Martin56

You'll need a smaller band maybe for these, being for cats. Unless you're using Super Glue!! Hope this helps. The Supermarket provides cheaper solutions IMHO.

Cat Biscuits are very good - The Purina "Go Cat" ones that is, & Maybe others as well?? They're a £ a box. A lot of these are are FISH SHAPED among other shapes in the box. The "wrist" in the middle keeps them on the "Bait Band". The "Whiskers Temptations" (Cat Treats) are also very good!! Much cheaper than the Pedigree Mixer type. I'm not really a floating bait fan,but, when when I've tried these - they DO WORK very well!!

I've watched John Wilson fishing with "The Pin" & I've noticed he uses it with the Line coming off the Bottom of the reel!! I've ALWAYS used mine with the Line loaded so it comes off the TOP - ie parallel with the rings!! I find this way much better when Trotting AND "Batting IN"!! The 2 handles on the Rim, are only really used to wind in a good fish near to the Net!! Thumb/Palm pressure is usually enough to play even the biggest fish. My Dad wouldn't let me have a fixed spool till I'd learned the pin. Thanks Dad, if you're looking down.

I now have 2 of these - the first from Tackle2u , the the other from fleabay for £70 (which had a spare middle & Top section)

It handles exactly like a Match rod for the small stuff with plenty of "Tip Action" - Then "Morphs" into some thing else when one hits a "Donkey" with the "Progressive Action". It says for Main Lines of 5 - 8 lb, but is also as good with Lighter- say 3 lb. It's better than Good, & a Great Price - £60 - £65 when I bought mine around 3 years ago. Never felt in danger of losing a fish - because of the rod that is.

https://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=2&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0ahUKEwilptSUvNPOAhXMXBoKHTrNCHQQFggpMAE&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.jwyoungs.co.uk%2Fysp1300.htm&usg=AFQjCNHIlqCcCHPp63IB2gz7Ni6jtMCg-Q&sig2=sgnl2-I5Bu6H3b9Hf2Ahzg Here's the Link above. A great allrounder IMO.

This happened to me only about 3 weeks ago - I hadn't had a bite for ten minutes when a gust of wind blew my keep net bag in!! I got off my box to retrieve it with the landing net, when the pole set off the rollers & in it went & went round the lake twice with the fish "Still On". Fortunately an angler fishing the feeder cast in & got it back for me - with a carp of around 3 lb still on. My cousin wasn't so lucky - last week he lost his top 3 sections altogether!!

Above all, don't get distracted - the pole WILL get pulled in (especially when fishing out in front of you) by even a fish of a pound. It's happened to most of us - usually with the old "Flask in one hand - Cup in the other trick!!

Most importantly - "Get yourself Comfortable". It's very easy to end up with a "Bad Back" if your Not!! Even if you're quite fit. Also a Pole Sock is a must for putting the No 3 section in & supporting the rest of the pole when Baiting up the op kit.

Great additional advice Rudd, You can also catapult Maggots, with the pole trapped across your knees If you're right handed - trap the pole with your right fore arm/elbow pulling the catty forward with your left, aiming Maggots at the float. You can of course use the pole cup as well as, already mentioned by Rudd.

The River Wharfe, Tadcaster used to be stuffted with 'em - in the 80's. There was a paper mill, which used to pump bi products (jelly) into the river, & Eels were almost all one one could catch at the time!! Matches were very often won with Eels, mostly bootlaces at that!! Thankfully the paper mill has since shut down & mostly scale fish prevail these days!!

A ready cooked, or Raw Super Market prepared Prawn is as good as owt' for big Perch. ABU Droppen spinner also!!

please see my post re Boldbear & J.W. Young Specimen 13 foot Rod. It's a Great Rod!! & a Great Price 60 - £65.

I can see already, with your "Broad Spectrum" Sig' - And Mine!!, well get along just fine!!. I'm what it says on the tin!! Martin.

Hi Guys. I've Just Joined this site. I've been on another fishing forum of which I was a long standing & (I'd like to think) a respected member for a long time & I see my old mate Boldbear is on here!! Is it in fact the same, but modified one?? The similarities are uncanny re the format?? Martin.

Hi Steve, I echo Rudds post 100% - been there with the "Ticker" thing!! I have a stent after a CA 3 years ago. Spent near on 4 days on Life Support Machine! (Wife had the policies out lol) Maybe after 6 months or so "Sprat Bashing" you'd be more able to handle the feeder. (Believe you me - as I'm sure you know already - these things knock the stuffing out of you) The Drennan Red,10 or 11 foot Carp feeder is just the ticket & comes in at exactly £50. With Hindsight, maybe wish I'd bought the 11 footer?? Not sure?? I bought the 10 foot one - comes with 2 push in tips, 1 1/2 oz & 2 oz. Take it easy bud, & please don't push yourself too early!! Take good care. Martin.

A very good approach by Admin' IMO. I was a member of another angling site ("Fishing Forum for Fishing") I had well over 3,000 - 4,000 posts on there. I left that site for no other reason than I decided to put my other Interest (Horse Racing) more of a priority. I'm still into that, but decided to come back more to the fishing side. Boldbear (Keith Manger) I'm sure would vouch for me, we're old friends. Any other old acquaintances are more than welcome to get back in touch. Martin.

MMMmmmmmmmmmmmm Centrepins. I have nothing else to add. Except that I have 4. A very very old Grice & Young which belonged to my Late Dad, which I still use quite a lot +, 2 Leeds Type & a Grice & Young Seajecta11 (2 roman numerals) Not sure where the "Sea" bit comes from - it's a course fishing reel. (That one I bought on fleabay & not really fond of!!)

I really like my J. W. Young 13' Specimen Float Rod (Remember that one Keith??). I'll get the Serial No tomorrow - just for Boldbear's benefit!! We had some "Sport" over that. It behaves just like a match rod, but with a "Progressive Action " & bends to the Butt when required to. Rarely "Bumps off" small fish, & has serious stopping power should one encounter a real Donkey. It takes Lines of 5 - 8 lb (but I've found it's equally at home with lighter - 3 lb) For between £60 - £65 depending where you get it from. I'd recommend this one for certain. A true all rounder.

Hi Boldbear - Keith. Remember me - Martin56 from the other site?? How's things mate. I've just joined this one as you see. Any other old members on here?? Hope you're well. Martin.

Exactly Ken!! I enjoy fishing with a centrepin - yes even on Matches sometimes, much more. It takes quite a bit longer to get them in (Carp) nevertheless a much more pleasurable experience. I'm still using my Late Dad's "Grice & Young" - It's at least as old as me (I'm nearly 60) I've only just got out of the habit of having the "Maggot Bag" round my neck from my past river fishing days!!

Remember - The elastic does nearly ALL the work!! You can almost (but not quite) point the pole at the fish - only a small angle is required - unlike fishing with a rod!! You don't want too much of a bend in the pole when playing a fish - especially a "Big UN' ". Regarding rigs for Margin Pole :- Here's a tip, I almost always use 12" or 15" (inch) QUICKSTOP hair rigs for baits like Worm, meat, sweetcorn, prawns & cockles etc. Worms tend to wriggle off barbless hooks - they can't get off a QUICKSTOP Rig.

Because the "BeastMaster" Margin is primarily a BIG FISH pole, may I suggest you have one of the top kits fitted with #18 - 22 Hollow elastic, my other top kit has #14-16 for "Fishing Out" at a bit more distance. Have it done by the shop at first - the pole needs the first foot or so sawing off in order to take the bush - It's a lot of money & quite high risk doing it yourself for the first time!! The Hollow elastics are the "Mid Price range" & very good (Much better than the "Solid elastic") Striking towards the Bank where possible generally makes the fish swim out into open water, & less likely to make a dive for the snags. Also when a big fish takes - sink the pole into the water, This strengthens the pole due to the differential pressure, making it less likely to break (although as I've said, this pole will take a lot more abuse than most)

Hi Dave - hope you get this?? I've just joined the site. I've been fishing since I was a kid (I'm almost 60 now, & just joined the pole scene over the last 3 seasons. You could do a lot worse by starting with the Shimano BeastMaster 8.5 metre Margin pole. It comes with 2 top kits (not elasticated) but the shop should do it for free when you buy it from them (all part of the deal in many tackle shops) You can also buy a 2 Metre extension (at an extra £70) This pole will take an amazing amount of abuse, & is very forgiving to a novice pole angler (like me still) It's hard to stop using it like a Rod (at first) where most other poles would break if used in that fashion. So for around £195 + £70 for the extension (you won't need that at first - get used to the 8.5 Mt'rs Initially) Hope this helps. Martin.

Hi guys, I was a member of the "Fishing Forum" site for a number of years. That seems to be long gone?? I used to also have a signature - ie a saying attached to my username, but can't find it on here yet. I've noticed many members on here also have it!! A little help with this would be most appreciated. Thanks. Martin & YES I'm the Martin56 from the site from the other site I was on.