darrell.cook

Hi Budgie - Yes no problem will confirm Friday.

Just a quickie - one of the guys has had to drop out of the fish-in ( This saturday 19.02.05 ) so there's a space for anyone who want's to join us. Plan is meet at Asda, Chandlers Ford for Brekky, 7.30am or at the LIF for 8.45 ish. Cost is £17, payable on the day. ( Breakfast varies from slimline starter to Burgess boy banquet )

Unfortunately Clint won't be able to make it Saturday - so there's a another space going. I'll start another thread so that everyone see's it.

The rules state: " No game fish or carp to be kept in keep nets " So it would appear to be OK for chub. It is only chub he's thinking about ?

Hi Lyn, it seems most people are sorted ? It was just a thought - thanks for looking in to it.

weather should be " Good " according to Metcheck : http://www.metcheck.com/premium/fishing.as...-1&locationID=7

I think I mentioned this on the other thread - but here goes again: Can anyone get maggots by the gallon and hence get a good price ? If we all had 2 pints each that would be 5 gallons ???? Might save us all a few pennies - bit more bacon for breakfast

This one is the top of the stretch, looking up from Howards run: The area to the left is marked on the map as the Pumping Station Pool. Where the main river first enters the pool, there is a deep undercut bank. This stretch is on my club ticket, the undercut bank threw up a 4lb 14oz chub to me a week last Sunday. There are some real banker areas here for good chub. I'm looking forward to fishing Reedy bay - which is just round from here, there's quite a few chub in there !! Will be a bit of a walk if the track is still out of action, but well worth the effort.

Time to start winding you guys up: This photo was taken some time back from the bridge that leads down from the country park. This is the view upstream I believe this is known as " Brighton Pier " This one is taken looking downstream, I believe the large pool to the right is known as Lower Pike pool. Appetites suitably whetted ??????

Update: spoke to Lydsay and it should be OK for us to use the top stretch which is normally kept for season ticket holders only The track is being repaired - I'll know Friday if we can drive onto the river bank.

Just like to add my thanks to Leon. Let's hope the weather's a little less harsh next week.

If anyone is making a weekend of it next week at the Lower Itchen Fish-in, then this is the stretch directly below. It's all free water from Gators mill down, and you can park alongside the river.

Many Thanks - see you all in the morning !!

Sound's like an offer too good to miss. I'd love to come along - it's quite local to me, although I've never fished it. Are the place(s) still available ?

Grayling should be obliging and a few PB's should be broken ! Had some interesting info from Bryan - Many thanks. I'd always been a bit sceptical about Itchen Barbel, but Bryan's put me straight there, they do exist !! Bring along various set ups - the parking is alongside the river bank so you can change tactics, etc. leave your other rods in the car - they will be safe.

I'll bring along my digital camera, also will set up a spare avon rod with my old Leeds 'pin so no problem if someone wants to try trotting.

Thanks for the info Bryan. I'll contact Lyndsey and see what she says. I was intersted in the Barbel reference as I've heard several people talk of Barbel in the Itchen but never met one that actually caught any.( I've only been in these parts for three years ) Are they there in decent numbers ? Do people on LIF specifically target them ? I'm starting to really look forward to this !!

Hi Bryan, thanks for the tips and info. I know this will be greatly appreciated by everyone. I take it you're a season ticket ? Great news on the chub. My Itchen best is exactly 5lb, so the chance of beating this is very exciting. I haven't mentioned accessing the top of the stretch to Lyndsey - thought we could ask on the day. do you think we should ask before the day ?

Hi Lyn, no problem with money pay on the day. I've paid a deposit to the fishery of £90. This is £5 for the first 18 people. So if the first 18 pay me a fiver and the fishery £12, then the remaining 2 pay the fishery £17.

Some people have PM 'd me regarding bait, tackle, etc. Well I don't profess to be an expert, I'm sure there will be many more experienced people present ! Anyway for what it's worth: Grayling - respond well to trotting, will take corn and maggot readily. Will shoal tightly at this time of year, particular hotspots tend to be deeper pockets on the river bed. Steady loosefeed will keep them coming. Float rigs, typically bulk shotted avon patterns, 5 - 7 BB. if you have a centrepin then this river is ideal, good pace and does not require long casts. rods - any match rod is OK, but I usually use the JW avon mainly because I like two piece rods because I can leave them made up Chub - can turn up whilst trotting for grayling, but if you fish purposelly for them, then be prepared to keep moving. My experience is they react instantly to a big lump of breadflake folded over the hook, either legered or trotted. however once you've caught one then probably best to move on and find the next likely swim. If there are bankside features, cover etc. then the chub will be right under your feet. I regularly fish the stretch directly above and a 5lb chub is a real possibility, should produce a 4lb fish on the day. Carp - well not sure here as the carp I've caught have all been over a mile upstream from here. All my Itchen carp have come to bread - but that's because I only fish bread !! I did try a method feeder recently, and had plenty of interest but no real bites - switched to bread and had two chub ! Pike - well I guess we'll have to give this a miss as the rules state all pike under 10lb must be killed. One other thing don't forget your polaroids !! This is a clear river and even at this time of year fish can still be spotted. Does anyone have access to cheap maggots ? might be an idea to buy a couple of gallon to share out ?

Just bringing this one back to the top to make sure everyone is still OK. Been away for the last week, so wanted to make sure there were no issues etc.

Of course !

Nice one Seph, what tactics / bait did you use ?

At the point of writing earlier post - no, couldn't see which question to answer !! when I opened the poll it made sense. I take it you realise my querey was justified ? I'm not being pedantic, Im really, really not.

errm, the questioms are: " Should we take sides with the Countryside Alliance? Or should we kep our distance from them? " So if I answer no to the first question then that means a yes to the second one :confused: yet the poll says answer one question - SO WHICH ONE ?????????