Renrag39

That's it, twist the knife John That session was a defining moment in my fishing career. I realised then how much I had to learn. Those butties were the best I ever tasted too Back on topic, yes. Many times! I can't be bothered taking all that gear now, so it's mainly lures and occasionally DB's.

Kept Roach, Rudd, Gudgeon, Tench and Perch. I actaully bred the Perch. Fed them on livebearers mainly. 4' tank, very dense hornwort at each end and a curtain of the stuff down the middle. Left the Tench alone. Roach got finrot, 0 ammonia, nitrite and nitrate, so I suspect stress from the Perch. A singular Rudd survived and a ballsy little Gudgeon that used to drive the Perch batshit. 4 Perch got over 1lb and were then released where I got them from. Gudgeon went to my Nans pond with the Rudd. Never saw the Gonk again but the Rudd is still alive and kicking. 12 years since he was caught! Must be getting on for about 2lb now Condensation and cooling is a pita!

27yo, first fishing trip when I was about 4. 23 years??? Bloody hell! First out on my own (for you particular gits out there) about 7-8yo down the local beck after Minnows and Gudgeon. Mainly Preds atm (lures only) but it changes over the years. Would like to try fly fishing at some point in my life, but I've a few other techniques I want to master first. All in good time.

If some waters made it compulsory then so be it. If I wanted to fish those waters I'd do it. And I'd do it again the next time if that was what was required. No skin off my nose. It'd just never work anywhere else unfortunately. Over time more people would eventually get the tuition but the ones that fail or avoid fishing places that have it will carry on doing it 'the wrong way'.

Funny that pearbo, I seem to catch more on Carp puddles Freelining, than those that use the method...? Although the method works very well for Bream on the rivers! Like I said, and pearbo has pointed out. Puddles are 'tool' magnets for the most part, unless they're naturally stocked waters. Then they've 'got nowt in', so the tools go elsewhere. Btw hawk, the rivers have no fish in them, Otters et'em all. Go there, far less tools. Apart from me anyway

I'm for it. I might learn something and that's got to be good I occasionally get gill-rashed too but its mainly those naughty little jacks that do it... why I have a glove... sometimes I put it on I agree with Dales and John, it'll only have an affect on those that already do a fairly good job of it already. The rest will 'bounce' like Tigger and go and do harm to fish on un-policed waters instead. I'm not suggesting that you do Tigger, but they will have essentially the same outlook as you. It won't happen on a large enough scale to make a difference to the waters most at risk unfortunately. It just won't. The Otters'll get 'em all first anyway so what're we all worried about?

Sod mats! I like to stay mobile, can't be carrying one of them with me too. Especially as most of my Pike rarely leave the water. Unless I'm being all photocrapic. Then I admit, I'll risk it. FAIL!

It's a touchy subject Hawk. I'm self-certified 'Pike-Police'. I hate seeing them handled or unhooked incompetently. Unfortunately by the time you see it happening, it's usually too late. I just make sure I do my very best not to be one of them and now rarely carry a net, just a glove. A bit naughty in some peoples eyes but I'm comfortable with it. Bet I don't make the grade to pass because of that alone.

Uni-Knot or Palomar on Braid, Uni-Knot only on Mono. Palomar I feel is too bulky on Mono.

Use the blood of your typical aneamic liberal american?

You can get 'double bounce' readings in very shallow water, but never had any bad readings I could put down to temperature. You could get a false bottom from a thermocline in very deep water though.

I was put off fishing ponds for that very reason when I was younger. I'm sitting there, freelining delicately and some git the other side of the lake turns up (next to the carpark), erects his fortress and proceeds to blitzkrieg my carefully baited swim by catapult, baitboat and method. If I was lucky I'd get a flat 'So what? Move if you don't like it'. The more common replies are moderated on this forum. I know what you mean Hawk

Now thats food! Fried in dripping, with eggs and grilled smoked bacon in a fried bread sandwich and a smidge of brown sauce! NOM!

A good tinge always seems best for me. Too clear and it seems to kill it, too silty and it dies but not 'as dead' as clear water. I've still caught on lures in 4-6" of (looking from the bankside) visibility. I love the idea that the Trout may have unknown senses or powers to locate prey, Cannibal! Imagine telepathic Trout... Scary!!! I'm after the angry or 'Hulk' trout. Also known as any wild brownie... don't make 'em angry! In reality, I don't think enough credit is ever given to a fishes' lateral line. Amazing organ and like Cannibal suggested, not fully understood, especially the electrical sensing possibilities that most fish seem to possess. Maybe thats another reason why metallic spinners work well? Anyone want to try plastic spinners side by side with metallic in bad visibility waters and see what happens? All for science

I am a 'Top Angler' incognito, don'tcha know? My real camouflage is blending in with the hoi polloi to look ordinary and useless, but in reality, and without the use of phoneboxes, on the deepest darkest corners of private syndicate lakes, I transform into the 'Fish Ninja!' Believe it or not, they let me control trains in my day job...

Due to the angle it keeps the bait between 6" and 2' (or more) off the deck at the ranges I fish 20' to 50' in 8-10' of water usually. I've found I get a more positive indication with a running rig, no possibility of a dropback and the short 'hooklength' means they don't get too far before I know about it. It works for me anyway. Probably far better ways to do it but I can't be arsed with 'critical balancing' or 'popping up'. I'd rather 'dangle'

I bow down to your matching rods on pods, your infallible realtree camouflage and silly hats! I do worry about the blisters on your hands though... You spend a long time in that bivvy alone toiling for your fans too... oh great invisible angling god that you are... You won't get in my clique if you act like that y'know...

Over from Europe. Asp? Vimba? Sorry, was an edit

Wouldn't they have a job spawning, Budgie? Bowfins? Tbh, most of the fish I can think of would only thrive in warmer climes. They may be able to get a foothold but most niches are already taken over here by far better adapted fish. Be interesting what could survive over here. Possibly Large and Smallmouth Bass? Pumpkinseed? Over from Europe. Asp? Vimba?

Only after downloading far too much porn... the monitor becomes blind you see. Has your keyboard started getting hairy? Seriously, no idea, although I'm sure someone will come in with something constructive soon

Tell you what ATS, I don't envy them their 'blinging' new, free stuff. I get more fun from cheap, 2nd hand stuff tbh. New stuff never feels 'right'. I'm not talking vintage 'pins or cane wobblers but the first carbon/graphite rods, older 3bb fs reels loaded with sensor, that sort of thing. The access, maybe a bit, but it'd be far more entertaining to capture the legendary P!sswings when guesting, freelining luncheon meat with an old leeda 'tip on 6lb line. Then you can cr@p on the ground and blame it on Giant Otters... Sorry, I feel a bit odd today... more so than usual I mean...

Hehe, with regards to bobbins, imo, you cant beat a wine cork and a simple running paternoster. Cut half way down lengthwise. Tie a loop of mono to the base to stop it swinging too much in the wind when you loop it over an angled bankstick. Insert mainline 'tightly' into the cut. I use a drop of about 18"-2' straight down from the reel, angling up to the first ring. This is the angle I have the bankstick at. I use a bite alarm to audibly alert me. I use circle hooks too. The cork effectively effectively acts as a semi-bolt rig when it hits the first ring. Working off 24 Eels last season, only 2 deephooked. 1 was a bootlace. I usually use an 8' (yes, feet) running link to a 2oz leger with an 18" distance from leger stop to hook.

Chill Redfin2, it's a running joke, (afaik) we're harmless... mostly... (do watch out for that Anderoo though, he got rabies from a swamp bream in 'nam, scary bloke! He bites if you tickle him, ask Budgie...)

I'm with Emma and Sportsman on this one. If you could quantify the fun factor and take it into account then I'm sure you'll find that some of the Top Anglers lack in that department. I'm just going by the general demeanor of the 'bivvy brigade' I have spoken to (grunted to). It becomes like any job can become to some, a shackle that stops them pursuing other techniques/species/even different pastimes. Maybe? I think the best way to measure the fun factor would probably be enthusiasm. Me, for example, meet me on the bank and I'll bend your ear until you wished for the sweet relief of death I'm enthusiastic, annoyingly so. Now I'm not saying I'm anything like a Top Angler by any stretch, but I'm happy if I blank. For me, it's enough. It's what I want. So, my question to you Phone, is; Do you, or any of you, really want the added 'pressure' of being a 'Top Angler' marring your enjoyment of your sport? I admit I envy them to a degree but I also pity them in a way. Not much, but a bit...

6)- Luck Plays a big part in my experience!