rourke7719

Preston Diatex XT 50 13 metre pole for sale. I have had this pole for a few years but it is in good condition. 4 Top kits and a cupping kit. No 4 section has a repair but I have used it for a couple of years with the repair with no issues. Purchase of longer pole and lack of storage space = sale £100 o.n.o. I would rather not post this item due to cost of postage so I will be looking for potential buyers to pick up but I would consider dropping off if buyer is in the Wigan area

I've fished lift method up to about 3-4 rod lengths out with no real problems in the past. As a rule I never placed my shot within 3inches of the hook bait and quite often had it even further. I'm no oracle on the method but this has worked for me with reasonable success

Just to throw a spanner in the works a bit here, I used to use a Daiwa Yank'n'Bank margin pole in an effort to haul out the odd large lump towards the end of a match but found that on my club water I was still losing large fish on red hydro or 20's elastic - even with the correct set up. The solution I use now is a carp rod (2 1/4 t.c.) rigged up with a pole float just flicked out past rod length. May seem a bit brutish but I've lost too many big carp in the lillies and this seems to give me a bit of extra strength to haul them out. Since then i've landed a higher percentage of big fish hooked close to margins and not once have I lost one due to the lillies. On the subject of whips and poles - I have seen take apart whips and telescopic poles and I've seen whips with elastics in them and I've seen whips over 7m in length, the main difference is in their intended use and one thing for certain is I would not attempt to fish the margins for bonus fish with a whip. Much better to use a dedicated margin or carp pole. I tend to use whips on the canal, fishing to hand for small silvers

I've not used a Ron Thompson coarse rod but I do have a RT boat road and it has performed equally as well as my shakespears and even my shimano boat rods so if they have that quality across their entire range then I would say go for it.

I use wool or cotton as a backing then I wrap it in insulation tape to avoid the bedding in as described by Ant. Never had any problems.

If i'm really honest with you NO its not but you do need something if only to stop you cracking your pole on a rock. When I first started I used to lay my rod holdall or net bag on the floor behind me just to keep the pole off the deck but a roller does this job so much better and you pick them up quite cheap (around £10) Bear in mind though if you use a roller you will need a pole sock or tulip otherwise your pole could roll into the drink, I speak from experience.

It can take some time to get used to a pole for the first time but its well worth it when you get used to it. Advanced Pole Fishing magazine helped me when I first started using my pole (depite its name) it had some good tips and rig ideas. When I first started I used to fish the pole with it between my legs and sitting on the butt which offered me easier control when fishing at long lengths, as I progressed I started to fish it across my lap which I found hard to control at first but when you get used to it, its a much smoother way of doing it. Get a pole sock over a tulip grip because they offer more of a target area to aim for when you've just landed a fish. Pole rollers are essential, at 8m you'll only need one but as you get a longer pole its better to use 2 for the extra support. Feeding pots are useful, either home made from kinder egg pots or shop bought(I use fox toss pots) they make pin point feeding easy and if your only a beginner on the pole you may find using a catapult whilst holding your pole difficult. The main thing is to persevere with it because once you've got it mastered it will seriously improve your fishing, especially on commercials.

I had a similar introduction to match fishing when I joined a small club. I was getting hammered week in week out, sometimes I didn't even way in. The solution was simple though and that was to practice on the club water whenever I could, put yourself under match conditions every time you go. I was lucky because I lived about 200 yds from the lake and I used to go most evenings and at least once at the weekend. Fish random pegs and try different methods and baits and you will soon figure out how to fish it well from the off. Watching the other anglers works but sometimes I have found they can be less than appreciative of you "spying" on them. The practice paid off though, by the time I had left the club to move onto pastures new, I had finished 2nd in the clubs summer and winter leagues and held the 3 hr match record for the lake.

I had a similar introduction to match fishing when I joined a small club. I was getting hammered week in week out, sometimes I didn't even way in. The solution was simple though and that was to practice on the club water whenever I could, put yourself under match conditions every time you go. I was lucky because I lived about 200 yds from the lake and I used to go most evenings and at least once at the weekend. Fish random pegs and try different methods and baits and you will soon figure out how to fish it well from the off. Watching the other anglers works but sometimes I have found they can be less than appreciative of you "spying" on them. The practice paid off though, by the time I had left the club to move onto pastures new, I had finished 2nd in the clubs summer and winter leagues and held the 3 hr match record for the lake.

The only one I can think of near by is the Sankey Canal. It runs from St Helens to Widnes but I think it goes around your area. Try this website and see if it helps http://www.penninewaterways.co.uk/sankey/index.htm

Hi everyone, Quite often myself and some of my family head up to ullswater for a bit of camping and some fishing. Trouble is the fishing doesn't seem to go to well and small trout and perch in small numbers are the best we've managed. Has anyone got any tips on how to improve our catches ready for our next visit? We tend to go up there between June and Oct.

My pole came with 4 top kits and used hydro in mine. 2kits with black and 2 with white. If you fish commercials where fish are all in a similar size range then it makes sense having more than one top kit with a certain grade elastic, that way you can use a similar set up in different swims. For me it made things simpler. One thing I would suggest though if you tend to fish commercials is not use the 3-4 grade and get another 8-10 in your spare kit. I would do that so you have 2 kits at 8 -10 and one kit at 14 - 16 for bonus fish and margin work. A size 3-4 is one I would consider on canals I think where your target is small roach and perch with the chance of a bonus bream or tench. Basically elastic choice is your own, middy hi vis is good elastic, hydro is good elastic and there are many others out there that are good elastics.

I used to fish the Avon at Amesbury quite a lot when I lived at Larkhill. Stick float, Waggler and using a bomb all worked for a nice simple days fishing. There are trout there as well. If you go down the A303 towards exeter and turn left at the roundabout signposted Amesbury (A345), just after you turn off you'll see a lay-by on your right hand side, park in there and then cross the road to a gate to a path called Lords walk. The path follows the river, the first leg from the road bridge to where the river emerges from the wooded area is free, once the river emerges from the woods it becomes a club controlled stretch to the next bridge under the A303. Salisbury Angling club run it but they do sell day tickets for the stretch from the cycle and tackle shop in town, I think they were about 3 quid. I found the fishing equally good all down the stretch but the day ticket part has easier access to the bank. I used to catch well running a stick under the bridge on the A345.

Like I said its been a while since i've been down there. As for the carp in waddicars, I'm not referring to crucian, however what I probably should have also mentioned is that I haven't seen them and I'm only passing on what I've heard from other anglers, I used to fish it for the tench really. Sometimes in the summer if you stand on the hill and look over waddicars you can see the familiar dark sillouette commonly associated with carp, maybe thats where the stories come from but as to the true identity I don't know, maybe they are chub or the mysterious cat fish you spoke of. Sounds like you used to fish the areas about the times as I did, I fished them up to about 1998 quite regular whilst still at school because they were local, I fished them on and off since but because I lived out of wigan I only managed to get down there when visiting family. Will have to try them more often now that I have moved back.

I was just looking for routes around the canals and wigan flashes areas, I like to cycle and fish and quite often marry them together by cycling to the pond, fishing all day, the cycle home. Bliss

Hello just signed up after discovering this site whilst searching for cycling routes?????? Live in the Wigan area

I know this reply is quite a while after the original post but I have just discovered this website and I may have another answer for you. I used to fish the flashes you speak of quite regular as my Grandmother lives on Mottram drive right near waddicars flash. As far as i'm aware waddicars, westwood,scotsmans,pearsons,ochre,horrocks and the other flashes as well as a short stretch of the leeds liverpool canal leigh branch are (or were) controlled by an organisation called pearson and knowles (or something to that effect). Now I have fished these many times but the only one I have ever been asked for a ticket is Horrocks flash, which seems right as it is the best one really. As for whats in them, I know waddicars has a good head of decent tench in it. I used to fish on the pole at about 7 metres just after the depth drops off, fish it hard on the bottom. Sometimes it can be a bit hit and miss but in summer i used to bag up, there is carp and pike in there as well as roach and perch. Westwood is the same, with a good head of tench although i've never really fished it that much. I've never tried pearson but i've never heard of anyone catching from it. Scotsmans does produce but i'm not sure of the quantity or quality but I do know there are a few big carp in there. As for the others they are pretty much the same. For me waddicars is ideal because it is only 2 minutes walk from poolstock lane either down mottram drive or from the hill opposite the tippings arms and its relatively easy. it can get a bit crowded with unruly kids during the summer months and weekends, they don't seem to bothered with the anglers but can cause disturbance if you don't like being hassled. Your best bet would be to walk round the areas at various times and see who is fishing, all of the flashes are easily accessable from the canal towpaths so you don't have to stray far. As for the brook, i've fished it many times for the chub to no avail but they are there, just be careful getting down to it because it has steep banks and is often very overgrown

I know this reply is quite a while after the original post but I have just discovered this website and I may have another answer for you. I used to fish the flashes you speak of quite regular as my Grandmother lives on Mottram drive right near waddicars flash. As far as i'm aware waddicars, westwood,scotsmans,pearsons,ochre,horrocks and the other flashes as well as a short stretch of the leeds liverpool canal leigh branch are (or were) controlled by an organisation called pearson and knowles (or something to that effect). Now I have fished these many times but the only one I have ever been asked for a ticket is Horrocks flash, which seems right as it is the best one really. As for whats in them, I know waddicars has a good head of decent tench in it. I used to fish on the pole at about 7 metres just after the depth drops off, fish it hard on the bottom. Sometimes it can be a bit hit and miss but in summer i used to bag up, there is carp and pike in there as well as roach and perch. Westwood is the same, with a good head of tench although i've never really fished it that much. I've never tried pearson but i've never heard of anyone catching from it. Scotsmans does produce but i'm not sure of the quantity or quality but I do know there are a few big carp in there. As for the others they are pretty much the same. For me waddicars is ideal because it is only 2 minutes walk from poolstock lane either down mottram drive or from the hill opposite the tippings arms and its relatively easy. it can get a bit crowded with unruly kids during the summer months and weekends, they don't seem to bothered with the anglers but can cause disturbance if you don't like being hassled. Your best bet would be to walk round the areas at various times and see who is fishing, all of the flashes are easily accessable from the canal towpaths so you don't have to stray far. As for the brook, i've fished it many times for the chub to no avail but they are there, just be careful getting down to it because it has steep banks and is often very overgrown