jeremyburnside

I have just received the latest Fishtec catalogue. The new 'Classic' centrepin looks good, £129.99. However it doesn't give its size, I presume 4 1/2 inches, does the lineguard fit left & right? (I am left handed).

The main club around Nottingham is Nottingham Anglers Association (join at Walkers or Gerrys) ~ they have stretches of the River Trent, ponds & lakes, they also have a stretch of the River Maun, a small river. Don't look at the web site it is very out of date. There are others around: Nottingham Piscatorial society is mainly the River Trent between Fiskerton & Muskam, but you need to be nominated by 2 members Nottingham Federation, again mostly the River Trent, I think you can get day tickets on all of their stretches Clubs towards Mansfield eg Ashfield Angling Clubs towards Derby eg Earl of Harrington Angling club (the Derwent is smaller than the Trent) It depends on how far you want to travel. I would visit some ponds / rivers and ask or ask in a tackle shop closest to where you want to fish.

I guess they are made by 2 different manufacturers? The first float 5 BB is the weight already attached to the bottom of the float, you need to attach the equivalent of 2 more BB on to the line The second float 4 BB already attached and the equivalent of 2 more BB is needed on the line. The last bit on each float is repeating it in grams. One BB = 0.4 grams

I use a Carp Kinetics stalking brolly, very cheap, very light, comes in case with a strap, can stick it in the ground, about the size of a golf umbrella.

I have been looking recently because I am hoping to travel more frequently and feel bad if I don't take tackle. I have got as far as the one a bit bigger than Janet's (Telespin 2.10 m about 7 foot) suggestion which is Shimano Exage Mini telespin texaxmts270m (about 9 foot), packs away to 39 cms / 15". Or a bit longer 3.30m (about 11 foot) Shimano Beast master BX spin tbmsbx3033h6, packs away to 71 cms / 28". I haven't bought one yet. Sorry if I sound a bit a--l !! I don't think I am usually!!

I've had a flier from Garry Mills (centrepin servicing) - he will be at Burghley House, Stamford on May 23rd, 24th & 25th. Lets hope I will be there too!

Looking at the map, the place I can think of between Nottingham and Kirkby is Bestwood ponds (Nottingham Anglers Association / no day tickets) on the road between Papplewick and Bestwood village. If you go a few miles east is 'L lake' at Rainworth, very picturesque / day ticket.

The River Trent

Over the last few years I have collected and used centrepins. The most recent is a Paramount bakelite centrepin. All I know is it's 'made in England'. Does any body know any other history? eg where were they made, by who, when, for how long? etc Jeremy

Makins Fishery Bazzard Road Bramcote Nuneaton Warwickshire CV11 6QJ Tel: 01455 220877

Dear Rob, the NAA costs £33 per year with a few pounds joining fee. I too have seen those carrying tackle in Basford, I guess they are fishing the pond in Vernon park but have never been there myself. There isn't anywhere in Arnold to fish, the closest venues are Bestwood ponds (NAA) ~ I find these difficult to catch from, the Nottingham canal in the centre of Nottingham ~ not very picturesque. The Embankment is getting very good reports especially this year ~ biggest draw back is if it rains your cant put a brolly up because its concrete steps. The closest part of the Trent is the Stoke Baldolph / Burton Joyce stretch which is day ticket / picturesque, thus I tend to fish this stretch if I don't want to travel too far. My biggest handicap is I don't drive thus if my fishing partner isn't with me I have to persuade the wife to take me, otherwise I would fish more. If you want to travel a bit further the Trent around Newark can be very good and for Commercial ponds Makins is about an hours drive. I could waffle all day! ..................Jeremy

The Trent isn't too far away from you

Dear Rob, joining The Nottingham Anglers Association would be a good start, they have the fishing rights to ponds, canals and stretches of rivers in and around Nottingham. You can join via local tackle shops eg Gerrys or Walkers and is relatively cheap. I can recommend the East Bridgford stretch of the river. If you want to start by catching lots of fish go to the small ponds at Covert Springs near Epperstone, the opening times are a bit limited, day ticket, best when the weather warms up in about May time, does get crowded at the weekend. Free fishing on the Trent embankment, even has public toilets! If you start at this time of year: keep warm, don't expect to catch any fish, but don't give up. It may be best to plan things now, get a bit of advice, clean your tackle down, buy some new line, walk a couple of stretches and start when the weather warms up. Jeremy

Can you send him mine too, I don't mind waiting until June, its my birthday and can, maybe, justify it more easily!................Jeremy

The Caythorpe & Hoveringham stretch is day ticket on the bank. The Fiskerton stretch that I know is day ticket from Fiskerton post office (Tel 01636 830230 open from 6.30 am Mon to Fri / Sat 7.00 / Sun 8.00) Given a choice I would go to Fiskerton, but you have to careful where you park and in the correct pegs! All of these stretches have the potential of big fish. I think the Trent is brill!.............Jeremy

I find these far too general ie most producing articles on carp, more carp, match, ponds, gravel pits, british, maseer? european, cuban! Which most of the time don't interest me. I now rarely buy fishing magazines. However I would buy a more specialised publication on 'River fishing' and then as the season changes or the fancy takes me buy another on, say pond fishing...............Jeremy