malevans

I agree with Pangolin. Most important bit of kit is experienced adult angler. I will swim against the current still however. For many parents even a tenner is a lot of money, and particularly if it relates to an actiivity they don't have an interest in. At least kids get to try with starter kits when they other wise would not. Then before ya know it one of these infernal contraptions or the Ps2 has em in its deadly embrace. Kev ya have right idea mate, find right water in the warm weather and go with ya kid so he catches. Nothing works better than that first catch. I got a great pic of my youngest (autistic) son aged 7 with his first fish on a 4.99 whip. In the end a garden cane and bent pin does work, although i would not advocate the approach strongly. LOL

I have also found these "light weight" starter kits poor and they will put a kid off in general. My son started with one and it cast fine but as you say hooks and floats etc not right for job. When he was 6 he had a brace of 2lb plus perch with it. I also bought my son a Kingfisher Carp kit from Agos it is brill (for money), when 10 he caught his first 15lb plus carp with it and his first double pike. The year before he bagged two salmon in two days with it. The reel (for the money) is a gem. I am not an inverted snob in case you think so. I my carp and fly gear is absolutely top draw...but thats for pleasure of ownership, as fish do not care what brand you are using. Kit obviously must work though if kid is going to catch.

Hi all, i have two sets of chest waders one of which is neoprene. Under them I would wear Jogging type fleecy bottoms, unless you want to splash out on the polartec under wader wear. Mine are cleated soles. However my gortex waders have felt soles and if you add the screw in studs as suggested elsewhere you will be fine for grip, even on muddy banks. Studs can be obtained from John Norris or Sportfish. Thing about Neoprene is getting to the swim if its any distance, even if it is freezing weather ig you hump the normal amount of coarse tackle any significant disance you will be soaked when you get there. I would transport the waders on my trolly or similar and put them on once at the swim. Once you are soaked in side the waders their thermal properties are reduced significantly. Cheers Malcolm

Hi Adams mill is on eof the spots where the big barbel come out. IT is not available on day ticket and a season ticket is required. Getting a swim on there is quite tricky due to angling pressure. Many, although by no means all, the river sections require season tickets. I have mainly fished Willen Lake, Lodge Lake, and the Tear Drop Lakes. Also the river at Willen. I have also fished Caldecotte a few time. Furzton is a popular venue but I have not fished it because it tends to get busy. Very good chub in the river Ousle near Willen. Drop me an Email if you want more detailed info on those venues I have fished.

Hi Jeff. Yeah wind is bad news. I ma lucky my wife ties our flies, cos i don't get time. Her variant of the greenwells spider is deadly on the river we have season tickets on in scotland. I don't fly fish down here at home, except for pike. When down here I carp or pike fish. But of lighter stuff now and agin for tench or Perch. Tight lines malcolm

We always had two resident swans on Dovecote that raised there young. Adults very intelligent, and taught off spring quickly. Until last year that is when I turned up to find 74, because I counted them. The swam straight through lines constantly and any baiting up in margins was futile. I had two rods taken out three times by swans whilst I was baiting up the third. However I found a boilie from catapult effective. But once in bivvy overnight it was a complete nightmare once swans were on the move in the morning.

Tingith is not actually in Milto Keynes it about 23 miles south down the M1 at Junction 12 near Toddington. MKAA sell day tickets on numerous rivers and lakes. These can be purchased bank side at 4 quid. I would recommend either the Tear Drop lakes which are near the MK bowl, good mixed fishery with carp topping 20 if ya fancy that. Some nice still water chub to be had. There are no pike to speak of. If you want to target pike then I suggest Willin lake, which has agood stamp of fish or the river at Stoney Straford. If you decide to fish Willen fish close as it starts to get dark.

Congratulations on your PB. I have only ever had one deep hooked pike myself over the years and I adopted the Pulling on Trace technique advocated by others already. One cannot assume late striking to blame, but something wrong with setup up unless fish was played by a very bad snag and angler had to put brakes on hard. Pike bites can be fickle. My deep hooked fish never gave any indication of a bite what so ever and I caught it (18lb porker) when I reeled in to change bait. Weirdest take I ever had was a violent rattling of rod tip on a 3lb TC rod and single bleep. Left it for 10 minutes then reeled in. My mackerel had been swapped for a partially decomposed and lip hooked perch of about 6 oz. Spooky or what ?

Hi there, not sure but winds etc this time of year tend to keep people of the water. As I personally cannot stand still water fishing, particularly for rainbows, I don't do much fly fishing near home in Northants. I always have my pike flies with my however when I go dead baiting. Fishing slow this autumn, but I am lacking bank hours due to work commitments at the moment. Tight lines.

IMHO providing the water is not under extreme angling pressure then the quality of gear is not one of the top three factors to consider, neither is the bait, the three important things are location, location and location. DOn't cast to far there will be features (most likely) right under your rod tip so to speak.

I would endorse all views around tackle expressed by others. One comment I would make based upon the direct experience of teaching my wife and son over the last two years is to start with rivers rather than still waters. With the latter there is a tendency to want to cast to the horizon which develops bad habits that are hard to shake off later. Early success is a great thing for generating a love of any activity.