WayneX2

Hi, Whats the name of the shop thats going to be closing down? Thanks

Very interested, email sent.

Nice post Leon. I have a few questions though. So instead of using 2 trebles are you using just a single circle hook? I'm guessing hook placement isn't as important as when using trebles due to the decreased chance of deep hooking but what is the best way to hook the bait? Finally, what make is your landing net? I've been thinking about buying a wider mesh net for my piking and that looks perfect. Thanks

I got a Fox Duo-Lite Specialist ½lb rod online last week and I'm not sure about the quiver section. The problem is that the quiver section is an extremely tight fit for the quivertips and I can only push them in about 4-5mm. I understand that it needs to be snug when new to allow for wear and tear etc but it seems like more of the quivertip needs to be pushed in. In my head it seems that when this part of the rod is compressed, either through casting or playing a fish, it will wither snap or just pop out. So basically what I'm interested in knowing is if this normal or something to worry about and if it is something to be concerned about what I should do. Thanks

I've done quite a lot of this type of fishing in the last 3 summers, mostly for tench but also carp during the last month. For the tench I've been float fishing with a 14mm pellet on a fairly short hair, probably 2-3mm between the bait and the hook. I've found the bites are easy to miss as you have to pause before you strike when the float has gone under. Its very easy to strike too early and miss but after the first few you get the hang of it and I've caught a lot of tench fishing this way. For the carp (on a different water) I've started fishing the lift method extremely close in (under the rod tip) using a 15mm boilie on a slightly longer hair, probably 5-6mm, and so far the bites have been unmissable. Similar to you I started using the lift method for the carp as it was more entertaining. On this water the carp patrol the margins of the windward corner during the summer on warm, bright days but are very wary of line cutting through the water when fishing "normal style" with a lead etc. so I decided to try float fishing for them as it keeps most of the line out of the water. Hiding behind a bush and seeing a few carp slowly swimming towards you and then diving down out of sight towards your bait is pretty damn exciting! So far I've had fish to 19lb13oz this way and fishing doesn't get much simpler than this. It's certainly worth a go.

Unfortunately I'm in Suffolk so I'm quite a long way away, but thanks for the offer. Also none of my local tackle shops stock it so I can't go and have a play with it. What I want it for is mainly bream, chub and tench with the odd barbel or carp thrown in. Methods would be freelining, legering with as little as 1 ssg, feeder work and float fishing all on rivers with a maximum width of 30 yards. I also want a rod that is fun to play fish on. So from the sound of it I'm probably looking for something else. The search goes on!

I'm looking into buying an avon style rod with a test curve of about 1 1/4lb and have found this rod. Does anyone on here use this rod, have an opinion on it or know what the action is like? If anyone has any suggestions of a similar style rod up to a max of £100 please list them. Thanks

Stick me down on the list as well please Will. It will be good to meet up with people again after the wobblethon in Feb and chub are one of my favourite species. Either day is good for me and there is a small chance I would be able to do both days.

Yesterday I had a free afternoon and a pint of maggots left over from a session from earlier in the week so decided to take it easy. I fished off of the downstream side of a road bridge, legs dangling off the side, just 30 yards from my car with just a rod, landing net, plummet, disgorger and a bait box for company hoping to catch a few roach and dace. While I'd never fished here before I had walked along it in summer and seen large numbers of silverfish with some decent sized roach and the odd chub. Indeed while I was looking off of the upstream side of the bridge the water exploded with small fish jumping, trying to escape an unseen predator. Although I knew there were plenty of fish above the bridge I decided to fish the downstream side even though the water was deeper and I couldn't spot any fish. This was because it would be easier to fish because of a strong wind. Throwing a few maggots in at my feet and then placing my float in with them and letting line peel off the reel as the current took the float away, the first 3 trots down were fruitless. On the 4th trot down the float disappeared 20-25 yards downstream which was met with a swift strike and the rod hooped right over. While I struggled to close the bailarm while holding the line tight (I still haven't found the best was to do this) I was thinking 'Please be a roach, please be a roach, please be a roach' as this was obviously a decent fish. I started making line on it and the fish was staying deep. It was at this point I remembered that I hadn't adjusted the drag since I last used the reel (for pike fishing!) so quickly flicked the anti-reverse switch. By now I still hadn't seen it and still didn't know what it was, although I'd narrowed it down to a very big perch or a decent chub. We battled for a few minutes until I got the fish close in when I caught a glimpse of it. It was a chub. Now I had it close in I was faced with new danger. To the left were some dead reed stems and some nasty looking roots, to the right were 3 solitary reed stems and under me was the bridge itself. Being a chub he of course made a dash to try and snag me in all of those areas. Luckily I managed to keep him out and guided him towards the surface ready for netting. This presented me another problem. I hadn't bothered extending my landing net handle due to not expecting anything big and because of my close proximity to the road I wanted to keep everything neat and tidy and out of the way. Somehow I managed to extend the net one handed and started bring the chub towards it which was difficult in itself. With his mouth open trying to pull him against the flow wasn't easy but finally he was in the net! Just as I was landing it a guy walking along the road stopped and said thats 'a biggun' to which I replied, 'its enormous'. I lifted the net up and asked the guy to hold my rod for me to which he replied those magic words 'its all right, I'm an angler myself'. On hearing this I asked if he wouldn't mind holding the chub in the net while I ran back to my car to get my unhooking mat, scales and camera. When we placed it on the mat and had a look at it it looked massive. It was thick across the back and very deep. When I tried to get my hand around the back of his head to lift him slightly to unhook him I couldn't. By this point I'm fairly sure I was talking incoherently. On the scales the needle went past 3, then 4, then 5 and settled on 5lb 9oz! I couldn't believe it, a new personal best by 1lb 3oz. After a quick photo I put him back and he slunk away under the bridge to sulk. 5lb 9oz, not bad for 3lb mainline, 2lb 8oz hook length and a single maggot on a size 18 hook. Special thanks go to the guy with expert timing, without him I wouldn't have been able to weigh it or photograph it. I spent another 30 mins in that swim with no bites so decided to fish the other side of the bridge. For the next 90 minutes I had a bite nearly every cast resulting in either an inch long minnow, a dace or a roach. None of which were over 3 inches and it was great fun and really reminded me that I haven't done enough fishing like that this season. I was a lucky boy yesterday with everything going right, I'm not looking forward to the session that turns out to be the opposite...

Sorry for the late report, been busy all week. The day nearly didn't happen for me as I went straight back to sleep after my alarm went off in the morning but luckily I woke up again early enough to get there on time. Had a chat with the other guys who were there already while waiting for everyone else to arrive before heading off to the cut off channel with Tony and Sue who I was going to be fishing with for the day. As already mentioned the water was crystal clear but I managed to get a pike of about 4lbs on a wobbled roach. As others have said, this fish put up a spirited fight even though he was a fat little thing. Tony walked me through the proper unhooking procedure, which was one of the reasons I wanted to go to the fish-in. Turned out to be a lot easier than I thought it would be. After that I didn't get any action on wobbled baits or on lures, which I tried on a multiplier outfit borrowed from Tony. Although I wish I hadn't as I now really want one even though I know I'll hardly ever use it. Tony had a nice perch as seen here Unfortunately Sue didn't catch. Anyway, it was a great day and it was nice meeting you all. Special thanks go to Anderoo for organising the whole thing and to Tony and Sue who I fished with. Oh, and I can confirm the kelly kettle worked flawlessly.

Thanks Tony. I won't need to borrow any gear but I will take you up on the offer of fishing with you.

Thanks Anderoo, received. As per the note at the end of the email I would like to fish with someone else if possible.

Hi Anderoo, Sorry for not contacting you sooner with contact details etc but this has snuck up fast, I'd forgotten it was happening this weekend. However, I am still available and looking forward to it. Anyway if you could send the map and meeting details to my email address which is WayneX2@live.com I would be very greatful. Fantastic pictures ginger, consider my appetite well and truly whetted!

Yup, its very likely I'll be out after more chub after my recent success (see the mild, clear, high pressure thread for my report). Not sure where to go yet. I can't decide whether to go somewhere that I've fished a lot and know well and would have a good chance of catching or if to try somewhere I haven't been before. Decisions, decisions...

Do you know if the London Anglers Association stretches on the River Lea are very good for Barbel? And is this http://www.londonanglers.net/WATERS/KINGS%20WEIR.html the kings weir you are referring to? I'm in Suffolk and I've set myself the goal of catching my first Barbel this year which is going to mean travelling. As I'm an LAA member I'll probably give those a go first and was wondering if there is a good chance of catching one. If not I'll try elsewhere. I don't care about what size they are, I'd be as happy with a 1lber as an 11lber.