rob4310

Hi just an example of the elastic strength. I bought a Middy White knuckle Margin pole (6m) which is very strong and rated up to elastic of 25. I changed the elastic in the top section from 10-12 to 6-8. This would handle tench to 3lb on the canal easily. However when I hooked a 4.5lb carp I had very nervous 30 mins. The elastic stretched to the full length of the pole (less than a metre to over 6m). The fish did not know it was hooked for the first 20mins of the fight and luckily did not run and just carried on its normal patrol route in and around my swim. I was using 4lb main and 3lb hook link. The guy fishing 30 yards away must have thought I was an idiot with my pole in the air for 20mins. Eventually it tired and I managed to land it. Now I use the spare power top 2 kit that I had with the pole and have 12-14 elastic fitted if there are carp around. I only do a little pole fishing but it is good fun and quick to set up. I think its not as relaxing as fishing with a rod and line but enjoyable all the same. To stop the pole spooking the fish I think you just have a longer line between pole tip and float and have the pole positioned slightly to the side. Have fun and good luck at the weekend. Regards Rob

Hi all Anyone used the JW Nomad avon telescopic rod. Have a chance of one on ebay but with the quiver tip missing. Are they any good for a "keep in the boot already made up rod" and are the quiver tips the usual thread so I could replace easily. Thanks for any assistance. Regards Rob

Hi Might mean no loose fed boilies. I fished a holiday park in cornwall and they wouldn't allow hali pellets as loose feed but would allow you to use them as hook bait. Had to use their own pellets. Just a thought. Regards Rob

Redditch is not to far away from me. About 40 mins drive. Thanks Rob

I'd be interested too. Have had a look in the past and not got anywhere. I'm around Birmingham. Regards Rob

This is what works on my local canal in Birmingham and when I was a lad in Liverpool. Sweetcorn or bread (flake or punched). Fished about 4 to 6 in over depth with a float. 4 to 6lb line with 3-4 lb hooklink. Size 14 hook and used some corn and small pieces of bread as loose feed. Better at early evening and fishing down the central channel or just on the slope of the near side bank. On my canals thats just off the rod tip and just over the marginal weed. I tend to fish about a rod length to the side of me as well. So as I'm not disturbing the fish when moving around. Seems to work for me. But this is a narrow typical canal which has little boat traffic. Regards Rob

Hi, I went through the same process as you last year. I ended up with the white knuckle. It is very good and strong pole. I changed the elastic as I was fishing mainly on canals. The lower elastic is just in the top section. The heavy elastic is in the spare top two. The only regret i have about buying it is it is only 6m. That is about half way across a narrow canal. I would now buy something longer. They have just released a longer version (8m I think) I was reviewed in IYCF last month. Also some advice I heard after I got the White knuckle. Someone said always buy the longest pole you can afford as when you fish with it at shorter lengths it is lighter. if you need to fish at 6m then a 10m pole with some sections removed will feel lighter and you also have the flexibility to add length when playing a fish. I wish i had gone for a 9.5 or 10m that would reach the far bank of the canals I fish. Just my opinion. By the way I'm not an expert at pole fishing, just have a go cause its quick to set up and start fishing. Regards Rob

Hello all I'm due to do some work in the above area for a couple of days. Any locals know about shore fishing in the area. Might have some spare time to have a go if tides etc are favourable. I'm sure i have heard of this area on a forum somewhere. There is a pub you can park at and fish from. Is this still correct or is it old information. I've got some basic shore gear I have used and caught with in the past plus some heavy spinning and carp stuff. I mostly course fish but I like to have a go anywhere I can. Any tackle or bait shops about in the area as well. I would much appreciate any info. PM if you don't want it public knowledge. Thanks Rob

Leon Do you know the area well as I am working in Irvine for a couple of days in November and would like to have a go at some form of fishing. Got some gear for basic shore fishing. Would guess mullet would be well gone by then. Heard about somewhere called "the hole in the wall" Regards Rob

I bought a 5 m whip for my 7 year old son. For about £6. I used to fish with it on the canal in Birmingham. Had great fun because you could set up and start fishing in about 5 mins. It just had a flick tip on. I stopped when I JUST about landed a 2lb 15oz Tench. Took ages and the whip was bent double and I thought would snap any moment. 4lb line and 3lb hook link. Very scary. Bought a margin pole after that with a bit more power and a elasticated top. Regards Rob

Would definately use it as I travel away alot with work and sometimes have a chance to fish. Nokia 5800 if info was accurate and included places that were free to fish would pay Course and sea Regards Rob

TF Gear Classic is going for £69 at Fishtec. (listed as £129 on net but cheaper if you phone). There's a Grandslam as well. But it looks like the Shadowlanda. Regards Rob

Thanks again. Just thought that was a strange offer on the TFG. Don't think its been out that long. Must not be selling that well. Been looking at the Okuma aventa for some time. Just always said to myself "do I really need one". Don't think I would get addicted to pins though. Cause i'm too addicted to any fishing gear. Just can't stop buying "bits and bobs". I think i'm convinced that the best option would be to buy new and your recommendation (plus a few other things I've heard) I will stick to the Okuma. Thanks all again. Regards Rob

Thanks but I thought it was alot more expensive. I don't get to fish rivers that much but I am dying to try a pin. Thought about a okuma on ebay for £70. Had a look at some old reels on ebay but If you don't know what your looking for you could end up with a pile of Cr*p. Regards Rob

Hi all Have possibly found these at a good price. Are they any good. I know the X-pin had some mixed reviews but this is the newer model. Price is around £70 when they normally go for £130. Looks quite smart but how does it perform. Thanks

Hi all. I consider myself a "lucky" angler. I have had some great sessions since I started back fishing a three of years ago. Un-expected Barbel, Chub, Grayling and even bass when fishing unknown waters when I haven't got a clue what I'm doing. However, the last 18 months I have been getting down because I have been disappointed with what I've been catching ( or not sometimes). I've only been catching small stuff and not many of those. So I decided to change my outlook. Let's go out and catch as many fish as possible whether they're big or small. Just get lots of bites. I have done alot better, still small stuff but more action and I'm happier for it. I recently got out to the local canal which is only about 1km away from home, one evening for a couple of hours. On my bike so I just took my son's 9ft light telescopic (5g - 20g). Light setup catching roach, skimmers etc. Good fun. Just before it was too dark to carry on I hooked a 3lb 3oz tench (New PB). I actually cast to the wrong place and was 3 or 4 yards nearer to the rod tip than I had been feeding. Lucky or what. Then next cast I hooked a bigger fish. Great fun and very lucky on this little spinning rod. A 4lb 11oz tench. Which I think isn't bad for a canal. Whith a new enthusiasm I was desperate to go and catch more fish. So I had an afternoon at a commercial near work. Again lots of little fish. Some I have never caught before. I'm not big on commercials so I have not really fished for carp. I caught some brown goldfish, a crucian carp and a 4lb 8oz common carp. Again I was lucky because I was fishing for the smaller species on a short pole with 4-6 elastic. Trying to play the carp on a 6M pole with the elastic fully extended for 15 mins was quite a heart stopping experience. But luckily I managed to land it. So it would appear my luck has changed and I am enjoying my fishing again. I'm not trying to be too clever and keeping it simple. Anyone had similar lean spells and was there a moment when it all turned around Regards Rob

Thanks Just what i was looking for. Unfortunately the Macclesfield Canal is not covered under the permit. I will try and google a few of the others. Regards Rob

Hello all Saw the earlier thread at looked into the BW info about the Waterways wanderers permit. The BW website gives you a contact name so I emailed this guy. You are supposed to send a cheque payable to him to get the permit. No official BW email address, no logos. Looks very suspect. Do BW normally do things in such and amateurish way. He claims to be an agent. Also I tend to find cheap or free fishing when I can. (partly cause I'm tight and I only get to fish for an hour or so). This permit covers some canal stretches I know and fish. Some are good and I have caught decent fish from. Some are rubbish and I've been lucky to get a bite. If the clubs don't want them does that not tell us the fishing is poor. Would you want to pay out £20 to take that chance. Also its not easy to find what stretches are covered. They tend to use bridge numbers. Anyone know any web sites with maps you can get this info from. Regards Rob

Any advice out there. I came across a dis-used, weed choked canal cut near where I work. Lots of overhanging trees and looks very fishy. However there is alot of this very fine, surface weed that is so thick it looks like bright green scum. Its made up of tiny leaves or particles and it completely covers some parts of the water. There are small areas were the wind has shifted it. Is it a sign that the canal is unlikely to hold fish or does it indicate that the water is relatively healthy. Its off the Oxford canal in Rugby and it was going to be my place to explore while the rivers are closed. Thanks in advance Rob

Dear all Had 3 Barbel from that spot. A 4lb 6oz in Dec 2007. A 7lb 5 oz in Feb 2008 and a 1lb 8 oz in November 2009. So there is at least 3 barbel Regards Rob

Bread and sweetcorn do ok on canals around Birmingham. Maybe not sweetcorn this time of year cause i mainly catch tench but i have had some reasonable roach and bream (for canals) in the warmer months. Bag of frozen sweetcorn and just take a small amount out with you. I zap it in the microwave before i go to the canal. seems to make it juicier and sweeter. saves using a whole tin. Regards Rob

It was just one of those "places to fish" type things. No details apart from its free and which bits of the back stream and canalised bit you can fish. Said whats in there, dace, chub, Barbel and Bream! and as Mr Plumb posted said it was a good grayling water??? It was only a small paragraph. Regards Rob

Just seen that the Kennet at the above mentioned spot has got entry in the Anglers Mail 26th Jan so it will be form an orderly queue. Regards Rob

I have visited both shops. WMAC used to have a second shop in Stechford area of Birmingham which was local to my old office. This was great, good service and staff. I think it was sold as no mention on the web site. Darlaston was ok. Had a look once. Never bought stuff online as the other shop used to order it and i'd collect it from there. Always seemed to have a lot of stuff on the web site that wasn't in stock in either shop. Tried to order stuff from Rugby Tackle. ( have now moved office to just outside Rugby) and visited the shop. Again they don't seem to have a lot of stock in the shop. I suspect both don't update the web site very often and so out of stock or discontinued items are still listed as in stock. My view would be to call them and check stock first. I have and you get a clue of whether they actually are likely to have or get stock in. Regards Rob

This maybe of intersest to some of you. A guy demo'd this to me in a tackle shop in Birmingham. Although I don't catch enough "special" fish to use it i thought it may be useful to some of you and especially those who like to distribute photos and locations to a small select group. I believe you can limit who has access to your entries ( club members, friends ) and also the detail they see. Have a look and its free. www.fishcaptures.com Regards Rob