spireite

starlight cliplite, these work in the same way as a regular starlite exept they have a recess along them and they simply clip onto the end of your rod tip.they come in 3 sizes too so you can find one to fit a fine tip up to an avon tip.cheap too

you can do it, my dad used to fish like that because he didn't like seatboxes but it is quite awkward. A margin pole is much easier to fish with in a chair because you're not having to unship several sections behind you. Also it's a problem when you want to feed your swim as you'd have to put your pole down to catapult bait in.unless you are profiecient at using a catty whilst still holding your pole,this is not as easy as it might seem. By the way what do you think to the korum chair,i don't think it's as comfortable as i thought it would be, i am thinking of swapping mine for a larger 'carp chair'

i also have the korum chair for the same reason as you,it's more comfortable when using a rod,BUT it is not suitable for pole fishing,i've yet to see a chair that is to be fair, unshipping is the main problem,it's akward in a chair. I do a fair bit of match fishing so i use a pole a lot and i don't think you can beat a seatbox for this style of fishing.

Can anyone tell me what the water levels are like on the trent, i fancy having a go for a barbel or two on tuesday and also any venues where i'll have a good chance,tidal or non tidal,(apart from collingham, it gets too busy there). cheers.

I would also say only chop your worms as you need them, don't chop them and leave them in a bait box until you feed them. Leave your worms whole until it's time to feed then chop them, also chop some casters too along with a few whole ones.

I'm assuming you are wanting to fish for barbel? Either of the types you mention will do but i prefer to use barbel rods, 1.75 lb test curve and 10lb mainline. If you are wanting to float fish though(for smaller fish)these rods are not really suitable,you would be better of with a fast action match rod. As for the make of rod, that is a tougher one to answer,everyone has their own preference, i have a korum neoteric barbel rod and a matt hayes barbel rod(by TF gear) and find them both to be very good rods but you could ask 10 different anglers and get 10 different answers.

do you mean how to tie the hair rig? if so the knotless 'knot' is simple to tie, or if it is already done then i tie my hooklengths on to a swivel using a grinner knot-- a very strong knot and i've never had a problem with one.

i went to the river trent today at collingham aiming to catch a barbel or two and used a boilie on one rod, not a touch on that,on the other rod i used a maggot feeder with a big bunch of maggots on a korum maggot clip and had several bream to 4 lb but still no barbel and then i had one fish i really wasn't expecting, a 15 lb 10 oz pike, i'm still not sure why i didn't get bitten off but i'm not complaining,it's only the second one i've ever caught. i tried to upload a photo of it but it won't let me is it because the photo was taken on a 5m megapixel setting

I remember my first fish clearly even though it was 25 years ago,it was a rainbow trout about 1 lb caught on a worm in a tiny pool on an even tinier stream. I also caught my first perch from the same pool about 10 oz and i didn't know they were spiky, no one had told me, i found out the hard way. Welcome to the best sport on earth.

You could try using a loaded pole float(these are not commonly used floats though,i think preston do one called a tyson) then have no shot just the weight of the hook sinking the bait, this is best suited to shallow water though.

I went to the river trent last friday(smeaton's caravan park stretch at newark) and it was just too high to fish so ended up at newark dyke, it was up about 5ft there, no joy though, although in the afternoon 2 young lads turned up and caught a 4lb barbel which made me question my ability

ok, thanks for your help, it's much appreciated

would you fish the mono for the perch without a wire trace and risk no pike turning up or is that a silly question.

My reels are nearly always shimano,various models simply because iv'e always found them to be the best. As for the venues, well there aren't many with a reputation for decent fish near me so it would mostly be on the river trent as i go there barbel fishing quite a lot but also i am going on holiday to norfolk in the summer (denver) and i would like to try for a zander but i'm not familiar with the waters around there although i'm led to believe the great ouse relief channel is not worth bothering with anymore due to silting.

you may not neccesarily be doing anything wrong,losing fish happens to us all.always make sure you don't let the line go slack at anytime. Also i find when using lighter lines it's better to back wind than rely on the clutch.