Topnotchblanker

Have to agree with the posts above. I dont quite go as low as 1.75, but i use 2lb tcs on smaller waters, much more fun. Save the high TC rods for big waters and/or very heavy rigs. Same with Piking, i have the normal heavy dead bait rods, but if i am fishing close in with small to medium bait I use a silstar 11ft 2lb tc pike rod.

Hi, it depends upon the pike fly fishing you intend to do. Its not so much whether it is a specialist pike fly rod, but the line weight, action and your own stature. There is a pretty good thread on this on the Flyfishing Formums. Cheers

This is very sad to hear. We visit Hythe once a year for a long weekend, although I dont take the gear. Why it makes me sad is that whilst on holiday there with parents and grand parents in 1970 I caught my first ever fish from the Royal Military Canal, would be terrible if angling got banned there. I find things like rubbish etc seem to be an issue at any publicly accessable venue, Clunes bay on Loch Lochy was a rubbish tip when I last went, like wise various day ticket waters down here. The ones I have noticed that seem to keep clean are members only venues like dovecote, eggits and ringstead etc. I always have a roll of bin bags with me when I go fishing and always hang partially filled bags in trees so they remain intact. I dont drink beer anymore and have not done so for years when session fishing, 1) hate getting in and out of the sleeping bag for a pee, 2) I hate responding to a run with a head ache as my receiver has no vibrate only mode. 3) its difficult to know which of the two fish to put which of the two nets under. My PB for the pink barbie carp will stand until I die now i have given up the drugs.

I noticed you have not had any responses. I have no idea, but a suggestion, see if you can find a Swedish site, one think i discovered over there working since may is that Thailand is very very big in Sweden as a holiday destination. Should not be a problem either because everyone there seems to speak better (more correct) english than we do. Not true in Finland I discovered.

I know what you mean Budgie. Nope the fact it was not a 20 did not spoil the fish at all. The caption on the pic declares its weight, the following day I had a 19lb 6oz, i almost quit at that point (LOL) as an extrapolation gave an alarming prognosis I am now regularly into 4 oz commons lol.

Hi, a couple of years back a couple of fellow anglers were watching me play and eventually net a common carp. When we got to the stage of it swirling under the rod tip one remarked "its a 20", at least 24 said the other. The estimating went on and on as i unhooked the fish, settling at the 23 mark, and then I weighed it. The fish was 19lb 12 oz, the biggest common I had had, one guy remarked and the other agreed "thats the trouble if you weigh them" " you had a nice 20 there for a while" , "I would not have weighed it". I still have not caught a 20lb common, but such is lifel.

BTW Jeff: hope your parents know the area well. We had terrible trouble finding the place, despite serveral calls to the fishery on route and the assistance of our TomTom. Good luck.

Hi, at what age and with what gear depends upon the child i think. The son of the farmer who ran a fishery I used to visit was built like a brick sh@>house and could cast a fair line weight whilst still young. My very small 8 yo daughetr (who therefore takes after her dad) I doubt could load my wifes 7ft 3 weight brook rod. So I would give it a go. Cheers http://fishingeverywhere.spaces.live.com/

Hi Jeff, my wife and I fished this fishery at the end of August this year. It is an old concret tank of a fair size, (nearest I have seen was a smaller but similar china clay settlng tank near ST Austell I fished for roach as a kid or a fishery just off where the M5 joins M6 where they have carp and cats, forget the name) the stock is high and fish are readily seen in the water. The guy running it is very friendly and helpful and the prices were reasonable. There are some very big fish in there. We fished on the top mainly and I had both my fish on a klinkhammer. Takes were fast and I missed several more, and my wife (who the previous day had beat me on the near(ish) by Dragon fly fishery), lost two and missed a fair few also. We returned the fish I am afraid, but bwater was clear and given its construction I would have thought the fish would taste ok. I hooked up on one of the bigger fish but lost it as it was tearing line of my reel. On distinct memory was a guy fishing there who appeared to have a pike slider float on his set up which seemed to be doing the job of a bung, but what a splash it made when it landed. I dont think it actually was a slider float but the biggest lump of floating putty you will ever see, and the size of a medium pike slider. We plan to fish both fisteries again, especially if upon arrival in North Wales the Rivers are out of sorts which they were in a big way due to serious rain fall at the end of August. Best regards Malcolm http://fishingeverywhere.spaces.live.com/

Hi there, i dont really know your area I am afraid. Reference your son. I started my lad off when he was 10 years old using an 8ft WF98 and a 5 weight line, a year or two later cant remember exactly its a while back now he went on one of the Trout and Salmon Association teaching days at a local fishery. I tend to have a different view to most in that I taught my son and wife on a river rather than a stillwater and like wise her best friends husband. They did not have to cast far and as the river was fast the trout did not care if the river had "rolled" the cast out for them. I always think the odd fish for the learner works wonders. Nothing more depressing than an ocean like expanse of water before you when you start fly casting. Cheers

Hi everyone my wife and i have joined the site. I used to be a member years ago but have completely forgotton both my id and password. Very Merry Xmas and Happy New Year