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Everything posted by BoldBear
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Hi Stargazer, Welcome to the site. I also spent quite a few years chasing big Carp around the country and got a bit bored of spending night after night after big fish scanning the water for fish with my Bins and dozing next to my rod-pods and buzzers; and spending all my remaining spare time developing rigs and baits at home. My roots have always been in more active fishing and wandering the smaller rivers & streams in the evenings after Barbel or fishing for Tench or Crucians at first light on a quiet estate lake is pure magic to me. Although I usually use modern rods & reels; I occassionaly get my split cane MKIV Avon and Centrepin out and still think it's really enjoyable to use traditional tackle. I still believe that the Pin can't be beaten for the control it gives when long-trotting. Unfortunately I don't live close to you otherwise we could have had the odd day on an estate lake after Tench & Crucians or on the Upper Lea after Barbel and Chub. There are quite a few of us on this site who like this sort of fishing so I am sure you will feel quite at home. I look forward to reading your posts. BB.
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The only time I have used fake hemp was when I was after roach on a backwater of the ouse near Cambridge. It seemed the best bait by far there was Hemp as it caught us more fish than Casters or Maggots; as soon as you fed some hemp followed by your hooklength you would catch a roach on the drop, to minimise the time needed to rebait each time we used a fake hemp on the hook and it worked every time. we had to use Style weights to minimise the false takes on these. Why it worked better than casters or maggots I don't know; I suspect it was because the fish were wised up to them.
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My rods have been leaning against my back door ready to go for days now but because of all the rain I haven't been able to go, the rivers are belting through. At least I'm going to a stillwater on Sunday; rain or shine. The weather is forecast to be better in the second half of July but having once been a weatherman myself I know that forecasts can't really be relied on for longer than a few days ahead.
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We used to fish a water near Reading (Burford or Burfield match pits I think) where they used to hold well known matches like the Embassy Final and the club I was in at the time (Barnet AC) used to have regular coach outings to: and the match weights were always made up from huge nets of small Tench averaging 1lb and under. Plus the best place to fish was right under your keepnet and close in. whether or not it is still like this I don't know. I remember winning a 'pairs match' there with almost 50lb of stunted tench between us all caught on 'caster'.
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Over the years I have accumulated a lot of tackle most of which I never seem to use, I have a brick shed with an old fridge for my bait, all my rods stacked on the walls using nails covered in rubber tubing. and some old chests of drawers for my reels and other bits plus my tackle boxes are on my workbench and my luggage, Nets and clothing is hanging on wall hooks. However in practice the gear that I use most just gets chucked onto the workbench (except for the bait) as when I come home from fishing at 10 PM the last thing that I want to do is sort it out. And the normal things that you keep in the shed like the mower/garden tools/decorating bits/Bikes etc. just get chucked into a smaller shed at the top of the garden as they are not as important. But that bin idea of yours sounds quite good.
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I stand corrected, sorry. Maggots = Blue bottle, Pinkies = Green Bottle, Squatts = Housefly is that right or have I still got it wrong?? For Squatts a slice of milk soaked bread (squeezed out) still works better than brick dust, try it in the winter matches for loose feed when using pinkies on the hook, you may be surprised. this was an old trick obtained from the old matchmen and it really does seem to work. The squatts seem softer, a little livelier, fatter, whiter and they still sink; although being livelier they may not be quite so good in groundbait but I didn't use groundbait much in the colder months apart from a thin cloud anyway.
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There's several things that you can do to increase your chances in a river full of streamer weed. The Barbel like to stay out of sight under this weed so try to find any clear pieces of gravel running between it were they can dart out to intercept food and dart back under the streamer weed again; or bury your hook right in the middle of a softish piece of luncheonmeat (or spam) to prevent it from catching on the weed as it falls through the weed; Ideally on the outside of a bend or where there is a depth change caused by a narrowing of the banks and try to stay alert when the evening comes (or early morning). when the streamer weed is shorter at the beginning of the season Chub often like to swim just above the streamer weed picking off food being washed downstream and when they are in this mood they seem to ignore anything that you offer them on or close to the bottom, so you could try a long leger link which allows a long hooklength to waver just above the streamer weed. When after the Barbel in thick streamer weed it often helps to fish upstream so that you can attempt to pull the fish down through the weed easier; as opposed to trying to pull them through it from upstream. Also because you can't always see them doesn't mean they are not there, the Barbel can merge into a gravel bottom quite well; and sometimes if you stare at a patch of gravel for long enough you may just start to see the odd slightly lighter looking fin gently waving and once you see this the rest of the Barbel can sometimes start to get clearer. Good luck and tight lines. BB
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Perhaps he may be using a hair rigged artificial bait soaked in flavour to keep the nuisance fish off? or just using a very large hair rigged boily with a hard outer coating? which the nuisance fish can't seem to break down and swallow? I don't have any experience of waters with small catfish in; but if they don't take baits like Tiger-nuts for instance (I don't know); maybe hes using that type of bait to sort the Carp from the Catfish? If you find out how he is avoiding the small catfish and other nuisance fish let us know Someone else on here may be able to give you better suggestions. BB
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Smashing report as ever Janet, I felt as though I was with you watching you fish. well done. can't wait to read about the next round
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When I used to Match fish I used to riddle all the sawdust off of my maggots and replace it with some fresh maize powder to get rid of any ammonia smell before putting in the fridge with the lid off the maggot box. If I wanted to keep them for a week or two (for adding to groundbait or loose feed) I used to replace the maize with bran before putting them in the fridge; but I would still change the Bran every few days. If I had run out of maize meal I would use semolina powder but I preferred the Maize powder. If I was fishing an important match I even used to wash and dry my maggots by rolling in my towel before putting them into the maize powder but I don't think this is really neccesary; it just gave me that extra confidence that my bait was in top condition. I never had any problems with my maggots smelling of ammonia. While we are talking about preparing maggots; I used to prepare squatts by riddling all of the brick dust (which had been added in the shop to help them sink) out of them and adding a thin slice of milk soaked bread (with the crust removed) on the top of them and then put them in the fridge with the lid on the night before a match. (squatts are the larvae of the fruit fly) and the following morning at the match they used to be soft, plump and clean after feeding on the milk soaked bread plus they used to sink well. they won or nearly won me several winter club and team matches on the canal and its tributaries. Tight lines.
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In the late 70's early 80's I used to fish a lovely little stream that flowed into the Grand Union Canal near Watford. It had some lovely Chub averaging around 2.5 lbs with the very occassional one up to 5lb. To get to the stream you merely had to cross over a small lock and creep through some bushes, No-one gave the little stream a thought which was fine by me, I had some great days fishing for the chub trotting with waders on and using a centrpin and an old spit cane MKIV Avon it was typical Crab Tree fishing. I remember once as clear as yesterday when I looked down at my feet in the water and not 5ft away was a huge Chub of around 5lb which was Just sitting there, at first I thought it might be a Pike, but it was a huge Chub; so in very slow motion; I gently lowered a piece of bread flake upstream of it, a shoal of minnows attacked the flake as it sank and the Chub Darted forward towards the flake; and the flake gently bounced along the Chubs head (it was after the minnows), my heart stopped as this was all happening right below my feet about 5 feet away in crystal clear water. You couldn't experience that in the canal could you?. Since then, the Club that controlled that part of the canal has realised how good the stream was and have now fenced and gated it off, but I bet it is not as good as it was before hoards of anglers descended on it.
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It was only a couple of days ago where we were laughing at two anglers on the upper Lea who were using their Poles for Barbel even though they were using Carp Poles (although we were inwardly crying for the Barbel with the hooks being left in them), and true to form they lost every Barbel they had on. the Carp Pole may be fine when used on larger parts of the river where you can afford to give them some room but on the narrower upper stretches which are full of streamer weed and rushes etc. the anglers didn't have a chance with their Poles. I don't deny that a really experienced heavy Pole angler may be able to catch the odd Barbel but it is hardly sensible tackle for Barbel on the upper Lea or sensible advice to give the less experienced. When I was younger; using an old MKIV Avon rod I had been unfortunate to have ripped open a large Barbels lip on the Kennet with a size 4 specialist hook, leaving a wide open gash dripping in blood, I didn't have my landing net as my friend had just gone further upstream with it so I just continued pulling at it trying to get it within reach of the bank so that I could land it by hand but the Barbel made a last minute dash for freedom resulting with the deep gaping gash in its lip although the hookhold still held, because of this bad experience I have never liked to use Hook and Hold tactics; however I do beleive in using tackle that is strong enough to enable me to land the fish as soon as possible to prevent the fish from exhausting itself too much. I believe that the Barbels welfare comes way before my need to catch it and if Hook and Hold tactics are required then I just move on.
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Barbel are my favourite fish as well; closely followed by large Tench. Roach are my third favourite; maybe because although they are elusive they are not too hard to locate on the upper Lea and Upper Great Ouse where they seem to stay near features like large rush beds, although we do try to keep the actual locations to ourselves as they would soon move away if too many people started fishing for them. Although I used to fish almost soley for Carp at one time and spend many hours planning and executing their capture I don't think they really fight size for size as well as a good Barbel; well not in the rivers that we fish anyway; Plus Carp are a bit common these days and fishing for them is not a very active type of fishing with alarms, bivvies and bedchairs etc. I have often caught a 6 or 7 lb river Carp after catching Barbel of a similar size and I have thought it was a Chub because the fight was not so powerful after playing a Barbel (this is not always true though; but usually is). Poledark, you say that Barbel don't seem to fight that good; I remember reading in Peter Stones book 'Bream and Barbel' where the Barbel on the Royalty used to be like that, occasionally a barbel would fight like hell but most of them in the Royalty used to give up without much of a fight; unlike the Barbel on other stretches of the Avon and the Stour plus other rivers. and he said that Richard Walker had a theory that the Barbel on the Royalty in those days were so accustomed to being caught that they just gave up knowing that they would find themselves being free again very soon after. He said that it was not inteligence but programming. I don't think It's like that on the Royalty these days though. Perhaps they are a bit like that where you fish if you don't think they fight Poledark?. Like many ex Carp anglers (Yates, Bob James etc.) my favourite species has progressed back to the Barbel; which fight like hell until they are literally exhausted, and need recovering for quite a time before releasing. You never seem to forget your first Barbel however most anglers that I know (including me) can't remember when they caught their very first Carp.
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It is not always like that. I had one of my best nights Carping in the middle of a raging thunderstorm that passed right over me; with lightening strikes all around me; in the days when I used fibreglass rods. The Carp suddenly started feeding about an hour before the storm and were almost climbing up my rods during the storm. I was soaked but very happy (although a little scared at times). I was a Meteorologist in the Royal Navy then, and thought it was something to do with the rising air pressure.
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Hi, Can someone recommend a good bivvy that I can use as a toilet when I get taken short? Mustapha Pooh. NB. This actually happened on our water once; after they left we found a neat pile of S**t and toilet paper neatly piled up in the middle of the bank were their bivvy had been. needless to say they were not members for long.
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Yes but she should have at least a little bit of intelligence though (P*TA???). Isn't that the organisation that was taken to court for killing large numbers of dogs and cats (90% of adoptable dogs and cats in its care)???? I think I can find the news reports on the Web somewhere. OH Yes its here
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Perhaps they have their heads under the sand and don't know what is happening around them? or maybe they have someone in authority who has their heads in the clouds and thinks like Paul McCartney & PETA (although I believe that the word THINKs was the wrong word to use).
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I love these smaller streams, even when you get someones dog paddling in your swim it doesn't seem to put the fish off for long as they seem to get used to it and it stirs up the food on the bottom; as long as you keep low.
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Yes there is some great fishing in some of these smaller streams. I was fishing in this little stream on friday evening: and caught this brace of small Barbel (see below), its amazing what fish are in these smaller streams; not record breakers but still great fun. There are also roach to around 2lb caught occasionally in the same stretch of stream. You get anglers driving past these streams on their way to a lake or canal where the'y'll sit and watch their float or catch a net of stunted roach and bream; and they don't even give a thought to fishing these little streams. Still I'm not complaining as you can almost have the stream containing the better quality fish to yourself.
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Yes those yummy F1 hybrid carp are briliant for eating (although a bit fat and fightless (size for size) or you could read this ? Fuse lit; now retire and wait for the bang!!
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Cobra, Another club that also has some good waters on the Great Ouse at Radwell and Felmersham (as well as other stretches) plus the Ivel and Upper reaches of the Lea etc. is Verulum AC. We have a Barbel Day later in the season where the clubs specialist section show all their tackle (don't be rude ) and give talks on successful baits, methods and barbel location; and then have a barbeque and raffle with Barbel tackle as prizes and guest speakers plus some free samples from the tackle trade, then afterwards you can walk the banks asking questions to specialists fishing where they will wind in and demonstrate how they are fishing or you can fish yourself and get advice from the clubs specialists on the bank. it is a great day. we also have these types of days on other waters for Carp and Tench on waters that have 40 - 50 lb Carp (including Toadless) and double figure Tench etc. Vauxhall, Milton Keynes and Verulum all have great Barbel sections where huge Barbel are caught on these rivers so there is no excuse for not being able to catch Barbel in their natural surroundings. Tight lines.
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I didn't realise how lucky I was, as I only know of one or two commercial waters about 10 to 15 miles from me, and the only people who seem to fish them are matchmen. I only know about them from my match fishing days. Im surrounded by really good club waters from the Grand Union Canal through to Estate lakes, Gravel Pits, Barbel Rivers etc. so there is no reason for anyone to fish these overstocked commercial carp puddles in my area. I really feel sorry for the people who live in areas where good waters are not so common and where visiting an unnatural overstocked commercial pool is all they have available to them where the pegs are too close together so they can get more anglers in and the pegs are neatly set out and the grass is neatly mown and the waters are a uniform width for the pole anglers and the fish gulp down everything that you chuck at them because they are nearly always hungry, and you have to use the fisheries own bait etc. etc. and the anglers think that watercraft is something they float on in the navy. And when someone decides to stock fish like Barbel in them as well it makes me feel sick. I think I would give up fishing and play Golf more often if I lived in one of these deprived areas.
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Simon these are not stupid questions at all, so don't get put off asking such questions matey . 1. can i use a hair rig on a pole (looking for bigger fish) Yes especially when fishing for Tench, Carp etc. which feed by blowing and sucking up baits from the bottom as apposed to physically picking them up in their lips. and fish slightly over depth. 2. why do carp stop feeding when it rains Carp do not always react in this way, in fact one of my most productive carp sessions was during the night in one of the most fiercest and wettest of thunderstorms (back in the fibre glass rod days); the Carp where almost climbing up the rod. However they may react differently in an unexpected downpour for the reasons that fruitloopy said. 3. my pole is rated 16/18 elatic whats the biggest fish i could safely land This depends on how experienced you are with the Pole and what type of water you are fishing (how much weed and other snags etc.). I have landed Carp of up to 18lb on the Pole using this strength elastic but you could probably land Carp of around 10lb fairly easily if your Pole is up to it. when you hook a big Carp which runs it sometimes pays to lower your pole tip under the water giving sideways pressure, this sometimes stops them, Read up on articles written by people who are more experienced than me with the Pole. Tight lines.
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Yep steve has said it all. A couple of other bit's of advice: Keep low and don't alarm the fish walking around in your swim. If you are float fishing fish slightly over depth with a short (about 6") length of line on the bottom, or fish the lift method (see other threads on here). Other good baits that work on some waters (as well as the ones that Steve suggested) are Casters and/or small redworms or small pellets. Good luck and tight lines.
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You have taken the words right out of my mouth Colin. I sometimes fish from around 04:30 til 07:30 (Three hours) before going to work and some of the best Tenching Ive had is at this time (and Crucians and Roach). Anglers who turn up at around 08:00 and fish during the day don't know what they have just missed and only very occasionally catch a Tench during the day. there is an evening feeding spell but as Coin says it is usually nowhere near as good as the early morning session. This may not be the same on all waters as another water close by fishes best in the evening; but enough to tell you that you might as well join the fish and have a kip (although being warm blooded you would be better off in the shade) once the sun comes up at this time of year on most still waters.