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Hey Budgie I'm sure I saw those floats for sale on Ebay a few days ago, did you buy them or sell them? They were identical but maybe I've lost my mind a bit more eh.

Have you tried Lobworms, there a great Chub bait in Winter in your ledgering etc. To be honest if I were trotting for Chub the number one bait for me would be good old maggots.

haha don't get too excited Elton, Im talking Camo floats as in green not camouflage matey! I'll post a pic for you!

Interesting Alan, never really thought of anything other than cane for purely looks and romance to be honest!

Hi Steve, I would love to take you up that offer of the flutted float for me to drool over! Just let me know how I can pay for it and the postage mate, perhaps Paypal? Anway, I simply lurve flutted floats, I don't really know why to be honest. I have some of the old Camafloat ones, short no stem and grey finish but there just too old and nice to use in anger. The thing I can't get my head around is the flutting itself, how to make the shape evenly round the float. Thanks for the kind offer, Im looking forward to you going fishing now! Cheers Paul

I sure have problems with it Budgie. When I say I cant go down the river with just one rod and reel you may know what I mean. I take too much gear, I know I do but can't help it. I use the logic that I may need them so take a feeder rod, float rod and maybe another rod just for luck, same applies to reels, can't be sure what may happen so I take more than one and also spools too. Get the gear just so, all packed nice and neat ready for the next day and something just pops into my head and wham I can't go. In fact it's worse than that, sometimes I go but worry that Im gone too long, I dont feel safe out side the house and 'have to get back' to where I know I feel safe. Its as if Im being stalked by someone, and I know who it is.... it's me and my confused head Budgie.

Blimey off topic now but whatever eh. Yes Im OCD alright in many ways. I can't do anything unless I can achieve what Im attempting, if not then the next thing happens thats even worse and thats depression. My Dad went to the Glasgow School of art and was always good at drawing and had fantastic hand writing. Needless to say my handwriting is total scrawl and terrible and I can't draw either. I have a few nice arty pads and some watercolours etc but hey I just can't dabble in it. I get in such a state I give up then... get depressed again! I'm good at digital art, I have worked in Photoshop as a pro for twelve years, I think Im good at it because everything is undo-able, everything is editable so I can change everything all the time which suits me. You should have seen me match fishing Budgie, that suited me all over, the precise time to start and finish, rules and regulations. I'm not joking or exaggerating when I say I literally took three hundred pole rigs with me. Of course none of them were ever the right one on the day as you can guess mate. I was like a walking taking kitchen sink of an angler, funny but sad to think I never knew what was wrong with me till now. Now I find I get in a real state going pleasure fishing on my local Lea. The weather has to be spot on or my brain can't handle it. The amount of times I get the gear ready, hemp cooked all ready to go and wham in the morning I just can't do it. My wife has given up on me now, it makes her as depressed as me. So Im not alone either Budgie....

mm well thing is I would like to be able to make my own top quality floats but can't. I'm very obsessive compulsive and find that I can't attempt to do something without out it being perfect. In this case I almost love floats too much but know I can't make to the same level but still appreciate the attention to detail. And if I can't make them as good then I would have to but perfection you see. I know I'm a nutter but listen to this, I like art, would dearly love to be able to draw but just can't as I know it would never be good enough through my eyes you see, so I don't attempt to, and I know it's my loss. Still think there gorgeous but damn I would cry if I lost one up a tree eh My real 'fetish' is for flutted avon type floats, now they really float my boat mates.

There gorgeous Jeff. They oose quality and you can tell there finished to the highest standard and have that well finished slippery look about them. I'd love to be able to make floats to such a high standard but would be too afraid to use them! I like those Sarcandas or Norfolk reed wagglers. Hey come on Budgie, I know beauty is in the eye of the beholder but they are far superior to any mass produced floats you can buy. For me the beauty is in the making process, the amount of time taken over each one and loads of TLC shows. Yes easy to make your own floats but not many people could make them to such high finishes and standards. Cor, I'd love to get me hands on them!

Not worth the money unless your keeping it behind glass for the rest of it's life. Its worth a lot less if it were destined for the river bank. Just goes to show how much collectors pay for a mint 501.

I've seen some damn scary massive Turtle things on the Kennet and in one pond in Epping forest. The latter was the size of a wheel hub!

Probably the worst things I ever sold were my 2 507's, I regret it to this day. They needed an overhaul but for some reason I px'd them for something else as you do. If I still had them I would use them for trotting as I used to before I got into pins for the job. To be honest I'm not one to like pins for show, I have some nice ones but to me there a practical tool for the job needed. I still don't think you can beat the complete control that they give you, they present a float perfectly without the judders that fixed spool reels can do when they line is trying to pay out but it's bedded in. Those things just don't happen with a pin as the spool is so darn big. Shame you can't get a fixed spool reel with a 4.5 inch spool eh, now that would be the business!

Hi mate, I havent got a clue where you live but I get all my hemp in bulk from this place in Chelmsford. They do the biggest Hemp I have ever seen in my life. The website is rubbish but they do a massive selection of seeds etc. Anyone else in Essex here then give them a go! Click the link below. Hemp seed

Abu 501's are great reels I agree but the spool is too small I think. The Abu 507 had a bigger spool but was really the same reel as a 501.

There is nothing better than a centrepin for the job when it comes to trotting. It's such a simple basic design that does exactly whats asked of it. The line flow and control of a centrepin just puts it streets ahead of anything else but I know not everyone is a pin fan so there is an alternative... but not as good! The only other reel I would consider for the job is an old ABU 507 because it has a wider spool and does work well when trotting. I see them on Ebay but they seem quite pricey now.

mm well maybe I was doing it all wrong during my fifteen years odd winter league match fishing. We all used the same thing, watered down fairy liquid. Fairy liquid did me just fine and never had any breaks, rubbing, wear and tear or rubber breakdown due to it! Perhaps these theories apply to something thats soaked in it or used to destruction 24/7 but for an average angler using a pole every now and then I don't think it makes any difference. I'm sure your right about breaking down elastic but over time as you say. The thing to do is get out on the water and try these things without barstool lubrication talk!

Hi Peter, yes very easy to find. You can't miss it when you get to Theydon Bois. Stand outside Tesco Extra and look ahead across the grass and you will see the trees round it. It's a 1 minute walk opposite the shops, right opposite them which can be handy, you can't miss it. Yes it's fished, Roach, Crucians and Carp, and it's free.

Hi mate, I know Connaught water quite well but must admit I haven't seen anyone fishing it for ages. Maybe someone else has but I know about the other lakes in the forest. Have you considered the other free forest ponds? Goldings Hill pond, Baldwins Pond and Theydon Bois pond all are free and have fish.

Don't worry mate it's easy. Get yourself a small squeezy bottle and fill with water and a very little Fairy liquid so it's not too strong. The tension of the elastic is hit and miss and will change after you apply the liquid. Just squirt it down into the pole section from the widest end and allow to drip out of the tip and thats it. One thing though, make sure you add some every time you use the pole or it could dry out and the elastic may not get the lubrication it needs. You will need to test the tension of the elastic after adding the liquid because it will move far smoother then without it. I know there are new products on the market that do the same and maybe better but give this a go as it served me for years during matches.

You just can't be without polaroid glasses, they are essential without doubt. I recently got a great pair for £8 from costco, yes I know you may think there cheap and nasty but I assure you there very well built and excellent, they also come with a hard case. If your into rivers like me then I can't be without them. They open up a whole new world when looking into the water, all that nasty glare etc just goes and you can see clearly whats going on down below.

I always listen to his program, I only found out about them a few months ago but think there fantastic. Martin is a great sporting chap and a real credit to the sport. He has a wide range of anglers on his programs and is well worth tuning in when you can or listening again. Till the other day I didn't realize he has MS so fishing for him is harder work then most of us I guess.

As goldenpost4u said he really was his own man, he kept himself to himself. He was introvert, intelligent and a brilliant angler. Unfortunately, for some reason he was always getting ribbed and criticized, I think many anglers almost took offense to him wearing a collar and tie. In fact I dont think I ever saw him without his tie on. I'm only talking from my own experiences with him so none of this is hear-say or fictitious but perhaps other anglers didn't like him because he did keep himself to himself, looked smart and didn't chat like most us do eh Guess it's too late to ask him why he was a quiet man, all I know is he was ok, polite and a great pole angler.

Weaver fish, or would that be too far inland?

mm well I catch Pike and have never seen one other than frozen!

Havent got a clue other than a Lamprey?