darrell.cook

Good on you mate! It's a lovely bit of water - one of the things I miss Do you still have the photo with the red sky, the day we went ?

Wow, that's a nice chub. The long straight being the piece below the big bend toward Wood mill ?

Local reports suggest rolling meat, is working for the barbel. I've never tried this but have read some accounts by the man himself - Ray Walton. Anyone fished here ? Anyone tried rolling meat ?

Graham, Is this the bend right in the Middle of the park ?

I felt exactly the same when I read Roy Marlows letter in AT. He openly states that "bad laws are useless" ( I guess he decides if a law is bad or not ) and says "it does not matter if there is a law or not when it comes to protecting his fishery". dangerous ground when you try to put yourself above the law. I enjoy pike fishing, have never had the opportunity to fish for zander - but if I did I would jump at it, so my feeling is throw the book at Peter Collins. He openly broke the law. The people who know this area seem to challenge his logic - stating that the silver fish populations are strong. However, sustitute the word zander for cormarant and I would say good on you, kill them all. So I'm aware of contradicting feelings. I would think I'm not alone in feeling this way.

I'm planning on keeping the "excellent" one, and using one of the others ( nostalgia ). I'm looking for a Mitchell Match now, how much do you think a fair price would be ? I'd be looking for a boxed excellent condition if possible.

Wow Mat, where are you fishing ? The weathers certainly not geting warmer around here! I guess you could try an avon style of float with a bulk shot. Probably best to feed with a baitdropper. Need to bare in mind that the water on the bottom could be moving in the opposite direction to the top layers.

Totally agree, the AT almost presented him in a favourable light, stating his career etc. I think they would have reported the incident quite differently had it been an ordinary Joe. Also, should not the EA act upon the crime ? does it matter that the "criminal" is a pensioner ? Old enough to know right from wrong I say, would they have taken the same stance with an ordinary ( 30 year old ) Joe ? [ 02. March 2004, 07:16 PM: Message edited by: darrell.cook ]

Thought this might be of interest. cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vie...8&category=1495 Got to be worth a bid.

I'm hoping for a day on the Royalty next week ( Tuesday ), having never had the pleasure before, anyone got any pointers ? With the cold weather, I'm planning on seeking some chub and pike. Any advice appreciated. [ 02. March 2004, 05:11 PM: Message edited by: darrell.cook ]

Well done Chris, Sounds like a blast! Congratulations to all for the donation to such a worthy cause.

Anyone collect any items of old tackle ? I've fancied getting hold of a Mitchell 300 for some time now. I bid on some on Ebay this week and won, I paid £32 for a boxed, sold as excellent, example. Not delivered yet but I think I did OK. I also managed to buy two "well used" examples from the same seller for £11.20. So looking out for the postman! As a kid in the 70's I never managed to own a Mitchell, I had an Intrepid black Prince and an Intrepid Boyo, though one of my mates had a Mitchell and he grew up to be the ultimate tackle tart!! So it's taken me nearly 30 years, but hopefully will quench my desire!

Your right to be cautious, a long rod can be difficult to use! Some years ago I convinced myself I needed a long rod for river trotting. My local tackle shop sold me a Drennan 16' job, lovely rod but trying holding it all day mending the line etc. Not much fun, so I didn't persevere too long! As to RRP, within fishing this means diddlysquat! You only have to look through the adverts in the mags to see everything is discounted by everyone! ( Possible exception might be Drennan rods ?) The only way to be sure is to get your hands on one and put it through it's paces. Hope this helps

I use the Fox one, it is almost D shaped in section with four outside pockets and the large inner is lined and split into two. The pocket at the rear of the outside is perfect for a medium Fox box ( Quite intentional I guess ). It has two carrying handles and a detachable shoulder strap. I've had mine for 3 years and use it for most of my river trips, summer floater fishing, etc. to be fair it's still in good nick and I'd be happy to recommend it. I think Badger do a copy ( What a surprise! ) Not sure how their quality compares.

The free fishing runs from Gator (?) Mill which is about 400 yards upstream of the pub ( White Swan ) right through the park down to Wood Mill. As graham says the stretch below Wood Mill is tidal. The point where the railway crosses bisects the "Pirelli" stretch and the "railway 6 arches" stretch both of which are now controlled by Eastleigh Railway Institute Fishing Club, the bank accessed from Chickenhall Lane anyway. Below this is the private Lower Itchen Fishery, followed by gator Mill and then the free stretch. Think that's right anyway.

I've been living in this neck of the woods for 18 months now - the Itchen is a real belter!! The stretch you refer to is, as graham says, free fishing. The stretch throughout the park is well fished particularly during the summer months. Most people favour trotting here, and steady loose feed should bring some bites. When I've fished it I've mostly gone for the stretch above the pub. There are some good chub in this stretch, put on your polaroids and stand and stare - they'll soon appear! The best swim I've found is right at the top - below Gator Mill, take care though as the pavement runs out and the bank is quite steep. A legered breadflake to the far bank underneath the tree will produce a couple of chub. Alternatively don your waders and stand in the shallows and trot down the far side. On a summers evening, get out the back of the White swan, buy a pint and a packet of nuts, drink the pint and feed the nuts to the plentiful chub and odd carp that swim right alongside the decking!( Theres no fishing here ) I've also had a couple of small pike just below the stone bridge in the slack water on the far side. If you want to fish other stretches, Eastleigh and District have their own parts as well as access to "The Lower Bishopstoke Fishery" between November and end of February ( Saturdays and Sundays ) If you want even more try applying for membership of Eastleigh Railway Institute Fishing club. This is the club I belong to, and have had grayling to 2lb 6oz, chub to 4lb 10oz. pike to 11lb and this weekend carp 12lb 4 oz. Good luck, let us know how you get on!

Lee, Thanks for that, interestingly my most prolific days pike fishing was in a right howler when I fished tight to wall with plenty of overhead cover. Do you think it's the weather or more to the point the associated pressure ? I fished quite a lot at a small stillwater that held a good head of pike two winters back, You could almost set your clock by their feeding times. Early morning might pick up one or two but you were guaranteed runs at 9.30am! That's the way it seemed anyway. Anyone else found similar ?

Hi Gray, Nice to be back, I'll be sticking around now hopefully. Things are going really well down here, the fishings really good! Must get together. Will drop you a mail soon.

This is one subject that has been debated many times in this and similar arenas. People like Leon add fine points supported by research, others unfortunately are just putting words together for the sake of posting something. I say be careful what opinions you express, " don't care if fish are hurt or killed " etc is dangerous ammunition to say the least. As an angler I also find it offensive. I recently watched the Korda underwater video, it shows Tench clearly backing off from a rig - I guess the reasoning must equate to fear ? However that in no way should suggest that fish feel pain. Fish have a need to feel fear, predators etc., but do they need to feel pain ? Fish can't fall into things like we can, so why do they need to feel pain ? As to livebaiting, and I take it that the topic starter only had fish live bait in mind - then it's a personal matter ( where the rules allow ) At the moment the waters I'm fishing do not allow it but given the choice, if I felt it gave me an edge I would use livebait,

Hi Lid, Mine was a mirror, and the roundest carp I have ever seen. I wish I had my camera Saturday. Unfortunately I won't be able to fish this paticular section for coarse fish again until November. Club rules are coarse fishing from November til end of February. Trout fishing in season. Roll on November the first!!

I've struggled the last few outings with Pike, had two blanks on the trot. What do you cosider to be the optimum weather conditions for Pike fishing ?

Since I've been away so long, I've forgotten how to add pics. So following one of the other threads and Chesters guide lines I'll give it a go. this was one of the grayling I had today.

Gray Glad to see you had a good day, looking at the spread in Angling Times it looks like it was the biggest yet.Did you get any goodies ?

Certainly was interesting on chub gear. I use the JW avon, fixed spool loaded with 6lb Drennan super spcialist and a size 6 super specialist hook with a "lump" of breadflake. To be fair the JW rod is brilliant, handles most things. I fished two stetches today, first one for chub - but managed half a dozen grayling all in the 2lb region. then went back to the stretch with the carp - but nothing here. Which was a pity disappointing as I had my camera today! Chris, where do you fish on the Itchen ?