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Some good deals on there. If the 1.75lb rods were shorter than 12 foot, I'd have had a pair.

Various leg problems, post my left knee replacement and a snapped achillis tendon, wiped out another flyfishing season for me last year, but more physio and exercise, gave me a wobbly chance to fish the River Whitewater this week. The river has been in near permanent flood since March, with few members able to wet a line, but following days of high temperatures, I was optimistic when I arrived at the upper section of the Farnborough and District AS three mile stretch for a one hour evening session. The river was still pushing through at pace, with a slight tinge of colour and although there were plenty of olives in the air, while a few Mayfly were lifting off, I opted for a Gold Ribbed Hairs Ear nymph on a size 16 to start, searching out a few of the deeper, slower runs as I moved upstream. I spotted a rise ahead of me and ran the nymph through, but the river was quicker than I could retreive, a rapid pluck at the nymph my only offer. I tied on a heavier Goldhead GRHE on a size 14 and tried again, working along the slower water of the opposite bank, a solid pull resulting in a wild brownie launching vertically out of the river and running downstream before repeating the aerobatics. Not a big fish, but my first for a while. Regular raking of the gravel has resulted in more wild browns in recent years, a good sign of a healthy river. A kick test in March revealed stone loach, bull heads and trout fry along with plenty of nymphs. Continuing upstream, another take saw a small chub swung to hand. I hope that as the river settles down, my posts will continue. https://www.urbanfieldsportsman.com/index.php/river-whitewater-comes-to-life-after-months-of-floods/

Studio seem to be selling off their fishing gear really cheap if anyone is interested. P&P is quite costly but not so bad if you wanted a couple of cheap rods etc. The Shakespeare CONCEPT float and feeder rods look a good bet for £8 and £9 respectively. Tempted myself by the Solitude rods, they look fab value. https://www.studio.co.uk/shop/sports-leisure/hobbies-interests/fishing-accessories#dcp=1&dppp=59&OrderBy=price_asc

My magpies are unhappy theres fewer blackbirds this year but theres hope yet in a late brood ,the male blackbirds are more occupied attacking each other than looking for sweet sweet cloaca by the looks of it . Birds are down but mice up killed 5 in 2 days in the sheds ,bloody chewy devils you cant eat plastic seats for f sake Lots of deer about. 5 in the field 10 feet from fence and one male last night stamped his foot at me as i closed the gate stoping the ****ers eating whats left of the roses they scoffed the night before! They eat quince flowers aswell i spotted 3 coming in the garden going straight to the hedge to scoff them

My blackbirds seem to be pretty happy now that there aren't so many magpies around.

The straw kept blocking up when sucking on it !!!!!

It must have been a big pond to take 3 years to remove it lol

From the bridge, all the way to Poole Harbour, I believe. There is another free stretch in Dorchester where Grayling are often caught in numbers.

Solved the problem by removing the pond !!

Electric Light Orchestra keyboardist Richard Tandy has died at the age of 76. The news was shared by the Birmingham rock group’s founder Jeff Lynne, who described Tandy as a “remarkable musician”. Tandy was credited with helping to shape the sound of the band known for hits including Mr Blue Sky and Last Train to London

If it falls into the wrong hands i will ,with the influx of Vietnamese illegals theres a profit to be made

Duane Eddy https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-68940716

Did it smell of garlic and olive oil?

Being reported elsewhere that he was paid a £ PER LB by the lake's owner as they are rehousing cats from this particular lake...

This one? - Clearly from the free stretch if you know the area! https://www.anglingtimes.co.uk/news/stories/river-roach-of-a-lifetime-landed-on-penultimate-day-of-the-season/

How the F do you land it ! My best is 39lb from over 20 years ago that tiddler snapped my net frame bugger knows how you drag that beast out!

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c97zn8g6296o

Bakers Meaty Chunk dog food seem to be working well at the moment. Slightly boyant to start with, then sink, so not likely to sink into the silt!

There was talk of a Roach of over 4lb being caught on the free stretch of the Frome at Wareham a couple years ago.

What's an iPad ?? I've come away from Hospital wearing one like that in the past !!

Chocolate pandemic ,is there a WHO lockdown on the horizon PS keep it quiet or my mrs will be stockpiling crates of kitkats

It seems that Africa's cacao production is also being devastated by a virus - a virus that could go global and make chocolate prohibitively expensive.

That's pretty much what I was planning for option one - and of course, these days, floating braid mainlines make such tactics so much easier, and circle hooks will make it safer for the fish.

It's been a long time since i've fished the method, but I used to drift deadbaits for pike and zander using a set up borrowed from sea fishing using a sliding float and a power gum sliding knot. Easy to cover a range of depths just by sliding the knot up and down the mainline.

I have the option to fish a large, deep reservoir for pike in the autumn. This is well outside my comfort zone, but I see two possible approaches. 1. I can drift suspended deadbaits - if so, at what depth? 2. I can pop up large deadbaits on a 4oz lead, walk them around a bay, and twitch them back. Any thoughts?