Tigger

Just a thought regarding bobbin string/wire etc. I've been looking at sink/ bath plug chain as it's pretty much tangle free, a good weight and suppl'ish and is very cheap at B&Q and other hardwear shops. You can buy it in whatever lengths you want, you cut your own.

I don't bother changeing my line after every season just for the sake of it....why waste good line ? Mono lasts for years if it isn't left in direct sunlight, or it should do. It's easy to just test it's breaking strain if it looks a bit dodgy. I find myself changing mono in the lower breaking strains more often than I do the heavier strains.

I used to have a series 7 match rod and it was very good. At the moment I have two series 7 avon quivers and they seem pretty good n'all. If the tench rod is up to the same standard as those which I have no doubt it is, then it will be a rod worth investing in.

Gotta agree with you there ken. Bollards to tradition Anderoo, lifes to short for nonsense like that. I know you may get a feel good factor from abstaining from the river fishing but it doesn't stop you fishing staright through on the still waters bud now does it ? Not gettin atcha, I think it's those rose tinted glasses blurring your vision bud....teck um off .

I'll be putting mine and Miroku's name down for the event if it's not over subscribed this year. I would think with all the PR work going on it will be though. I for one would like to see you there Rusty, we can have a good old chat about pins m8 lol ! If I where you i'd take Budgie up on his generous offer...good on him.

The rules of the club says they show their EA licence (game or coarse) to the bailiffs or leave the water.....simples. I ain't gonna argue with the club it's their rule not mine, but I've gotta follow it. As I've said many times on the forum I think the rod licence is just another way for the government to tax people and am totally against it but who am I to argue.

Just Otters, mink and cormorants I'm afraid ....thousands of em...

I prefer to use mono (daiwa sensor on my pins) but I have used power pro in 8lb with a 6lb/4lb gut bottom, daiwa sensor attached via a microswivel. It is good but the grateing sound on the rod rings goes through me so I stripped it off and prefer to stick with mono. I recently got some 10lb Berkley fireline crystal and even though other people think highly of it and it works for them, just the appearance of it put me off using it so I never even tried it. Unfortunatly I still have it so may give it a go trotting for barbel in summer.

Hey Brian, new reel....very nice m8. How did you find the rod performed ?

I have a couple of those belts Rusty and you could swing on the buckle on mine. Maybe your's is faulty bud....it must be ? You should have sent it back as soon as you found it wasn't as it should be and got another one. I think the plastic sliding feet you got on your harrison are better than the metal one's rusty, they won't damage the reel feet like metal ones can.

Dales I got one and I do like it. I just this morning got a TFG windproof, waterproof and breathable hooded fleece, it looks good but I'll have to reserve judgement till it gets some use. It's on offer at the moment reduced from 120 squids to 50 sqid so worth the gamble I suppose.

Yeah but earth worms arn't as big as rag or lug so it should be possible to practice the same method with slightly larger freshwater hooks than, "I would use anyhow", say from 10's to 6's. As I say it's just a thought and I reckon it's gott'a be worth a try.

Yeah, but would you be happy if an EA bailiff climed over your fence or just walked round your property to your back garden and asked to see your licence ?

It's funny no one hooks worms on in the same manner as sea anglers hook on their rag worms etc, threading the worm through the middle of it's nose so the hook goes through it's body and the worm goes up the line and you can push the point of the hook through the worm at the spot you wish. It's always puzzled me why this method isn't used in fresh water.

Not in Scotland you don't as you don't need a rod licence at all.

Err....the club I bailiff for requires me to ask to see the anglers EA licence along with their club book. If they don't want to show me their EA licence or haven't got one then they have to leave the waters. I have to say I don't agree with the rod licence but if I've gotta get one ........

I've witnessed fish being bitten off lines by hungry pike as they where being wound in. I've also had pike striking at fish in my keepnet (long time back). For them to call pike dangerous fish though is pretty ridiculous and will encourage the thicko's to do unspeakable things to old esox.

Yeah you may well be right but I think you get your first hour with a solicitor free. There's always the citizens advice centre.

If the police don't follow the correct procedure then charges are usually dropped or thrown out of court (loop holes)...so if you have a solicitor then he may be able to get the charges dropped as the EA bailiff was trespassing as he didn't have permission to be on the land in the first place. I'm no legal expert and i may well be totally wrong but that's what I've been led to belive, good luck!

What ......i bet there's only been a few dozen chub(if that) caught on the ribble all winter and hardly any anglers due to the conditions. The rivers round here have had no pressure at all. Infact it's about time they (the powers that be) got their heads together and close the season 6 wk's later when the fish do start to spawn. The winters are dragging on longer and longer and the fish are spawning later and later so their spawning at the start of the season. By the way nice Perch and pic's TT.

Some great photo's and posts and a few very nice fish n'all ! I had an hours trotting on my local river but unfortunatly I didn't finnish the season with any monsters....just two chub, both of just over 3lb each but they where in great nick and put a bend in my rod so I suppose I can't complain. Lets hope the warmer weather kicks in soon and we can target Barron von green back lol !

I think the money should come from some other source than the rod licence money. Maybe a grant from the goverment.

So our rod licence money's gonna fund private fisheries fencing now...........not something I agree with. They might as well go halves with them on their toilet blocks etc !

Gardner black shadow or the panther models are great. The panther is about 120 notes and the black shadow is about 100 notes. I got the panther and it seems as solid as they come and pretty strong compared to all the others i've seen including the likes of stainless solar pods etc. I didn't want to buy one but it's inevitable that you'll need one sooner or later if you do enough fishing.

Prince Albert angling society have an opend day on the river ribble (free to come along even to none members) in June where amongst other fishing demonstrations etc Alan Roe demonstrates the wallis cast and he goes on to show individuals how to perform it. A nice day out so maybe worth a trip over for you Tiddletamer.