Peterjg

There are lots of them on the Thames and Kennet. What we need is crayfish flu!

Good point! The wind does effect weight. The answer is not to use an oval or round net but instead a triangular landing net - the arms are quickly and easily removed from the spreader block then the fish is weighed in the net then the weight of the net deducted as per normal. This way the collapsed triangular net is not effected by cross winds. It's quick and easy. You can use different sized triangulat nets depending on the type of fishing being done.

I thought I'd add my tuppence worth - try cutting the lobworm in half then hook both halves, the released extra smell can attract. Also along with CP's suggestion trying popping up the lobworm with a hyperdermic syringe though do be ultra careful when using it!!!

Otters are everywhere now, I see them regularly on the Thames and Kennet very often in broad daylight not just at night. What with sewerage pollution, abstraction, fertilisers, signal crayfish, etc, it's a wonder we ever catch anything! Question: does the EA really care? Answer: no they are just yet another government department!

You'll recognise one straight away - they have bigger mouths than roach and their scales are smaller and there's more of them. Quite frankly it's a shame that they are stocked anywhere.

One of the clubs I am a member of has a two tier membership system - full members and associate members. The associate members actually now pay more for less due to a recent rule change AFTER my son and I paid our fees!!! It is very doubtful if we will renew next year! The committee members responsible should do the honourable thing and resign - obviously I know they won't!!! Also the emphasis is now directed towards carp and carp angling while other waters are mostly neglected! Fortunately I have other clubs which are run on a fairer basis.

Otters are a fairly common sight on the Thames and Kennet now. They are now not so scared of humans. Brilliant plan - introduce otters (no consultation and now no control), tight controls of cormorants (RSPB) and tight controls of signal crayfish (EA). Don't forget more boats, more paddle boarders (cretins), more free swimmers (cretins), more raw sewerage, more abstraction, more pollutants = too many predators, less water, poor water quality, less aquatic life, less fish.

Something else to consider: how often you recast depends on the hookbait as well. For example, some pellets are not attracive to fish until they have softened a bit, so there is an optimum period of their effectiveness. Also you don't necessarily have to fill the feeder every cast. Always more questions than answers with fishing, after 60 years of fishing I'm still learning.

Chester had a good idea. Yes, you can also cook wheat in a vacuum flask. Pre-heat the flask with boiling filtered water, half fill the flask with wheat then three quarters fill again with boiling water. The timing depends on the efficiency of the flask but about 11 hours was right with my flasks. I repeat though: wheat is better over cooked, under cooked hard wheat is useless.

Definately recommend microbarbed hooks as opposed to barbless - depending on club rules. When fishing pellets try striking a bit later so that the bite develops, especially with roach, give them a chance to get hold of it properly.

It was my turn to get lucky. No doubt next time normal service will resume!

Flying Tench, wheat is a great bait, it's very underrated and it's cheap. However; realistically it can be a bit hit and miss, sometimes it takes an hour or two to get going! Put it straight on a size 16 hook. I buy mine from a garden centre for £3.19 for 3kgs, it's much cheaper by the sack. It swells up a lot so first soak it overnight in lots of filtered water, then bring it to the boil and then simmer until it's split and soft - overall it takes around two and a half hours to cook, it smells good. Poorly cooked wheat is useless!!! You can freeze it. Good luck.

At this time of the year I would use wheat. Float fish laying on about 6 inches over depth. Start at dawn where they feed at first, catapult 5 or 6 pouches of wheat and a couple of balls of ground bait straight away and then wait for the roach to arrive. At 9am then try off bottom with a few grains going in fairly regularly. On the other rod I'd leger 6mm Robin Red pellets. Let us know how you get on.

Well done with your tench - not from an easy water - top angling!

Great day!