Neil G

Just had another read of the tread and some interesting thoughts. Always use front alarm and dropback indicators so maybe should give the sunken float pat more of a go. River I'm fishing is deep (10 to 20ft) and pretty wide so the ability to move baits around without resetting float stops does sound appealing to search for fish in so much water!

Reminds me to get my arse over to Chew to do some fluff chucking!

Paternoster also a good rig for weedy locations and saves having to fanny about with bits of foam and polyballs to get the bait off the bottom, you also know if you get the length of your weak link right to the lead and the float is doing it;s job the bait is going to be 100% off the deck. I started using Polaris floats years back after seeing a friend of mine using them and raving about how good they were. Worked for a bit then had a few breakages of the stems when striking and issues on rivers with braid not allowing the float to pop up properly..promptly sacked them off and went back to sliders and pencil floats and have never used Polaris since. I'm not saying they're terrible, I just do a lot of river fishing and they didn't suit that style.

Glad to see fishing is delivering the goods again, very easy to loose motivation in this game!

Nice, I'm glad someone is having some luck out there at the moment!

Had a massive blank in the summer on a long stay catfishing trip which really put me off, I was philosophical about it but it almost makes me worried to go again incase the same thing happens...I wasn't expecting to catch a monster at all but it's really loaded the pressure on now. No stillwaters near me that are any good for piking either so once the rivers are up and ruined I lose the plot with fishing slightly. Really wanted to get geared up and fish the river loads this season as deep down I do love it but the odds just seem to be stacked against me what with floods, people taking fish out, otters and a decline in the quality of the fishing it all seems rather bleak I'm off to a Stillwater to try and catch some big perch at the weekend though and I'm hoping it might rekindle some love towards angling again!

Good pics, nice catches there, you're lucky to have a pit with such good fish in locally. I've abandoned piking now if/until the rivers recover and with no pits containing any good pike nearby it's time to search out some specimen Perch.

Sounds like an interesting day, you get one of those ones now and again where stuff goes belly up from the get go! More exciting than my trial at a new water, spent all day moving about soaking deadbaits at a local lake with not even a twitch!

Happens to us all now and again, I lost interest last winter which was kind of sparked off by the condition of the rivers. Right now I'm looking at the forecast and can potentially see my pike season going down the drain with the floods again which is a real concern

Levels there do fluctuate a lot which I think can have a big effect on spawning sites there i.e access to weeded, shallow areas. Just seen the picture of the 43 and what a lovely fish, Chew has made a lot of people happy that have been prepared to put the time in, it is a bit of a lottery but it does come up now and again...long may it continue.

Indeed, never had the rep. of other ressies but anywhere where average joe could have the opportunity of banking a 30 plus pike was a 'secret' that wasn't going to stay under wraps for long, I suppose Chew has revealed it's possibities more with the influx of more experienced anglers over the last five years or so and the increase in time available to fish it...still not sure why it's that good right now though...good spawning year perhaps leading to more fish making it though to grow big??? who knows.

Chew has never been rubbish, it's just now the bar has been set so high that when it doesn't produce a few 40s a season everyone will moan.

I'm fairly local to Chew and have done my time on the water pre this 'explosion' in big pike on there. I think when I fished it the usual tally of biggies would include 10-20 30s but no 40's...still good but nothing like the recent seasons. The reason behind Chew's success must be something to do with the sheer biomass in the place and not just the stocked trout (ie large quantities of coarse fish) as I bet they're easier for a pike to catch than the trout! Does all the success of the place make me want to go back and fish it? no chance! After being on the recieving end of bad attitude, scrambing to get to swims which is ridiculous and seeing people camped out there overnight in cars which quite frankly shouldn't be allowed I'd had enough. It had indeed turned into a bit of a circus which was no longer a relaxed experience. Give us a river 20 any day of the week.

I changed to Powerpro (50lb BS) on all my rods years ago and have never looked back. I don't fish particularly rocky swims though.

I brought one of these for my brother last year and am thinking of getting a pair myself, really lovely rods from a great manufacturer and at reasonable price too. http://www.harrissportsmail.com/en/Daiwa-Black-Widow-Carp-Rod/m-17705.aspx?gclid=CMmQ6rbUvroCFbMbtAodJhgAzw&utm_source=google&utm_medium=shopping&utm_campaign=UnitedKingdom

Rivers knackered again down South so looks like it's going to be a stillwater somewhere. How's it looking for piking in other parts?

It lasts so long and is such an important part of an anglers setup that I don't see the point in going cheap. I usually go with Powerpro but have used Berkley whiplash as well without issues.

Been out a few times but no good round my way (Avon), need much colder weather to concentrate the baitfish in certain areas and livebaits as well. I think the plan this season for me is to really concentrate on good local rivers I can get to regularly and not to waste time travelling to unknown spots on patchy information. Local river has done 20 plus fish in the last couple of years so it has potential.

I tried jerkbaiting and didn't really get on with it, used a Shimano Corvalus multiplier on a '6 Wychwood jerkbait rod with 70/80lb powerpro. Still got the rod if you're interested

A few dropped runs and just the single fish out I have a feeling it's just too warm still and the bait fish are everywhere meaning there's plenty for the pike to feed on so deadbaits are no good. I have a feeling livebaits would be a better option.

I nearly spent £100 on a rod the other day that I blatantly didn't need....what is it with tackle shops!

Shame Tonight is getting kit ready, probably be up at five then walking to the furthest point on the river and working my way back. Weather not looking too good so it's going to be tough day out!

Kicked off the season with 2 from a local lake Friday then missed a run from what felt like a good fish the next morning, after fluffing that there was nothing for the rest of the day! Where I fish the river is very wide and deep and seems to get going later in the season when it gets colder and possibly as the baitfish pile into the area (deep water less sensitive to temp change). Going out Friday on a proper roving mission and am going to hit up as many spots as possible, the river has produced a couple of confirmed fish over 20lb so it has the potential to produce good sized fish, it's just a case of keeping at it and I'm very determined this year to make the most as last season was so dissapointing. How's it going for everyone else out there?

How about some of the armoured braid available out there? I use it for fly fishing for pike as 'normal' trace wire ends up breaking off under casting, okay it's not cheap but it really is 100% flexible and a lot easier to use than wire.

Only fish for pike now so I'm looking forward to the winter, somehow frosty mornings and cold seem to go hand in hand with being out after them. Don't really agree with idea of a pike season though as some of us regularly fish throughout the year for them just using different tactics, never once had any issues with this.