coarsefish-torbay

10 miles doesn't sound too far to walk, does it? Back when I was younger...

I'm assuming the water in question has a closed season, in which case the tench may not be ready to pick up such a big bait. If you can fish two rods, try one with the lobworm on the bottom, or maybe a couple of inches overdepth if there is a ripple (the worm won't bury into the bottom, and if it does the tench will soon dig it out again!). On the second rod, fish double caster on a size 16 hook, that may well be more successful... I would also advocate something sweet in the groundbait, or use Sensas Lake, Van Den Eynde Expo or World Champion, Dynamite Baits' Silver Fish. Any of those will give the sweet flavour tench like. Remember to feed some hemp or casters quite regularly, as the tench will respond to the sound of bait going in. Good luck, let us know how it goes...

Thanks Elton. Chris, it's all there on the news release, or PM me and I'll get them to you if you send me a cheque. Hoping Sensas will distribute them in France for us, but still in the negotiation stage with Jean Desque.

What fish are you after then Moose?

Not sure what's going on there. Scrapped mags, laid off staff... Since I started working for EMAP as a freelancer, I've known about their aggressive attitude towards turning a profit. Angling Plus, as it was at the time, was always under threat. Just a surprise it lasted so long really. Suspect they will have to start charging for membership soon on the website

Hemp and casters, feed quite heavy and keep feeding regularly to attract them with noise and feed off smaller fish. Fish just touching bottom, but cast every ten minutes, as tench will readily come off bottom to intercept falling feed.

Seems my website problems are very serious and not likely to be resolved soon. When are you down this way Mark? Don't forget there's a closed season on rivers until 16th June. After that, there is river fishing on the Exe and Culm, both of which are available on an Exeter & DAA ticket. Check out their website by Googling Exeter and Distict fishing. The Exe can be brilliant, especially for dace, or bream on the tidal river, but you have to catch it right. Email me on: stevenbobbie@yahoo.co.uk to let me now when you're going and exactly what you want to do and I can suggets some more options. Steve Just seen the link on the post from Wearyone, click on the here hyperlink and it will take you straight to Exeter & DAA's site.

As plenty of other (including yourself) have alluded to; there is usually a strong undertow working against a breeze. First, choose a long float and lock it on the line with 3/4 of the total loadng. A 3AA float will take something like 2AA and 2x number 4 shot, which can be split equally, either side of the float base. Now put 8 number 8 shot starting at half depth, spread 1/4" apart to make a strung bulk. These will pick up the undertow and move the float back against the wind, called picking up the trip down here in the south-west. It is a deadly method for all types of fish, but especially skimmers. If you want the float to hold still, move the float overdepth by a foot and drop half the number 8s down to the bottom foot of line, that should do the trick. You may have to experiment with the spacing between the number 8s to get perfect presentation. Sometimes it works better if they are pushed tight together, other times they need to be spaced 1/2" apart. You can also try dropping two of those number 8s tight together a couple of inches from the hook and look out for lift bites.

Thanks for that Si, it might just do the job.

Hi, looking at the Wychwood Maximiser. Can anyone tell me the capacity, I need a reel that takes something like 200m of 30lb. Thanks

Just try fishing the bomb with a lobworm on the hook. You could try loose feeding a few casters for added attraction.

Set up your end tackle as required (make sure the rod can cast the weight, I wouldn't recommend trying to fish the 'method'), cast to where you want to fish and point the rod straight down the line. Put the rod on a rod rest which allows the line to run freely and hold the butt of the rod with the line pulled tight over one of your fingers. It is called touch legering and is a very sensitive way of fishing. Have fun...

Yep, I'm an MD from time to time, but using my real name. I don't have a problem with it, but it is not the first forum I go to when browsing. Kempo; do you think your attitude is befitting a "more adult" forum? The Hat; I feel I contribute to these forums precisely to help younger, or less experienced anglers. Without that kind of assistance, many of these people would be lost to angling very quickly, or worse, would be left to fish in ways that I felt we had left behind 20 years ago. On the whole, however, I'm glad you raised the tone of debate in such a measured and appropriate way. Each to their own, I say. In order of preference, I use: indianangler total-fishing anglersnet maggotdrowning fishingmagic May there always be a debate on a subject you want to hear about on one of these...

Look for areas where a deeper run is close to one of those gravel beds. Especially if the bottom comes up as you run down the swim. Close to some rushes would be excellent as well.

Do you think it would stand up to a mahseer then Ken? I'll stick with my carp rods for spinning for them, bit of a Philistine, ain't I?

Camo suits hey Ken? Could become de rigour at Speccy angler's conferences! Maybe we should import them ready made in a range of sizes?

I've seen plenty of anglers in this country who swap hands to cast and reel in. I did ask one old boy about it once, he said "Everyone asks me about that, but if I use a reel with the handle on the other side I get it all tangled." There was an article in the Angler's Mail a few years back about a match angler, who thought he was getting good results because he was wearing camo gear. He also camo'd his box and luggage, but his bait boxes were bright red! Then, let's look at the record of Drennan Team England, and Daiwa Dorking, both of whom wear white shirts as their standard outfit.

I was going to reply individually to some of the comments on here, but I've lost track of who said what, now. I am a match angler, I have in the past killed jack pike (at least 15 years ago) and eaten them. I've seen others killing pike, luckily no big ones (8lbs max) and I've intervened to stop others killing pike. If Bob Nudd has been reported accurately, then he is seriously misguided and in danger of influencing quite a few other anglers. I'm sure everyone reading this post, if not this forum, will be in agreement that killing pike does nothing to enhance the environment in which they live. Dave Harrell may in the past have been responsible for the killing of a pike (I have no evidence of it), but I can assure you all that he was also responsible for changing the rules on the Warwickshire Avon in a bid to protect pike. Match anglers can fish for pike in a match with spinning tackle and keep them in a seperate keepnet to be released at the end of the match. That was an initiative by 'Harry' to help match anglers stay sane and protect pike. In 30 years of match fishing, I have never seen anyone deliberately grip a fish between their knees to unhook it. They may drape the landing net over their knees for unhooking, which I believe to be much better for the fish than picking them up. Even if a fishery's rules state I must have an unhooking mat, I will not put a fish on it, I will unhook in the landing net, suspended between my legs. I did unhook a fish for the cameras, last week, on an unhooking mat, to demonstrate good practise, but would still suggest that only touching the fishes head, while it is cradled in a net, is much more preferable. It is a sad fact that anglers are divided on many issues and will ever be so. Let's hope we can all agree that we are the guardians of the waterside environment in whatever shape it takes and try to guide others with best practise as often as possible.

Down here in Devon it is still summer! When the sun has been out, it has been tee shirt weather and bagging on carp. How about get on a river and catch some wild fish?

The pre-stretched monos, like most use for pole fishing can be good for top and bottom floats if used sensibly. Try something like 0.18 diameter, should have a breaking strain of about 6-7lbs, but will have a similar shock resistance to a 3lb mono, which will also have a diameter around 0.18mm. Difference is; the high-tech monos float very easily, whereas with old-style mono, you need to find a floating one.

Still a few places left. If you are interested, call me on: 07968 185681

Nobody interested then?

There should be a bit more about this in my report in tomorrows Angler's Mail. Basically Fips want angling to start to approach Olympic standards. Before it would ever be considered for entering in the Olympics, there are certain standards that need to apply and random drug tests are one of those criteria. Dick Clegg told me that, while the test were being conducted. Main problem was the way the tests were carried out and the fact that they were not planned and announced before the match. The whole episode descended into farce, really. Tamas Walter, the World Champion was concerned that excess Red Bull may be detected. And Livia Hajdu, ex-Ladies World Champ said to me: "What drugs can improve your fishing ability? I want some!"

If anyone is interested, I'm running a match in memory of my mate, Vernon Johnson. Fishing at Bake Lakes, on Treasure Island and Flamingo for those who know the venue. Email me to book a place, or get more info: steve@coarsefish-torbay.co.uk Tickets £15, draw 9.00 fish 10.30-3.30, pole only, no carp The venue is very easy to find, just off the A38 close to Plymouth. Excellent silver fish fishing, I expect the winning weight to be around 30lbs.

Thanks, Lyn PM sent