BoldBear

Tench, Using a pair of plyers grip the tip ring and heat it up over a match to melt the glue and the carbon bit should come out very easily. Tip: Dont do this over your best carpet like I did once or you might get your carbon spitting out and burning a hole in it Lol. Phone, the John Wilson rod is an Avon/Quiver rod and its tip ring wouldnt come under the same stress as a lure rod (which is continuously being cast and retrieved). The rod is either used for casting wagglers or stick floats which dont weigh more than a few grams; or for occasionally casting small weights so its tip ring(s) should be fine; although a check for cracks with your finger nail and a magnifying glass would be a good idea just to make sure. Keith

Nice Tincas tigger, the Tench is one of my favourite species and I havent had a chance to get out and catch one yet this year. Very nice fishing. Keith

Very nice Tench Perhaps you should invest in a small set of scales, especially if you are likely to catch fish like that and dont know what it weighs. Lol. Congrats on your PB though. Since the rivers closed Ive been catching a few middle-ing Carp from my local estate lake but nothing over around 18 to 19lb yet, however I havent had any sessions after my favourite fish the Tench yet. But I soon intend to remedy that before the rivers open up again. NB. Its nice to see you posting again too Anderoo. Keith

I dont know how true this is but the female bailiff of a local gravel pit near us told us about a guy who was throwing a ball out on the water for his very small dog to retrieve, and as the bailiff came around checking for day tickets the guys small dog was attacked by a big pike and was dragged under the surface. I also read in one of my Pike books about a horse that was drinking which was attacked by a Pike along the edge of a lake. They said that the Pike had homed in on the sound of the horse drinking because the Pike was probably blind. Keith

Nice Perch Maddog

I’ll have to give it a try when I’m chasing some Carp and Tench at my local estate lake sometime, it sounds good Martin. Keith

Ive just filled its spools with fresh line and its been sitting on my living room table ever since it arrived; being played with by me every now and then Ian. Im like a big kid with a new toy LOL. Keith

This thread (and finding my feeder rod) has rejuvenated my interest in doing a bit more feeder fishing on the upper Thames and seeing if the fishing is still as good as it used to be (or maybe even better). I just bought a new reel last week that should be ideal for a bit of feeder fishing with this rod. Keith

Martin, I just dug out my Drennan DRX Feeder rod, which I havent used for many years and to my surprise it was the River version not the Stillwater version that I have (see pic). I also took a pic of the reverse side with all its specs printed on it for you to compare your Stillwater DRX Feeder with and find any diffences (see pic) Length 3.9 Metres (12ft 10in) Approx Line Guide : 3lb to 6lb reel lines : 2lb to 4lb hook lengths Ave casting weights: 10grm to 70grm Fast Taper Glass tips: 3/4oz : 1oz : 1-1/2oz : 2oz I also have another quivertip besides the four that are listed above, but I think I might have bought this 5th tip separately. All of the quivertips are a little under 25ins in length. Im only guessing but the river version might have a slightly faster taper in its blank and/or its tips than the Stillwater version to allow for the extra strength currents that are often present in a river. I remember it being a great feeder rod in use, and I think you should like your stillwater version too. Keith

Im sure you will get a lot of pleasure using it Martin. Martin correction I do have the same rod after all. I bought it when it first came out, and although it is the stillwater version I found it an excellent rod for Feeder fishing on the Thames and I remember coming third in an inter club match on the Thames using it with a nice catch of Chub. I havent used it for quite a while now as Im rarely using feeders and Its been ages since I fished the Thames, but it is a great rod. Heres a list of the Drennan rods that I have: 12ft 6in Drennan DRX Stillwater Feeder rod, (2 piece plus Quivers) 12ft Drennan IM6 1.25tc Specialist rod, (2 piece) 13ft Drennan Tench and Specialist Float rod, (2 piece plus handle extension) 13ft MKIV Drennan Tench Float rod, (3 piece) 13ft Drennan Acolyte Ultra Float rod. (3 piece) Keith

You did well there Martin. I havent used that Drennan rod but I do own several other Drennan rods and they are all superb rods. You landed on your feet there Martin. Keith

Not 60 but a 50 one here https://www.anglingdirect.co.uk/ad-wavelock-umbrella Do they actually still sell 60 Wavelock brollies? you might have to buy an alternative one if not. I bought my last Wavelock brollie (which is still going strong) Back in the 90s and that was a 50 one; although because of its excessive weight Ive had to buy lighter brollies as well . Keith

I can still hear his annoying but infectious laugh as he hooks into another clonker. RIP John, you'll be missed. Keith

Its the small stick like thing between the fish and the reel Phone, This is what we British anglers use for trotting on rivers unlike our friends across the pond who seem to use huge bulbous bobbers Lol. Keith

Phone, this is a picture of the handle attached to my 24 x 25 inch landing net which I use when I am after Barbel and Carp into double figures; although at a push it can be used with larger Carp nets too as its fairly strong. I think its made by Drennan and it has POLE MASTER 2.8m MEGA CARP NET POLE 2 SECTION TELE printed on its side (see pic below) . Both the short extension section and the longer section that it slides over have screw threads so you can use the handle with or without the short extension; and the two larger sections are telescopic. Although the short extension fits over the next section the fit is nice and secure and never comes free of its own accord and there is a strengthened piece that you can hold on to when you twist and release the short extension section with the net attached. Keith

I do have one of these so-called quick release gadgets fitted to one of my net handles, but I went and bought myself a landing net handle that comes with a short 8 to 10 inch section which disengages with the net attached so that I can carry my fish to my unhooking mat without the handle getting in the way. Keith

I nearly always travel light these days; wandering from swim to swim with just a rod, reel and small rodrest in one hand, my landing net with an unhooking mat inside it and a small bag with various bits in it over my shoulder. My bait and camera is usually in my waistcoat pockets. If Im going to be fishing fairly static then I will take a small reclining seat with me but a lot of the time I will leave it in the car. The days of me carrying everything but the kitchen sink have long gone. Keith

Hi Peter and Li, welcome back. This forum is starting to come alive again Keith

Its such a shame that the Kennet does not appear to be as good as it used to be. The river Kennet used to be my favourite river and I caught my very first Barbel from the Kennet at Thatcham back in 1975 and I used to catch Barbel, Chub and Quality Roach at Thatcham, Theale, Burghfield and Newbury. This is my very first Barbel (caught at Thatcham) and just look at all the streamer weed behind, the Kennet was like this along most of its length back in those days and full of quality fish. Thats a lovely Roach you caught on Tares and Hemp Rusty, Ive only ever caught small fish on Hemp, and that was on the float on the river Ouse. Keith

Hi Peter, I also went through the long stay carping stage for a few years, and like you I now spend a lot of my time roving and travelling light on my rivers and streams chasing Barbel, Chub and large Roach and I love it a lot more. I still on occasion do a little Carp fishing but not nearly as much as I used to, and I dont take it as seriously as I did before. Welcome back to the forum Peter. Keith

Hi Del_R and welcome back to you too

Hi Jigotai, welcome back. Verulum AC does half year memberships and as you probably know they have some of the better stretches of river and stillwaters in Herts, Beds and Essex so it’s worth joining.them. http://www.verulam-angling.co.uk Anyway I hope you catch lots of quality fish. Tight lines Keith

Yes Martin its mouth was not in the best of condition to say the least and It isnt very often that we catch one like that. This is one of the ugliest Carp Ive caught so far; I caught it on my local stream while after barbel and it looks a bit like it was trying to imitate a barbel with its elongated shape and deformed dorsal and underslung mouth, but there was no physical damage apart from its weird deformaties. Keith

I think our club has permission from the NRA to transfer them to a certain Catfish fishery in the county that does not have any inlets or outlets. Weve had them caught up-to 40lb-plus in our estate lake although I think weve got rid of most of them. Some idiots have been illegally stocking them into several other fisheries nearby as well, My other club has Catfish in exess of 55lb and they are also having to get rid of them too. The only good thing is that they seem to have got rid of our Turkish Crays as I havent seen one of these in the last two years and these Crays used to be prolific.

Im trying not to; but I can just visualise you wearing your rubber waders with a leather thong on and using your Whip at a fishing match Martin. Lol