John Weddup

Got me banged to rights there mate. I did think they didn't fight so hard on the 2nd or third recapture. Oh well at least a good undertow thread has started so I can learn how to catch other anglers dead fish. John

I think reading the speed of the undertow at different depths on a stillwater is much harder than doing so on a river. Certainly a job for the right float and proper shotting patterns. Also bearing in mind when trotting a river it can be calm wind conditions but on a still water to get these conditions there will be a wind. Very often the top layer of water will be going at say 2mph one way and the tow can be 4mph the other. John

Hi Rudd I like you suspect many anglers do not take it into account. I for one take it very seriously. Having been brought up through match and pleasure fishing that I took very seriously I soon learn't about tow. I have carried that into my specimen fishing with me. The tow on some of the big waters around us such as Alton Ardleigh or the ocean pit can be huge and what with depths of up to 40ft feeding and fishing in the same spot is extremely difficult. As you know even on a small water pole fishing where you try to keep everything tight in the winter you do not fish directly under your pole pot in windy conditions. This is a good subject. I know people will say its been talked of before but I think all the proper angling subjects are best brought up every now and again to get fresh idea's and new knowledge from both old and new members. John

I am just amazed at how those dead fish swim around and pick up another bait. They have apparently been doing it for years. Still they don't look to bad on it. The dead ones I have recaught still look good and don't smell too bad. John

I shouldn't be writing this either but to say most predators die after capture makes a mockery of the repeat catches of many pike over many years. I have caught a pike with an oak leaf brown mark on its flank 3 times in 4 weeks. I think once again another statement on here thats a load of old b*******. John

But probably for about 10 mins

Old geezer if your name is dave then my post was not mean't for you. That the trouble with forum names John

Dave H that is complete crap and you know it John

Hi mate I used to do lots of long posts with pics like yours but eventually they beat it out of me. However really good to read yours. I think most forum posters rarely fish but sit on computer all day. They think about all the controversial subjects they can talk about rather than fishing. I have been out today and caught 12 pike up to 12lbs. I was out overnight and missed a take that I think was a zander.Ah well next weekend I might get another. John

Fantastic report mate. This is what AN needs to make it great again but what do I know. John

Hi Mate having read your post again if it was me and not needing lots of bites to make me happy I would take 2 rods and 2 loaves of bread. I would fish big bits of crust on the hook fishing into dark and mash the other bits into a bucket with a bit of water to make them sink and keep chucking them in. You could get a real lump either roach or chub. John

Hi Matt living on the essex suffolk border the norfolk broads and surrounding area is a fair trip from me but I do it regularly summer time and for a number of years. However the upper bure is not something I have fished much. You need to ask john bailey our new super mr crabtree man So maybe a local or 2 will help but if you need to know more about the fens, a short trip from you, or the more tidal reaches then please ask again. I have looked at it a few times and it screams big chub and roach too me. John

Maybe not but I often equate animal and fish behavior to what we know best our own. If you were on the top of a slide, starving hungry and needed to conserve energy. A waiter came up behind you and tipped your order of food on the slide in front of you and it was slipping away. Would you grab the sprouts or that big bit of roast beef. John p.s don't give me all that vegitarian sh*t

Steve to me a lot of the pleasure of fishing is also enjoying using the right, balanced, and nice to handle equipment. If it was all about the catch we would use overkill equipment to make sure we did not lose it. A lightweight properly balanced rod which you enjoy holding trotting or waggler fishing is enjoyment in its self. Buy it mate you know you will love it John

Sorry mate don't agree hopefully mr jsparks4445 has a sense of humour and will realise he left out a few details. I don't think there have been any derogatory posts just a bit of banter brought on from lack of info. If mr jsparks4445 would like to give a few more details as to maybe location, how to fish for them, how to join clubs etc he will no doubt get all the help he needs. There are several members here form norfolk including dant who will go out of his way to post a long helpfull thread if he knows what to post it about. John

Could you please remove the ? as it gives the game away.

Yes Steve I like drennan rods too. I have their matchpro quiver rods and float rods and agree with you they are brilliant. The ultralight is an out and out light roach / dace rod although it would control bigger fish but fish it with light lines to get its full benefit. Some of their series 7 rods are nearly as good. I have 2 of their specimen float rods that I also use for light alarm/bobbin work for stillwater roach. They are very good for roach but have loads of power for tench etc if needed. I have an original tench float rod but prefer this new offering. They use a 2 peice construction on the 13ft rods with a dolly 1ft butt section and this works really well. It makes the rod feel really solid and the butt section screws in on a taper and joins really well. The only thing I would wish for better would be slightly larger rings on the specimen one. This would make it a great slider rod aswell. John

Hi Steve Glad you have picked this up quickly. As you know from our long conversations at wingham last year alan and I have been friends for a lot of years. Never close but always up for a good chat about fishing. A thinking angler much as I try to be hence the long chats. It has shocked me to the core. I will try to emulate Alans style and knowledge he imparted in my future angling. John

Yes Elton He posted quite a bit here in the early days. Have had many long and interesting conversations with Alan. Hoped to have a few more. You must live life to the full all the time. John

It has very sadly come to my attention late this afternoon that Alan has died. A very talented all round angler excelling at many species. Probably his favourites being Tench, of which he made a lifelong friend of Len Head, and pike and perch. With his perch exploits he made a friend of our own Steve Burke. Steve you will no doubt be as shocked as I am. Alan was just 59 and died of heart failure. May he be fishing with Len for evermore. John

Yes mate looks very chubby espescially if it was about 12c but it wasn't was it. You did well to get any action at all. No doubt I will be as daft and try over the weekend. John

Hi Andrew the water I had been fishing before xmas is not strictly a commercial its a lot bigger but quite shallow and is teeming with fish albeit not stocked as such. I was fishing 2 rods for perch and a waggler for the roach. As it got colder the perch bites dried up. I was mixing lobs, deads and lives but all had same result. I can only assume they became less active and fed less although I often fished into dark and before first light. John

Read this years ago and it helped me to catch in those conditions and I have 3 words to say cheesepaste cheesepaste and yes you guessed it cheesepaste. Stalking with a quiver rod fishing likely spots for 10 mins and moving. keeps you warm and you learn so much about the river to be remembered for when its warmer. Thanks Steve for eduacating me all those years ago and you didn't even know it. John

Hi If you want a reliable alarm when fishing open bail arm for predators then delkim is the answer. It does not have a roller just a line sensing v which works on vibration. I have bought and still have some of the very best roller alarms and as much as I love then for tench/bream fishing etc for open bail arm the delkims are streets ahead. A fellow zander angler also tried several different roller alarms but went back to delkims. Delkims are not without little niggles hence he tried others. For instance with sensitivity turned up heavy rain will make them bleep. In the middle of the night zander fishing this can be a nuisance but rather that than have the line skip over the roller without turning it which seems to happen very easily on roller alarms. I have not had a roller alarm freeze although I do fish in those conditions but I have had them get flooded with water around roller again stopping roller turning. With a bobbin at front they work perfectly but not open bailarm rear drop off. I actually boughtb the delks to use whilst quiver tipping. Seems weird I know but on a couple of big reservoirs you can wait hours for a bite until fish turn up. I would rather be looking at water than tips. I always fish beachcaster style on these waters (rod up in air) and delks will indicate when I get a bite. Its because they work on vibration rather than line movement. They are fantastic for that. I then started to use and compare with my other alarms and now only take the delks. There are 3 the middle one is a lot better than the cheapest as it has a wider sensitivity range and only differs from the dearest in not being built for receiver. John

That does look very good and should at least prove the theory if you manage to catch using it. The rollovers have worked for me. I have often had a take that then briefly stops and then goes off again at a more sedate speed. I do wonder if they are picking up the deadbait maybe even backing away from other fish quickly and then stopping turning and moving off. When a bobbin hits the top with tight line you have no choice but to hit it and as it reaches the end when resistance goes sky high I think they then drop it. I have been waiting until it moves off again slowly just watching my line pike style. It has worked for me after experiencing similar dropped runs to yourself. I figured the speed they pick up has to be to do with getting away from something I.E. another perch. As they know the fish is dead I don't think their initial pick up is a good grip. Bit like a chicken dragging the food away from others quickly before then eating it properly. John