watatoad

I cant believe this thread, sure I am an OAP and I fish. Never consider the weather so long as the river is not in flood and even then I will sometimes give it a go. Sure I will moan about having to use a different and usually heavier float when the wind is blowing, but rain, snow, hail, sun, frost or fog, just don't matter when you're fishing. Adapt your methods to the quarry species and the prevailing conditions weather included. Sure we all have a few aches and pains so what if you can get to the waterside go for it. Think about the times when age and frailty are a real problem and you can barely get down the garden or you get banged away in some care home or hospital and simply cant get out. Make the most of what you have and use your time well and carefully for you never know when there will be no more fishing for you. After my last two heart attacks I cant wander along the bank for miles carrying my rods and tackle, now I have to use a trolley and when my MS is playing up I am truly unable to get to the bank but as soon as I am in recession and I can get moving again off out I am, even if I have to spend a while learning to walk again and gradually extending the distance I can manage. Yet out I go.

You could do a photograph comparison showing both the old and the current or newer versions of the old equipment especially where some i.e. old style keepnets are illegal these days.

Here is a link to an article I wrote sometime ago which may give you some ideas the part you want is under Angling-Tales. It is copyright, although hopefully it could give some pointers. http://www.watatoad.com/

Are you going to dress the part for a headline photograph? Getting old tackle could be a real problem.

You ask what for me is the almost impossible question, for me at least, as my fishing tactics are decided at the riverbank and are dependent on so many factors, oh! Well here goes my effort, please just don’t forget this is just my personal opinion and based on my local Suffolk Stour or other rivers local to me. Perhaps consider it as an idea or a starting point and modify it to suit your fishing style, your local river and all the prevailing conditions. This is very hard as so much of what I do is based on so many things which I cannot know until I actually get to the riverbank. Flow, Light, Wind, Speed of the clouds in the sky, Time of the day - Surface look i.e. oily - rubbish floating past - very rippled surface - smooth surface - Upstream wind - obviously downstream wind - crossing wind - naturally the strength of the wind - Warm or cool day - Was there a frost last night - will there be a frost tonight – Is there any wild food about – are any berries dropping into the water - So I don't know if this will work for anyone else, although it works for me and is a fair basis as a starting point. I will assume that everyone reading this knows the basics of angling like depth checking and so forth. For this time of the year for my local Suffolk Stour, generally not a river known for its fast flow or glowing praises, I fish very light 3/4 to 1lb bs main line in really fast water I might go any size up to 3lb bs, hooks barbless bronze 18, 20, 22, 24 I usually start with a 20 and see how it feels. Starting with single white maggot shop bought does o.k. or perhaps some (that have been fed on raw pigeon with a second batch fed on wild rabbit - occasionally some fed on chicken) I have known some people just toss a lump or piece of chicken or fish into a box or tin of maggots all on an 18" (46cms) tail although I will reduce or lengthen the tail if I feel the need. Most of my shot is either side of the float which I dot down as much as possible. With a good flow going I might spread out my shot more. Sometimes I will use dust shot even getting within about 4" from the hook as this gives a very clear and definite indication of a take or bite. Equally sometimes I only have dust shot between hook and float. Some may prefer bread which I do use at times. I have a few somewhat unusual bait recipes that I will not go into as there so I have learned a lot of squeamish anglers out there. When I have mentioned the less common baits I use I have been hit with quite a bit of offensive reaction so most of my mixes will remain a personal thing for me. Some swims I begin feeding with loose feed as soon as I arrive at them, only on very seldom occasions do I use groundbait and on those occasions I only use pea sized balls up to marble sized never needing to go as large as a ping pong or golf ball size.

Wishing all you river Roach fishermen and fisherwomen a great Roach season - just rmember Roach are not just for winter rivers...hehehe... Just need more determination in warmer heavier weeded times.

I don't rate any of them.

Ouch that is not funny, you need to take care of any long term injury pretty carefully.

Sorry to hear about your back and I hope it is better now. Perhaps you hurt it lugging all the gear and kit you take with you, best advice cut down on the weight of gear you take.

WOW! So much stuff, more like a picnic come camping holiday, than a bit of fishing. You did not mention serviettes or napkins, nor the cook and butler. ...hehehe... Sooner you than me. Chairs and beds, let me guess a generator and electric blankets too. What with packing and unpacking and setting up did you actually have any time to fish? Did you in fact actually catch any fish?

I never buy nor look at magazines unless someone sends me an article to read, I think that they are a total waste of time. Go down a few venues and see what others are using the look first to Ebay failing that your local cash converters and car boot sales, this time of the year newsagents advert boards. Next would come a search of the net and if you feel you need others opinions ask on a couple of forums.

I sit and type in awe at the amount of stuff you are taking, have you got a boat or submarine, a few gallons of booze and the kitchen sink on the trailer as well? With that much gear and tackle you are going to spend more time packing and unpacking than you are fishing, do yourself a favour and lighten it up dramatically. Remember if its not fun why are you doing it?

Is your hook set to the same depth as the Perch are feeding? I would use a 1.5lb monofilament hooklength. If all else fails switch to a bright gilt size 18 hook. I personally have never experienced Perch feeding and not taking the hookbait. So I am somewhat puzzled.

I would try no weight except under the float and a size 8 weight or smaller about 8" (200mm) from the hook. Maybe switch to a smaller hook say a size 16 barbless. how about a small worm or say one third of a lob.

Great photo's and rare ones to get hold of. Many thanks for sharing them.