Emma

I use an unhooking mat for netted fish. For the ickle ones taken by hand I use a beer mat that lives in a bait box full of water until needed.

I have one 12' carp rod, one 13' avon rod with a quiver tip and a 11' float rod. I generally ledger with the carp rod and light float fish with the float rod, the avon rod doesn't get a lot of use.

Although a bit older than you Leeds, I'm new to fishing as well. I go with my husband who's fished for 30 years. I get frustrated sometimes because it's harder for me to do things than it is for him. You know, getting my cast exactly where I want it (and trust me, I'm fussy about that!) tying hooks, getting tricky baits to stay on the hook, getting the depth right, all that malarky. My husband on the other hand can do all that blindfolded so is subject to less frustration. He fishes a lot like Chris and Bob on PFA and I hope that once I get into the swing of it, I will be able to relax a lot more. It's not right to say I don't enjoy it, otherwise I wouldn't do it, but I have a higher frustration to satisfaction quotient then my husband.

7/10

Anywhere with small windows. What was the last song you listened too?

Cold pizza. Me healthy. Where would you most like to live?

teach

Mags with lads in them for me! What did you have for lunch today?

Little bit of plastic that you can use to pick the strings rather than using your fingers. Smug bassists like me eschew them! There's plenty to pick (did you see what I did there?!) from here: http://www.jimdunlop.com/products/picks/index.html

Because there are so many answers. How far are you from the nearest newsagent?

Hi Emz, Bit late to this. I'm a dodgy bass player, rather than a guitarist, but I'll just echo some of the things already said... Practice, practice, practice. Most of my musician friends reckoned playing well was 95% application and 5% talent. Get some lessons - even if it's just a few. Unlearning bad habits in posture, finger position and picking/finger style is much harder than learning them properly first off (painful experience here!). Back in the day when I used to know about these things Tanglewood were an extremely good make for the money. I still have their version of a Hofner bass which sounds great. I reckon learning on an acoustic is a great idea, cheaper to start out and if you learn to play on its wide neck, when you pick up an electric guitar you'll feel it much easier.

Hubbie and I normally get up for first light when fishing. It does seem to be the most productive time of the day on the lakes we fish. Having said that - last time we went the most productive times of the day for tench were in the early afternoon.

As it was my first one, my tench last week was my best catch so far. In other respects the brand new Okuma Aventa VT1002 reel I bought yesterday on eBay for £60 wasn't a bad catch either I reckon.

I may well do that. I drove past it the other week and wondered what it was like.

I'm now tench obsessed I'm afraid!