Kevin Hackett

Sounds like they are just letting go of the bait and your hooks are then not actually connecting as the pike releases the bait. As Anderoo say make sure they are sharp.

Go for the power. I have three heavy feeder rods in the cupboard that are now unused as a 1.75 tc proper barble rod is the tool for the job. I did have four heavy feeder rods, but a using a heavy feeder smashed one at the quiver spigot. This seems to be the weak point on these rods.

I have used lots of Archie's flavours and additives. It is very rare that I fish baits without some flavouring being added. I use his flavours because they are different to most others on the market. Like any flavours the appeal can be variable - I caught well on Tench magic on one pit, but on others it has produced no more than other baits. I get mine from Walker of Trowell Nottingham. www.walkersoftrowell.com Kevin

I am surprised no one has mentioned the possibility of one of the overstocked commercial waters producing a big pike. I could imagine a situation where a single pike was in one of these waters getting fat on nice bite sized F1 hybrids. Pike need lots of food fish to grow large - what they are does not matter.

Freezing works for me. 24 hours generally sees them off. 48 is better. I bag them a pint at a time after flavoring. Just to be double sure them go in those resealable plastice bags and I try to remove as much air as possible. I agree with Tony, the eels love em. Had a 3lb 6oz PB last night. Kevin

I've been using one for the past 6 months. The range is fine for my fishing as 50-60 metres works well with the unit raised. Its great for finding features, but it can be a little depressing if you try to use it to find fish. Most of the waters that I fish seem to have no fish in at all according to the fish finder. The problem is that the sensor beam is narrow and you have to be right over a fish for it to pick it up. Only problem is it does not work too well in a wind as the waves rock the sensor too much. All in all it does add a new interest to the days fishing and it has made me try surface lure fishing now as the amount of strikes by pike to the sensor is high even over 10 feet of water.

Quick evening session on floaters. Missed 3 takes, but hit the important one. - New pb Leather at 22-12.

Just a tip re rakes. Mine consists of a single rake head with the rope tied to it. But to make it easier to throw I have a 3ft aluminium tube in where the rake handle would be. The rope is passed through this too. I can throw this accurately at least 40 yards ( I always tie the rope to me as I have thrown the whole lot in once! ). This setup is far easier to throw than just a rope and head only. Kevin

I have to agree about the Berkely Vanish. The instructions with this line specify a particular knot. When tied with anything else the breaking strain can be reduced by more than 50%. With the specified knot it was closer to the stated breaking strain. Because line use has a lot to do with confidence, I have three spools of it that I will probably never use. Kevin

I have to agree about the Berkely Vanish. The instructions with this line specify a particular knot. When tied with anything else the breaking strain can be reduced by more than 50%. With the specified knot it was closer to the stated breaking strain. Because line use has a lot to do with confidence, I have three spools of it that I will probably never use. Kevin

I think the idea is that the chances of losing it because the line breaks are 0. Leaving hooks in fish because the line breaks is something we should all try to minimise. Interestingly I had a 6lb hook length snap for no good reason yesterday evening. I changed up to 8lb as I did not want it to happen again. 40 minutes later I landed a Tench and there was the lost hook. Being able to remove made me feel a lot better. Kevin

I think the idea is that the chances of losing it because the line breaks are 0. Leaving hooks in fish because the line breaks is something we should all try to minimise. Interestingly I had a 6lb hook length snap for no good reason yesterday evening. I changed up to 8lb as I did not want it to happen again. 40 minutes later I landed a Tench and there was the lost hook. Being able to remove made me feel a lot better. Kevin

Ensure that the rod itself is not moving in the rests. Use at least three rests - one at the but, one int the middle and one up near the tip.

Ensure that the rod itself is not moving in the rests. Use at least three rests - one at the but, one int the middle and one up near the tip.

Started on bullheads and stone loach on the local stream aged about 10 - so 32 years. I like to think I may get it right someday.