Neil Smart

I inherited some 1960's and before tackle from my late Uncle, who introduced me to fishing, most of it is not worth selling, but I did sale on ebay a hollow cane Redditch made match rod for £100, so these collectors are out there, our junk is their treasure. I would certainly put it on ebay, and try buyer collect.

Anyone new to Pike fishing should take some time with someone who can safely handle Pike on the bank. It is a sad fact that many Pike are killed through mis-handling.

Not being pedantic, but a 1.75 t.c is not really an Avon, mind you they have been made under many guises recently, I think I am right in saying that a true Avon is just 0.75lb t.c. Might be worth checking the model number of the Daiwa, they are very much sought after by the 'tarts', it could be you are in fact poncing around putting the Nash boys to shame.... Had a look at my swing tips, I have few more somewhere but what I have found look ok, but are minus the screw, an easy fix. I could send if you pm me details,, I have a load of gear that I don't use, and a few reels that you might want, don't want anything for them.

Just fine, with some to spare.

Whatever I have got you can have, don't want anything for them, happy that someone might have a use for them....do you have a rod that can be used as a 'swinger'?

Hasn't been a brilliant season for me personally, I was chatting to the latest holder of the Severn Barbel record last Friday, and a very good Angler too, he has had 38 consecutive Barbel Blanks, but is still as keen as mustard. I too am getting a bit jaded, and I intend to have a go at the Lady Of The Stream... soon, and of course the Roach are making a bit of a come back John. Try limiting yourself to a couple of hours, and perhaps some trotting will ignite that spark again.

I have a couple of old swing tips that I used on the Cotswold Water Parks years ago, and managed to bank some nice tench with this method.....but the method is very limiting, distance and the constant 'your rod's broken mate' jibes....A good quiver tip is far better, imo, if you would like the swingers, then just let me know. Edit.. Had a rummage around and I have a few rods, some older John Wilson Avons, c/w with end thread, and a nice as new Daiwa Avon, with the cross weave, a great much loved rod by some, but is not being used by me.

Whoaaa! You can't really slag off Carp Anglers and and call others 'proper' anglers, or Danglers in your case. I am solely a Barbel Angler, although I have fished for all species as a River only Angler for many many years, except for the odd excursion to carp ponds for some surface fun. There is a huge amount of product development gone into tackle, because of the Carp boy's, and has certainly made life easier for us all. OK I am not a fan of those horrible Carp F1 Commercials, hate them in fact, but if that what rocks 'yer boat then fair enough, River Carp a a worthwhile adversary, and I have respect for those that target them. So with respect, this is Anglers Net and I would hate this place to be too elitist into whatever type of Angling is deemed more worthwhile.

Rising rivers can be the kiss of death for most, for me falling, and a few days after the start of the fall too, on the Severn especially.

Nice blog Zed, you are a wordsmith that's for sure and pretty useful with the Box Brownie too, but for all that is Holy why did you not attach a bit of Tesco's finest bangers to a hook and seduce a Chub or two? Enough of the 'poncy' lure chucking thing, it's just not Cricket, God knows what the Hunt must have thought. Anyway those Perch are a pretty sight, and are at their best just now, just add a float and a 'pin to the scene, and it will be picture perfect.

I suggest you cast downstream, close to the nearside bank, after putting in a few free offerings, be patient after feeding, leave it a couple of minutes so any fish will feel confident.

Well the weather has changed a bit and the rivers are colder, which can spell a lean time for anglers. However Chub will always feed in the coldest of conditions, so if as you say you bit of river has chub then you should be fine. Bait can be maggot bread meat, that's fine. If it is a smaller river look for nearside features such as undercuts, which chub love, and rushes sedges etc, chub will stay alongside such in the day. You have good tackle, so that's not a problem, I would suggest you keep the rod down, sit down and hold the butt of the rod in your lap, so you can strike quickly, chub are devils for finding snags believe me, so you need to get the fish under control asap. A good bait would be bread flake, or meat, just put in a few free offerings and the away you go, when the swim dies, as it will move to the next spot. Use as much lead as you need, no more, or just a swan shot (big shot) pinched on the line a foot from the hook will be fine. Take care with unhooking the fish as chub are greedy and will swallow the bait, make sure you have a disgorger to hand and be careful not to damage the fish. Make sure you have a good net, and of course a mat to rest the fish on. Don't keep the fish out of the water for longer than 30 seconds if you can, any longer rest in the net. Be prepared to move often and change baits, but above all keep it simple, and you will be fine.

I take it those are lures Phone, I am afraid our poor much pursued stock fish would never fall for such a contraption, but I get your drift. We mess around, with line the diameter of a gnats pubic hair just to try and get a fish's attention....

How true.... well talk about convoluted did you ever have the Dambusters screened over there? Sort of how we won the war with bouncing bombs, I am ex RAF you know, but alas just missed that 'Jolly'

Phone, don't really know what a bottom bouncer is, possibly a round weight? But upstreaming is a sensitive way of detecting a bite, in that the merest bite slackens the tip on the rod, a 'drop back bite' if you will. It also enables you to fish with a lighter weight.... I don't really think it is for the average GI Joe

Hi Chris. The rod and reel you have you could use for river carp, and even Barbel if you can. But that might be a step too far at the moment, I would suggest you invest in a float (match rod) say 13 foot, and a 3000 series reel or similar, floats net handle and so on, we all have gear we don't use I am sure we could cobble some stuff to-gether to get you started. You are a bit too far for me to drop items off, I am Gloucestershire, but can post. Maybe someone nearer could help? The River Rother would be an ideal place to start, plenty of smaller fish and the odd Chub and Trout thrown in, loads of fun!!

It should be fine, depends on what you are trotting for, if chub and barbel use 6lb line, anything else say 3lb. The action on any match rod should be soft enough to cushion any lunges a big fish will make, point is there is a load of rubbish out there when what rods to use for certain fish etc, a 13' match rod will cover most needs. But not for casting a 5oz lead into a flooded river mind.

Hi Chris, You have a carp rod and reel!! it's a start, I only fish rivers really so cant be much help as far as carp really. I mainly fish for Barbel, although I have many years of fishing for all species. The river Rother is a great river and full of most species, would suggest you invest in a 13 foot float rod and float fish it!! Any further advice I am sure could be given, but it's not hard. I understand you have the Ouse too, certainly some good Roach I think towards the tidal reaches. Personally I think rivers are much more fun, but it's a choice...Carp fishing can be costly, and a bit specialised. Like you say a fishing buddy would be ideal, I am sure someone on here will help...good luck.

Never used back leads, but I do understand the theory, like the idea of your regarding shot up the line, hence trapping the rig down. Yes KISS, keep it simple stoopid is a good mantra, and your point of dispensing with even the anti tangle sleeve when fishing close in is a good point, besides I underarm anyway so should be fine. At the moment the rivers are so off colour it's hard to but a bite let alone catch anything, and we got some nice colder days and nights next week too thinking Grayling on the float rod might be a nice change from staring at a motionless tip

Very good thread this and some great back to basics approach to fishing 'rigs'. We do over complicate things don't we? I mean look at me, I have started using the Korum anti tangle 'system' for Barbel fishing, and although tangles have reduced I reckon the fish do see all this extra 'furniture'. But is seeing enough to spook the fish? Certainly touching the line will spook a shoal of Barbel let alone Roach. So I am just using what I used to do a free running quick change swivel, and always using a anti tangle sleeve to the top of the hook length, and pushing it over the swivel to keep it secure. Result no annoying wrap round leads or feeders. However missed bites plague me, you have to consider using light leads in low and clear conditions, but any bolt rig effect is minimised, so a drennan ledger stop fixed above the free running swivel will , and does help hit those sharp bites. The river angle tip up and still water tip down approach is pretty much what I see, and I use tip ups when fishing large rivers, with feeder or lead, at distance. But when fishing close in no need whatsoever, and tip up is very counter productive, I like nothing better than holding the butt, with the rod tip pointing just above the surface, trapping the line with your fore finger you can feel every touch. The shot on the line approach is a real sensitive simple way to fish, pinning the line down, and you also have a built in bolt effect. But the tackle manufactures hate it....

Ooooh I love all this dirty talk about big Roach and flake in the Winter, whetting my appetite.

Yep was thinking Bewdley plus Wye John, there are day tickets available for Bewdley, and the Wye.

Well I would be up for that...plus take in a day on the Wye too?

I didn't weigh any of them John, but they were between 3/4 lb, to 1.5lbs, but as said they were not on light tackle, so I didn't get the real satisfaction of catching them. But they were well conditioned, true Roach. The amount of pellet feed that goes into the Severn, the Roach seemingly treat as another food source, they will readily take a 14mm hallibut pellet at Blackstone (Bewdley) on the Severn (BAA). Of course Bewdley offers some excellent Barbel fishing too John, and some rather nice B&B's to be found...just a thought

That first picture looks a lot like Cricklade area Keith, I had permission to fish a meadow from the farmer, I helped her with a calving problem anyway I hooked about 6 chub on the float, all big things, and the hook pulled on everyone, the hook was a big one, and the bait lobworm,...best size hook for Chub? 16.. you live and learn.