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Elton, Bad news, he is!! The weather doesn't look to bad from now on in, a little rain tomorrow maybe, but not a lot. I am going to ring the bailiff tomorrow to check on conditions of the river. I think there will be alot of colour in it but it should have dropped, hopefully.

I make loads of different flavoured pastes. Some are simple and others have taken years to perfect. You wont go far wrong with grinding some of the boilies you are using and adding an egg to make a paste. You can add any sort of flavourings and oils you wish. A good off the shelf paste is John Baker Frost and Flood.

You are right Tony. Malc and I are both staying over. Just need to find a good curry house now that is not too far away from the travelodge now. We are going to fish the free stretch the day after just below the Itchen Fishery.

Ant, Take reds and whites with you, that's what I do. I usually take more reds than whites. As for your reel this is a good deal £110 http://www.britnett-carver.co.uk/tackle2u/prods/pc13.html

All my Barbel fishing is done with a minimum of 10lb line and a majority of the time it is 12lb Excel. Hook length's vary from 10 and 12lb flouro and 12 and 15lb braid. I started using 12lb line for the Teme, as it really is needed especially in the summer.

I gather from your post it is Barbel you are after. Depending on what you have to spend go for a Barbel rod with a 1.75 tc preferably with a quiver top tooa as this will cover most situations. Something like the Shimano Hyperloop Power or Xt version are decent budget rods. You can pick the Power up for around £50 and little more for the xt version, this has an extra quiver top so it has 3 tops in all. If money is no object then look for something with an Harrison blank (fantastic blanks). My rods were custom built, take a look here http://www.barbel.co.uk/site/shop/system/index.htm

For those of you interested we are going to meet in the car park of the fishery at the end of the day to toast Gerry (Argyll) Mulled wine will be supplied as will tea and coffee for those who don't drink, compliments of Tony U and Sue. Direction etc. can be found here http://www.anglersnet.co.uk/forums/index.php?showtopic=71573

To the top

I like nothing more then trotting a float down a chalk stream or on the Teme after Grayling in winter, especially on cold frosty mornings.

Well I'm out tomorrow to have ago. I will be using big baits and waiting for the big girls to show up. Put it this way, if you aint there you won't catch them.

Thanks very much, looks like I will be buying some Hybrio batteries then.

I am after some of the above as I have mislayed a set of my others. Any recommendations for the best to get? Not bothered about the cost as long as they are good.

They really do my head in, but I usually just tell them to F off, that's if they haven't already got halfway up the path atfer hearing the dog when they knock the door. My German Shephard has be the best deterant for these numbskulls. I had one the other day and as I opened the door he say's "I not here to sell you anything" My reply was "oh you here to give me something then" to which "well no" So I call the dog, I have not seen someone dissapear as fast in my life. I was laughing for about 2 days over that.

For those of you going to the fish-in here are some details of directions to the fishery and what is happening. Firstly I will be stopping at Asda for breakfast in Eastleigh, it is ony 5 mins from J14 of the M3 and 10 mins from the fishery. The restaraunt opens at 8 o'clock, I will be there around 7.45 ish. Asda, Bournemouth Road, Chandlers Ford, Eastleigh, SO53 3YJ. Secondly, fishing is from 9 o'clock to dusk, there is a track that runs along the river so you can park at your pegs in most cases. I suggest we meet in the car park of the fishery at around 8.45. We have permission to fish the top of the fishery that is usually reserved for season ticket holders. However, we cannot fish the Trout section which is clearly marked, it is where the river splits into two. Thirdly, we are meeting at the end of the day to raise a glass in Gerry's memory( Argyll), which Tony U is supplying. We can either meet at the fishery car park or the pub car park. There is also a big hut which is in the Trout section. I will leave this for Tony to decide. Directions to the fishery: Via M.27 - Junction 5 (If travelling from the West, or North via M.3) Take Junction 5 off the M27. At the roundabout under the motorway follow the signs for Southampton (Eastleigh) Airport. At the next roundabout take the 2nd exit towards Southampton Airport (Wide Lane - A.335) over the railway line to another roundabout by the entrance to the airport. Take the 3rd exit. Continue along this roadd to another roundabout. Take the 1st exit into Mansbridge Road. Continue along the road through a set of traffic lights, over the river, past the White Swan public house. The entrance to Lower Itchen Fishery is over a bridge on the left immediately at the bottom of a hill. Via M.27 - Junction 7 (If travelling from the East) Take Junction 7. At the roundabout under the motorway follow the signs for A.27 towards Southampton. At the next roundabout take the 4th exit signed towards West End. Continue along this road, across traffic lights. At the roundabout by the Texaco garage, go straight over. Go past Haskins Garden Centre on the left and down the hill. The entrance to Lower Itchen Fishery is over a bridge on the right immediately at the bottom of a hill. That just leaves me say, I hope yo have a good day, catch some fish and the weather is kind to us. See you all there.

Richard, I have jotted your name, although there a few others before you on the reserve list.

I will post details nearer the time.

I don't have a problem with boaters at all. The only downside is their speed sometimes, and this is usually people on holiday, who either just don't know the rules or are just idiots. A pouchfull of maggots through the window is nice way of saying thank you when they tare through your swim and up the river. The waterways are there for us all to enjoy and a little manners and respect and we can all use them peacefully.

My Barbel rod's have 1.75 and 2lb twin tops. The 1.75 is quite soft, and a joy to use. I use this most the time with the 2lb top only being used on the odd occasion, usually on flooded rivers when I need in excess of 5oz of lead to hold bottom.

I would love to go but don't think the other half would like it too much, as I am going to Spain golfing at the end of April for a week. Have a good one anyway.

What a complete idiot. How long before he loses an eye or even worse someone else loses theirs. He may even kill someone one day. I hope I never bump into him on a boat or bank, I would run a mile.

I have twice had my waders fill up and never ever felt I was going to drown. The main thing is not to panic, then have a good laugh about after.

More lead mate. I have been known to use 10oz on the Severn.

Take a look here http://www.ultrafloats.co.uk/t&t.php

Use the Polaris float. Simply thread the line through the mechanism, attach lead or swimfeeder along with your hook length. Cast out, locks automatically when you tighten up. Dead easy.

Having looked at few companies I found they were really over-priced. I ended up upgrading and insuring my tackle on my contents insurance for a lot less than the so called specialist insurance could offer me. I am covered for goods in the car as well as on the bank and obviously at home. I reckon I saved 50% of any quote I got.