m@

Still got this for sale mate?

For around £30 I'd recommend the Diawa Regal-X. IMHO there are only bettered by Shimano's... My reasoning is they have rear drag (which I prefer), are black (can't be doing with crome finished tackle), are very smooth and powerful, the drag controls are a decent size (meaning they are workable with cold fingers!) and they are almost indestructable! [ 28. September 2004, 01:10 PM: Message edited by: m@ ]

In response to the OP, I'd take a few pics and verify weight on 2 sets of scales, maybe tell a couple of close friends and relatives (who are all of a like mind) and at a push - tell the wife... No way I'd tell the press and definately not mention it in any of my local tackle shops/pubs... Quote from PW: "A known big fish catcher becomes a marked man, and his numberplate will be watched. Sad but true." You're joking! Is it no longer about fun and relaxation?? And who has enough time to bother with all this - when you could be fishing??

I used to look forward to my trips on the old RXS100, looking back on it now it was really stupid... Wouldn't do it on the SV though, must be getting sensible in my 20's, or maybe just boring...

Thanks Ferret, have emailed Chris...

I've heard from the two suppliers that Tony mentioned, neither will supply a single unit... I've contacted Badger to see if they do one (mu pod is very similiar to their 'Eco')...

Thanks Tony, contacted both my email, I'll wait and see what they say... Budgie, I have a cheapo pod, £15 off ebay, looks very similair to the Badger 'Eco' pod. I'd be delighted to hear any suggestions you have, feel free to pm me...

Google-ing didn't find anything, do you know where from? [ 19. September 2004, 11:25 AM: Message edited by: m@ ]

thanks again, I'll try it out...

I don't suppose you still have it and would be willing to sell?

I much prefer using monkey climbers over clip-on/drop-off indicators, there's a few local venues where the pegs are too hard/concreted and I can't use my climbers... Does anyone know of a pod accessory made that enable climbers to be used on a pod? If not, then I'll be clearing the garage out to find the metalwork tools!

Balancing with some kind of putty sounds good, is this heavey metal putty a tackle shop or DIY shop purchase? I'll have a llok at the Kyston/Sufix offerings at the tackle shop tommoroww... Thanks guys!

Rest assured I am fully compliant with licences and always collect my litter.

I've been using 8lb flourocarbon for hook lengths at a nice water I found a couple of months ago where the carp run to 23lb. I've had great success using popped up boilies and fake corn but always seem to lose the better fish due to the line breaking where I have a shot placed to balance the bouyant bait. Someone recomended I switch the braided hook lengths, which seems like a good idea, but I know nothing about the material (other than it seems expensive and knotting it might be tricky). There are lots of different ones out there, what would be good a simple mono/flouro substitute? It'll be used for mid-sized carp attached to a 10 or 8 hook, either bolt rigged with a plain lead or method feeder, almost exclusively with bouyant bait...

Nothing worth photographing! The weather was really unsettled, very windy and raining, then still and sunny. This might have affected the fish - it certainly affected me! (the quest for a double this year continues!) [ 12. September 2004, 04:13 PM: Message edited by: m@ ]

Had a wonderful evening session yesterday, I hope they'll be a few more - but there might not - make the most of them! Link to photo's

<quote> as only about one million of the country’s four million anglers actually pay for a licence it means that “a minority is effectively paying for everyone else to fish”. </quote> And they therefore want to scrap it? Interesting... Is the same going to be applicable to other licence fees? Or better yet - taxes? That'll get my vote! Although where the £22million from rod licences(if their stats are correct) then come from? [slight ignorance here] What does the licence money get spent on?

Had a good day yesterday, father in-law was extreamely pleased with his 13.5 lb-er! We didn't photograph the countless fish we caught to 4lb - it's amazing how big a bait small carp will take! Photos at: http://www.matt-groves.co.uk/fishing/28082004/ Still not had a double myself yet this season... (grrrr) [ 29. August 2004, 01:35 PM: Message edited by: m@ ]

Thanks guys...

Not tight, just thrifty... I have lots of tackle that I've had for a similair length of time, if not longer, all good quality stuff, get's cleaned/oiled/polished three times a year at least and are nearly 'as new'. I bought the brolly for well over £60, and it's lasted 10 years (so far), if £3 will make it last another 10 then why not do it? Put the money saved towards something else... I can't be alone in my point of view that you're better to spend those few extra $/£'s on good quality products and then look after them??

I discovered at the weekend my brolly is no longer waterproof . Bugger. It's an Abu 50" and apart from the seepage issue it's in great condition, as it's knocking on being 10 years old I don't mind too much. I'm thinking I can probably get something (a spray or brush on sealant) at a camping shop that would sort it out. I thought I'd ask here before I do -in case there are any words of wisdom?

I've made dozens of floats and caught lots of fish on them. I would make them to suit the situations I fished so they were tailored to my requirements or made to overcome certain problems, for example, years ago I made a big stick float that takes 6AAA - this enabled me to fish Gunthorpe weir in a completely different way...

I am looking for a rear drag free-spool reel for carping. I am looking to pay up to £50 (not much I know)... I've looked at the Okuma Undertakers and although they're good reels I can't get on with front drag... Any recomendations?

Why do centrepins cost so much? I'd really like one for trotting on the Trent but I just can't justify the cost when a fixed spool is so much more versitile. I'd have thought as there is less technology going into them, therefore reduced R&D and manufacturing costs, that they'd be cheaper! [ 12. August 2004, 10:14 PM: Message edited by: m@ ]

I passed through Horning just over 4 weeks ago (week's boating on the broads -for our honeymoon) and IIRC there is a nice spot just after Horning on the way to Wroxham. It has a tiny entrance and then opens out to around 15 acres of water. I don't remember the name though, sorry. We fished a quiet bay on the left side for about 4 hours and had lots of (well over a hundred between us) good roach and a few bream. We were able to tie up to a tree as well as dropping the anchor which made things much easier. There was a chap deadbaiting and lure fishing about 100 yds further round from us and he had 3 reasonable pike on the deadbaits and a whopper (looked over 10lb) on the lure during the few hours we were there... The best fishing we had was at the southern end of Barton Broad, moored up just off the broad itself, had lots of medium (2-3 lb) bream but soon ran out of groundbait so couldn't hold them for long. My recomendations would be to take maggots, worms, corn and pellets in reasonable quantities and LOTS of groundbait. I got through 2kg of Magic mixed 50/50 with crumb in under 2 hours! Sorry for the long, rambling, post. Hope it was of some use! __ Matt