Sulis

I doubt a tench rod is really any different to the carp match rod you already own. I'd be surprised if there is any significant difference. I've got three rods which I use for all my fishing. There's a 13ft match rod with fast action, an 11ft 1lb twin tip and a 12ft 1.5lb twin tip. Both the latter rods have a couple of interchangeable tips, should I wish to play around with the quiver at all. The 11ft and 12ft rods seem to be okay for specimen float fishing when using the standard top too. They may not be able to cast a float all that far, but they do for me and my style/venues I fish. I seem to have more luck float fishing close in anyway, keeping out of sight and sitting as far from the bank as is practical. Each to their own, I suppose

Aah, so I wasn't that far from the mark after all! No harm in trying a traditional bait one day and something comepletely different the next. I suppose it's the only way we find out what works and what doesn't. One of the joys of fishing is the unpredictability of it all, eh?! Thanks for your wonderful replies. Best wishes.

Hello all, I first posted in these forums a couple of months ago, as an angler returning to the sport. I've since managed to scrape together some tackle and had a couple of short sessions at a local lake. I'm pleased to say that the passion for the sport still flows through my veins! Anyway, on to the question. One of the main differences I feel between fishing today and when I previously fished (I think it must be some eleven years ago... I really can't recall) is the plethora of bait additives available, from flavours to colourings, as well as some unusual but effective choices (cat food springs to mind). I'm presuming that these new flavours and colours are to increase the catch rate, and to offer the fish something different to, shall we say, traditional baits? Well, here's a thought... how do you think a fish would react to plain bread flake, lobworm, sweetcorn, etc in light of the baits we all use today? Here's my line of thought. It's simplistic enough; a fish presented with sweetcorn may get used to the bait. Colour it, or flavour it, and it may see the bait differently, i.e. it won't make that link that i'm certain fish do between sweetcorn, and being caught! After a while, the fish gets used to flavoured/coloured baits, so plain old bread flake is once again perceived as a tasty mouthful... a change, perhaps? If the above waffle makes sense, i'll be pleased! Does anyone see where I am coming from here? Hopefully someone will understand and save my embarrassment. This leads me on to what extent a fish remembers and how it regards a new bait. Trepidation? Uncertainty? Or are they really just greedy blighters that will hoover up anything that looks/smells appetizing? Apologies for the long post

Thanks for the replies. I'll shelve the all-singing Fox conti box for now and stick with a chair Happy fishing all

'When you absolutely, positively, have to take things one step too far...'

I need some advice! I'm returning to fishing after some 10-12 years away from the sport (I really can't remember how long it is now) and i'm looking at replacing all of my tackle. I have very little left of my old stock, unfortunately. This may sound like a trivial question, but i'm really confused. When I was last at the bankside, many people had Shakespeare or Daiwa seat boxes. It seems that these continental boxes are now the preferred way for many people. Having never used one, are there any advantages over the old favourite seat box? Are these primarily for match/pole fishermen? I've seen one by Fox for £150 or so, with 4 drawers rather than 6, and if you consider how much a Shakespeare box would be with strap, trays, footrest, etc, there's not a great deal of difference. I'm a leisure angler, as match fishing doesn't interest me. Moreover, i'm keen to catch good sized specimens of any fish rather than bags of smaller weights. I am extremely dedicated to the sport, so something like this Fox seatbox isn't for show! The question is, do I really need one? I'm toying with the idea of a chair by Fox, Nash, JRC or something similar, as I do prefer the roving approach where possible. Anyone have any advice? I presume the drawers that these continental style boxes have are for storing all sorts of tackle, maybe negating the need for a general tackle box? Sorry if these questions sound a little silly, just need some feedback from anyone willing to offer any Many thanks.

My best (and certainly most memorable) fish was a 5 1/2lb tench. It was one of the first tench I caught and was the biggest one by far when I was first starting out. I bought myself my first 'proper' rod with birthday money, went to a local lake on a misty but warm autumn evening and set about really trying to fish, rather than sit back and see what happens. It's still the biggest fish i've caught but was in such pristine condition that i've been fascinated by tench ever since. Fond memories...

Thanks for all the replies, always appreciated Never did I think I could get my hands on a Shimano rod for something in the region of £40!

Hello everyone, Has anyone had any experience with the Shimano Hyperloop range of rods? I'm looking at the 13ft FA model for general float fishing, the medium feeder rod and maybe the Barbel Classic with 1.5lb TC for larger fish (mainly tench fishing, as they've always been my favourite species, and possibly the odd carp). They are all selling for very reasonable prices it seems. I really don't need to have a £100 rod as my fishing is purely for pleasure. Haven't found any reviews as yet, and i'm hoping to pop into my local tackle shop in the next few days to check them out. What i'm particularly interested in is the weight: do they feel balanced with a reel attached? My last match rod was a Shakespeare President, many years ago now! Thanks for reading, and happy fishing

I'm going to buy the latest version of John Wilson's avon rod very soon, having had the luck of testing it on a local water by a very generous and helpful angler. It's a beauty, with a 2ft extension allowing you to fish at 11ft or 13ft. You may, depending on the size of tench you are looking at, want to look at John Wilson's new Barbel Avon rod too. 1.75lb TC, beefier quiver tips, and again i'm sure you can pick one up for something in the region of £75 (although i'm not 100% sure it's available yet: mid-September I think).

A few more questions for you How wide is the river? Any idea of depth if it is clear? Any bankside/riverside features, such as trees, that could offer you some protection from being seen? If it's not too wide, i'd have a go at a small ledger rig, just enough weight to hold the bottom, and maybe try to get the bait to sit up a little from the riverbed. Depending on how slow the river was, a glass tip may just suffice (maybe 2oz?) The tench may need a slightly larger bait than the roach to entice them, and i'd start with red maggot if you plan on trying to catch them both. A feeder rig will work too, but i'm not convinced it is the best idea given the clarity of the water. Only my opinion, i'm sure that there are far more experienced people here who will tell me otherwise! Hope this is some help to you. I'm rather rusty and seriously out-of-practice myself, having only just returned to fishing after a (far too long) absence

Some lovely sentiments here I'd recommend either somewhere where he used to fish in his early angling days, where it all started for him (if possible). Alternatively, if the chap is nearly blind, somewhere quiet and in the depths of the country where his other senses can be flooded: birdsong, wind rustling the leaves in the trees, the sun warming his skin... you'd certainly know you were fishing then, regardless of whether you catch or not

I remember the days when I had (what felt like) thousands of pounds of fishing equipment. Ha, I sound like i'm in my twilight years! I'm 31, but it seems like such a long time ago What I want to do is to concentrate on tactics and travel light, wherever possible (the stalker approach?). Rather than a seatbox, get a recliner chair or something similar (seen one for £20). I'm going to buy an avon/quiver to start with as they seem like such good value, and versatile too. I don't drive (!) so I will have to either walk, or cycle to a venue, which won't be too problematic. Here's a question: does anyone still have success with 'normal' sweetcorn, luncheon meat, breadflake, etc, rather than the array of flavours and colours we now have? Nothing against them at all, just curious if a move back to standard baits would suddenly interest the fish. Oh, and does anyone still use those handmade line bobbin indicators from a washing up bottle top?! I know it's draconian compared to what is available nowadays, but I used to make my own floats, bite indicators (tackle boxes even) ... some of the floats and indicators were good, others were awful and were binned after a few minutes' fishing!

Wow, thank you all for the great welcome Thanks to all for the advice as well. I'm heading off to some local fishing spots to chat to anglers and find out more about what's changed. Seems like i'll definitely have to ditch the landing net (it's seen better days already). Best wishes

Hello to all Well, it had to happen before too long. After some 12 years away from fishing, my interest has been rekindled once more. It certainly helped moving to an area with some good fishing, especially a river that flows pretty much right around the town where I live! I can't believe I was stupid enough to sacrifice my beloved early mornings at a gravel pit for... well... erm... I can't remember why I stopped going! Shame on me. So, my question. What have I missed?! Any major developments? I know it's a vague question, and i'm already reading as much as I can to refresh the memory. I see adverts for 'egg shot', no idea what that is. A variation on normal shot? I wandered into my local tackle shop at the weekend and was amazed by the explosion in tackle, particularly feeder/ledger rigs. Have things really changed that much? One important question to finish off with. Anyone know of a reference point for new feeder/ledger rigs I can look at? My local fishery notes that some are banned, and i'd hate to be thrown off the lake for negligence. Many thanks in advance for anyone who wishes to respond.