BRPS

Sorry to have to say Darren that I'm inclined to agree with Dave .. In my opinion none of the perch in your pictures is remotely approaching 2lbs in weight . Your scales either need recalibrating or replacing ..

Two in particular that annoy me are : Pushing the envelope .....are they alluding to a postman? Inserting "you know " every few words into a conversation ... No I don.'t bloody know otherwise I would not have asked!.

£25 !!!! . I hope you had the good grace to wear a mask when you robbed the bloke who " sold " it to you...

Absolutely superb rod .You can comfortably hold it all day long without enduring wrist ache . Even an 8oz roach feels wonderful such is the transmission of feel through the blank."..

http://www.sportfish.co.uk/fly-fishing/fishing-nets Try here : You'll probably also need a lanyard to secure it to your person.... It's by far the most enjoyable way to trot a float.

Don't overload the reel with too much line. 50/75 yards is normally sufficient.

Drake manufacture a nice range of Avon style floats . Theses can be purchased online from : www.benwicksports.co.uk They're well made , durable and reasonably priced.. Benwick do a superb mail order service..

My preferred line for trotting with the pin is Daiwa TDR reel line . Although it's reasonably expensive it is durable and floats very well after application of a fly fishers line floatant spray. It's also clear which I prefer in a floating line , has moderate stretch and good abrasion resistance.

I have a Titan 3000 13'-15' float rod . A lovely piece of kit . If memory serves it cost a tad under £500 when new but has been worth every penny. It's light , responsive and ideal for silver fish but easily handles lumps up to 10lbs or so including demented rainbow trout over 6lbs. Highly recommended.

Budgie , I can highly recommend Daiwa DPLS low dia. flurocarbon. It's imported from Japan and expensive but well worth the investment.

If you're looking for something suitable " off the shelf " then might I suggest that you look at the Benwick Sports website under the floats section. Those manufactured by Drake and Tamas Walter seem particularly appropriate..

Daiwa TDR reel line. Soft , supple , clear , good abrasion resistance. Maybe a little more expensive than the norm but excellent stuff..

Hardy Marksman Specialist , expensive , but superb bit of kit . Available in 13' , 14' , and 15' , lengths.

Two pairs of latex surgical gloves will keep your hands dry but , due to their thinness will not provide much protection from the cold. A pocket size handwarmer seems to do the trick.

Preston Innovations sell a range of 3 mini-match swivels in sizes 20 , 22 , and 24. For all my float fishing I connect my mainline to my hooklength via a size 24 using Palomar knots. I've never had one let me down and I've landed ( unwanted ) carp over 11.5lbs without any problem. Use balanced tackle and you should be OK.