RUDD

Would do my homework first then turn up prepared. Device venue, ring local tackle shops, search internet and post on forums. Once fished an inter club match on the other clubs main water with a list of bait bans and rules. Also had a hangover from a wedding the night before, finished second and my mate came first. A few weeks before I quizzed one of their club members who happened to be beach fishing next to me, going was slow so we had a long chat and I learnt a lot about the water, expected species and the competition!

Get yourself a copy of https://www.amazon.co.uk/Pole-Fishing-Complete-Mark-Wintle/dp/1861269889 You will also need a pole roller. A v type that screws into a bank stick if fine for a short pole or a boss type. Which ever pole you get ask the shop to set up with a puller bung. This will help get bigger fish under control at the net. I recommend you ask them to elasticated with solid middy hi viz in a size suitable for target species with a stock connector and an internal ptfe bush. Buy some ready made rigs suitable for elastic and targeted species (make your own once you get used to pole fishing). Sit on a seat box or high camping type chair, low specimen/carp chairs make pole fishing awkward. Start off by practicing shipping in and out without a rig on. Lubricate elastic. Then try a few ships with a rig on and practice laying the rig or lowering rig into position (depends on rig and shot pattern). Get used to holding pole and rig in position. Plumb up accurately. Practice a few strikes (lifting rig in a smooth controlled motion). Now start off using maggots at about 5 Metres aiming to bag a few smaller silver fish. At this distance you can feed by hand underarm flicking a few loose maggots at a time. Once a fish is hooked ship pole back slowly on to roller, watch elastic to determine fish size and direction it's going, keep elastic tight with pole at a slight angle. Once pole gets to no3 section break pole down in a smooth motion and lift top three. Net fish (use puller bung with bigger fish to shorten elastic). If playing a big fish try to follow it with pole tip and add on sections if needed. Bear in mind fish tend to swim the opposite way you pull against them. In time you will learn to use this to your advantage. Once you get the hang of the short pole try putting on extra sections and fishing further out or along bank to features. Invest in a pole pot to clip onto pole to accurately tip feed onto spot when using pole at longer lengths. Would also recommend a dedicated potting top kit for ground bait. Enjoy. Once you have had a few elastic stretchers you will wonder why you never tried the pole before. Don't get hooked up on pole floats/rigs. Research rig / float types and keep it simple. Don't be scared to use a back shot if windy or when there is surface tow they aid presentation and will increase catch rate without a doubt. And finally, count down time it takes for float to settle. If count goes over strike as it is likely bait has been taken on the drop. Once floats settled also strike at lifts, it is likely bait has been picked and disturbed drop shot.

Any dog or cat biscuits work as do wotsits, bread, rice cakes, pop corn - basically any smallish foodstuff that floats! I use supermarket own brand value mixers and they work the same as chum mixers. I like to add a drop of salmon/pellet/glug to a few of them to mix it up a bit. I have also used bakers complete (when wallet was flush) which worked well. These days when using dob biscuits I also put out a few dry expander pellets and some small bits of crust, I find having a mixture gets the fish more confident in taking the baits. Are you hair rigging, banding, glueing or using semi soft side hooked? I like to cut a small groove, superglue lightly to shank and then glue another mixer on to the first one.

How about using a small Perch? The most successful lures I have used for Perch have been Perch patterns.

Sent from my blackberry!

Team GB is the only good thing about gambling. Without funding from National lottery we would be celebrating two bronzes and a couple of near misses. The Brazilians are not exactly filling many seats are they, every event seems to have few spectators.

I have read so of above and thought I would add my tuppence worth: Bolt rigs were designed to 'prick a carp' causing it to run. Picking up the rod sets the hook. Bait runners designed by shimano were designed to allow sport fish to take a bait and run with it. Turning the handle or flicking the switch engages the clutch causing the rod to bend and set the hooks. Semi fixed bolt rigs for carp are designed to drop a snagged lead. The lead helps prick a fish but is not there to actually set the hook (although it happens some of the time). I am sure on many occasions I have lost a lead where a carp has taken the bait, pricked itself and run hard and fast. Shimano bait runners have a secondary clutch to set the tension of the freespool. It stops overruns but also aids in conjunction with a tight line to keep the pricked hook in place until rod is picked up and clutch engaged. When using the method which involves a free running method feeder,an angler is relying on the feeder to prick the fish and the tension of the line against the quiver tip to set the hook. I believe I have missed bites or lost more fish when using both semi fixed or method feeders when the fish has run towards me due to having no line tension to hold hook in place. A final thought with semi fixed rigs is that modern rigs when tied correctly are designed for the hook to turn over into the fishes bottom lip causing a greater pricking effect in a softer part of the mouth allowing the hook to stay in place until rod is picked up and hook fully pulled into mouth.

I use a minimum amout of sellotape to put chemical lights on my beachcasters. If it gets dark I just take a small pair of pliers and gently snap the chem light then shake or tap the rod to get it working. When I get home and rods are rinsed any used chem lights are taken off and new ones put on ready for next time.

The local stillwaters near me have produced a few up to 3lb but no where near as many that normally get caught.

If match fishing I pretty much know what tackle is needed for a certain venue and can leave stuff at home. If I feel it may be needed I take it, to many times I have seen an angler draw a peg that is better feeder or waggler fished and they only have a pole with them. During a singles club semi final one winter I was fishing against a browning sponsored angler who is well known on the SE match circuit. An hour into the match he had set up a waggler using a 10ft method feeder - REASON, I was catching Roach after Roach at range up in the water with a 13ft waggler rod whilst he could not get a bite on the pole. I lost the match by a few ounces as later on he had some small bream / big skimmers on the pole at 16 meters. After the match I asked him why he did not have a waggler rod - didn't think I would need one was his reply!

Having read this and your which float rod thread: I would get two separate set ups. A high end set light weight set up for general and a mid range set up for commercials. 1. For canals / light float fishing get your self a nice light weight 13ft rod with a 1000 sized reel. I use MAP parabolix limited editions for light or general float fishing, two are the standard version and one is the stepped up power version. All three are set up with different reels and breaking strains of line (also have spare spools of line to cover any situation). 2. Commercials, For general float fishing I use the stepped up paprabolix waggler rod above using 5lb line on a 4000 sized reel which covers general float fishing for F1's, Tench, skimmers and small carp (up to 10lb). In open water this rod can easily handle a double figure fish. For pellet waggler fishing I use a shaky mach 3 10ft pellet waggler rod with 6lb mainline on a 3000 sized reel. I have landed carp to over 15lb with this set up. For heavy float fishing (lumps of paste / meat/ a boilie etc) II use a drennan super specialist - this can take 8lb line and handle anything thrown at it.

I would advise go easy for a while, fishing / casting feeders can be tiring work when fish a re having it. Invest in a 3 or 4m whip and for first few weeks on bank take it easy using this method for the small stuff on the canal. When feeling a bit fitter move on to the waggler and get the hang of handling a rod, casting, feathering the line, striking and playing / landing fish - again on canal. then fish the waggler at a commercial - bigger fish - harder fight. Once feeling even more fitter then move on to feeder fishing.

All depends on time of year, species, length of session, method and venue. TBH most of my sessions are short and I take as small amount of tackle as possible - the only exceptions being match fishing, beach fishing and all night sessions. Wednesday evening I had a hour to spare and some old maggots in the fridge - took a small camping chair, 1/4 pint bait box, landing net, unhooking mat (rules are rules), a whip meter whip ready to go with rig on and a few sundries in my pocket. Monday went floater fishing, Rod, reel, landing net, unhooking mat and a bait bucket with anything I needed (including sunglasses) in it. When match fishing I have a ton of gear - reason - I don't know what lake / peg / method / species I will get / draw etc.

Instead of a paternoster use a helicopter rig. Does the same job but is more efficient (less or no tangles)

Cornwall must have the most varied coastline for sea angling in the whole country and as already posted some good game fishing also. If you really feel the need but don't want commercials there are some good natural and man made Stillwaters. http://coarse.swlakesfishing.co.uk/waters/

And their football team

What's the difference between a fridge and a fanny? . . . . . . . . . . . . . A fridge doesn't fart when you take the meat out!

Trade will not change for at least two years. HMRC chief system struggles at the moment. 10,000 more customs entries at the channel ports per day alone would finish it. The EU would grant the UK Europe status and duty free trade will continue with Europe if we do leave. UK government had no plan B incase of an out vote as it's not going to happen ant time soon. Do you really think the next prime minister will commit instant suicide? If any thing the next stage is a general election. A general election no one wants to win?

It was waiting for it to melt so it could eat all the freebies!

Most likely Asian tourists being conned into going to see famous peoples houses. If I lived down there I would open a TAT shop selling overpriced made in China tourist TAT, Tea for three quid a (Styrofoam) cup and have a big board showing all the ice creams I do not have in stock.

Plugging for match size carp, whatever next?My favourite pages are the readers catches pictures, grumpy looking sods with fish that don't look anywhere near the claimed weight.

If Hodgson was prime minister would he have gambled on the referendum? If Farage was the England manager would we have qualified for the Euro's in the first place?

Use a lead. 1oz takes approx 1 second to drop 1 foot. 2oz takes approx 1 second to drop 2 feet

Border agency and HMRC have the power to confiscate a trailer or tractor unit if found to be carrying illegals.Proving they were used for trafficking with the drivers/owners knowledge is the problem and has caused the said authorities a few legal headaches. Fines are much easier allowing all parties to keep generating revenue. Container ship owners/operators get fined for illegals and there are rumours in the shipping industry of Captains disposing of any found in international waters!

How long before compulsory dash cams are required for insurance? Bar coded to match the motor to prevent theft and to aid the long arm of the law to check insurance details.