Peter Waller

Rather liked the look of this with 'Free' postage: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Ikonix-Centre-Pin-Fishing-Reel-/350877964906?pt=UK_SportsLeisure_Fishing_Reels_JN&var=620164250820&hash=item51b1f4da6a

Mat, I'm a great believer in the Polaris antenna type of float for piking, generally linked to a 1.5 oz lead. I appreciate that antennas aren't normally used for piking but I find them to be ideal.

Hi Lyn, the devil in me is quite good, thanks. I do keep an eye on things but like has been said 'tis quieter nowadays. Pity really but I suppose it's a case of how many times does one answer the same old questions? Miss the regulars of old though.

See the AN pin here: http://www.anglersnet.co.uk/Tackle-And-Bait-Reviews/anglersnet_centrepin.html Tasty bit of gear.

So long as you enjoyed catching the itch!!!

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/NEW-Shakespeare-Coarse-Fishing-Team-Seatbox-Blue-1155176-/360720358347?pt=UK_SportingGoods_FishingAcces_RL&hash=item53fc9bdbcb The above take some beating! Durable, easy to load, fashionably unfashionable, totally lacking in 'bank cred' for those that rate such things, last a lifetime, efficient and waterproof, mouse proof, ten out of ten!

At the moment the Waveney is far from bleak! Some darn good roach coming out right now. As for Mark's fish, no at all uncommon. Not that I know what they are though, always assumed they were hybrids, either dace or bream/roach crosses.

I wouldn't bother with overseas bids if I were you. In my experience the UK will provide the winning bid without a load of hassle and aggravation. Possibly banned in Croatia because hollow rods are used by drug smugglers etc..

See: http://www.clasohlson.com/uk/b/Leisure/Fishing Their ABU stuff looks good!

Agreed, and possibly a few lures. Great looking spot.

Great looking spot, dump the leccy alarms and buy a few floats!

What makes a tee shirt an anglers tee shirt? Seems to me that olive drab is as good a colour as any. Judging by the piles of tee shirts and mucking out boots, sorry, fishing boots left in my local Aldi they don't meet lake side bank cred!

Regretfully Steward & Patterson suffered corporate vandalism when it was swallowed up by Watneys as a means of forcing that revolting Red Barrel city widdle on the countryside more than forty years ago. Along with Margaret Thatcher one of the worst things that London ever lumbered the rural counties with.

Taste, the all American Red-Neck & East Anglian attribute.

I take umbrage at that East Anglia jibe! For a kick off we like our beer alive and warm so we would never, ever take a cooler to church. And anyway, where would we plug it in, or are they gas mantle or candle powered?

Being totally realistic, a load of useless tat!

So that's what it's for!

I gave up shaving some fifty years ago. Saved a fortune in razor blades!

Fisheries provide what people appear to want. I live near what is now proving to be an easily accessible, free, prime roach fishery, heaven on earth, but where are my fellow anglers? Paying for the privilege of catching bloody carp!

Rudd, was a time when I worked in a Broads boatyard. A phone call mid week from the next hirers was not that unusual. We generally resorted to steam cleaning.

Almost as daft as some of the centre-pin prices we see on E.Bay! That those stickers went for that price says a great deal about carpers.

Both Fladden & Ron Thompson market some extremely good rods. That they are generally low priced is bonus! Apparently, with the off-shore wind farms, carbon is becoming at something of a premium. A good friend of mine, long time in the trade, tells me that modern carbon rods are very often not as good as older models. Seems that good second-hand rods are back in demand, by those in the know. Re the off-shore wind farms, apparently the demand for high quality carbon in the production of those windmills is prodigious in comparison to fishing rods.

We all have our love affairs when it comes to tackle. Now't wrong with some of the old stuff out there, other than maybe not as slim as new gear. I picked up a Daiwa Legand II during the close season, wonderful rod! Just so quick for stick-float fishing yet I hooked into a nuisance carp the other evening, wonderful parabolic curve, no hook pull, fourteen pounder on a size 20, well pleased. I do have far more modern gear but I often wonder why I bothered. As for reels, Okuma, Cormoran, Shakespeare, ABU, don't suppose anyone actually makes a bad one nowadays, just that some charge more for their name! I would avoid the bargain basement crap that is available but I wouldn't dismiss the less expensive 'names', e.g. Shakespeare for example. More than that, bit like me telling you what shoes to buy. What I find comfortable might just cripple you!

Thirty pound minimum, braid preferably, unhook them in the water. Squeezed barbs should make that a doddle. Minimum handling equals maximum conservation. P.S. Leave the camera at home, fannying around taking pictures on a hot day does nothing for pike longevity.

Dealing with bulls is simple, brace yourself, think of England and accept the inevitable! It's the old cows that I have a problem with!