Angly

Ha, that would have made a very interesting mystery had you fed us one more clue. Interesting indeed. All we really needed were the findings to be read out by Columbo! I'm near to purchasing a set of digital scales from China, which apparently measure down to under 2oz with an accuracy of 0.5oz. Thanks to your findings I'll be sure to give them a throurough testing before deploying them on the battlefield. Almost forgot, anyone want a set of digital vernier calipers and a well thumbed copy of The Complete Book of Fishing? Geoff

Try bags of water for your test weights: 1 litre = 1 kg 1 pint = 1.043lbs Geoff

I'm new here, returning to angling after a 15 year break, and I wasn't that good in the first place, but this looks fun so here goes... Right, based on my hand width (minus thumb) of 4", I make that 20" nose to tail, and with Barbel weighing on average under 2lb per 18" (Source: The Complete Book of Fishing) I make that a 2lb 8oz fish maximum (allowing for you having bigger porkies than me). Damn fine looking fish though. Geoff

I think I'm on probation here at the moment Dan (no PMs), but I'll certainly PM you when that changes, thank you. Geoff

Well Newt, having now delved a little deeper, I find that based on the spool capacity of 12lb-340yds, my old 4000 SSG is slightly bigger than the current 8000 size Baitrunners! No wonder I thought it odd people recommend this size for everyday leger work! See, I just needed a nudge in the right direction! Geoff

Ah, actually I think that does in part answer my question Newt; 4000 isn't a set size, and so my aging 4000 size SSG probably is a bit larger than the modern P3 4000 range that I so often see recommended for leger work. Now it all makes sense...kind of. Thank you.

Well now I'm confused, I asked my Chinese neighbour and he said try asking on an angling forum...go figure! Incidentally some of my Nikon lenses are also made in China, small world huh? Original Q still remains though, diameter of modern Shimano 4000 spool anyone (something from the P3 range maybe)? Geoff

The stretch I looked at is annual ticket only, but a different club does control a stretch further downstream where day tickets are available. My partner’s mother was recently widowed, so we tend to pop up from London to see her about once a month...choices, choices. Perhaps I'll try the day ticket stretch first to see how I get on (it being some 15 years since I've last fished). Geoff

For those who like Shimano reels I see that 4000 is the preferred size for a leger reel. Are Shimano 4000s now a lot smaller than they used to be? I have a trusty old Shimano SSG 4000 X still going strong that is huge (by my standards), with a spool skirt diameter of 60mm. Could anyone tell me how big the new 4000s are? Geoff

Lovely report and lovely fish! My partner's mother lives 5 minutes from a small Norfolk river, and we were up there having a look last weekend. Very Chubby looking, so much so I'm considering the necessary annual ticket to fish that particular 3 mile section. Geoff

Great, thanks for that Grant. I also had my eye on some spots in East Molesley where the Mole joins (where I used to fish as a nipper), I'll get down there at some point to get the lay of the land. Anyway, all pretty academic at the moment as I'm returning to the sport after an absence of about 15 years and haven't even sorted my tackle out yet! I'm in Croydon btw. Geoff

Congratulations and good post. Molesey is my nearest free Thames access point, so hopefully I'll be getting down there too at some point. Is parking available at the end of Hurstfield Road?

Sorry for the late reply, was up in Norfolk at my mother's place for a long weekend. Just 3 miles from the famed Middle Level Drain, which was looking very appealing. Thanks for the replies guys, the Mach 1 is now top of my list, but I'll certainly check for discontinued items as per Tony's advice before I go ahead with any purchase. Geoff

Tony and medwaygreen, thank you for the suggestions, I've added all of them to my (now not so) short list. Tony, car boot/hatch, or someone trod on it? (seen both plenty of times). medwaygreen, from Bofish, the Shakespeare Mach 1 Match looks tempting, hook lengths from 1.5-6lb (suits me, I like to fish light), dark reel fittings (yep, I'm a tart), pleasing price (£45 RRP selling at £33). Sadly I've not managed to find any online reviews of it though. Geoff

Hi all, great forum, been lurking and reading avidly or some weeks now. Returning to angling after a good few years, after a sub £40 (that's £40 max, not £40 but might stretch to £90 ) general purpose 13’ float rod. Usual requirements; must be good for everything from Minnow to Specimen Bream including river Chub and Perch, light, bullet proof, lifetime guarantee against loss or damage, and gorgeous looking. Seriously though, I'd really like the original Shimano Hyperloop (HPMTH390FA) but this seems to have been replaced by an inferior model. So, on my shortlist so far: JW Ideal XL JW Project M Shimano Alivio BX Shimnao Hyperloop AX (HPAX390F) ABU Enticer Any others worthy of mention? Yes I know I need to get down my LTS (and will in due course), but I thought I'd tap in to the collective years of experience here first. Your thoughts on the matter much appreciated?