Poleaxe

Sounds like "Black head", RUDD? Near Porthpean. Could well be a number of other places, that's just my guess

Something along these lines do the job nicely: http://www.ebay.co.uk/bhp/pole-elastic-protectors I would also agree with the consensus of 6-8 elastic. If I had to lean more towards one it would be an 8 but that's just because of nuisance fish already mentioned.

I will be getting mine soon. I like to keep all of the old ones with the new one inside my wallet. I do like the different picture's each year. Can't wait until the evenings pull out so I can get some sessions in after work.

I would just love to have a coarse river to fish down here in Cornwall. I know of plenty of brown trout in leat's and small streams but nothing else. I've never even fished them apart from when I was a small boy with a friend and a small net, poking around in the undercuts.

Great report and a brilliant fish. So good to see someone persevering against the odds and getting a result like that. Three years ago when I first got back into coarse fishing (since childhood pond dangling) a friend of mine caught a 3lb 2oz perch from a small stunted rudd filled venue. I have since seen the fish. It chased a skimmer I caught to the surface and turned away through the lillies. Since we have improved at fishing and have learnt how special that fish was it has often been on my mind. This thread has inspired me to really have a good go at catching it over the next 12 months. If I ever catch it or get close to it I will let everyone know. Congrats again.

That to me is a crucian. Not going by any lateral line counts or anything scientific. Just by looks and colour. Looks like many crucians I have caught from one of the lakes I fish. I catch them on another lake and they are all very deeply bodied but that other lake they are all more sleek like the one pictured above. I could very well be wrong but that's the vibe I get from the picture. Someone with more knowledge will be able to guarantee either way, I'm sure. Now I've just got to hope I answered the right question haha.

A great collection of pictures! I never tire of aerial lightening shots.

Very nice fish, good angling. Thanks for sharing.

Good luck if you do get round to it. I expect there are plenty of fish to be caught. It's a sad state of affairs when personal safety is such a worry just for a spot of day time fishing. Sadly it is the case though.

Always wondered if fish did venture further than the riverbanks during floods. Sad to see, I hope it's not too widespread. The media say it wont do too much damage in the long run but I wouldn't trust their word 100%. Could well be right but I'm sure some on here have a better idea on things either way.

I haven't managed to get out for ages due to work. Now I'm off the weather is terrible. Going to try and get to my club lake in the next few days and either float fish some maggots in the margins and see what turns up or try for some bream in the open water with a feeder. Looks like it's been nasty all round weather wise. Tomorrow afternoon down my way might be a dry patch with low winds. Here's to hoping. Good luck to anyone that does get out.

I think it's a question they have to ask because of the general stupidity of the UK these days. I bet they have had people go there with knee or rib problems in the past. Either that or they might have a special 'gum' dentist, ha. I personally just go to my local emergency dentist (located in a local small "hospital") if I ever need work done. It costs £16 a trip but I'll take that for the one time I've been there and to have a problem tooth removed and out of the door within 45 minutes including waiting time and procedure time.

I love fishing for bream, not a popular choice but I do really enjoy it. Seeing this fish has really wanted me to shake this man flu, get out of my bed and get to the lake! Incredible catch. I agree with those that have said that a big bream looks magnificent, they do in my eyes. Beauty.

As a hook bait I'd be quite happy using corn as an overall 'most types of fishing' bait if I could choose just one although worms would be a more versatile bait. With so many variations of species and methods of fishing it's hard to pick just one. Would I be able to catch rudd/roach on my chosen bait to use them for pike deadbaits or would that count as a different bait? I was catching perch on tiny rudd the other day and that was so much fun so I wouldn't want to lose the ability to do that Just realised I answered a question that wasn't really asked but I'm going to leave it there anyway.

Haha, that's great. Would like to steal that one for myself one day!

Near me there is an old Quarry pit where loads of local goldfish and similar ornamentals get released year after year. As far as I'm aware they survive quite well. A friend of mine who fishes there regularly has caught quite a few of the bigger residents, this one being the biggest: I myself caught one last winter in a highly stocked commercial, it was only small and really didn't expect it to be in there. Neither of these waters have any large predators in them so I'm guessing that makes a difference. I would imagine they would struggle to stay out of view in a pike or large perch venue?

I also have the older version and it's great quality. If this one is anything like the previous then I'd recommend it. I did find this amusing though: https://www.aldi.co.uk/en/specialbuys/sunday-specialbuys-4th-august/product-detail/ps/p/mens-fishing-t-shirt/ "Men's fishing t-shirt" Just a green t-shirt. Would love to know what's so 'fishing' about it

Just to join in on things: https://fbcdn-sphotos-a-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-frc1/224056_10150229977236066_4542386_n.jpg *Struggling to add a photo* This is a fish I caught in my first few months of coarse fishing and I just assumed at the time is was some sort of Rudd x Bream hybrid. Any thoughts?

That is very interesting if true. I will say in my situation it didn't look like blood but it was indeed red. Would like to hear more if you find out what you are looking for. Just to add on my situation (although not in question), all fish were lip hooked. Rarely get anything else on the light quiver with a small feeder

I haven't seen the pictures/article mentioned but I just wanted to add that one day I sacked a few Bream for half an hour or so to get a nice brace shot for the fishery manager and I would never do it again. On removing the fish they didn't look in good shape. One looked rather red between the scales and I felt terrible. I know it's not the same as a keepnet but I can imagine the results being the same on occasion. Hope I don't take too much flak for doing it in the first place but I honestly thought they would handle it.

Coming from where I do I have encountered a lot of cattle but have never really had a problem. I can see how they would seem intimidating (and can definitely see their potential to do harm) but personally have never had issues. As a young boy we used to play 'corner a cow' (which sounds horrible now but as young lads seemed acceptable) and they would charge but never in the direction of ourselves, more to just get away. Even so, I wouldn't recommend going anywhere near them if you're wary. An easily diffused situation with the above mentioned techniques would not be something I'd advise to try if cows put the willies up you.

I really rate the guru ones. The mould has a thinner rubber layer where you press to get the feeder out after compacting. Possibly not as good as the button system but works just fine for me. I've not used that method mix but have used many a smelly one. Left my mould at home the other day and my hands were smelling something horrible. So a very good point from viney.

I personally use the John Wilson avon quiver that RUDD just mentioned and have no problems whatsoever. It's so versatile with the three push in quivers for whatever rig you're using or fish you're targeting and can double up as a float rod if you need to change tactic on the day with no compromise to quality. With this I use a second hand Shimano Exage reel and the two go together so well. I can't comment on other rods/reels because I've only really used this set up for this style of fishing.

Thank you, Phone. Very informative.

Phone, Where would said ferrous hook be located within the fish if it were to be dissolved? I always thought if it was in a fishes stomach perhaps but are we talking just in a fishes lips or throat? As in the part of the hook that is 'in' the fish gets dissolved by the flesh? Just wondering, I've always wondered about it. Also, to the thread: I've caught a fair few eels in my short time coarse fishing (although none for 12 months as I haven't really been to the 'eely' venues for a while) and have only had one swallow the hook. I personally have always tried my best to retrieve the hook with a disgorger or forceps and have only once had one deeply hooked where I regrettably had to cut the line. I thought that would be standard practice to anglers as a whole? The more I read on the matter, the less informed I feel. Whether I do the right thing or the wrong thing. I know a venue that is rather deep, rarely fished by anyone and has a big head of eels, I have always wanted to see how big the eels go to but keep reading about the "98% depletion" and don't know whether I should even fish for them. As I said I'd love to fish for them properly but don't know how ethical that may be?