peanut25

Had plenty chub on the big black ones, usually instant bites, also roach can take a fancy to woodlice had a few in the past.

Match dates are posted on a notice board at the entrances to the dam, there seems to be a match most Sundays, usually on the opposite bank to the church, the ACA Pike matches are fished once a month around the 25th they book the entire water. Can,t help with exact dates best to pop down and make a note.

"Is it worth pulling it apart and trying to see if there's anything wrong with it? Anyone else experienced this problem with this or another reel, and fixed it? Any thoughts much appreciated as I like this reel, and it would be a shame to have to replace it." Open it up and have a look, they are not as complicated as you may think, the anti-reverse is usually operated by a springloaded rocker system, said spring may be coil or flat leaf type, but invariabley it has come adrift. Gravity and movement being the reason the fault appears intermittant.

£2.00 to 2.50 in Tameside (Manchester) add your own bran, casters +50p sometimes available without preordering. I believe local by-laws have not allowed the sale on platics bags for a good few years.

This thread seems to be fuelling the antis arguments the longer it goes on, if we care so much for the welfare of fish we would stop fishing for them, as there is no reason to do so except to satisfy our own primal pleasure. Sorry if this sounds a bit contraversial but lets face it if you use deadbait, they have been killed solely to provide bait, do these species have any less right to exist than any other? I realise this reply also adds to their argument but I think a wake up call is needed. I enjoy all types of fishing from summer Topeing to winter pike, I would not consider myself an expert, but I feel I am proficiant in what I do, and always willing to listen and learn, this is the key, have teach ins by all means, but make them voulantry not compulsary.

P.S. Where do you get the darn things? Tony Try www.baitsdirect.com. Got some in the freezer, tried them once so far without success, but then nothing else brought a run on the day. I plan to try them on a more prolific water, should be intresting to see how they perform next to a "standard" bait.

Having just returned to Pike fishing after a few years, it seems to me that nothing much has changed, ie. the more experienced anglers amongst us seem to sit in judgement of those who are new or the less experienced, surely the most obvious course of action is to volunteer assistance to any fellow angler who may appear to need it, give practical advice,and demonstrate correct unhooking and handling methods. We all have to start somewhere and experience is gained on the bank, lets face it you are unlikely to be "pestered" by that novice on your favourite secret lake, but its another story on the day ticket water well known for its pike. Tollerance and guidance seems a far better solution than exams and test.