Bartman

I always found Izzak to be a bit of a Bullshi**er when I used to coach him and Richard Walker.

I understand that Otters and Cormorants make a cracking addition to a barbeque !

Another vote for the Drennan Continental boillie hooks, have proved ultra reliable for me over the years. Kamasan Animals in the smaller size hooks, have had a few let downs with the Super Specialists in the past although a lot of people do like them.

Have a look on the Harrison Advanced Rods website, should be something on there to meet your needs.

And I thought I was the only one to wear them at the waterside So hard these days to find size 12 chesties with a stilletto !

And potentially dangerous to you and your spool. If you can get one of the Berkeley line strippers that run off the C cell batteries it will meet all your needs. The smaller ones that run off the AA batteries don't seem to have the legs of their predecessor.

Well done fella, pardon the pun but now you're hooked !

Just might !

Can't say that I've noticed a particular decline in numbers of late. Remember watching a programme 6 or 7 years back about a problem with the Herons causing a high mortality rate amongst their young, this at a time when the Cormorants were moving into the urban waters in large numbers and so increased competition on the food front. Remember standing at the front of the Dorchester Hotel in the centre of London watching a Heron fish for the Goldfish in the tiny pond they have in the front garden there. Cleared the lot in three days but must have been a sign of it's desparation that such a usually shy bird chose a spot 15 feet away from a busy thoroughfare and constantly arriving vehicles when the Serpentine in Hyde Park was just a couple of wing flaps away. Saw three together the other weekend in Chelsea Creek, although they may have been taking sanctuary from the West Ham fans who were in that part of the world for the day !

It's a Sanyo Elton, not a Sony. You're such a namedropper

Interesting to hear about the TFG bivvies. Their force 8 model has had some real slatings on other forums. Love their River and Stream rods.

Nick, they come in various shapes and sizes to accomodate different species and conditions.

Swop her reel line for PVA string, tell her it's a new batch of Big Game clear, that should even things up a bit, although I'm not sure she'll believe her bite off ratio when fishing for skimmers. Alternatively, see if you could find some of the original Vanish flourocarbon, same sort of qualities as PVA string !!!!

Have a look at the Nash Hooligun pods, not bad for the money at all and you might be able to pick one up second hand.

Spare spool for Shimano 8010gt ( graphite ), good condition- £9 posted Spare spool for Shimano 8000gte ( graphite )-£11 posted Spare spool for Shimano 88000gte ( metal lip ) £11 posted Two (2) spare spools for Shakespeare Mach 3 reel ( original 040 model ), mint condition-£9 posted the pair.

Oh yes, the famous Urmston, centre of the universe ! It's all Greek to us Southerners, off to Google Maps !

Wherabouts are you Dave ?

It's almost Tinca Time !

Tinca, if it ain't broke, don't fix it ! No problems with Big Game, then stick with it.

My custom built Stalker is inked ' Dave's Demon Tamer' Have yet to have carried out any major exorcisms with it so far !!!!

Not one of mine ( too numerous to list here ) but took a friend of mine to a well-known commercial in Surrey as he wanted to catch his first Zander. Got there early to get him into a going swim and were the first to arrive. As the gate opened a chap arrived and as we went to get our tickets he shot past us and staight into the swim I was going to put my friend in. Whilst passing him on the bank I enquired as to whether he had yet purchased a ticket. His reply was that he was a club member ( no such thing there ) but shortly afterwards made his way to the office and purchased a day ticket (unaware that I was behind him). I commented that he must be very popular with the water's owner if he purchases a day ticket on top of his'club'ticket to which he replied " You would have done the same" which seemed a bit weak as I hadn't !! Anyway, back at the swim he winds up a roach deadbait and launches it into the lake which had a slight ripple on the surface. The donk of his lead and the sight of the ar*e end of his Roach emerging from the ice just the surface like some piscatorial Excaliber will never leave me. If that wasn't entertainment enough he then cut off on the ice when he went to retrieve ! He then went sulking off round the other side of the lake whilst I broke up the ice with help from a washing line and water filled petrol can. Ten minutes later my friend had the only run of the day and his first Zander !

Duh, sorry Jed, was having a senior moment. It's 88cm closed !

12ft mate.

Received the Bewick today, absolutely mint and great service. Buy with confidence !

Call me a simpleton, but i would stick with my Shakespeare Excelsior. Slim, light, green ( I do love a green rod ) and just sits so perfectly in my calloused right hand !!!