lardvader

Mines about 4 1/2 lb, so you've smashed my pb! Well done

I fish the arrow around the alcester stretch. Usually found in the basin/weir section on the opposite bank to the Arrow Mill. I've had some nice chub out recently, and some superb barbel up to 7lb. There's also some big carp in there, but I haven't managed to entice one of them yet. Although the side I fish on is a private club I think you can get day tickets from the Arrow Mill, but I'm not sure about that (probably not!) As bluezulu said though, the fish inn you can def get a ticket.

Bloody hell! Poor kid :E I'll have to try one of them when I get round to doing some piking!

Out of my own ignorance and curiosity, who was/is Peter Collins? I know the bit about him using fixed lines, but nothing more I'm afraid.

Looks like a lovely place. I did a quick google search but most of the results are for a couple of commercial lakes around there.

Is this any good for you? http://www.sturminster-museum.freehosting.net/

Lifted from the BAA website Anthony, although the booklet I got with the membership implies it's only allowed on certain stretches, but doesn't give any further details:- NIGHT PERMITS Night permits are available to full members (not day tickets), for certain venues at a cost of £5. Night tickets are only on sale from BAA H.Q. and must be purchased in advance. Here's their contact details:- John Williams - Secretary Birmingham Anglers Association Limited 106 Icknield Port Road Rotton Park, Birmingham B16 0AA Tel: 0121 454 9111 Fax: 0121 454 9717 Mobile: 07976886558 E-Mail: baajnw@btinternet.com For personal calls we are open 9:30 - 1:30pm Monday to Friday

I've read that book I believe ratty, if it's the one written by one of the officers that went there. Fantastic storey. My old man has it, I'll try and find out the title if your're interested.

Did you pick up/learn that because of match fishing rudd, or is it something you've always done? I'm still tring to learn the value of regularly loose feeding, but apart from throwing the stuff in upstream of where I have my bait I'm a novice, especially when it comes to the using a float/waggler on a river. Just seems to wizz past me like an express train

It sure is Paul, the prefect setting I had in mind, set in some fantastic countryside. Just the place to get away from it all. Doesn't always pan out that you get the right setting and the right fishing go hand in hand.

Joined the BAA yesterday (Birmingham Angling Association) and decided to try one of the rivers today. Chose the river Teme and set off at 7 this morning. After correcting the rather poor directions from autoroute I finally managed to find the right place at about 9am. It was a beautiful setting, fishing just down from a small bridge. On the one rod I was ledgering maggots, and on the second I tried just about every bait imaginable. Got quite a few small chubb and gudgeon, and I mean small - about 1-2 inches long, on the maggots, but nothing on the other rod. The weather was nice and I was catching regularly so I didn't mind too much though. About 3:30 I was starting to wish for something with a bit more weight, if only an ounce or two. So on the second rod I stuck a 14mm halibut pellet on using a bait ring. Bang!, My first ever Barbel at 6lb, what a thrill. I was shaking like a leaf and nearly fell in the river because my legs were like jelly. A nice barbel was what I really wanted, and had hoped for, but I'd given up on anything like that. I then proceded to land another 4 barbel, all on halibut pellets with my largest coming in at just over 7 lb. What a beautiful fish and a wonderful fight, if only I had a camera with me to capture the moment. I can't wait to get back out there! Just thought I'd share that, I'm feeling pretty good [ 26. August 2004, 10:03 PM: Message edited by: lardvader ]

Jeez, fast replies thanks chaps. Incidently the web site you referred to is here:- http://www.baa.uk.com/ Thanks again.

Greetings, After rekindling my interest in fishing over the last two months, I've kinda got bored with commercial fisheries and want to venture out further field. I'm not against commercials at all, but they do tend to be over fished, over crowded and have a tendency to be very noisy (it almost feels like I'm sat at the local park at some recent venues) Anyway I've recently joined a club that fishes on the river arrow, and have caught my first ever chub to floating bread (got two actually ) Certainly the rivers are where I want to be, I'd like to get a barbel or two next, but I'm happy to pull anything out really. So I've joined the BAA and was wondering if anyone could give us some advice on where's good to fish. Thanks

Unfortunately most anti-anglers have practically no knowledge about angling beyond the thought of how they would feel with a hook in their mouth. You can't blame people themselves for their ignorance, nobody can have a researched informed opinion about everything. That's where we, as anglers, have to do our bit, in a calm and reasoned manner. The animal activist people are a different matter entirely and there's simply no reasoning with them at all. Like most 'fanatics' they possess a almost religious like zest to their beliefs, even to the point of killing and injuring people to make their point (extreme cases I know) My greatest fear is they will play on the general ignorance of the majority and get fishing banned, althought we are some way off from that stage. But sooner rather than later the full focus of this movement will concentrate on angling. I do see a ban as a very hard thing to achieve but I'm not totally secure in my belief that it couldn't happen, and if it was conclusively proven that fishing caused immense and harmful distress to the fish I might have to reconsider myself.

So are barbless hooks more likely to 'cause fish damage then? I always use barbless hooks, partly because a lot of fisheries specify them but mostly because I was under the impression that they were kinder to the fish. I have had the odd fish damaged with a little tearing, which has caused me distress to see but I'm not sure why this happens. Is it the wrong hook shape, I guess that's what you mean by pattern? Have I struck to hard or am I playing the fish too much. I certainly don't try to get it on the bank as fast as I can which I understand is one of the chief reasons for damage?

Thanks for your help gents, I should be able to get around to looking at your advice and offers this weekend. Cheers

Aye clumsiness abounds! To be honest the second rod was kicked by my old man and I think that may have caused a fracture, my fault for leaving it on the bank when I landed a fish. But it seemed so minor I kind of dismissed it out of hand. I really didn't do anything wrong on that one other than that, but the first rod was entirely me. I'm really after quality, something I won't out grow and will last a life time. I could stretch to about £400 but obviously the less spent the better!

Hi gents, After a 9 year break from fishing, I decided to take it up again a couple of weeks ago. I must say I've had an excellent weekend up at a local carp Specimen pool. But it was at the expense of two rods. I broke the tip on my first through inattention trying to land a fish and I just over stressed the rod, from rustiness I guess. My other rod snapped just above the handle on a strike of paticularly large fish - just bad luck this time, can't explain it any other way. So I'm in need of 1-2 rods but I'm not sure where to start. So I was wondering if anyone has some recommedations. When I used to fish last time all my gear was bought for me over the years by my Dad, so I've never had to purchase one for myself. I'm still left with a ledger rod, so I'm after something for the 1-5lb range for starters, that can handle a 10lb odd fish for good measure and then maybe something for the 10lb plus fish. I generally like going for carp, tench, perch etc - anything but a gudgeon really! Cheers