Rusty

Fantastic perch Maddog, real beauties! I couldn't stick my hand up for a place this year but If I'm lucky enough next year I'll be targeting perch.

Northerly wind forecast again for today and tomorrow though today it shouldn't be as strong. Nice that a good few people are catching perch, I don't remember that being the case for previous events, is that because more people are fishing for them this year or have they become particularly active? I've seen some pics of Steve Walker's perch and to be honest I'd rather catch those well proportioned lighter fish than the 3lb 'footballs' they would have been a couple of weeks ago. Good luck everyone, anything can happen at Wingham even if the weather isn't helping.

I'd use a 16 or 14 for dendrobaena worms depending on worm size, 12 upwards for lobworms and always hooked through the head to allow maximum wriggleness. Can't offer advice on feeder rigs, I tend not to use them with worms if perch are present because I've found that deep hooking is more likely than with other species. I did try it last year at Wingham with lobworms and kept striking at the merest hint of bobbin movement, perch will either nip at the tail or engulf the entire worm and with a feeder set up I find it difficult to decide what they're doing so I played safe and struck early...missed lots of bites but did eventually catch a 3lb'er.

Four hours to go if you think the provenance justifies the price. http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/302286871641?clk_rvr_id=1203855924105&afsrc=1&rmvSB=true

Alternatively you could write a sequel whilst convalescing, the first was far too short and you’ll have plenty of time after that for fishing. Really pleased that the op went well, best wishes from me.

Having tried all sorts of hooklengths to use with the braid on my reels I've given up believing manufacturers' BS and line diameter claims. What I know from experience is that Daiwa Sensor is far stronger than the stated BS and that the 6lb line will just pass through the eye of a Drennan Super Specialist size 16 kook twice so I can tie a Palomar knot. Anything above 6lb won't fit through twice.

I did initially think that the 12 month duration from date of purchase was a good idea but for someone who will buying a licence annually for as long as he is able to fish it doesn't make much difference. For the first year everybody's renewal date will be different and some will 'save' some months but after that it's no change unless you have an extended period where you don't fish.

It is very good Mat. I paid only £70 at the shop, don't know whether that was a shop only deal or whether the price has been reduced so worth mentioning that if you buy one.

Actually it isn't Steve, I tried epoxy when I restored a rod a few years ago. I didn't get on with it and couldn't produce a good finish in the end (despite Budgie's help) but I did find it very easy to remove once set. Just cut along the ring foot and peel it back, it'll come off along with the whipping in one piece if you're lucky. Good luck at Britford, Stuart the bailiff will point you in the right direction but if I were fluff chucking I'd start at the lower weirpool and work my way down to the lower limit, a mixture of wide and narrow sections with quite fast water there and not much crap behind you to get tangled in. Then I'd head back upstream along the old river from the same pool. Give me a call if you want info on parking, the main car park is easy to find but you can save some walking by parking further downstream by the church.

Easy journey in the end, only took 90 about minutes, what a fantastic shop. Rare thesedays that shops can afford to hold so much stock and such a wide range of brands, I couldn't think of anything that wasn't there including a good range of bivvies that were all set up. Met 'Bob the Rod' who'd already sourced the replacement tip section and explained what I wanted on the broken rod and the backup, they should be ready in a couple of weeks. While I was there I bought a Fox Duralite Chair having previously seen Steve Walker's. At 3.2Kg it's about half the weight of my existing chair and very comfy http://www.fostersofbirmingham.co.uk/CBC059

I have Steve, I do have a backup Harrison which was a 50th birthday present and when I first used that one I ordered another within a couple of months. For the past seven years it's served me very well and deserves to be fixed rather than consigned to the loft. I'm still of the opinion that Acolytes are too fragile.

Taking the damaged rod back to Fosters of Birmingham on Saturday for a new tip section. The cost of the blank from Harrison is very reasonable and I did consider doing it myself but I want some changes made to both of the rods that I have so I'm going back to where they were made. When ordered I specified fly rings to be fitted to the top sections, these are larger diameter and wouldn't ice up I thought but they still do and I probably wouldn't going fishing if it was that cold anyway. The rings are too close to the blank and the line sticks, these will be changed on both rods. It seems that I can't avoid Spaghetti Junction so if you don't hear from me again it's been nice knowing you all.

Barbour Bushman, a very wide brim (I wear specs) and warm in the winter. It does need regular waxing to stay waterproof and even then heavy rain will soak through eventually.

Barbour Bushman, a very wide brim (I wear specs) and warm in the winter. It does need regular waxing to stay waterproof and even then heavy rain will soak through eventually.

Not everyone does change centrepins Phone, Tigger has an impressive collection and likes to make sure they all get used, he's a good enough angler to be able to get used to a new setup quickly. My collection is smaller and once I've decided on a rod/'pin combination that works for me it stays put. Each centrepin will cast differently and I don't want to have to re-learn different setups.

It is, Newbury Angling Association drained one of their lakes a couple of years ago and re-stocked it with crucians. Last year they stocked it with tench as well so provided we can keep the cormorants away we should have a nice general coarse lake in a few years. I bump into a lot of anglers bankside and they often bemoan that fact that angling is focused on carp fishing these days, that might be because I'm usually on a river or that they are of a certain generation but there is a strong feeling that a return to true mixed fisheries would be welcomed.

Yes Kodi is clunky so you need to add a 'build' to provide the interface between Kodi and the numerous add-ons. The build has it's own menu and links to the add-ons so simplifies things a lot. https://kodicommunity.com/install-wookie-lite-build-device-firestick-tv-box-computer/

I looked into this before buying the device, It's not quite as straightforward as you suggest. I'm viewing copyrighted material, I'm not copying it, broadcasting or making it available for others; http://www.pcadvisor.co.uk/feature/photo-video/is-kodi-legal-streaming-movies-tv-3640854/ http://www.mirror.co.uk/tech/kodi-boxes-legal-uk-how-9787919

With that sort of viewing Steve you could ditch Sky and use an Amazon Firestick. Install Kodi and a build of your choice (I use Wookie Lite) and the world is your lobster. It takes a while to get used to and you have to spend some time finding the good streams but I've caught up with Game of Thrones and I'm working my way through The Walking Dead, I also watched season 1 of The Grand Tour. The search function for movies is brilliant allowing you to go back several decades if you fancy some retro viewing. Downside is that the Firestick doesn't have much memory so even with the necessary fast internet connection buffering is a pain when watching live sport in HD, I was able to watch England's cricket tour of India on Sky Sports 2 but only in SD. The Amazon Box might solve that with its greater memory.

Because lots of people find them confusing and difficult to use. Some folk (me) prefer to hold a camera when they take pics and hold a receiver at the end of a long curly wire when they make phone calls . Aren't Nokia re-introducing a favoured classic mobile phone? Does it have a camera? What I want is for somebody to develop a simple mobile device housed in a big old fashioned corded telephone. I think I'd be able to persuade my Mum to use one of those.

Good on you for braving it Chris, I did wonder whether you'd be able to resist another trip there. I was quiver tipping for chub on the Thames, trotting would have been no fun in yesterday's conditions. A 5-14 gracing the net vindicated the choice of tactics.

A good result Chris on a day when most people struggled. My return was nine grayling to 1-13 and two chub both 3-05, I think that's my best ever day there, always found the venue tricky. A very enjoyable occasion and a nice sum raised too;

Well, if you hadn't tried it you'd always be wondering and you left the door open to move back to France so not such a big mistake, you did it exactly the right way. Enjoy the house hunting I'd say.

Then still Barton Court, there's a well kept lake on the estate as well as river fishing. Overnighting is allowed, car parking is good and there's an all important Portaloo if you're going to be there for a while (or if ladies are present). Speak to Bob (the bailiff) on the number in Chris's link.

That's true Ajay but I think it's the same for other knots which are tied without a hooktyer. I use the palomar and grinner with eyed hooks and tighten both by pulling the mainline through. Another good reason to learn spade end knots manually perhaps. I will get there either with or without a machine, presentation is much better with spade end hooks, I've tried Drennan pre-tied but find the hooklengths are nowhere near the stated BS.