robd

In answer to Lozza’s question, yes you can. You need to freeze them quickly in a thin layer in a plastic bag (not a big lump in a bait tub) to stop ice damage. When thawed cover them with water to keep them hydrated. Don’t re-freeze. Interesting idea/tip with the sterilising tablet Brian. Does the tablet stop the decomposition of the internals of the caster? As in when you crush a few is it black, gooey and smelly or normal as in a ‘fresh’ caster?

Try just converting one Polaris to a normal waggler bottom and fish it as a slider. Once you see how easy and versatile it is I'll guess you'll change them all to 'Waggler sliders'

Yes a nice fish, but what’s with this shoving fingers into the mouths of fish for a photo, is it some kind of perversion that’s passed me by? Noticed it on the odd photo, carp seem to be atractive for this behaviour but don’t see too many pike anglers doing it.

I was using the swan clip as an example of the shear balls and ferocity of mink and I think Anderoo was agreeing. Wouldn’t think anyone imagines it could possibly kill the swan. You’re right about cats though. Remember seeing that plonker Bill Oddie referring to 55 million birds being killed by cats annually. He got a lot of stick for it but the figure is probably somewhere near, considering research estimates 10 million cats in the UK.

Reminded me of a youtube clip Nigh on fearless. A few time I've thrown stones at them when they have got too close for my comfort, they just look at me and hiss with contempt. Little wonder that bankside life is so threatened. Looks like they're quick to learn an easy meal where the Salmon and Trout congregate as well.

That's an interesting comment, now thinking about it I've never seen them 'catch' a fish, only eating them on the bank side. I now wonder if they pick up already dead/sick fish that have washed a shore rather than chasing and catching ? Certainly seen the decimating results on bankside animal population though.

Throw them away or convert them to a normal waggler bottom, use as a sliding float with a very small bead between the float and stop knot. Either shot the float for its capacity, over shot and lay on tightening the line to adjust the float or float ledger. Could never see the point in Polaris floats, they’re crude and inefficient, they work on a self hooking principle of the fish pricking itself against the buoyancy of the float. I fish sliders in 40 feet and no reason not to go at any depth. You do need to fish fairly heavy float and weights to overcome the friction/inertia of getting the hook down to the fish.

Scarier still is not being able to protect our vessels and shores. Live with it.. it wont last long.

Have the same (bigger) problem in Ireland with usual excuse of ‘ no speakey language’ whatever its printed in. You might want to think about pictures, you know the sort of thing, a fish being carried away with a cross over it, A fish in a pan with a cross through it, fire with a cross through it etc. It’s then multi lingual provide they have sight.

Superb, thanks lads. Better than the birds and bees..............

Budgie, So I guess what your saying is ‘distinguishable only during spawning time’ as the Bream I catch after spawning seem to quickly loose their tubercles. Anderoo, yours seems to distinguish all year round, I’ll be looking at my fish a lot closer now, thanks. As a follow on, are females generally bigger than males as in Tench?

Seriously though Tench are easy but how to tell the sex apart in other fish. Bream in particular, as recently I have seen articles referring to either male or female Bream. Are the differences permanent like Tench or just at spawning when the difference is more obvious?

Bill Rushmeer uses Vodka in paste baits as an emulsifier and I also saw a ‘sky’ angling program (extreme carp maybe ?) were they used plentiful amounts of Bailley’s in a particle mix for spodding. They swore by it and it appeared as though they caught plenty.

Thanks for the list, I’ll be working my way through them !! Local shop stocks Ultima Power Plus & Stroft so I’ll be starting with these…

Any recommendations for brands of mono hook lengths, in the range of 3lb to 6lb.? Looking for something soft and reliable for Bream/Tench. What’s annoying me at the moment with the Drennan lines is with slightest tangle the line is twisting and kinking and doesn’t straighten out again.

This is my first year properly using plastic and its turning out quite productive for the bigger fish so I’m now a convert. I’ve tried the odd session in previous years without success, this year I’ve done more pre-baiting and I think that’s what has produced the results with Tench and odd Bream. I’m struggling to catch Bream at night and my confidence is waning. After reading pearbo I’ll be trying the pink corn as I’ve only used the yellow (never even thought about changing the colour!!). Its only going to take a couple of Bream to be sold on the plastic at night. All in all the plastic does sort out the bigger fish and I wish I had changed years ago.

What’s the consensus on using plastic bait at night? This is my first year on plastic and I have had good results on corn and maggot in daylight. It’s subjective, but I think the results are poorer for the dark hours. Is the plastic more of a sight bait and would a ‘food’ bait give better attraction and results for the dark hours? I could experiment for a year or two but I’m looking for a short cut !!

I’ll endorse the Drennans, I have a pair of 1.25 tc S7 avon/quivers that I use for my ‘general’ Irish fishing for Bream and Tench. They have played/ landed big fish (by Irish standards) superbly at ranges of rod tip to 50yds in lightly weeded water. You may need the 1.5 tc that you mention if yours is thick weed/snags. In addition I have a pair of Drennan 1.75 Bream/Tench rods for more demanding swims or distance. I can’t comment or offer a comparison on the other makes you name but I am certainly well pleased with the Drennan quality, build and performance.

I use magworms and will continue to use them as a change bait, something different that often picks up a bonus bigger fish, but not as a total substitute for worms. They work, so hey ho its up to you. Can’t see any difference from the 100’s of anglers gluing medusa, any natural bait to a hair, pellets to hairs etc etc . We’re quite happy chucking fluff, metal lures, sea baits and plastic baits at fish so its not that ‘foreign’ in the scheme of anglers baits.

It catches anything, it’s a change bait, it’s a bigger bait which will often pull a bigger fish so not ideal where there are lots of small silver fish who just tug on the end. Use it as you would a worm. Easiest, quickest use is to glue blunt end to blunt end then hook through a pointed end. Two or three doubles on a hook . Also blunt end to blunt end then pointed end to pointed end by overlapping by a mm, continue to form a magworm as long as you want (pseudo worm). Not fiddly to do once you’ve played with it and found a system, not timed it but probably a minute to make a ‘worm’ a couple of inches long.

Hours, but will eventually breakdown. Try it and watch what happens in a glass of water, they look very enticing

A bit harsh, don’t knock it till you’ve tried it. Magworms have caught me plenty of fish, particularly Bream. I find that all Cyanoacrylate super glues stick fingers together quickly and securely, as its original use was clinical in the battle field. Sticking maggots together is no problem.

Another vote for the Korum, strong and stable. I’m 6ft, any taller and head room when sat on a chair inside the shelter would be an issue. But still pleased with it after 3 years of hard use.

You’re right, double ‘T’

Jeeze, this thread has brought back a few memories from the cobweb corners of my mind. A rave from the grave for the more mature members, any one remember the Jack Clayton swingtip rod, matched with an Ambidex fixed spool. That’s how I spent the early 60’s breaming the local lakes. Superbly sensitive but with the draw backs of poor distance casting and numerous crack offs, casting was a real art. We then progressed to the “But” indicators which gave better casting but I seem to recall not as sensitive. The other downside was after a few strikes the varnish started chipping off the rod as the clasp belted the rod each time. We taped sponge buffer pads to the rod as a protector. Nice reminiscing on a winters night, thanks for that…….