up liquid and a nail brush does the job...most likely do the buissness down stairs as well!
On these types of waters you will have just as much chance of picking up a cat on boilies while you are carping mate.Not fished it but most cat waters that are carp fished a lot the cats soon switch on to the boilies.Good luck with both any way.
Sudden cold spells affect the fishing on the Ebro but in general it stays warm enough all year round.On the Saonne it becomes harder after late September.Still waters are obviously more affected by the dropping temperature.Great time for the Carp though.Our lake at Brognon fishs really well.