Martin56

Here's a selection, some of which I'm sure you can nip the shot onto the adaptor :- https://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=3&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0ahUKEwj_6__26YDPAhVLCMAKHTqhCcsQFghMMAI&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.anglersmail.co.uk%2Ftackle%2Faccessory-tests%2Fwaggler-adaptors-for-loaded-floats-950&usg=AFQjCNH9RBuZYci86NwHzd2IYTS9MEsGZg&sig2=b4kiLky62vzeJwnnCV8lnQ You could even have them as a permanent rig on a winder?? Nip then Araldite the shot on either side of the float only, so they can't "ping off " (carefully so you can still adjust the depth) & tie a loop in the line above the float, then have a "Quick Change" bead on your main line. Fishing in seconds!! I sometimes use pole rigs with Rod & Reel using a very small "Quick Change Bead" to attach the rig - if the pole float will stand the weight of the bead that is!! 9/10 I fish the Margins AND over depth so not that all that critical

Chub are also members of the carp family - as are all fish which have pharyngeal teeth.

The forum I used to be on (Fishing Forum for Fishing) had an email notification facility to say I'd had a reply to a post. Is it possible on here??? Am I missing a trick???

Could be that the spawning Chub in the pond were caught from the river, then Introduced & therefore not stock fish thus still have the urge to breed??

The above mentioned float stops are also great used as a semi fixed bolt rig for the feeder or Bomb!! One either side, or just One for a soft landing on a Free Running rig.

I Like to use Loaded Wagglers, then use the rubber pear shaped float stops either side. I've sometimes even shaved / filed off some of the weight off a Loaded waggler to enable me to have a bit more shot on the line to get down!! The "Drennan Grippa" float stops I find are best, but any will do the job. There are a few brands out there, & all pretty much the same, some being more oval & they vary in size. They all grip on pretty much the same Line diameters, so don't get too bogged down with that!! Here's a Link so you can see what I mean. Scroll down the Link - You'll see the Black Oval ones also. https://www.google.co.uk/aclk?sa=L&ai=DChcSEwjv7d658PvOAhVLuhsKHRt_AlMYABAF&sig=AOD64_0r2L4OglusnRUuL_NvqMlfSilCEw&ctype=5&q=&ved=0ahUKEwijvdq58PvOAhUIJMAKHRj1C_wQvhcIJw&adurl=

Do you have a "Yard Stick" to compare?? , ie other, (maybe neighbouring ) Lake's small aquatic life?? It could be that the Native fish population are keeping it next to Zero - because hardly anyone's fishing & feeding it. You say the Proper Fish are doing OK!! They've got to eat something!!, & To quote you earlier in this thread :- "and the place may have seen as many as a half dozen anglers this year!" This year is a big margin (seeing it's near end of August) do you mean half a dozen anglers since the Lake was Acquired (couple of weeks ago??) Or, from beginning of year?? - if that's the case, then no wonder they've eaten everything in sight. The dearth of Anglers may be the problem - they're not being fed, so naturally, they'll eat all that's around them!!! All those water boatmen, beetles, caterpillars , midge larvae (blood worm) & all the other goodies in the stew. You say the Proper Fish are doing OK!! well for now maybe, but could be they need feeding up a bit & they'll leave the natural stuff alone & let it build up again?? The Fish are the top of the food chain - & they've emptied it????

Lovely Perch & Barbel mate - My pb on both are around 1 1/2 lb & 5 lb. The Actual size of the Barbel though (IMO) looks out of proportion, as is often the case - We are after all mere anglers - not professional photographers!! It's very difficult to get the perspective right on camera. Well done bud'. A monster in anyone's book. It's not at all a criticism - just an observation.

Quite agree Andy - Not a great advert for Preston's "Ready Tied Market" lol. Just to be clear - It's an Image from Their Site - & Not My picture!!! That said - at least the "Tag" is on the inside & not stuck out!! First thing my Late Dad taught me when tying hooks was to trim as close as you dare - wherever it finishes!!

Sideways The next time you go fishing, chuck a maggot in the edge and see how it falls. Every time it sinks sideways, so why don’t we hook them like that? After all, the whole principle of fishing is to disguise our hookbaits to the bait that we feed. You get a very good hook hold and it usually fools the bigger wiser fish. Think outside the box and look for little edges like this that might catch you those extra fish that other people may miss out on. Yes, I nicked this from the Preston Innovations Site - Hope that's OK with Admin'?? Please Feel free to take it down if it constitutes a breach?? Can almost anything in the "Public Domain" be copied?? {Admin note: You cannot take one of their images and use it on another site. You will need to use your own hook and maggot to take a photo and then post it. However, simply saying you've side-hooked a maggot should be enough to give everyone the idea}

I quite like this one??? from fishtec.co.uk - Korum Supa Lite Chair £54.99 (400 x 399 mm or 15 & 3/4" which is the size I presume??) Looks like a reel or 2 would fit in the bottom compartment as well?? With maybe a robust Nylon shopping / Keepnet bag for your other bits & bobs!! Though personally I'd still go for the basket option. There's clearly nowhere to put a flask/drink/ sarnies etc. You WOULD need another bag for all this.

Yes of course you can (I have a 501 & also had a 503 when I was Norbut!!) The merest, partial turn of the handle engages the pick up pin. (Sorry read that as "can you"??)

The Mitchell Match (auto bale arm) is an excellent trotting reel, thought not so easy to source in good condition these days. They're made in the Far East now, so new ones are noticeably not as good in quality as the 80's French versions. IMO. The French (Best ones) are Blue in colour, & is a good clue as to it's provenance.

If you don't have a huge amount of tackle, & you're just fishing for pleasure, then maybe a wicker basket seat is all you really need. I used my late Dad's for a number of years until I "Burst" on to the commercial Match Scene (well taking part anyway) I then treated myself to a proper match seat box as is required for all the attachments needed for Pole & feeder fishing. I got along fine with a basket & bank sticks for years before that. The basket has a home made foam seat though - otherwise a serious case of "Basket Bum" is sure to follow lol. My seat box was £200, but you can spend £600+ No need to spend that much maybe for your purposes. Can pick up a Basket seat very cheaply!! - Bound to be a few on the "BAY", & maybe still, in some Tackle Shops???? They are very Light in Weight, as well as on the Pocket!!!!!!!! One like This?? First photo Top Left & Centre!! https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=fishing+baskets+for+sale&rlz=1C1CHWA_enGB610GB610&espv=2&biw=1366&bih=643&tbm=isch&imgil=S05InHfGDIl5nM%253A%253BS9H1KCdqaUzx3M%253Bhttp%25253A%25252F%25252Fwww.ebay.co.uk%25252Fbhp%25252Ffishing-basket&source=iu&pf=m&fir=S05InHfGDIl5nM%253A%252CS9H1KCdqaUzx3M%252C_&usg=__1BySoXL9VzjpG0pb3G4oi_6s-So%3D

Thanks for your replies Keith & RUDD. The rod is the 10 Foot DRENNAN RED Carp Feeder, Not sure of the Test curve though. It's supposed to have quite a soft - (for Silvers) & progressive (for Carp) action - "TO AVOID HOOK PULLS" it says in the Link below. I'm using 8 lb Main line & 6,7 & 8 lb QUICKSTOP Hook lengths. I'm also finding there's no need to strike as they almost always set the hook themselves by nearly pulling the rod in!! Once they're swimming round in circles & I'm in control, they then usually stay on. Maybe I could try sinking the Rod tip a bit when playing them?? - The way Dave Harrell does when River Barbel fishing. Could be I'm bullying them to the top too early?? (They tend to come to the surface quickly anyway by the nature of the pretty constant 4 foot deep swims which are prevalent on most of the commercials!!) This is the rod :-https://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=8&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0ahUKEwj16qK3mNvOAhUH1hoKHfImABoQFghnMAc&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.wassfishingtackle.co.uk%2Fproduct%2Fdrennan-red-range-10-feet-carp-feeder%2F&usg=AFQjCNEdMBFYGZFlBHTo8MDBKSPas-4odA&sig2=XlkVL5H6idHFLnEvb9GqpQ

Hi again Lee, try Method feeder, using groudbait & soil / mud mixed in with it. This cloud effect will attract the Perch for sure, rather then just a worm on its own. Perch will "Home in" to see what it's all about!! The groundbait is just to help break up the mud to form a cloud rather than it sticking to the feeder in a lump!! Also add some chopped worm to the mix - to get some "Blood In The Water". You could even use some of the peat supplied with the worms, which I assume will be Dendro's?? Also use the 15 inch QUICKSTOP hair rigs for worm fishing - they can otherwise crawl off a Barbless hook - They can't get off a QUICKSTOP!! Just cast it in with the worm dangling, they'll never stay buried in the feeder anyway!! Also "Clip Up" the line so you can hit the same spot every time, keeping your worm in the continuous cloud - If there's no joy after an hour or so - Try a different spot.& do it all over again.

Looks like as you say mate!! Spinners & Worms then - if allowed?? Chuck out a worm & see what happens!! - gets one away from 'er indoors for a couple of hours!!

I'm getting a LOT of hook pulls when fishing the Bomb!! The fish (decent Carp) seem to be well hooked - judging by the way they nearly pull the rod in!! I can have them on for quite a while, then bang!!! another hook pulled out. The hooks I use are big enough - Barbless, size 14 or 12 or 10 & more often than not - 15" QUICKSTOPS. I've stopped using the Korum in size 16, 15" QUICKSTOPS - The hooks straighten out very easily in this size even with a fish of 4 lb or so - the wire is way too fine IMO. I'm wondering if there's a "Pendulum" thing happening with the Bomb swinging up & down, dislodging the hook?? It seems to hardly ever happen with the (much heavier) "Method" . (Because of the shear weight of this, it just hangs there) Any input from you guys would be greatly appreciated. Maybe using more "Side Play" could be part of the solution??

OK, so maybe I'm wrong & it appears that IDE are in fact a species in their own right. (In the wild state that is) However, I was given to understand that the ones bred for commercials Are sterile, & therefore can't breed even with their own kind?? That would explain why many lakes which once contained a very good head of IDE 4 or 5 years ago, now contain very few. They're clearly not breeding. It's also held by most of our club members, that the ones bred for commercial fisheries only have a life cycle of around 4 years. An argument which stands up as we used to fish venues which were solid with them - They're not now!!

There's Absolutely not a chance that IDE can interbreed with Native species. They are in fact Hybrid Carp & therefore Sterile. They were Introduced into Commercial Lakes as a (cheaper than proper Carp) Match weight making species, & have a general longevity of around 4 years. They then die off, & need to be restocked by the fishery owners. Fear not!!!! Fishery Sites which boast IDE as a target species are either out of date, or have re stocked.

PS - The "Drennan Red", "Non Slip" Even When Wet Landing Net Handles are also Excellent!! Very Robust & Strong. The Non Slip thing comes from a Grit/Ground Glass thing impregnated into the blank of the handle.

Great Blog Ralph, I really enjoyed reading that. Well done on you first tench also. Many more to come I'm sure. Twas only about 5 years ago that I caught my first one, that would be because of my many previous years of flogging the Yorkshire Rivers, where there basically are None!! Well none to speak off!! - I'm sure I'd have remembered, had any turned up in any of our many Matches. Perhaps some one would come on this - Are there any documented Tench catches on the Yorkshire Rivers?? That would be The Yorkshire Ouse, Swale, Nidd, Wharfe, Derwent, Ribble, Aire etc. I really Like the "Edit" button - saves posting any misquotes & things perhaps, that could have been put better the first time. (Hopefully In Time)

Yes Vagabond, that's the one (Species Hunt was on it) I deleted my Facebook account a long time ago - it was the vehicle on which a family issue which I won't go into on here was instigated!! Glad to say though, that's all behind us now. Keith, I hope Richard is making the best of things & I wish him well. Yes I did see the Fishing Forum had moved to Facebook.

I see Boldbear is on here, would also like to be back in touch with my other friends from the old Fishing Forum Site. I haven't been gone all that long. Martin. (martin56 on the other site) I know Richard Cosgrgriff (Admin') wasn't at all well when I left that site!! I would appreciate any updates?? from anyone!!

I'd be Interested to know if "Biscuits" are effective as a "POP UP" bait on the "Method Feeder" - maybe where "Floating Baits" are banned?? I think they'd work very well on a 4" to 15" (inch) Hook length on "Method Feeder"?? Floating baits bans - per say, only apply to fishing on the surface!! Fishery Match Rules are very often circumvented by fishing merely an Inch below!!