weirwulf

Wyeknot, I would love to borrow 2 remote alarms if they can be only heard by me and not keep everyone else awake(assuming I get a hit!) Thanks

Wow a 5.5lb test rod and I was hoping to get away with 2.75! Anyone can tell I don't fish big waters

I think I can cope on the long bankstick front unless the weather is poor as my intended sticks are my big brolly storm poles! They are also 48inches long closed so is that too long? I have no bite alarms that have recievers and not wishing to be antisocial after hours it would be good to borrow some if possible. I am currently making a pair of monkey climbers as I have no long bobbins and whilst these may prove useful if it is windy I would like some pukka long bobbins in reserve if they don't work very well. I do have a feature lead and a marker float but not much idea how to use them!

I can only tell you that chick peas absorb flavour better than almost any other particle so the choices are endless. Using the methos I would always have a representative flavour in the mix which is the same as the hook bait ie using a scopex covered bait add some scopex to the groundbait. I always find chickpeas if cooked properly are not that strong on a hair but I am always prepared to be told differently. I find them a good side hooked bait for roach etc in natural flavour

Key words baitrunner and reliability no contest shimano even old ones

Quote: Anthony78 One question I do have though is about hooklength material. I'm looking for some flourocarbon in 6 - 8lb and was wondering if anybody had any preferences?? Yes I have a definite preference. It is a fly leader called Grand Max Soft Plus. If you google you may get some in time. Sinks like a stone and very thin and supple

Quote: Vagabond .....Weirwulf - is the reasoning used by this "successful angler" (i'm assuming, perhaps wrongly, that it is barbel he is interested in) similar to that of Chris Lyons ? In answer to that vagabond, my mate is primarily interested in Medway Barbel. You will know just how cute these fish can be with the Medway not being a "Barbel" water. Because he has a fair journey he does try to maximise his chances of a catch . He not only succeeds in catching good numbers but also has a habit of reaching the better specimens most of which he attributes to timing. I certainly would not fish at some of the times he does. I have to add he often predicts on our club private forum that the moon phase is spot on and expects to do well and hey presto the next day comes the catch report.

One of the most successful anglers in my club gives predictions of the best chance catching times based on moon phase and he is seldom wrong. Many of us can only fish at certain times and just go any way but he tries to plan visits to match predicted times often with a window that is just an hour or so. Of course other factors are also important such as air pressure, water temperature, location etc but as they say every little helps

Although the superglue is loosely based around cyanide with obvious huge potential to be lethal I have also managed to get some on the tongue and (though some would argue this!) I am fine. It does not stop fish liking the baits I have presented. Strange stuff and a mate recently showed me a trick when sticking baits on. A bit of spit makes it set quicker

In my other interest of drag racing it is essential not to have a single drop of rain otherwise racing stops until the track has been prepared again so accuracy is really needed. I used to rate Metcheck and still look at it because they are often in the right direction, however they forecast a washout at easter but apart from the dreadful friday we had a great weekend. I have learnt now not to upset the rest of the household by moping over what my racing weekend might be like 1-2 weeks in advance. Instead I just seeth inside when I see a miserable forecast!

Same applies to me Steve. I have assumed as you are very busy that this is the case but please advise if any further action is needed.

This depends on where you want to go with your interest in angling because each stlye has its joys and restrictions. I had loads of fun using a very cheap pole which was much heavier and more saggy than those available now. Depending on budget you could either try a really cheap one to find out what it is all about and if you like it then the next one will be more expensive and much more enjoyable to use. They are simplicity itself and give a definite edge on presentation and therefore in theory more fish on the bank. In the 3 years I used mine I banked everything from pairs of eyes to carp in the low 20's and had a lot of fun with it. In the end I just got bored and needed more of a challenge!Go for it, most tackle shops will be able to help choose and thread elastic and show how rigs are connected. The pole can be used with a float or special feeders and can even be used on some rivers with special floats that hold in the current

Grrr! These people walk among us.

What a great bunch of guys! These are just the answers I am looking for and pretty much backs up what my game plan was in my mind. I always think the margins should never be ignored especially after dark after all the margins always provide a living for the fish at any water plus they are much easier to feed. Quietnes is always key to a good session although strangely babelfish and I fished the jungle from a punt at Bury Hill last week and still had a great day despite the disturbance of the punt and constant conversation! I look forward to further discussion with some of you in person soon.

In 50 years of angling this is the largest deepest venue I am hoping to fish. For once I feel humbled and a complete novice so reading the advice is really interesting. I always try to use some form of float fishing for a still water in daylight but I have seen all kinds of comments from using a zig rig to finding features at a distance to fishing the margins. Confusing yes challenging yes and are there more questions, yes! What would typically be used as equipment for example is there a real danger of a carp ruining your day on lighter say 8lb line and a barbel rod. What material hooklengths are commonly used(I use flouro wherever I can get away with it) and at what sort of length. Do most anglers use direct hooking or hair rigging or is it pretty much equal usage.Does anyone know whether the original gravel bottom is well camouflaged now and is the water clear? I ask these things in the hope I stay on the list to go and look forward to asking some of you in person.

What a fantastic generous offer, many thanks Steve and fingers crossed!

Could be a reason why the Zig worked so well!

What do you rate as the better worm for the venue. I ask this really because most anglers rate lobs highly for big perch but my pb was interested in a bunch of small red worms grown in my own wormery. I have found this to be the case a number of times since especially as I have no reliable source of finding lobs and tend to buy when needed.. Do you ever inject the lobs to "pop them up"? All this talk of the fish in is wetting my appetite, c'mon Steve post the invites please, please, and pretty please I can't stand the suspense! I'm like a kid who's been told he is on the way to the seaside

How did I miss that

The only damage I have witnessed that was probably avoidable with thicker line is the lifting of big scales on mirror carp. I think although that is not great it does not amount to fish being cut in half and it is still debateable whether the thicker line would have done the same damage

Because of the presence of ducks etc I tend to present floating baits on a sliding zig rig these days so that the bait can be pulled below the surface if neccessary. The other advantages of this method are that flourocarbon hook lengths which will normally sink like a stone can be used and the bait never gets blown away in the wind. I fished this method a week ago along side my mate who used the traditional way of presenting a surface bait and the fish were far more confident with my presentation than his

A great looking fish and a very lucky captor but did I miss the weight anywhere?

Steve, may I add my name to those wishing you well with your other committments. These must of course take priority over all else so will eagerly await the day as and when it comes.

Nice result Vagabond! Hope you agree the pond is now a great place to be too. It produced 3 carp and about 30 decent bream on last friday afternoon plus a load of those motherless minnows each time the landing net went in.

If I get to go and the same happens I'm going to buy a lottery ticket just to complete my luck!