[match rod]

As regards the reel the wallis casting guru Alan Roe uses a similar 'pin in his demonstrations and still gets good distance so provided it doesn't take too much to start up it should be ok. I'd be interested to hear how you get on with it, at 6" diameter with the line lays set so far out it should retrieve quickly and for £15 you can't really go wrong.

 

 

 

Rusty, as far as I know Alan doesn't use that make of centrepin during his demo's. I think he uses okumas and his Browning aerial.

 

Viney, your match rod will be sound for touch ledgering.

[Shimano 5000 RE]

I would have thought you had enough shimano reels to breed some little ones.

 

 

Not good mate, we still had 2-3inches left from last time and everything is frozen rock hard. Cant see any fishing happening this week.

 

 

 

I have a few pairs of shimanos but they musn't be compatible as they've not bred yet

 

 

I've just had some of the dogs out down the river near me and to be honest it does look fishable. I think the meltdown will maybe put the fish off the feed though. If the weather does what the forcast says and is sunny this week then I'll have a little go and see if anything wants it's lip pierced.

[Shimano 5000 RE]

I finnished up ordering a couple of the shimano 2500 DL mini baitrunners last night, I've been thinking about getting them for a spell now. I just hope they're as good as all the previous shimano baitrunners. I reckon they should be spot on for any fishing.. still water or rivers so long as you don't have to cast to the middle of next week lol.

 

Brian, it's certainly snowing now bud, about 6 inches up to now. I bet your even worse up on those hills !

[Shimano 5000 RE]

My m8 got two of the fox stratos reels for pikeing but they had no cranking power whatsoever and he took them back and swapped them for some shimano xtea's.

 

I've been looking at the new mini baitrunners of shimanos, the 2500 DL for small rivers and tenching.

[My first fish for 2010]

Well done Ian.

 

I'm in no hurry to start my 2010 fishing, I'm enjoying the sledging. Is there no snow down your way?

 

 

 

There are just patches of snow left that's been rained on and turned to ice. Yesterday it was just frosty and cold. While the sun was up it was ok but as soon as it started dropping the temp's just plummeted. My landing net was like a wire basket when I got back to the motor.

Unlike the ribble and poor old Welly's trip the waters fine and not frozen at all.

I've just come back up from the river (walking some of the dogs) and it's started snowing quite hard. I hope it stops.......I prefer global warming type weather

[It's times like this]

Oh,by the way,,i blanked

 

 

 

Not surprising m8

 

I know that spot very well and have had some great days/nights along there last summer, what a difference between then to now!

[winter chub]

What are you doing still posting at 10.42am? Get out there and catch chub dammit! Otherwise you'll never know!

 

 

Funny you should say that Arbocop, I always let the sun come up and get everything as warm as it's gonna be (usually later in the afternoon in this type of weather) before I bother wetting my line.

You don't have as long to freeze on the bank before going home that way as well lol.

[dog walkers and canoers]

In terms of selfishness, self-righteousness etc anglers are in my experience top of the tree. Afterall rivers and lakes in public places only exist for our use.

 

Rich

 

 

Yeah but Anglers are the only one's who actually have to pay for the pleasure and so called up keep of the waters.

[fishing chairs]

The new shakespear folding chairs are brilliant for roaving. One of them has a strap and a built in rod rest. There very small and light and I think are only about 16 notes.

[winter chub]

I had three today straight in the middle of the river in quite a strong flow. Nothing in the slack areas. I've found I catch most of my chub in the stretches with a good flow of water and usually pretty central of the river, bear in mind this river is pretty small. Saying that I've caught chub in quite large rivers like the ribble in the strong flowing glides trotting or ledgering.

[dog walkers and canoers]

As Steve says it's not the dogs at fault. I love dogs just can't stand ignorant owners and of course............Canoeist's ! LOL

[dog walkers and canoers]

i know theres rules and stuff about being curteous etc to other people using rivers/surrounding areas

whilst fishing, but surely this should come our way too? on several occasions ive had dog walkers not watching their dogs while they hassle me for my bait ( the dog today ate have a sandwhich bag of spam liberally covered in chili powder, serves the owners right!) or on many occasions ive seen a tennis ball splash into the water a few meters up from me shortly followed by a dog!

and today while sitting their a few canoes came past, one of which decided to stop infront of my splashing to stay still to look at a woodpecker!

sorry for the rant its just annoying that people cant respect other people!

 

 

You should have kicked the dog...punched the owner and bricked the canoeist till they sank !

[My first fish for 2010]

Well today turned out to be quite a lovely sunny day even though it was very cold and it did manage to notch up a couple of degrees in the later part of the afternoon. I got to my swim at 3 pm and managed three chub with biggest just topping 3lb before my line started jamming in the eyes as the water froze up; scuppering the rest of my chances today. Although I only had half an hours fishing it was a lovely little session with all kinds of waterfoul flying overhead and wildlife busy all around me. It was good to catch my first fish of the year also, I just hope there's many more and bigger to come LOL.

 

[Word of Warning]

Incidentally most who have issues with the technique seem to have no actual practical experience of it and base their opinions on perceived problems rather than actual ones.

 

 

Spot on with that statement Budgie.

[Word of Warning]

You don't get pegs that are three strides accross on most rivers.

For your rod butts to be more than 2m apart, they have to be in the next peg and that realisticly means up the bank, walk 15 or 20m down the river and back down the bank to the next rod.

Nobody can safely control two rods in those circumstances.

 

3m is just an arbitary distance that allows anglers enough space to arrange their gear however they want in one swim.

 

 

I've fished many stretches of river with long stretches of banking with no obvious pegs whatsoever where you can string your rods out no prob's. Also it doesn't just apply to rivers now does it ?

 

Obviously on a river/water with pegs as you describe then you've got to use your common sense.

[I have a Closed Face Reel]

I'm not sure about yours but some of the Abu's used to have a strange clutch mechanism that involved winding the handle back a bit. My mate had one and could never get used to it!

 

 

Those where the 501's and where/are still the best closed faced reels ever made. People who had the 506's alterd them so they could back wind. I've had carp up to 26lb with mine and no problems.

[Barble Breeding Size or Age?]

I've heard that chub also can't breed in a still water and yet I do know of a clay pit and a small pit/pond with no water running in or out and there are chub of all sizes and none have been stocked for years. I have heard of fisheries with aerators installed and the barbel have spawned next to them. I suppose if the water quality is good enough and the fish are in condition then who really knows if they can re produce in still waters.

[I have a Closed Face Reel]

No one event, just the cumulative effect of several poor sessions culminating in one of those sessions from hell today. You know the sort, when you spend more time sorting out problems than fishing and go home wondering why you bothered.

 

 

Absolutely....I do know those type of sessions only to well and have had more than my fair share. No doubt I'll have plenty more n'all lol.

Just think of the old motto from the war...."Keep Calm And Carry On", my Mr's got me a big poster to hang on the wall to keep me calm LOL. Never mind m8 you'll soon have some good sessions and forget about the blanks, a bit of nice weather would help I think.

[I have a Closed Face Reel]

Tigger, the way I'm feeling right now all of my 'pins will be at the bottom of a river very soon...plus rods, nets, bags, end tackle etc etc.

 

 

 

Ok, what's happend LOL ?

 

Rusty, don't forget when you cast with your closed faced reel just press the release button and keep your finger there and just release the line when you cast by lifting your finger.

[I have a Closed Face Reel]

I recieved an Abu 706 for Christmas, it's all loaded with line now and ready to go.

 

I can see how it will be good on a windy day but I'm not sure of the best way to set the hook when trotting. Assuming I get a bite (humour me for a moment) is the idea to set the hook by stopping the line with a finger and then winding to pick up the line or do you wind to pick up the line, set the hook and go from there.

 

It has a drag setting and anti reverse but I'm struggling to see how useful either of those features will be.

 

 

Just put your finger on the spool and strike, then just wind the fish in or play it depending on the size... Personally I like the old 501's but unless your casting long range for your trotting then Rusty I'd stick with your pins m8.

[Word of Warning]

3 meters is only three strides between rods and to me that's not going to cause pike to be deep hooked. Most people leave a pike take for a good few seconds before striking anyway. I 've had rods spaced out much further with no problems and certainly no deep hooked fish.

[Pike Fishing Tactics]

Just had a quick look at this one again and one name jumps out,Argyle aka Gerry Castles, He was one of the good guys and died about 3 years ago and was one of those guys that made the forum work

 

 

 

Absolutly, I never met Gerry but spoke via the forum and he was a very helpfull and down to earth gentleman. I would imagine everyone on AN misses him posting.

[1St Fish of the Decade]

18 lb pike 1 hour ago from the union canal aquaduct above the river almond near broxburn west lothian

 

 

Nice one, just curious ....what did you tempt it with Peter ? I might have a trip for fresh water shark in the next week or two myself.

[Word of Warning]

I think if pike fishing with the right set up there's no reason not to have your rods spread out over 3 meters on clear bankings...unless your handicapped and can't get to your rods so quickly.

Also I think the EA Bailif should be looking at more serious offenders than that chap, like those who don't have a licence at all. A bit like police bookin people for minor trivial offences when there's lots of serious stuff to deal with.

I reckon just a warning would have been sufficient !

[landing net size question]

This might sound like a silly question, but how does on measure the size of a round/pan landing net. Is it front to back or side to side. I was in the local Go Outdoors superstore and I couldn't reconcile the quoted sizes as the 20" looked smaller than the 18". Some were circular, and one was sort of an oval with a flat front

 

 

I think it's length ways, front to back.