Blackbird

Tampon Tarpon, who cares if its a bend in your rod.

Amazing match up there with the best...this England team know how to entertain thats for sure.

What is incredible is that someone can dedicate his life to a lost cause. Cod you won't change anything by continuing to undermine the right and proper vote that was cast by the British people for the British people to leave the EU. Of course we are as other nations are, suffering limited growth, and high inflation. Although the unemployment rate is down, do you recognise the implications of Putin the Great war on Ukraine to be the reason, or are you going to ridiculously continue to blame the democratic vote? We as a Nation are taking the tough decisions and gaining back our pride, we have left the EU and we are dealing with the unacceptable boat people by taking measures to deter this illegal, and murderous trade in human life. The country is in good hands at last, we are not afraid to be proud again, and along the way there will be hard knocks, but I am and many others too feel its a small price to pay ...Of course if you or anyone wish to cross the Channel legally, you can, where the EU you admire so much will be waiting...but a word of caution, I know folk who have made that trip, and deeply regret it..the old maxim about grass being greener has never been so relevant. Your rants are repetitive and boring, you do not gather any support on here because you condemn all things Brexit which of course is irrational. Of course you won't stop, and the real mystery is why this thread has dragged on for so long...for the sake of all things Holy give it a rest...GO FISHING!

I would always prefer to do this, and the rivers you fish you can, but the river Severn is a different challenge, and lends itself perfectly to feeder fishing, and it can be exciting...especially with smaller baits and hooks.

And that's the crux, with less barbel in the rivers, apart from the Wye and Trent, you are just feeding off the smaller species most of the time, I still think the Wye deserves a fair amount of bait, and they do shoal there, albeit feeding spells are some time between each other, but you have to ensure you have some bait down to stop them. I guess frequency of casts will be down to if they are having it (avin it). As said most of my barbel fishing now is long boring interludes of setting up and then going home.....I like to target other species to help, especially when the only barbel bite you get is last knocking, if you are lucky. Trotting down a float until dusk is what I need to be doing.

No point in feeding if the fish are not responding, of course initially when fishing Wye or similar where there are large shoals of chub minnow and barbel, laying down a carpet of feed is imperative, if only to arouse minnow etc, they will attract the bigger species. I would recast initially every 5 minutes at least for say 30 minutes, and then if no bites stop, and the fish a lead over the baited area and wait. The tip of the rod should be an indicator if there are fish in the peg. Other rivers such as the WA I will drop a load of feed initially via dropper and wait if barbel are the target. I love black cap maggot feeder fishing, you really need to be like a metronome in feeding.

Blimey wheat is a long forgotten bait, however can I throw in casters? Not literally they cost a fortune But they will normally catch a better stamp of fish. Wouldn't consider float fishing if being pestered by other species, a feeder with a helli rig set up might be worth thinking about....dead reds and fishmeal in the feeder...or the deadly bolt rig for bigger Roach, small feeder bomb in line with a short hooklink,but you need to be patient sit on your hands John. If the bottom of the lake is weedy you might consider popping up the hook bait or at least having it negatively bouyant. It does sèem your lake might be suffering from oxygen depletion, do the fish gasp on the surface?

It's a start not using silly name calling...if I may reply to your question to Ken regarding the help for fuel prices. Of course it was always go in to happen, and when it was announced, still the opposition could not find it themselves to applaud the move. Yes I know its political manouvering but how churlish? It's what everyone wanted for crying out loud!

I Like most folk away from the keyboards we all would probably get on like a house on fire. I am sure Cod is no exception, we all enjoy a bit of banter, but we are all fishermen too, and that like it or not sets us apart from mere men. Perhaps we could charter a day out with Cod on his boat? I am sure we would all come away with a feeling of a bit more respect for each other, and finish the day with a marvellous fish supper.

Give it up old chap, all this last man standing against all the odds is obviously taking its toll. Take comfort in the new package to be launched to help with energy bills, the like of which even the old Labour losers could never bring in because in truth the opposition has no interest in dealing with issues that really matter, preferring to keep the party flames fanned. Not surprising really when they have zero policies, zero aptitude and a leader that is burdened by shadow that still looms in the shape of Jeremy that hates all things British. Boris had been an idiot, he has seriously damaged the office of Prime Minister, he should have not engaged in parties, bun fights or whatever Public School esq idiocy that he did, he lacked leadership and personal qualities. However he Boris is a one off, without his manic temperament I doubt that anyone else would have done better than him with Covid, the very fact that he did not always agree with what he was told, probably helped the Nation. He got Brexit done, like it or not, in the long term we will be better off without the EU that was the view of the British public, and was voted on, despite all the nay sayers and dirty tricks Democracy won, finally, and for that was Boris's finest hour. All the figures you quote regarding inflation, debt, growth are all very fluid, it creates a false impression to consider today's figures as what is truly happening, whereas the long term big picture tells a different story with an upward trend, Of course that is not what the Labour Party, BBC, Guardian readers people like your goodself want to hear, far better to keep banging on about what really the Nation doesn't care about....Parties, Brexit, etc etc,its done gone, move on and let's all be thankful were born British. We are the envy of the World with a Monarch that is celebrating with us 70 years as Queen, what an achievement, what a wonderful country we truly are ✌

It's check...mate

I rarely weigh fish, but perhaps an obvious clonker Barbel, or Roach...the record weight claiming is a bit of a nonsense, given all the hoops you have to jump through to claim, and then the accuracy of the scales? Most other countries measure fish, which is probably the best and safest way to assess a specimen. Not ideal for pot belly Carp, granted.

*courtesy*

Kier Starmer is so boring he is exempt from scandal, such a self righteous smug bloke I have ever witnessed, and yet the picture of him swigging a beer from the bottle would have endeared him to many, if only he wasn't such a hypocrite. This hand wringing so called law breaking idiocy has gone full circle, like Angela's legs, better off closing and move on to the next childish spat. We face the biggest threat to our shores since Hitler, and all we can do is ponce around with this carp, get real Cod, Starmer and co we really are becoming a spineless easy touch, no wonder Putin feels he can do what he wants. Of course the only administration that is fit for purpose in these times is the present incumbents, not perfect but the only one that had any idea.

And I suppose he believes Turkey's voted for Christmas.

Well after a Severn session I nearly cached my chips in ...resulting in a partial bowel removal in 2020. It's about time the dangers to health are highlighted.

The brexiteers don't bang in because its job done, and dusted. The wets are moaning because instead of wanting a strong and vibrant economy, country, they want disharmony and chaos that is the Corbyn ideology that useless Starmer has inherited. Which is why so called Partygate is so precious to them because they are clueless in challenging the Govt on policy. The main thrust should be becoming independent of oil, which this war has highlighted as imperative. There are so many more issues like pollution, warming, our rivers, food production, not to mention the threat of nuclear war....but hey you keep banging your little drum...at least Boris for all his faults has a sense of what needs to be done. Please for all that is Holy, give it a rest, and just wind yer neck in, we get it, we really do.

Quick on the drawl?

Boris has a cheeky beer on his birthday,, and your man Putin commits mass murder on Ukraine citizens and murders any opposition to him, but you are obsessed with this trivia, as are all the other wets that prefer to 'read' the pictures in the Star, Guardian etc that fan your hatred for this country. The BBC are hellbent on bringing Boris down, and yet time after time they fail, as this latest little bitchfest will also fail, he has huge support from MP's and will continue in office, because in the scheme of things it is is of no interest to most sensible souls. What a laughing stock we portray ourselves to the World, what nonsense when we should be concentrating our thoughts on the 1000's being killed and displaced in Ukraine.

Otters regard Eels as choice fish dish, which might explain their low numbers. I still get pestered be eels chomping at meat baits and often saves a blank at last knockings, however I think I would rather take the blank.

As in BAA forum?

There is that of course...but you better make sure the reel suits the rod, something like a Black Prince, Monarch, or Mitchell 206 would be ideal, rolled down waders, and a Shakey box would complete the ensemble ☺ Ala Chesters

I believe most folk will recognise this Govt is getting on with it, however it is noticed that every oppurtunith the Scottish element within the Commons or employed as correspondents to be unbiased just like to disrupt and engage in petty bitching. It hardly demonstrates unity in what is the United Kingdom of which Scotland is still part of. Southampton was good to me when I was starting on my career path, and wife and I often wish we had stayed, you enjoy mild weather, boast a Premier League football club, coastal town with wonderful countryside at hand. But you worry about the price of eggs

Yep, problem is they are glass, so not ideal, but the last picture of the small rod with the removable butt might have some merit, could be a spinning rod or rod for streams? Other than that they would make excellent bean poles ☺