smiling cat

Fishing a tried and tested swim is always fun but wandering around has it`s merits as well. I`m thinking back over 30 years ago when decent rudd and tench were found in some swims. Wandering produced no fish some times but now and again one hit the jackpot. My best rudd came in just under 3lb and that was from a swim a way away from where they were sure to be but none much larger than about a pound and a half

I`m OK with a license,it`s Health and Safety and compensation lawyers who really **** me off. I have been out of serious fishing for years but I did go out now and again over that time. There are stretches near me that look good but the signs are quite clear-NO FISHING. I did ask a couple of local farmers if Icould fish and they said basically -sorry no,I am responsible if you fall in and drown. Now that might be a load of ****s but it`s the way they were thinking

My eyesight isn't as good as it once was, and I will now usually use eyed-hooks in preference to spade-ends. My eyesight is not as good as it was either but I can manage to use a hook tier. But a question? Many years ago one was considered a bit of a whimp and /or rich if one bought hooks to nylon. Is that still the opinion? are they still available? I`m far from rich but things do seem a bit more bothersome when I have to keep changing glasses,and I have tried varifocals-not for me

It`s not so much the carp as the mentality-when I was serious about this game I also enjoyed seeing the wildlife -just walking around spot a fish or a kingfisher-enjoy the whole area. Setting up three rods with bite indicaters and sitting under a shelter seems about as dull as watching paint dry

And the pint at the pub tastes better after a cold session-but do remove the thermal underwear in the loo. Stinking of maggots ,blue cheese and sundry fishing smells is one thing but to remove one`s under wear in public is not on

Delete carp-unless Crucians and add Rudd. Yes I`m an old fart just getting back into this fishing game

The thread about Carp recipes got me thinking to the days I was in my 20s rather than nearer 60 than 50 and been away from serious fishing for years. Is it still on? Not eels for sure but the odd rainbow,brownie or even a grayling? My club book says return all fish so is my memory failing when I think one was allowed to take a couple of some species if they were of a certain size?

It`s everywhere. I was at a local stretch a couple of days back and the sign saying basically have a licence and return fish was in 4 languages-Polish? being the second. And the demise of the eel is very worrying,some 30+ years ago when I was a bit more of a keen angler than I am now I would think nothing of smoking and eating the odd 2lb+ eel. Not so now.

Does losing a tiddly perch down my cleavage count? Janet Now,while I can see the advantage of hanging one`s dis gorger around one`s neck-would it not have been a better idea to take it out rather than putting the perch down? Imagine it was an eel-where would it all end? One post nearer to the glorious 16th-is that rule some kind of Fruedian thing?

The nene then?-wansford/stibbington area

I would go back and hide the tackle I had stolen. Oh yes the insurance money replaced it(and yes better quality in some cases) but nothing could replace my split cane Avon which was a birthday present built from an original blank or my float collection. My ex partner`s dad used to make them and I had so many to suit almost any condition. I still remember when I went `oop North` and was fishing Roundhay Park in Leeds-the locals thought this Southern lad must be some kind of an idiot fishing with an 18inch base loaded missile-until I was catching quality fish

Does getting `spiked` by my first perch over a pound when I was 12 count?

I have never seen one let alone caught one. But,as I contemplate getting back into this game. I would like one. The Welland?-drains going out Spalding way? Hints,tips most welcome

I agree with the comments about loading the spool under tension but there is another basic mistake that leads to the cast suddenly stopping. Remember that knot you put it once upon a time?. And if I am the only angler never to have made that error then I fancy I might win the lottery very soon

I see a couple of questions about quiver tips and my answer is the same. Remember they are just bite indicators-it`s what is beneath them them counts. Get the set up as good as you can and then watch that tip like a hawk. Sometimes you get a great big tug,other times just a `quiver`. I might not have done much fishing for the last few years but basics are basics and never change. PS although most of my `old` tackle got stolen almost 20 years ago I still have a rod with it`s screw in quiver tip-circa 1974. The sods did steal a split cane Avon though- 20th Birthday present from my then girl friend`s dad who was in the business and knew Dickie Walker very well

Since I stopped serious fishing I have not stopped looking around-it seems to be all carp and boilies. Waters that used to be on a club book are now £6 a day to catch carp . Now carp are fun but what would you prefer? A rudd just short of 3lb or a carp at 10lb? Maybe I`m seeing the world through the eyes I had in the 70`s?

One post nearer the 16th I went into my local tackle shop the other day and they do not sell hemp to cook yourself-is this common? All they had was pre-cooked at a silly price. Have I been away that long?

Good to see not much has changed then-well apart from hair rigs and boilies and perhaps a lighter back shot??

It`s a method but one of the best?-I don`t know it all depends. It`s been over 30 years since I fished `seriously`so techinques may have changed. For me it was only something I did in still water or very slow moving water with a fairly even depth. Getting the tale tale shot placed correctly is important. Or am I talking rubbish?? I can take it:-) It`s been a long time and I`m just getting back into it

yes.

There is no bait a chub will not take. But going back to the days when I was a keen chub angler----buy some cheap blue cheese and scatter that a long way away from where you don`t want to catch them

As I contempate my return I wonder about this game. I was used to turning up and being welcomed. I was never a serious `Match Angler` but I fished a few for local clubs and did even once win a section prize in the Beds Hospital cup and even got through the first round of what was then called the `Embassy` when in Yorkshire My local club book now says I have to be vetted by the Match Committee before turning up-not even Leeds Amalgamation in my Northern days did that. What ever happened to `fun` in my days taking a break?

Many years ago(like 1973) there were things called `bubble floats`-you semi filled them with water and they gave casting range while still presenting the bait fairly near the surface. Not pretty but I used to use them for Rudd with bread flake-and caught a few big ones. I have no idea if they still exist but the principle could still apply to carp feeding near the top

I`m guessing-it was 1962-either a very small roach or an equally small perch. That was back in the days when there were ponds for us kids to fish. My first `big`? fish was a 2 and a half pound carp when I was 11-my first match win :-)(Ampthill Resevoir)

Just been fishing ,today,after years and years of thinking I should go again. I did go once last year as a planned `comeback` but then my wife was diagnosed with cancer(she is on the mend) I was like a beginner all over again and fishing with glasses is not so easy-that line is thinner than it was 30 years ago!!-well it seemed so. Once upon a time I was interested in big chub but today a few small roach were fun enough-I`m sure it will all come back to me after a few trips. I`m of to have a look at what I have been missing around the site