darrell.cook

OK guys, 19th is confirmed with the fishery. What we need now is some confirmed numbers. They require a £5 deposit / head. I can pay this and you can pay me back on the day. Can eveyone confirm they're definitely coming, thanks. Total cost is £17, basic rules are no keepnets, no lures and no spinning.

If anybody don't have any objections I would like to have a go at this to. Vidar Thomassen No objections whatsoever vidar - you're very welcome !!

Hi Guys, list so far: Budgie Argyll Cyranne 12 Andrew Burgess Kleinboet Mat Hillman Clint Seph Ratty46 Vidar6 Budgies mate Darrell And me. 12 upto now, and I think I'm right in thinking the 19th is OK for everyone ?? I'll phone the fishery tomorrow to make sure all's Ok. I think we can probably get to 20, should be a great day !! [ 06. January 2005, 08:27 PM: Message edited by: darrell.cook ]

Seems the problem is lack of cold water pressure. Apparently it needs a mains feed to pull the hot through. venturi principle. I'll alter the supply in the loft and try again. Thanks for the help guys.

Just a thought - if transport's a problem for some I could do some pick-ups from the train station ( probably best at Eastleigh Parkway or Hedge End )

Hi Ratty, it's just outside Southampton. 2 minutes from J5 of the M27

Thanks Newt - It would be great to see you too - but I guess it's a lttle far for a day trip !

That's right Graham - first time I saw this I couldn't believe it. Chub queuing up to take peanuts!!

I'll leave the thread run and phone the fishery Friday. Hopefully by then we'll have a few more interested. Any one have an e-mail addy for Gray Catchpole ? I've lost touch with him since I moved south, I'm sure he'd enjoy this one. Cost for a day ticket is £17, parking on the river bank - gravel track. There's a pub just below the stretch, so we can discuss the one that got away over a pint afterwards ! I have a club ticket on the stretch above, and often take 2lb grayling. I've had pike to low doubles and chub around 4lb. Fair to say that the Lower Itchen holds quality fish, I'm sure everyone will be pleased.

Bought a mixer shower from B&Q last week. seemed a bargain knocked down from £109 ( supposedly ) to £34.50. Thought I'd replace my old one, which had a fixed head, this one is a little more stylish with a riser rail. Anyway, fitted it after the obligatory succession of F words and a promise of " never again " but there's no hot water coming through - not a drop. The system is balanced in that the cold supply is from the header tank, and I have a traditional gravity fed hot water system. I've adjusted the supply valves, even turned the cold off and the hot full open - still nothing. There's plenty of water being delivered to the shower. How do these mixers work ? it's branded as " hydro power " ? Is it likely to be faulty ? Am I missing something ( apart from hot water ) Help much appreciated.

Ok, Will request the 19th. Am I right in thinking these are definites: Budgie Argyll Cyranne 12 Andrew Burgess Kleinboet Mat Hillman Seph Clint So that's 9 of us so far - any more for any more ??

Andrew, It's coarse fishing - excellent trotting for grayling. Also chub, pike, carp, etc. This is a lovely stretch with great access.

No problem with numbers of anglers, this is a big stretch, with plenty of features. They offered the 15th, but I could go back and ask for another date. What about the weekend - say Saturday 19th ? If we can get an idea of numbers, and availability I'll speak with them. If we only manage 5 or 6 then we could go anytime. It would be nice if we had a dozen plus and had the river to ourselves though, don't you think.

Just spoke to the people at the fishery. Limited to 5 or 6 on any one day. However the season ends on 14.02.05, if we book the fishery for 15.02.05 then we can have 20 people and the sole use of the fishery. Sounds like the best option - so how does the 15th sound to everyone?

Not sure what the deal is with the lower Itchen Fishery, but fair to say it would make an ideal venue for a fish-in. http://www.itchen-fishing.net/ I could make some enquiries if anyone is interested ?

Hi Pinky, thanks for the tip - works great at 70 !

Budgie, do you recommend the double blood knot ? I've stopped using both the double blood knot and the tucked half blood knot in favour of the grinner. I was put off blood knots following several breaks when using flurocarbon back in my fluff chucking days. I find the grinner easy to tie and succesful with mono and braid.

LOL - it's actually the new Nash bivvy table in Realtree ( real ) hardwood

Terry, I'm sure you'll get all the guidance you need from the guys here. Rivers have a magic all of their own, just as you think you understand a particular stretch, the season changes and it's a completely new ball game! Winter and summer rivers are very different places - but both are special! 7 1/4lb - That's some tench - will take some beating, but good luck!

Hi Andrew, My other goals are just the same as yours !. A double figure barbel ( hope to achieve this one on the Royalty ) and also to catch my first zander ( I'm thinking maybe Bury Hill ). I think my best chance will be the barbel, but it's the 20lb pike that I'll persue foremost. If I get the first two then I'll target the Zander.

Nice one Terry - that's a very pretty fish!

So what are your hopes ( fishing-wise )and dreams for 2005 ? New species? new PB? New venues? Maybe you've already achieved something ? My target this year is a 20lb pike ( PB so far 15.8 ) This year I've had a great start though with a 22.12 Mirror from the Itchen - my biggest fish ever, and also a 5lb chub ( Itchen PB ) [ 04. January 2005, 06:47 PM: Message edited by: darrell.cook ]

No - that ones me!!Must update my profile as everything there is now wrong!!, differnt location, job and e-mail! names the same though

How right you are Clint - not pressured at all! Budgie - would definitely say that the Itchen holds a better stamp of grayling than the Test, that said, what I know of the Test comes from others experience, whilst my own experience of the Itchen has seen plenty of 2lb fish, and several approaching 3lb. There's a swim on this stretch that has to be one of the most productive grayling swims ever, Just above the first hut, two trees up, trotting down to the point where the river narrows. It's a nice deep glide that produces a fish a chuck when the winter comes. These stretches are tightly controlled, but I believe bookings / day tickets can be had on the Lower Itchen Fishery, This would be an ideal venue for a fish-in!!

Oops - that picture is too big - can anyone resize it ?