PeterK

Well I'm off to my mates lake with fly rod in hand. The carp have all come up in this heat so we're going to see if we can catch a few. We've also been trying to get the action on film so (sooner or later) we can post a few clips on the web.

Hi, welcome, This was my post on another thread ' rod and reel' ''Mmmmmm, Without asking what type of fishing you intend to try I'm going to suggest the John Wilson Avon/Barbel rod. For under £100 you get a decent rod which has a quiver tip top section and a standard top section. In addition I think it also has an extension piece to make the rod longer if necessary. I guess the test curve is about 1 1/4 lb through action which would be fine for most carp (if you dont want to break any records) tench, chub, barbel, perch, bream, fishing. It should be ok for smaller silver fish too providing you dont want to fish using a really light line. If I could only have one rod it would be an Avon twin tip! Mine would, of course, be a Bob James Masterline but if you don't want to spend that kind of money the Wilson version is a great package.'' So I completely agree with your choice. Dont forget to buy a couple of pairs of good fawceps so that you can get any deep hooks out safely.

I've used Halibut pellets on both hair and band with good results. I find the bands work pretty well. Sometimes I run a knife around the pellet to make a small groove for the band to sit in.

Mmmmmm, Without asking what type of fishing you intend to try I'm going to suggest the John Wilson Avon/Barbel rod. For under £100 you get a decent rod which has a quiver tip top section and a standard top section. In addition I think it also has an extension piece to make the rod longer if necessary. I guess the test curve is about 1 1/4 lb through action which would be fine for most carp (if you dont want to break any records) tench, chub, barbel, perch, bream, fishing. It should be ok for smaller silver fish too providing you dont want to fish using a really light line. If I could only have one rod it would be an Avon twin tip! Mine would, of course, be a Bob James Masterline but if you don't want to spend that kind of money the Wilson version is a great package. [ 21. June 2005, 09:53 AM: Message edited by: PeterK ]

I use Masterline Toothy Critter lures in various sizes and weights. I like the ones with the long tails that stream out behind. You can also catch fish on the drop because the lures swim on their own while sinking. Cast into a hole under a tree and let the lure swim down, if there are pike and perch about they will often hit them straight away. Because these lures only have one upward facing hook you can pull them through weed and bounce them along the bottom without getting snagged.

I don't often drink when I'm fishing although I've been known to take a bottle of good red wine or even a flask of ice cold Pimms if the place or occasion is right. I often have a drink very shortly after fishing though It would be a shame if 5% of anglers spoiled things for the 95% of us who know how to behave ourselves!

My friend owns a lake and we catch a lot of carp on the fly from his boat. It's great fun to do. We use 7 or 8 weight lines and a fly tied from deer hair and clipped to look like a chum mixer! We were our last night but there weren't many fish on the surface so all we caught was a couple of pints of guiness. I've also done a bit from the bank using a roll cast to get the bait out.

I will be on a private strech of the Wye stalking Barbel for the first two days! I am a lucky boy!!

liamfish, That collection of rods isn't big enough for you to need medical help. You need to buy far more to be a true tackle tart like me [ 22. April 2005, 04:04 PM: Message edited by: PeterK ]

What, you mean your going to fish with a glass fibre rod too? I just did a quick search on e.bay and there's an Ivan Marks match rod for sale for £1.00! No bids as yet though. I used to have a set of Ivan Marks stick floats but I haven't seen tham for a while! I'm really not sure If I still have them.

Well the 'daft' bit was a little 'tongue in cheek' really. Personally, I dont like poles. I know there is a lot of skill in using one but it's just not for me. Maybe if I liked match fishing I would have another view.

Craynerd, You don't need one, they just make you look daft! Learn to use a rod and reel properly first and then make your mind up.

It's getting a bit boring now isn't it? I would just like the weather to settle into one thing of another. I think this constant change is the worst thing for fishing. I am off for a three day session tomorrow. We were going Roach fishing on the Test but we might have to change our plans if it gets any colder. I tried a while ago and the fish weren't really feeding properly. It was very hard to get anything going at all.

The Barton Court roach only get fished for out of trout season so not really heavy pressure on them. I had a booking every year for the first day after the end of the trout season. I used to book the whole fishery for just me and a mate. In the end we moved on but I still fish there on a day ticket when I can.

We could call it CRAP fishing . Er maybe I spelt it wrong? I know I've used the right letters perhaps someone can help me out?

Craynerd, Your questions are not stupid, I just wish all beginers would ask before going out If you want to float fish at this time of year I think it's safe to say fish on the bottom or just off of the bottom. To find the bottom use a plumb weight. Your tackle dealer will tell you how it's really simple. It's a weight that is too heavy for the float - so when you cast out to where you want to fish - if you cant see the float (with the plumb on the hook end) then the line is too short. You don't keep it on for fishing of course!!! It would get in the way of the bait I would keep bait simple at first. Maggot is always going to catch you something. Bread is great but its slightly harder to use and can get really hard in this cold which can cause you to miss bites. Keep it simple, try to find a good looking spot. Try fishing on or near the bottom, if you don't get a bite add a few loose maggots (or whatever your using). Keep adding a few every few mins but don't go too mad with free food in this weather. If you cant get something going move on. Probably better to fish the deeper areas at this time of year. Keep it simple! Dont get carried away with tiny hooks unless you really need too - size 10 - size 14 might be a good place to start. Where to put the split shot weights is a difficult question, what type af water are you going to fish? Please make sure you buy these two things :- A decent landing net (you really don't anything too big) Proper forceps for unhooking any fish that takes your bait into the back of it's mouth Also, and please dont take this the wrong way, please leave the water better than you find it. By that I mean don't leave any litter and if you can take some that's been left by others. Above all have a good time, good luck.

The Flying Tench, I have seen more big roach at Barton Court, in Kintbury, than anywhere else. I have only been fishing there around 11-12 years and I do agree that the shoals seem smaller now but the good fish are still there. I have seen plenty of fish of 2lb. Its possible that I just rate it because I can see the fish so easily? I recon some of the best river roach fishing might be found on the Test or the Itchen but as ever access is not easy.

Peter Waller, If its banned as a topic will you have anything left to post about?

The Flying Tench, I have to disagree about the Kennet. I have seen plenty of big roach there in recent years. I also feel that since 'Roach, The Gentle Giants' was written most waters mentioned in it would have changed completely. I love the book but I was talking to John Baily last year and he feels that is is now out of date in many respects. I wont be throwing my copy out though

Graham X, you really need to think this through. People like you will sit back and allow anything to be banned just because you don't value it. Then you will bleat when something you do value is banned! If I were sitting here in a red tunic I'd say 'I'm a member of the hunt'. BUT IM NOT. I'll try and make it easier for you...... I'm not pro hunting......but I am anti hunting ban..... I assume you do actually fish? Fishing is hunting. Its a sport/pastime that is based on our instinct to hunt. We do it because we like to catch fish. Once I have caught a fish it is my responsibility to ensure that it is not harmed and to return it safely to the water but lets not try to fool ourselves about what we do eh? You made this comment - 'We live in a democracy. The countryside is not just for those who live in it, it's for everybody'. I don't live in the countryside but I use it whenever I can. I earn enough to go out into the country and enjoy myself whenever I get the chance - so does that give me the right to tell country folk how to live their lives? I think not. I try to respect their ways and fit in. I try to remember that they are still there looking after it in this weather we are now having so that when it suits me I can go out and fish again..... People like you will do far more harm than good to my sport.

Graham X, I assume you are the 'anti' we are all scared of then? I don't see what is wrong with me making my position clear, after all we are discussing this on the net and we don't know very much about each other what is so wrong with a little background info? I am not really pro hunting but I am totally pro freedom to do as you wish. I used to shoot and see nothing wrong in killing for the table. I also kill/eat stocked trout but I do not kill wild fish. And I don't believe hunting should have been banned because a load of 'blinkered townies with their rose tinted glasses' (as Andrew put it) have been force fed pictures of dead foxes. What would the outcome of the vote been if they had been brainwashed with pictures showing the damage foxes can do when they get amoung chickens or perhaps the problems created by urban foxes? As Andrew says it would be easy to make angling look bad if you are prepared to promote a biased view of it. My point is that the majority of those who have helped to ban hunting are not vegans living idilic lives and harming nothing! They wear leather clothes, they eat meat, eggs and fish, they use products tested on animals etc. etc. etc. What they do not want to do is stop and think about their own morals because its easier to vote to change someone elses lifestyle than it is to change your own.

It seems to me that too many people have their heads in the sand when it comes to the way our lives are being restricted by those who are running this country for us. I'm not a member of the CA and I've never been on a fox hunt' neither do I understand why anyone would want to' but do I respect the rights of others to use the countryside and enjoy their chosen sport in the same way I do. I would have more respect for this government if they spent some time stopping illegal cock fighting, dog fighting and badger baiting and after that we could look at the way meat and fish is bred and killed for our consumption. The hypocrisy is staggering. I would love to know how many hours and how much of our money this government has been spent on banning hunting with hounds. Hooray, Blair has saved a few foxes that will now be shot instead. Would you have voted for this waste of time and money? Can't anyone think of anything more important for them to do, something that might make a real difference to our ailing country?? Sadly the list of real problems is massive and fox hunting wasn't even on it. I am begining to think that we should have joined forces with the CA and helped to stop this rot. It's not about fox hunting it's about people sticking their noses into other peoples lives just because they dont understand them.

I use Drennan float fish for trotting. Before each session I spray it with floatant to make sure it doesn't sink. I cant imagine using braid for trotting, to be fair I've never tried, but it sounds nasty!

Hi Newt, I love to fish medium size soft lures like 'Toothy Critters'. I use the type with the long tail that streams out behind causing the lure to swim I also use the medium/light weight ones because I feel they swim in a more realistic way. I have yet to catch a really big pike with them but I've landed loads of jacks up to about 11lbs and also some good Perch. I've fished them from bank and boat and the results are amazing. In a flood (on the kennet) I've tossed them into holes and tree roots. You wont always have to work them because they swim as soon as they hit the water. I have had some great instant takes, the splash seems to alert the fish and then it's often taken as a natural reaction. The fact that they swim on their own helps from a boat too. I cast and hold the rod very high to keep the line up. The lure then swims down in an arc. When it's as deep as I want it I bring it up (keeping the rod end high) and tighten the line and let it swim down in another arc. Because they have a single hook in the back it's possible to bump them along the bottom and also they can be pulled through the middle of streamer weed, I've cought a few bonus fish that way.

Stephen Marsh Smith wrote 'I intend to instil a culture of transparency ' but this hasn't been made very public yet - I wonder why? Dear Stephen It is with real sadness that I'm afraid I have to resign from my position as President of the ACA. I have watched with dismay the treatment of Bob & Jane James in recent weeks and I believe that several sledgehammers have been used to crack a nut. The locking them out of their office, an office that Jane has dignified for 18 years, and the levelling against them of "crimes" involving a hoover and the now famous 90p cash voucher, should surely have been settled over a pot of tea. When men of the stature of Chris Sandford, Neil Leaver, Chris Liebbrandt and Trevor Johnson all walk away from the ACA there is clearly something seriously amiss. The whole affair seems to have been handled in a manner unworthy of the Association that I was once so proud to serve as President and I want no further part of it. Yours sincerely CHRIS TARRANT OBE