Gaz51

Jamie, it's common practise to scale down your tackle for winter fishing. Try lighter line on your reel combined with a fine hooklength. Balance your bait to your tackle. You say you use size 18 hooks, they can be a bit on the large side when targetting silver fish in a pond. Invest in a packet of size 20 Kamasan B611 barbless hooks to nylon. They are an ideal size for fishing light with maggots. I think the set up you have been using is the root cause of your lack of fish. Due to the cold weather, the silver fish are the main fish to target as they will still readily feed in winter. To successfully catch you will definitely have to fish much lighter. The 5lb line is way too heavy for the time of year. You will also find that with a light hooklength your bait presentation will be much improved.

Jamie, enthusiasm, you sound as though you have plenty of it. Along with that, read up on general coarse fishing. There is lots of information on the net (You've found a good source on this site) I realise you're a Junior angler but try to avoid the text talk, some of the very wise (but old) anglers have difficulty in reading it. Type in proper English if you can, it's far easier to understand. You have introduced yourself so many will know you are a young angler in need of information on all things angling. I should imagine you will get many of your questions answered with the due respect deserved. Welcome to the site fella.

A rod license is generally recommended, I assume you have one? Another handy bit of kit to have is experience, don't expect to win straight away. Looks like you have the good basic set up. It may pay to get a bit of practise in before you join in with the matches otherwise you'll get trounced week in week out which will soon put you off fishing. Just have a few pleasure sessions to get the feel. Learn how to play and land fish correctly or you may get short shrift from fellow anglers You don't say what matches you are entering, judging by the text talk it will be Junior section matches you will be interested in. Good luck with your fishing.

Good recovery Anderoo!!!

Nothing unusual there then. A look at most record of magistrate court reports will show this to be a common phenomenon of the Asian community. I am NOT making a racist statement, I will not argue about the statement either. It is just an observation which is commonly noticed in the area where I live.

Erm, read the above post mate.

Subtle as a brick Chesters.

Instead of her staying in making cyber friends have you considered actually taking her out. Just the act of going out socially for a natter in a pub will get her out of the house. She would be able to perhaps chat to people (including blokes) safe in the knowledge that you are there to keep an eye on her if needed.

Gated needles are safe, so are the Korum needles. Sold in packs of 2. They are small and rather flexible, more suited to baiting up soft baits on a hair but are also suitable for mounting drilled baits such as pellets and boilies.

I know where Quests original question came from. Many magazines do show rigs which have a higher breaking strain than the mainline. It confuses me too. I find it strange to put a higher B.S link to a mainline but as has been mentioned above, many hooklink materials are bought which have a pretty hefty B.S. I think it's just a matter of balancing the rig up the best you can. As long as it is safe and the lead can break free upon snapping all should be well. I think!

That's some list SP. Noticed there was no mention of Wurzel Gummidge!

I agree with all of the above. However, the state where Entwistle is to be tried does not have the death setence. It'll be long term porridge for him. Still not a very attractive prospect though. There'll be a few big lads in there who'll want to give "the limey" a beating.

You are quite correct Steve, the overwrap has just the zip up door way without any windows. Ideal for batening down the hatches in adverse weather. I tend to either fold back the front or simply roll up the door in better weather' Afraid not Steve, I have heard the extended overwrap is very handy for providing extra room. I own the JRC X-Lite 3 legged bedchair (I don't think they are available now. It's a compact alumnium framed bedchair which is extrememly light and fits in my 1 man STi easily allowing plenty of room for other stuff. Not really suitable for the taller angler though.

As a general rule of thumb. If you fish frequently then I would suggest fresh/shelflife boilies. If you are an occasional carp angler I would advocate the use of frozen boilies. If you don't use them all in one go you can simply pop them in the freezer for future use with no ill effects to the catching power of the bait.

Josh, I've seen the different and sometimes very complicated rigs available. In my opinion it's a case of each to their own. I sometimes think many of the rigs you see in the books have been devised by bored carp anglers who whilst sitting waiting for a run have come up with something different. They then use it, catch on it and whoosh, there you go, a winning rig! Fish with the rigs you are more comfoertable with. I have to say I would have more faith using a simple rig I have caught many on rather than casting out something complicated and untried by myself. Stick with what you know best Josh.

The twin skin has mesh breather panels set into the roof making it necessary to use the overwrap every time the bivvy is used. The single skin obviously has no mesh panels, an overwrap is available. Are you likely to be on the bank often for overnight sessions? If so go for a decent quality 3 leg bedchair. The JRC bedchairs are decent quality. Depending on your physical size will determine which bedchair you go for. Some are smaller than others. Bag wise, it looks like you are planning spring and summer sessions. With this in mind, a 3 season sleeping bag with perhaps a bedchair cover should fulfil your requirements. Remember, even in summer it can still get cold in the middle of the night. Hope it helps mate.

Amen to that Dante.

Well, it's finally happened. Big News What's your opinion?

One of the main reasons I choose to participate on this forum is that you can discuss subjects both fishing and non fishing related in a civilised manner. The vast majority of members write sensibly and also offer vast amounts of information in a polite and civil manner. I can see exactly wher Ferrets concerns stem from. Quite recently some posts have changed from civil discussion to downright fields of abuse to certain individuals. I'm ata loss as to what can be done to overcome this. Possibly deletion of threads?- unfair to the original poster and participants. Deletion of the offensive posts? - tends to fragment the thread Ban members?- where do you draw the line? Ignore them? - they usually do go away if members don't rise to their bait. I don't really know the answer but feel it is sad when discussions cannot be held between grown adults in a civilised manner.

OK Newt, Rule 1. Get rid of the hat, nobody in Britain over 30 wears a baseball cap unless they are fishing. Rule 2. Avoid the temptation to wear loud Hawaian shirts, even in summer, they're sooo American. Rule 3. Don't even think of wearing those beige shorts favoured by Americans, you know, the ones that come to just above the knee. Rule 4. The wearing of socks with sandals is now illegal in the UK, although flagrant disregard for the law is often observed by men over the age of 55. Rule 5. There are no faucets whatsoever in Britain, even if spoken in a convincing Dick van Dyke cockney accent you will be sussed straight away as being a Yank Tourist! They are called taps. Rule 6. You will find the trunk on an a tree or an elephant, the rear storage compartment on a car (not automobile) is called the boot. Likewise the the hood is referred to as the bonnet. Rule 7 If you visit between September and November do not call it Fall as people will look for scuffed shoes and scabby knees. It is Autumn. Rule 8 If you happen to visit a motorway service station, it is customary to get ripped off. You will be expected to pay a lot of money for a meagre portion which looks nothing like the picture above the serving area! A breakfast named Bacon, egg, sausage and tomato is just that, all singular. Rule 9 Brits are obsessed by the weather, learn necessary phrases such as "Turned out nice again" "Is it me or has it turned cooler" "They've forecast rain tonight" and the favourite which has now become legendary "It's spitting!" Rule 10 The constitution states that all Americans have the right to bear arms. Don't even think of bringing a gun with you. It makes the police jealous as they don't carry them. Addendum If visiting London, resist the temptation to have your photo taken next to a guardsman (the ones with the tall black furry headgear) It's a dead give away you're a tourist. Also please refrain from carrying your Nikon mega zoom camera with extra large lens dangling from the strap around your neck with shouts of "Let me ged a picture of that, honey" Dead giveaway.

Nice looking torch Blue, have to say he's daydreaming with the normal price he's seen similar at, but then again he's an ebay trader. I think most live in cloud cuckoo land where normal selling prices are concerned.

Well, that looks like Mr Burke's off under the stairs for a few days then! Just be careful when using the red night light, it may attract unwanted advances from ladies of low morals!

Argyl, re the above statement. I think you may find that a large majority of the British public have already done this I also think the vast majority of Muslims feel this way with regard to the British people and the British way of life. Co-exising is a non starter as far as Muslims and your common or garden Brit is concerned. They are just not interested.

So would I Chris, however, the above 3 books are the ones available to me at present. I quite like the idea of a book containing short stories. Apparently Falling in Again fits the bill there. Not sure if the other 2 are short story books or one continuous tale ?

Which, in your opinion is the best Chris Yates book?