Guerilla

Would circle hooks be appropriate in this situation?

How nice that something so beautiful can come of something so tragic. What a fantastic memorial. Hope it brings you good luck and thanks for sharing it with us

Unbelievable fishing. Congrats! Good luck with the 7lb. In response to the otter sighting, I'm sure we've all had the debate more than once but despite the large otter presence around here, the chub really do seem to be thriving in the upper rivers. Maybe otters don't like eating them?

Damn right, that Berkley one looks very nice! Just cost a lot more than I'd want to spend on something to try and find I may not like much/be very good at! Don't a few of the UL guys rate the Spro UL reel, too? http://www.harrissportsmail.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=16916

Thanks Ken. Gotta admit, I go the lure bug big time last year but as yet I've only been out once so far this year. I've had my eye on a UL Daiwa rod at Askari for a while now; should have got it when they did 20% off World Cup Special. http://www.askari-fishing.co.uk/__WebShop_...rods/detail.jsf http://www.askari-fishing.co.uk/__WebShop_...rods/detail.jsf A bit longer than the norm for these type of rods maybe, but I think it'd be to my advantage. One for the Xmas list methinks (only 5 months to go! face) BTW, you actually landed that foul-hooked carp? Impressive!

Having fished Eardiston before, via Bewdley, I can categorically state my local river doesn't flow anything like those except when in flood. Maybe UL is the future, but what species would should I expect to entice and be able to land? Is it designed to try and catch fish that would otherwise ignore lures (Roach, Rudd, Bream or Dace) or is it to enjoy sport from smaller examples of the more traditional predatory species?

I agree with the others an old estate lake covered in lillies would be a good bet for tench. if it was an option. How about trying to rake your swim before fishing it? Stirring up the bottom of the canal, releasing all those natural foods they love to eat often yields results. Look for the tell-take cauldron of bubbles of feeding tench at dawn and dusk and you're onto a winner. Obviously this relies on you being able to throw your rake this far. If so, I'd fish the lift method over you bait rather than feeder fishing also. Hemp in the ground bait is certainly a good idea, too. Andy, that is some Roach fishing!

Sorry to hijack this thread but whilst we're on the subject: Ken, I've read many posts on lure fishing by yourself and have taken your advice when selecting rod casing weights with specific species in mind on two occasions before. But, for some reason, despite having a 6'6 rod 8-25ish g rod for Chub, I'm looking for something lighter - and am very interested in the ultra light setups. Thinking of something 6-7ft (bank side vegetation) with a casting weight of 2-10g - is ultralight fishing more for the Rudd etc, and would it be suicidal to chuck bits of 'fluff' at 4lb Chub on something of this weight coupled with, say 10 or 20lb Power Pro? I've got more confidence in catching Chub on flies than I have lures, but even my lighter rods can't cast such lures. Thanks for the tip on enticing those Chub on spinners against the flow, by the way.

Hahaha! If it's the stuff guys put into their boilies, don't they just use 5ml per 1kg base mix? ie it's VERY potent! Thanks for the advice!

As Ken mentioned, ideally you'd have been better with a fixed spool reel but now you have a baitcaster, you may as well put it to some good use! I'm not personally familiar with the rod or reel reel but as Budgie said, most multipliers/baitcasters don't throw lighter lures too well which may limit your lure selection. What is the casting weight range of the rod? Being a Masterline rod, I expect it will be stated on the rod blank itself. Incidentally, what line type (braid/mono) and breaking strain are you using? Ken suggested some Mepps style blade spinners in sizes 2 and 3; these are typically lighter lures so you may have difficulty casting them accurately or a any great distance. Classic lures for Perch are grubs fished either on a jig head or a worm-style hook. I always favour red coloured ones as they appear more natural to me which surely must be more natural to the fish??!? I haven't had much joy in converting follows into takes from Chub but those I have hooked were all on floating popper-style surface lures. I read in the late Charlie Bettell's book that Chub are suspicious of lures being retrieved against the direction of the flow of the river; something to bear in mind. Have a look here for some good quality, well priced lures and once we know more details of your setup me may be able to suggest some specific lures: AGM Discount Oh, and without repeating the details of the necessary lure fishing equipment (forceps, pliers, cutters, wire trace etc) which no doubt you already own, a rubber meshed net really is useful! The Korum ones are getting good reviews, I read.

Lots of cheap bait tips, eh. Particle baits, bird food based as well as grains such as maize and wheat. Trout pellets, even cheaper than Halibut pellets for loose feed. A bucket - a great way of carrying lures which is more convenient than a lure bag/box. Washing up liquid to sink line. Peacock quill or Balsa dowel to make your own floats. Braided mainline - cheaper than mono in the end!

Depends on the species, I think. Pike have feeding periods and Chub are supposedly less spooky in lower light. Watch for signs of fry disturbed and actively moving as this indicated a predator is on the feed. Dusk seems to be a better time for me as I'm never up early enough for dawn!

I've found some nice spots along the river I fish which look very inviting for Tench, Carp and maybe Bream. The only problem is, it contains lots of Chub, too, which I want to avoid as there are better swims for these. As I fish near to the swim regularly, I was wanting to put some pre-bait in to encourage some confident feeding fish there. Thinking it'd produce Tench and Carp, I was planning to use hemp and corn/maize; they're both readily available, cheap and easy to prepare so I can do it on the cheap and easy. Anderoo's thread about big Bream suggests they may not eat hemp, but that's no problem as these too are in abundance around here. It's the elusive river Tench I'm seeking! Any thoughts on the best bait to encourage Tench and Carp, whilst avoiding the Chub and even the Bream? Thanks

Phil, bring back the 'M' drop-off function! Or if the leads work in the bobbin extension socket, just bring back the drop-off leads. One very tiny niggle with mine is that I have to take my swingers off the bankstick (and the alarm beforehand, obviously) to remove the battery cover when one of the selling points is that the battery can be changed when on the sticks. Maybe my hockey sticks are a little wider than most, though? Could the battery cover slide on from the side as opposed to from the bottom? I'd certainly choose a GF alarm over the new Korum ones which may be in your current market. I've no experience of wireless so can't comment on that.

Just bumping this thread as it is this coming Sunday. It was a cracking day out for all the family last year despite the weather.

You could try a meat screw? I make my own with a braided hair and a spring from one of the many broken plastic pegs I find in the back garden!

Spend the extra pound here and you really won't go wrong!

More Lidl fishing products available 29.03.2010. Here Judging by previous comments, it seems some of this stuff is very good for the money.

Not sure; I fished it around May time last year. Didn't see any tench until late in the evening. My mate had immediate success with strawberry sweetcorn for them but the chap who owns the house and lake fishes red maggot over hemp for them in the swims behind the island, facing the house. He'll give you some tips when you get there, I'm sure.

Hi Lee and welcome to the forum. I've fished Weybread Fisheries twice, but was targeting the carp and tench. The first thing to mention is to enjoy yourself as it's a lovely place to fish. On the occasions I have been, people seem to target the silvers from the pegs in front of the house so it is probably better to fish those swims although some of them are disabled platforms I think? For some reason I've got the impression that the lake is quite deep there but as I haven't fished that side of the lake I can't confirm it. There are numerous bait restrictions so have a look on the website. They may limit the quantity of groundbait you can use, for example. Have you seen the episode of 'Go Fishing' where John Wilson fishes it? He caught crucians on small chunks of luncheon meat and then catches bream from the surface on dog biscuits! Good luck

I see Kingfishers nearly every time I'm out on the Waveney. I also see Herons nearly every time I'm out on the Broads. Oh, and Barn Olws. Lots, of Cormorants, too, though.

Nope, I'm in the poor returns club, too. I've had a woeful time since before Christmas, also. I remember still catching on lures in November but after that, I think I've had one measly fish and many a blank. Much of that was down to poor venue choice, and a lot was due to bad timing, but given the conditions and work commitments it has been hard to get where I want to, when I want to. Should really put up another thread but as this one is pike orientated, I'll jump on here: Anyone have much success after dark? A lot of my pike fishing has been done after work hours. Looking at local catch reports, many were within an hour of dusk during the autumn months, but more recently the feeding time seems to be from 12-2pm. I haven't had a run in the dark at all

Maybe he's fishing with PVA bags or Method Feeders but from what I see, the tendency is for heavier rods now although what you say Weirwulf is certainly true. As Budgie said, we're spoilt for choice for so-called "budget" rods at that end of the market. My Dad laughs every time I have a new rod turn up for £50-odd quid, reciting the story about the spinning rod he bought from a catalogue back in the day which cost him a weeks wage. He can't comprehend the comparative quality and relative price difference between rods of then and now.

I'd get the TFG F8 rods at £30 each. Bargain. Click me Fox Warriors are supposedly great for the money and I've yet to hear a bad word said about the Outkasts. They've recently gone up in price but still seem to be recommended by everyone.

Sod the otters, now we have a problem with cormorants: Cormorants on the Waveney Link "With the longest spell of thick ice many still waters have had for some years, cormorants were pushed in great numbers to ice free spaces. At the 60-acre plus Earsham Gravels the land managers Fenn Wright are applying for a cormorant cull licence but there is little hope the situation will be improved as the up to 140 visitors continue to wreak havoc. DEFRA has intimated that it may grant the facility within in the next two weeks, to cull three birds a month up until April. The Waveney, running adjacent round Bungay Common [the location of the lake this thread was initially started for - Rob], has been plundered too. At Beccles Quay, some days more than 30 have been present, with their hunting grounds limited alternating up and down the river to North Cove." At least they cleared up their own disposable BBQs. But what is that? An elusive picture of an otter actually eating a fish? It was probably up there sunbathing anyway due to its impending death due to critical illness.