Xplorer1

Only Norrie I know of ran a tackle shop on the corner of Newport Rd and City Rd in Cardiff about 50 years ago!

Trouble is he's been out of stock of some items for over a year, and he rarely answers the phone! The bodies he does have, at about 60p each, are pretty expensive.

I use a drop or two of sewing machine oil after I clean my centrepins, which I do after every outing.

And what an AWFUL site it is! It's hard to imagine anything more user hostile and difficult to compare products or get useful information from. It's a triumph of gizmos over function. Designed and built by techies, obviously!

Hi Tigger. I trot with them, mostly on small rivers/streams, and I also use them for close-in stillwater work for tench, crucians and roach mostly. I guess my proficiency level is such that I need a microdrag and a line cage - the damn thing keeps running away from me and I get endless tangles. I also find the handles too thin and too close to the rim for comfort when batting. I'm actually having second thoughts about selling it: I'm getting more inclined to hang onto it and persevere on the right occasion - like a windless day on a bigger river where I can have longer trots. Sorry to mess you about. Neil

Thanks guys - I was using the 6lbs/4lbs just as an example really - it was lighter lines I was thinking of, and was wondering f anyone had a specific technique. I've not lost many fish through broken hooklengths (except when a big carp picks up a single maggot on 12oz bottom!). But I tend to fish with the anti-reverse on, then switch it off after the strike, and once or twice when I've hit something big I've felt close to losing the fish in its first immediate dash before I've thrown the switch, and before having the chance to assess how big the beast is - especially when it swims directly away. I guess I just set the clutch a little looser and see how it goes.

Now it's easy enough when you're fishing straight through. Just grab hold of the line coming off the spool and pull/adjust/pull until you feel it's about right. But if you have 6lb line, say, and a 4lb hooklength, what do you do?

Yes it does. Is that good or bad?!

What am I offered? £140 new, used twice only, no marks/scratches.Comes complete with original luxury blister-wrap packing and recycled cardboard box It doesn't suit my style of fishing - I'm happier with my Rapidex and Young's 'pin.

Thanks for the tip Steve

What's the best way of getting the feathering off the quill? Razor blade? Singing? Peeling it off? Cheers Neil

200m of Drennan Float line for my pins and a Peacock handwarmer, which is brilliant.

As with so many other specialities, it's a difficult choice between online and bricks & mortar shops. The growth of online shopping erodes the business of the local shop, but the choice and price difference is hard to ignore. I guess I have three needs: 1) hooks, maggots, shot, floats and other bits and bobs - local shop 2) browsing, getting a touch-and-feel of tackle, and getting some questions answered - bigger shop 3) buying a big-ticket item - online shop I sometimes think that the future of retail is as showrooms, financed by sales commission from the online businesses.

For me, sitting in another punt on what I suspect is the same lake in the same bird reserve as MC, waiting for the first tench of the year in a magical early-morning.

The blurb for these reels refers to the "removable multi-position lineguard", but from what I can see it's a one-piece assembly held in place with four screws, and there are no unused screw holes visible. Does anyone know what the alternative positions are (other than fitted or removed!), and when you'd use them? Neil