singy

I actually had 3 fish the last time it was frozen over, from the top cascade which only had about 20ft of free water (even willow was frozen solid) Don't know what's been going on. Only been doing short sessions. and looking at the book there's been plenty of blank returns. timed the last one after a shed load of rain, and a freak hailstorm. Water was the colour of mud and everyone was struggling. I think only 3 fish were returned all day, I had one and lost one. The time before that all the fish were localised infront of 2 members who had been give a days catch and release fishing. No-one could get near the fish. and I only had 3 hours of fishing. Was fun to see the members catching fish after fish (they must have had 20+ each) while the rest of the paying punters couldn't get near the fish.

Well, I've had my wish for more challenging fishing. I now seem to be timing my visits as the place switches off, Christ it's been hard the last few times.

One last look.

Been doing most of my fishing at Coltsford. Nice place and some good varied fishing. Just wish they did a sporting ticket. Recent stocking of blues have been great. Even in the coldest weather these things seem to be turbo charged

Not for Trout mate, Been fishing places like Coltsford mill. Are there any venues offering a sporting ticket near by?

Can you guys help me fish some fishing near redhill that offers more of a challenge? Wild fish, Stream, river? Something other than the put and takes. Something with catch and release maybe where the fish have wised up a bit? Though it's fun to catch fish at the heavily stocked venues there are only so many trout I can eat or give away. Thanks in advance Singy

Still looking

Well that was a disaster. My car broke down 20 mins from the stretch and i had go home on the back of a low loader.

Once a tackle tart always a tackle tart You have PM

Thanks for your replies guys

Thanks Paul At the moment the stretch is running well with a little colour though (from the reports I can get) I have no intention of using bait. I'll leave that to the rest of the lads. Though I may well pack a pike rod and a few sardines (just in case) Is there any merit in fishing a team of flies? or are grayling mainly going to be fopund on the bottom (looking at the fish;s mouth they do look like a bottom feeder) I have a good selection of Czech Nymphs, and depth charge nymphs (tungston) I even have a few killer bugs (look very much like a maggot) though these do not carry weight (might have to dip into my carp tackle for some putty) i do not however have anything in pink, and looking through various web pages there seems to be alot of pink grayling flies. Are these lovely fish line shy? I'll probably be taking 2 rods, a 8.5 ft 4/5 wt and a 9ft 6 weight (though I suspect the 6 wt is maybe a little too powerful) I know the river has plenty of trout and sea trout in at the moment and wouldn't want to go too light if I can get away with it. Would a 5lb flourocarbon tippet be OK or too heavy? My 4/5 wt outfit I only have a floating line (however the 6wt I have floating, intermediate and a sink tip ) hence why I'm taking it. Thanks again Paul, and sorry for all the questions (I'm getting rather excited)

i can't for one moment say I'm a 100% proficient fly fisherman, It's something I've only been doing on and off for 12 months. But it's something i've got totally into in that time. Something i've spent far too much money on and it's got me addicted. On Sunday I'm off down to the test (timsbury) for my first attempt at grayling fishing (rest of the lads will be trotting maggots, fishing the swimfeeder etc) i was thinking of taking the fly rod with me. Any tips for how to present my flies, fly choice etc etc will be very much apreciated. Singy

Bit of a long shot maybe, but I have the above rod in cordura case, only seen the bank once. this rod is the top of the range greys fly rod and retails at around £270. I'm looking to swap for a 9/10wt outfit for pike and carp fishing or sell so I can purchase the 9/10. Fingers crossed. Singy

Wierd isn't it? I'd say it's deffo the same family as the crucian and brown goldfish, BTW I caught loads of these not just the one freak mutant.

I fished a lake in France last week and was told it held crucian to 6lb+ so I decided to catch a few. Didn't need to target them as this one took 3x22mm halibut pellets on a size 1/0 intended for the cats. Hardly the same as our shy biting native fish. The fish was silver in colour, had funny raised scales and was quite rough to the touch, it had no barbules but had a bigger mouth than ours. It had a spined dorsal (like our carp) and a savage spined anal fin (as you can see this one drew blood) One bailif called it a French crucian the other said it was an egyptian strain. Can any of you guys shed any light on it's true identity? Singy

I hope Elton does not mind me posting this Dear Supporter We are pleased to announce our re-designed website. Have a look and let us know what you think. Thanks go to myself & Tidalwave for the design and build and of course BillyO at Kennetweb for his continued support in hosting the website. Just a reminder, Yateley Bash is 12, 13 & 14 August 2005. application forms going out late may or early June, and in addition to this year's event, we now have the South Lake included. http://www.stoneyandfriends.co.uk And of course a big thanks for your continued support. Singy

Anyone been out off the needles this autumn/winter? I was wondering if the cod had turned up yet and were coming out in any numbers? (obviously 'cod in numbers' is an oxymoron)

Nice replys guys I have many flavours/oils etc from carp fishing. Some I'll be playing with over the winter codding will be salmon oil (lovely rich oil) powdered squid and octopus adn maybe even n-butyric acid (this stuff is 100s of times more detectable to the human nose than amonia, It stinks) All liquids will be injected into the baits and I'll probably make a solution of the powders. Fingers crossed, My first trip is in December so I'll let you know how we get on.

quote: I reckon fish oil is too crudeAttracts carp, tench, bream etc though that would normally be looking for small crustaceans. I personally think fish oils could be worth a go. And whose to say that an artificial strawberry flavour wouldn't work? Certainly in carp angling the use of flavours is not generally utilised to mimic the natural food of the fish. [ 14. October 2004, 05:22 PM: Message edited by: singy ]

Carp anglers and predator anglers have been doing it for years. Using oils and flavours to attract fish. Sea anglers have used rubby dubby and know it effectiveness but how many of you have tried injecting your winter cod baits with salmon oil or enhancing that tope of eel bait with herring oil? Sea anglers often sing the virtues of it's the oil in the mackerel or eel baits that prove to be winners so would it be worth taking that bottle of oil and a syringe next time you're 3 miles off the needles trotting a mass of squid from the back of the boat? Singy [ 14. October 2004, 12:45 PM: Message edited by: singy ]

Bream without a doubt, some spawned up Horton beast, the big norfolk girl early season maybe even Wingham in a year or 2. [ 05. October 2004, 06:20 PM: Message edited by: singy ]

Will do. Can you give me an idea of what you'd pay for it? [ 27. September 2004, 02:39 PM: Message edited by: singy ]

Guys in my old winter league (many moons ago before I started specimin hunting) Used to wrap tin foil around their swim feeders, many is the time a match was won by a pike grabbing one of these on the retrieve and the small gozzer baited hook found the flank somewhere. Bang out of order, intentionally foul hooking fish to win money. [ 27. September 2004, 01:20 PM: Message edited by: singy ]

Selling for a mate, prices sound a little high to me, but he will listen to offers, I can but try Greys Rods!! 9ft6 Platinum X AFTM #7 fly rod. With protective rod tube. Hardly used. £185. (shop price: £240) 8ft3 Missionary AFTM #4/5 5pce travel fly rod with protective tube. Never used, factory condition. £140. (shop price £185.) Bargain Reels!! Airflo T6 Aluminium barstock fly reel with backing. 3inch diameter for AFTM #4 line. £65. (shop price £100). Greys GRX reels, 2x5/6, 1x7/8, all with spare 2 spools for each. £30 ea, £85 for all 3. (shop price £50 ea.) Offers considered on all. [ 27. September 2004, 01:12 PM: Message edited by: singy ]

I chatted to a Dr (fresh water biology) over the weekend and he confirmed Freezing will kill blackspot. and will knock out most things except some viruses and well encysted nasties.