Peter Waller

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/261696985100 I've ordered a couple, they look useful, will let you know how I get on. In the meantime has anyone else tried the same or similar?

I still use them for sink & drawer using soft bodied baits, see no reason to do otherwise.

A company was offering the Ron Thompson centre-pin on E-Bay over Xmas at just shy of twenty quid including P&P, I just had to have one! It arrived this morning, not disappointed in the least but I did feel it was not running as well as it might. I gave it a minimal touch of very light oil and what a difference! Now it can certainly perform as well as both my Okuma Adventa and AnglersNet reels. Clearly a well engineered bit of kit, painted rather than anodized finish but, hey, I'm no tackle snob! No question that it now takes next to no weight to set it spinning, and keep spinning, certainly on a par with my other reels. Well shaped knobs, good rim for thumbing, just don't know how well it'll wear but then, in my experience, Ron Thompson don't market poor tackle. Well pleased but only time will tell. First impressions are good. I've now fished with two of them, both performed well so I can only assume that quality control is good. I like the handling and feel of the reel. Perhaps too cheap, thus it can't possibly be a good reel, but it really is.

Swallow, you live in Gorleston, never mind about that, can't be helped, but nip down to your local tackle shop and have a word with Derrick Amies or his son, no better people to advise on Broads piking.

Borrowed one of those Ron Thompson centrepins today, remarkably good reel for the dosh, in my opinion, performs just as good as my Okuma Advanta.

Think that I might pack up before I'm a 101 though!

Regretfully it looks as if many of the 'sound posters' have drifted off. No doubt that a lot of questions were repeated ad nauseum and answering the same became a tad tedious. As you say, Tigger, bit of a shame.

Agreed, where is everybody? Used to be a busy forum, not now. Can we blame Face Book?

Whilst most folk go for the ultimate in their often breathtaking price range yours truly has been going for cheap & cheerful, such as the 3.5" Intrepid centre pin, less than a tenner with p&p on E-Bay. Bought one recently, half an hour's TLC & it's back to near new condition. The ultimate gudgeon reel? Wallis Casting & trotting are out but it's fine for thumb control and near to rod tip fishing, spins well enough, for four or three seconds. Looks good on a rod, works within its limitations and catches fish, what more can a confirmed tiddler snatcher ask of a reel? Pretty near bomb proof, doesn't mind getting wet, darn good deal/reel for a tenner!

I do have one of those de-boning gloves as used by John Wilson. It actually stuck to the rakers so I never used it again.

A saw point perhaps?

I have never been wounded by a pike's teeth but I have been grazed by the rakers. Since then I have taken to using heavy weight black kitchen gloves from Lidl. Thin enough to keep on whilst fishing, thick enough to prevent grazing.

Phone, you can not be serious!

Rods are no better than last year, neither are reels, so us established anglers are not the obvious customers that we once were. So who would you target if you were Korda? I don't blame Korda for seeking another outlet for their tackle but for heavens sakes, why encourage the yob culture?

Fair comment, Gozzer.

The Korda Kids out playing. It may well attract a few kids with loads of dosh but will they stay around once the novelty wears off?

Just hope and prey that it doesn't come to a swim near me anytime!

I'm sat here watching The Big Fish Off, amazing! Is this really the future of Angling in Britain? Sorry. Korda, loutish 'lads' on the loose, hardly the contemplative behavior long associated with angling, I really don't think that you are doing angling any great favours,

Broads pike fishing is poor and getting poorer though

https://www.facebook.com/193816797308006/videos/997826650240346/ Another unbelievable fishing video! Angling at its best?

Read all about him: http://carljocumsen.com/ Different world!

Wonder if these are any good? http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Brand-New-Ron-Thompson-CENTER-PIN-Reel-Fishing-Centerpin-/311213121686?hash=item4875bf6096:g:MxsAAOSwQJhUisK7 Ron Thompson, in my experience, don't do bad tackle so it could be worth a punt.

I have a Stradic RD which came from America so I wonder if FB, like RD, is an American designation.

Just a thought, of you do go for the Leeds then you will need to file the reel seat so that it fits your rod but that is well worth the effort & a doddle of a job.

Have same rod & use one of these: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Leeds-Centrepin-Coarse-Fishing-Reel-BNWOT-/141762605175?hash=item2101b5b077 Despite having dearer reels my current favourite is the Leeds, in my honest opinion a greatly underrated reel and often great value, mine wa £9.00 inc. p&p.