jaypeegolf

Thanks for everyone's input, it's much appreciated. It does appear that our options may be a little restricted as far as the Kennet is concerned so I may look further afield. The Hampshire Avon for example. Bet you guys can suggest some good day ticket water there can't you? Ringwood may make a good base I'm thinking? Go for your lives!! Cheers JP

Thanks for your suggestions fellas, I'm probably more interested in the Sulhamstead stretch of the Kennet than Barton Court, but thanks for putting it forward. I'm familiar with Barton Court but put off by the shear numbers of trout and lack of coarse fish, if my previous visits are anything to go by!! Can anyone shed any light on the Ufton/Sulhamstead stretch of the Kennet and what I can expect there. (I'm a habitual "centre-pinner" so hope there's some pace to the water so I can trot down for Chub and Roach?) What can I expect? Cheers JP

Dear All, I'm attempting to organise an end of season fishing weekend for my fishing partner and I on the River Kennet in and around Newbury. I've managed to arrange a day's fishing on a fishery 'above' Newbury but need another advice or suggestions for anothe venue for the 2nd day (Saturday?). As we are intending to base ourselves for the two days close to Newbury I'm looking for a venue close by. We would like to target chub and roach and any advice or help that the forum can offer will be gratefully received. Thanks everyone JP

I bought the 'box set' of On The Fly and whilst I enjoyed the scenery there was too much chat and not enough catch! The Wye episode where Bailey's mate wades into the lake high in Wales was a little daft!!

I've been out almost every day since the Thursday before Christmas! Usually for an hour or two, or until my feet have frozen, whichever comes first!! I've been targetting Chub on small rivers (mainly) close to home. I've had some blanks, usually on the more 'established' rivers (Warks Avon, Stour and Severn) but my small local river, the Blythe has been producing. I must have caught 25-30 chub from between 1 and a half pounds to 3 pounds and just over...and really enjoyed being outside in the fresh air, albeit cold air! Attached is an image of a typical catch! (I hope!) Happy New Year JP

Hi Chub Frenzy, I live near to Tunnel Barn, and although it's not my cup of tea, I have enquired about the stretch of Grand Union that they control. Apparently, 'it's full of Zander', I was told and never got around to fishing it. I do catch pike and Zander from other parts of the Grand Union nearer Knowle and there is the odd roach that pops up too. There are carp in the Grand Union, although the places they used to reside in have lost their bankside cover last summer when the waterways people did some clearance work. Nothing more to add I'm afraid, but I guess this is a start...of sorts. All the best JP

I've recently returned from two days on the Hampshire Avon and wondered if the sage advice I'd received really could be the only way ahead? Following a terrible day fishing at Fordingbridge Park, catching many, many and many more minnows only intersperced by a small roach and two dace I sought the advice of the proprietors of one of the local angling shops. I'm not for one moment suggesting that the advice proffered was incorrect, I was just a little incredulous. Basically, having purchased a Christchurch Angling Club day ticket, and intending to fish the Lifelands water, I asked the shop keeper where I had gone wrong the day before. His answer was that anyone who went out to fish the Hampshire Avon with less than 8 pints of maggots was wasting their time! This is where my chin hit the ground. Could this really be true? He then advised that I empty my bait bucket, using a feeder, as quickly as possible of at least 4-5 pints of the maggots. As I fully intended to trot a float and it was suggested that a similar amount of bait should still go into the swim. anyway This should feed off the minnows and bring in the bigger fish, (chub I hoped!) To cut a long story short, I followed his advice, caught a couple of small grayling followed by minnow after minnow. After a couple of 3 hours I got fed up with the fry and switched to the feeder. Without a bite in the next 2 hours I reverted to the float and caught a couple more graylings, loads more minnows and then a few dace. The dace started to show towards the end of my session and I did wonder if this was a sign that the minnows were 'full up!'. One trot down did result in a much bigger fish being hooked but lost in the weed. Unfortunately, I had to stop fishing just as the light faded, to head off on the long journey home, so never found out if this was the case. If it was, I'd spent 7 hours feeding maggots for 30 mins fishing?? Surely no! My question is:- Is this kind of tactic the 'only way forward' on this river? It's one that's totally foreign to me, little and often being my by-word. Does anyone have any opinions on the advice I was given? Not knowing any better I was happy to try it, but it did feel very strange! Cheers JP

Buy one, they're brilliant. Just the job for what you describe! JP

chavender, What are those reels! Loving the red finish. To my uninitiated eye they look just like my Youngs Purist II but in a different colour. Can you enlighten me please. JP

Thanks Will, Hopefully the rain we have already had will help! Cheers JP

Anybody got any reports from Sunday at Barton Court? I'm off there on Friday so looking to gleen as much info as possible! Let's be having you!! Cheers JP

Fantastic catch Bluerinse, Did the barbel come on the float too? I'm a member of SAA too and am slowly exploring their waters this season for the first time. Looking forward to trying Severn Meadows shortly, and now, with ren-weed vigour that I may be able to catch barbel there on my float rod and 'pin? Fingers crossed JP

Thanks to everyone who has taken the time to offer advice, much appreciated. 10' Knock-out pellet waggler which at £25 was too cheap to pass up. First night out with it yesterday produced a nice 2lb chub first trot to a piece of sweet corn! (See picture, sorry to get all Mr Crabtree!!) I'm delighted and the shorter length proved invaluable as I went head high into the undergrowth to get to my swims. Cheers everyone!

So my Shakespeare Match International 11' 6" rod should not be discounted?? That's food for thought! Cheers Gozzer! JP

Help please! I'm on the look out for a 'short' float rod to trot with. A lot of my fishing is done on small rivers where a small rod would be ideal. I've got a 13" rod which I can use on bigger flows and I think I require a 10' float rod that I can leave set up in the back of the car and wondered if anyone has any suggestions. (Ideally this rod with work well with a centrepin) I've seen 'wand' rods advertised but have no idea what they are? Does anyone have any suggestions. Cheers JP

I emailed Pure Fishing for an updage on 28th April and got the following reply. "Hi John Well we were supposed to go live last Friday but we are having problems with the web address. I am now in contact with the US trying to get this sorted so fingers crossed it will be live in the next few days Again, apologies for the wait Regards" Still not up though!

I recently broke the quiver tip on my Shakespeare Tetra Avon Specialist rod so made a quick call to Shakespeare to see if they could help. I was put through to a delightful lady called Jenny, who, despite having no obligation to help me as my rod is at least 3 years old, said if I was to drop by their offices in Redditch, would attempt to help me. I eventually managed to get the time to nip over to see them in Redditch and Jenny disappeared with my quiver top (minus quiver section) only to re-appear some 15 minutes later with 2 new tips for me. To crown a great visit when I attempted to make payment Jenny would have nothing of the sort! I am writing this really to thank Shakespeare for their excellent customer service and to Jenny for going the extra mile. Thanks Jenny, you've got a very satisfied customer. JP

Hello Everyone at AnglersNet. New member, Jaypeegolf, or just John if you wish. I live in the West Midlands and am a relatively new returning angler after a 20 or so year lay off. I started fishing in the mid 70's when my family moved to Worcestershire, near Evesham, and as a sweetner my Dad said I could go fishing when we moved. We lived in a small village with the Warwickshire Avon on our doorstep. I fished mainly at Fladbury, near to the weir. After returning to more urban surroundings in the late 70's I fished limitedly in the Grand Union Canal and in a pool that my school angling club had access to. This has since been decimated by cormorants I have found. I got back into my fishing following a trip to Centre Parcs at Longleat where a friend and his son convinced me it was a good idea and we subsequent some very enjoyable evenings catching some small carp in the lake. Now I'm 'properly' back integrated into my fishing, fitting it in around golf (my wife is so pleased!) and love to fish small rivers. Locally to me I fish the River Blythe and catch small chub and perch after work. Further afield I fish the Kennet above Newbury, not far from Barton Court, but am fed up of catching trout when I can see very big chub that I want instead. (Any advice gratefully received!) For the coming season I intend to join a local (relatively) club who have water on the Warwickshire Stour and Dene rivers and also some promising still waters too. Being surrounded by BAA waters I expect to utilise their day tickets through the summer also. I still consider myself a novice angler and love to pick up tips and advice from the forums here. Long may it last. I have on order an Anglersnet centre pin and am counting the days until it's arrival. Thanks for reading my post. Look forward to reading many more on here. All the best John

First post here! I've come home tonight from work to watch a Sky Plused editon of Go Fishing with 'everyone's favourite angler' John Wilson. He was fishing the River Kennet in Berkshire, somewhere below Newbury, with his mate Dougal and his small dog Jack. They wade across the river to fish a weir pool from a small island mid stream. placing their chairs in the shallow water. I thought I'd seen most of the Go Fishing series but this was a new one on me. My questions please are:- 1. Did/has anyone else seen this episode? 2. If you have, do you know which waters he was fishing? Any help gladly received. Many thanks John

Can anyone tell me what CSAS stands for please? Cheers JP

Hi Richard, Lovely to read of your recent experiences on the Alne. I too fish the Alne, but a little further upstream, at Aston Cantlow. I have struggled with this river for the past 2 years, ever since I joined the syndicate. I have had one chub of any note and little else in 2 seasons! Do you have any Alne specific experience that you could pass on, tactics, tips etc that may help me. Thanks for any advice you can offer. Cheers John