Dan G

Hi all - i normally post in the coarse or fly forums, but i am hoping you guys are just as friendly and helpful! I'm going on holiday to Vilamoura at the start of may and would like to do a bit of fishing from the pier... I know you cant fish in the harbour, but i wondered what to expect from the pier and whether i need a licence (i understand I might). I will be taking my usual shimano STC spinning rod (10 ft), shimano stradic 4000 loaded with 20lb braid and a few lures (rapala magnums, tempest sandeels and berkley powerbait shads) but i wondered if i should take some light bait tackle? Do floats work out there? I may also go out on a boat - anyone tried it? Any help much appreciated. Thanks

All - ive just bought some of these. they look fantastic, but has anyone used them? Think they could be a killer for perch? They also produce something called 2" gulp minnow that i think could be great for perch and chub under a loafer, but you cant seem to buy them over here? Any thoughts anyone?

Question - saw someone fishing on the Thames today. He was spinning. Is this illegal? I asked him and he said if you said you were 'trout' fishing it was ok. Dubious, but i thought i'd throw the question to the team...

Thanks guys - as ever, much appreciated

Guys - wondered if anyone knew where I can get a spare spool from for the above? I know it was a relatively rare model (probably due to it being bloody expensive!) but its my favourite spinning reel and i want a spare spool with braid on it... any help, much appreciated.

I use it for lure fishing - for which it is brilliant - and also when you need to feel the bite e.g. trundling some meat, lob or a bit of bread into a tight spot. I always use a mono hooklink with the latter methods, but it is good to feel the bite and it is certainly more intense when/if you get one!

one nice roach of about 1lb, then blown off the lakes by the wind! still, the young lad was happy. match on the main lake with a couple of carp caught. would definitely go back when it warms up a bit.

Thanks Mike My boss lives in the farm opposite and i hear you can fish it on a day ticket - or a members day ticket. Its his son who i'm teaching. Apparently, 6mm pellets and corn are the way to go - floatfishing and light legering. I'm going this weekend, so i'll report back.

I am due to fish the above this week and i'm teaching a friends son - he has got a new rod, reel etc for his birthday. Has anyone fished here and, if so, what are the best methods, baits etc and what should i expect... never seen or heard of the place, but i'm guesing someone here will have! Look forward to the usual pearls of wisdom...

I have 2 avon quiver series 7 in 1.25 and 1.5 TC. Great rods, very versatile - i have used them for zander, perch, tench, chub, barbel and have handled pike to 18lb caught 'accidentally'. I think they ae excellent and could whole heartedly recommend. I understand Drennan are about to put the prices up on their rods due to weakness of the £ and cost of raw materials relative - the series 7 is going from £90 to £115 and the duo and other rods will follow, apparently.

Just read this thread with interest ive just bought some circles for a proposed zander/pike session at Bury Hill where singles are very much encouraged. My only previous experience was when i was fishing in Australia with chunks of fish for their 'Salmon' which are more like a mackeral or small tuna - no problem with hooking etc as you wind down and feel for the fish. We'll give it a go and i'll report back once ive tried them...

I hear the free stretch in Durham City gets some good fish running up it... has anyone fished it and if so, does anyone have any tips?

Steve - Thanks for the information - much appreciated. I think i'm going to try lobworm and red maggot feeder. Goign first thing until probably lunch time. Much prefer lives/deads but couldn't source any small enough roach deads and i'm stuck with the feeder and lobworm (great bait!) which ive had success with before... lets see - could be a bit bracing, but i've got the urge! Dan

AVV - Ive ressurected this one - what rig did you use for your perch livebaiting? do you use light wire trace or not? (obviously single hooks only). Off thames perching tomorrow if i can brave the cold...!!

Bread, bread and more bread... thats my tip... but only in clear water! If the river is coloured, use a worm or luncheon meat (with the meat, the cheaper the better, as it will have a higher fat content, be ground finer in production and consequently stay on the hook better). With the bread, feed a 50p sized lump of mashed up bread every 10 mins or so - seems to always work for me. As for rigs, keep it very simple - I use a paternoster with SSG split shot, size 8 hook. You can vary the weight easily (by pinching more shot on) dependant on the flow. I like to use the rig to bounce the bait into likely looking spots, next to submerged trees etc Keep moving, try lots of likely spots, overhangs and pools. Dont get bogged down with loads of equipment as you will definitely catch less fish. I'm from Sheffield originally, and know the river you're going at, but have never fished it myself... I'm positive the above will work. Let me know how you get on.

There is a slip way next to the Tide End pub, adjacent to a chandlers. The access is very good for launching - you'd just need the right tide i'd guess...

He was fishing a worm under a big grayling/avon style float on the side of the river nearest the pubs. I parked on a road adjacent, up near a hotel and conference centre and wandered down. A couple of nice pubs on the bit where i accessed - one called The Anglers (always a good sign!!!) and the other called Tide End. Water was nice a clean and clear - might make spinning good, with another rod on the red maggot or worm... or a dead gudgeon!

I've had this too - the only ways i've found round it are a) a longer hooklink a short length of power gum between mainline and hooklinkor c) a nylon shock leader. All presumably work as they allow stretch, but the latter sort of defeats the point of using braid to a small extent and the former isn't suitable for all methods... difficult one, to be honest, and i'm never comfortable with having another link (power gum) in the terminal tackle...

Snap... thats what I was doing, but had to dress it up as a 'nice walk' for the girlfriend!!! I'm very keen to give it a bash though - looked excellent today, and seeing the bloke pull out a nice perch really got my appetite whetted!!! FYI, I think it s a drive to site - the station was a long way from the river, from what i could work out. Could be some real monsters lurking around the moored boats I think and i'm not sure they get fished for 'properly' very often if todays anglers were anything to go by...!

One weekend in January - or more than one if its any good! Have you fished down there before?

Happy new year everyone! Just seen an elderly chap pull out an impressive perch from the Thames at Teddington. He said the area was known for them and that he'd caught lots on spinners, worms and small deadbaits over the years. Has anyone fished here for Perch - or indeed anything else? I fancy giving it a go...

The river derwent in the peak district - Monsal Dale beat is day ticket. Only place in the uk (allegedly) where you can catch a wild, breeding rainbow. They go like trains...oh, and the scenary is beautiful.

Great pics and beautiful looking fish...

Best coarse fish on fly is rudd... try a small black gnat - try and get yourself a 4 or 5 wt rod, and its amazing fun - much harder to hook than trout, more akin to grayling I guess, but good fun...

I have had great success lately on a 'drowning daddy'... its an orvis fly (obviously easily replicated) which has a CDC 'twist', which allows it to sit in, rather than on, the film. Had 12 fish the other day on it - they couldn't get enough. Fantastic fly - definitely recommend getting one - a skilled tyer like Mr D would be able to copy I think.