tiddlertamer

Sadly I can no longer make it. Are there reserves that can take my place or is there somebody out there who would like to put their name forward. Apologies to the organisers. Tiddler Tammer wishes you all tight lines on the day.

What are the best fishing boots for keeping your feet warm and dry? I'm looking for a new pair as my trusty old timberlands have sprung a leak. So I'm out shopping, both across London and on-line for a new pair. Am I better off getting a specialist pair of boots aimed at the angling market or perhaps specialist walking or hiking boots? My budget is about £120 and I'm looking for something that isn't cammo in colour! (in fact preferrably black.) Finally, I'll give a quick plug to everybody shopping on-lline this Christmas, don't forget to shop via Angler's Net when going onto retailer's websites. See Elton's thread: http://www.anglersnet.co.uk/editorial/supp...nglers-net.html

Had a frost in London this morning. And then it snowed. Unusual to have snow in London. It didn't settle though and soon turned to sleet and then rain. Didn't fish though so no clues on whether the weather affected fish behaviour. Deffo cold first thing though!

A big thank you to Chris for a wonderful article on a wonderful technique for fishing for the, yes you've guessed it, the wonderful barbel. A tip top read.

Welcome aboard Watatoad. Sound advice. One blank in 50 years though. That's quite some record. I blanked in 5 out of 8 fishing sessions last January! You must be doing something right. In the meantime, I'm blanking for England...

I think that the look, performance and feel of the Hardys Marksman rods and Conquest reels are really quite coolio. I know that Hardys is far from cheap and Okuma and other reels may well be the choice of many. But the more I use it, the more I am beginning to understand and enjoy the Conquest (and the direct feel of a centrepin) reel. It may be a coincidence as I have tried very few other set ups. (The only other reel I've been lucky enough to use was a Bob James reel and it was really rather good) I am of course (or should that be coarse unexperienced in the art of centrepin fishing. ) But I find the 4" Hardys Conquest centrepin and 13 foot Hardys Marksmen rod to be a rather balanced and lovely way of fishing. It may be that I regret these words in future but up until now I have experienced a really sympathetic customer service from Hardys. I have no interest in promting Hardys I should add. They are expensive. But they have been very helpful to me and, although my wallet is now creaking a bit, I did discover fishing gear which really made sense.

Hi Alan Thanks for such a swift and comprehensive response. I shall put a word or two in defence of certain points whilst noting that you are a far more experienced angler than me and with a far more extensive knowledge of centrepin reels. The Hardys reel is in fact one of only two reels that I have used so you are far better placed to comment than me. The three handles issue might not be a selling point for some but you do have the option to take them off. It wasn't just one major tackle shop from which they were withdrawn. I think they took them off the whole market to ensure that they could deal with a production flaw. In fairness, it probably should have been tested more before being released, but once having realised a problem, they held up their hands and rectified it. I also own a Hardys Marksman rod and it is superb. Expensive I'll grant you but great. And all my dealings with Hardys Customer Service has been simply great. When I had a query regarding a product, they got one of the country's top anglers to ring me and answer my questions. They also replaced a part for me at no cost and very quickly. Hardys Conquest reels are expensive but they look great. The most important thing is performance though. How exactly do they underperform in comparison with other reels? I much appreciate your opinions though but I just wondered if there was anything upbeat to say about these reels.

Alan has written an exceptional article on the centrepin. Great stuff and really useful. I notice Alan had reservations about the Hardys Conquest Centrepin. I purchased the 4inch model earlier this year and am slowly coming to terms with this fantastic way of fishing. Despite my limited casting ability, the feeling of direct contact with a hooked fish though the pin has made me begin to understand why this type of fishing is so raved about. Can you explain what your reservations are as well as any plus points on the Hardy Conquest reel? Thanks.

I'd love to read an expert write on my favourite fish and favourite technique - trotting for chub. Go for it Chris!

Mmmm. Big roach... Thanks Tony.

Surely not Anderoo's hidden Thames tributary paradise?

I've been thinkng of a day trip out of London to visit some of the Kent rivers. What's the Kentish Stour like? Is there normally much flow? Is it a good river for trotting tactics? Where are the free stretches? What can you expect to catch? And finally are there any stretches not a million miles from Canterbury rail links yet which aren't too 'urban'?

Me too please!

I once got rather wet fishing the upper Stour in Suffolk last July. It wasn’t so much a case of falling in as having to go in after something. I’d arrived at a stretch of river that summer’s day which I’d never explored before. The banks were rife with vegetation as was the river and it looked like no one had been fishing there for months. Finding a decent swim was proving very hard when I chanced my arm and wandered into a wood adjacent to the river. After 200 yards of trees I found one small hole in the bankside vegetation and a place to stand and trot my float down a lovely glide ending in a bend. I caught a couple of small chub before noting something out of the corner of my left eye moving. My eyes followed the float downstream for a second or two more while my brain fumbled to get into gear and register quite what was moving. A large fish? Nope. A mammal of some sort? Nope. D'oh! – it’s my landing net and handle... drifting off downstream. I lunged after it and missed and by now it had reached deep water. Gathering pace it floated out into the middle of the river before disappearing round a bend. Trees and vegetation prevented me from following the river bank along so I clambered up from where I was standing by the river and began to sprint through the woods. I guessed that if I run diagonally along for about 150 yards through the trees I would cut a corner and be in a position to reach out and grab my landing net and handle as it floated downstream. The only problem was that to get to the river I had to make my way through a ten yard patch of head high stinging nettles. Ouch! Then I had to pull off my boots and socks and combat trousers and jump down into the water. Now it is summer but let me tell you it was less than refreshing. Then, thankfully the landing net and handle made their way round a corner of the river. Only it was drifting over to the far bank. Up to my chest in water I managed to wade out and grab the darn thing. I then turned back and hauled myself out of the water only to be met by the embracing arm of the lovely stinging nettles... I didn’t get a complete ducking but I’ve had more contented moments whilst out fishing on the river bank...

I'd be up for it. Fridays are a good day for me and those grayling and chub sound tempting...

Always good to carry on nonchantly after a disaster! I share your expertise in mistaking aquatic vegetation for solid land but normally I tread on it, getting a bootie in the process. Somehow though, just by the skin of my teeth, I have avoided for the time being, a complete soaking.

Rod - Hardys Specialist float rod. Expensive but fantastic. Reel - Shakespeare Mach 1 fixed spool reel. (Would love to fish a centrepin but I'm not skilful enough yet.)This cheap fixed spool reel is actiually very good for trotting as unlike some reels, turning the handle at any angle engages the bail arm meaning it doesn't have to be done manually. Line - 3lb fished direct to hook but stronger if there may be barble around. Hook - size 18 Drennan Barbless Specialist Bait - double maggot Venue - an intimate small river with a good flow. Method - trotting Species - chub though I do dream of big roach. Result - normally a blank or a spot of tiddler taming

That's really quite funny in retrospect. Not that you fell in, but soaked and probably a touch miserable, you then run up against a bus driver who refuses to let you on the bus! Boy, life can kick you when you are down and what worse to run up against than a jobsworth humourless official in this case representing the local bus company... I, only very recently was told I couldn't get on a bus as I was told my landing net handle was an offensive weapon. There simply aren't the words...

Surely their arch enemies the Perches Front of Judea... or the Judean Popular Perches Front... Good news though that the perch virus and pollution have been ruled out as causes of these mystery perch deaths.

I have picked up a bootful of water on numerous occasions. I have been on one of my favourite rivers when the river keeper has told me with a sly grin about someone elsewhere who has taken a head first tumble into the river. I have waded into the river Lea up to my waist one hot summer’s day to return a 12lb barbel. But as of yet, and I’m sure it won’t be long before it happens, I’ve never had a full immersion in the watery home of our fishy adversaries! Now I know this is a potentially serious incident if you fall in and we need to take every care to avoid it. Nonetheless has anyone ever had a complete ducking which they can smile about now and can sheepishly tell the rest of us here on the forum about the circumstances of how you fell in?

Hagar or the return of Tigger?

I regularly get a train from London to a spot on the Hampshire Avon. Add the tube journey time and walk from my home to the tube station and walk at the other end to the river and the round trip can take six hours. I once did that trip and caught four gudgeon... One day soon, I'll blank and be really miserable. Normally though it's worth every single minute of the journey time just to be able to stalk the banks of this beautiful river.

I imagine journalists are often under pressure from editors to come up with the most 'dramatic' take on any incident. That results in stories which are speculative and turn out in many cases to be plain wrong. Let's hope so in this case as no one wants to see a return of the perch virus. It's ironic really that in a bid to drive up sales by offering 'juicy' stories, angling papers can end up alienating and losing those people who should really form the core of their readership.

If you have spoken to Steve Burke and he has suggested to the Angling Times journalist that perch disease is only one of many potential causes, then I reappraise my opinion of the Angling Times coverage. It does indeed look to be much more likely to be a 'scare' story.