david t

Hello, been trying to search for old posts on river wye piking, but cant come up with too much. Im planning a day on the wye over the next few weeks, for abit of pike fishing. Im familar with the upper wye around Rhayader, but not so with the lower wye, as such Im not sure which parts of the lower wye are better than others for pike. Could anyone be kind enough to tell me which parts of the lower wye are most featureful, and better for pike than others? I dont want to turn up at a stretch and find its deep and straight with no eddies/bankside features really. I think so far the wye at Fiddlers green looks ok, having seen an old art of fishing article on it, and ive heard that the wye at Symonds Yat is quite deep and powerful. Not after hard won secrets, rather just a general indication of a likely area. Many thanks and happy christmas Regards Dave

Cheers them conoflex rods arent badly priced compared to what ive seen elsewhere. I guess i dont really 'need' carbon in a small river pike rod, as im only flicking baits a short distance, and the action of a softer rod might keep fish on that I would otherwise loose with a stiffer rod. thanks for all the links dave

I second that view. I think theres an increasing amount of people that take the mention of climate change as some kind of personal criticism of their lifestyle. People often seem to 'get the hump' when others mention what effects climate change may have on us and our environment. I think that many of us dont like the suggestion that one day soon we may have to change our way of doing things (driving, food consumption etc etc), or at least we should have done about 20 years ago. I also think the average man on the street underestimates what might happen, and how uncomfortable our lives may be if climate change does start to take hold. Im as guilty as the next man, its tempting to shrug your shoulders and ignore it. Ok, we cant really stop it, but if the powers that be, and too a lesser extent the average person [consumer] changed not just their habts, but also in the case in the case of the powers that be, changed their general approach to land use management, resource use etc etc, and generally changed a few things, it might help. Wont stop it, but it would create a buffering effect to the effects of the change in weather systems. softly softly wont help, but nor will blind ignorance. This may sound hardline, but i dont believe this planet is ours to use and abuse as we please, the human race will be very much boom and bust, came into power very quickly (in earth creation time scale), but im sure we are just as likely to come crashing out of power (or existence) as quickly too.

Cheers just seen them, quite expensive, then again, we are used to prices for mass produced rods from china, so i guess one off things like blanks will be more expensive. Just looked at the greys rods, they do one or two that might be suitable http://coarse.greysfishing.com/en-gb/produ...odigy-specimen/ with a 2lb TC section, not cheap, but i guess they are well made.

Hello, I used to have a really nice pair of 2lb test curve rods, which were just perfect for small river piking, where the biggest pike we caught was 14lb or so, maximum. They were made by sundridge, proton model I think, 12ft with red whipping, real nice action, and light in the hand too. Useless as big pit rods, but perfect for river work. Anyway, one got snapped and the other got lost, somehow! Nowadays, it seems all pike rods are 2.5 or more likely 3lb TC, which is fine for big water work, but they are like broom handles for river work. Anyway, id like to try and get another 2lb TC rod, I have thought about the beefed up barbel rods, but I have also thought about making a rod from a blank. Id like to think im fairly good with my hands, having made most things from longbows to boat trailers! but im not sure where to get rod blanks from, well, there is the internet, but i wonder if anyone knows anyone they can recommend. Ideally id like a 12ft 2lb TC rod, with one more eye than you get on most carp rods, a nice cork handle and some pretty whipping. Any ideas for suppliers? Cheers Dave

Hey, dont worry about creating an argument, people are more than entitled to vent ideas, its just when people that dont know much, pretend they do know alot, by stating second hand knowledge, that theyve overheard other people talking about or read in the paper. but thats different to an honest opinion.

I think the things that climate change will effect for fishing are; the levels and temperatures of upland rivers (particularly where salmon are concerned) draining peatlands the number of flood events on rivers and the seasonality of them (stripping spawning grounds etc) fish populations dependant on plankton, such as those in the big natural lakes and lochs problems may well be encountered with fish that are dependent on hatches or larvae of certain invertebrates, such as the Ephemeroptera, primarily the problems are likely to be seen with the timing of such events. But this is a very new research area. The things I think it will have little effect on are; Fish populations in shallow lakes, typically dependant on benthic food items, unless of course we have major drought problems canals and small lakes cyprinids in general. What do the rest of you think? What is and isnt at risk. And no looking at the angling times for ideas!!!!

I dont think Ian Welch is qualified to be able to state that this current weather is due to climate change or not. While I am pro climate change, and pro conservation, Its hard to pin day to day, or week to week weather down to climate change. I got sick of AT, its too cyclical, same types of articles are rotated month after month. the angling monthlies are no better, worse if anything. I do think though, that the general increase in windy weather we are having, at least in windy west wales, is likely due to climate change, mainly due to slight increases in sea temperatures kicking out more low pressure systems. Im not an expert on that, but i have a feeling its likely to be the case. RE, problems with dissolved oxygen or BOD. From a biological point of view, I think mild winter temperatures will be unlikely to have a deterimental effect on o2 concentrations. Yes, the warmer the water, the lower the o2 saturation level, but I think its more likely to be a problem in summer, rather than winter. Also remember, a fishes metabolism will slow with a fall in temperature, as such it wont be using enough o2 for it to starve itself of o2 in mild winter weather. The limiting factor to fishes activity level will most likely be temperature itself. to be honest, there isnt too much we can do about it, even if we stop emitting co2 now, china and india certainly arent going to stop, and the US isnt much better, but then again, its all too 'softly softly' in the UK aswell. Makes me laugh, they always say that they dont want to do much about climate change because it will be detrimental to their economy, but, in the long term, crop failures, coastal flooding, and the like will cost them just as much money, as it would to do something now. But, thats another matter for another day.

Anderoo, is it the windrush in the pictures? i know thats your area, so its got to be either the windrush, cherwell or the thame. Im still banking on the cherwell though, as the colour is cherwell water colour, and the swims look like that too, the windrush is abit faster. £10 says its the cherwell. Or is it the Evenlode? Its got to be one of them? if not I give up!

CHUB FRENZY, please keep one thing in mind when fishing for chub. Bait; out of all the fishes that swim in the rivers in this country, the chub is the least likely to need any bait with food colouring or additives in it. Really, move away from that chain of thought, keep it simple. The ONLY baits ive ever needed for chub are; bread flake/crust, lobworm, maggot and maybe my secret natural bait. if you cant catch on them, then you may aswell use cowpat paste (again, secret), as nothing is likely to work. If your not catching, its most likely due to your swim choice, or the fact that youve scared off the fish. Dave

Cheers all, Much obliged. Going to type a letter up today, with the cheque stub numbers quoted, dates and all that, telling them to cancel the bill, sending it registered post. Looking through their 'publication' yesterday, its laughable, nowhere in the thing is there any small print or explanation on terms and condition of advertising, nowhere does it say about their policy on refunds etc etc. Their is just no level of organisation in the so called 'publication'. Laughable really. Thanks again people, this forum is always a good place for honest advice, long may it stay that way. cheers dave

This is the area of fishing where I feel I know the most, not meaning to sound arrogant. I feel the chap that wrote this got it right on the spot. Nice that he doesnt talk about boilies etc etc, as im sure river chub are one species which will never really NEED targetting woth boilies. I agree with his golden rules, particularly that silence is golden! What river was that in the photos though? For some reason i think its an oxfordshire river, like the Thame, Cherwell or Evenlode, mainly the water colour im going on. Enlighten me, im intrigued! dave

Cheers, I will collect everything together for it, and get back to them in writing. Not going to let it slip. Its tempting to ignore it, and not pay it, but that wont help, the gits will only send me more invoices. I will have them up about it.

Hello, bit of advice needed if possible? Right, back in early summer, I tried to start up a weekend/part time gardening business, advertising in a local free paper, I did this three times, filling in the slip and sending the cheque for £20, if i remember rightly I did it in April, May and July, each time filling in a separate slip and sending a cheque for that month. And now, today, I have recieved a invoice from them, asking for 4 months payment (August, September, October and November) for advertising that has been published, but not paid for. The gardening never really took off, and I only really did it upto mid august, occasional really. Anyway, they have carried on the advert, even though I never asked them to, either over the phone or in writing, I never filled out any form requesting continious advertising, I only ever paid for one month at a time. I never signed anything, and I never gave them any direct debit details etc, there is no small print on the form which says that your advert will be carried on, until you say it should be stopped. It seems they have just carried it on, hoping that I will just accept it, and pay it. Seems wrong to me, I mean, its like a tradesman doing x hours work for a customer, having been instructed to do this, but then carrying on and doing another load of work without the customer asking, then turning round and asking for the money for work that the customer didnt request. Is what they have done right in anyway? I have tried phoning them, but alas they dont pick up. Thanks Dave

Hello, If anyone is thinking of an interesting, slightly different book to read, with christmas and all that, I would recommend a book titled 'Wreckers' by Bella Bathurst. Its a book which chronicles the history of wrecking (the deliberate or accidental occurence of shipwrecks and the people who would plunder them) around the UK. The books chapters go from region to region, with sections on the history of wrecking in the scottish isles, cornwall, kent etc. Its not a book full of dark tales of people luring ships onto rocks and basically acting as seashore pirates, instead, its more varied than that. It gives accounts of how a shipwreck landing on a remote scottish island could save the islanders from famine, of how quick and skillfully people used to be at getting to a wrecked ship, taking it apart while it was sinking and hiding the evidence from the authorities using rather clever means. Worth looking into, especially if your interested in the sea. http://www.bellabathurst.com/writing03.php Dave

Cheers Mark, I suspected that someone might have already slightly covered pollution, as i only really read the first two or so pages properly. I bet the whole climate change thing has something to do with it too. A rather big kettle of fish all in all, pardon the pun! Cheers Dave

Will look into it, cheers Dave.

Hello Id like to take a month or two out this winter/spring and volunteer on a residential basis on a nature reserve somewhere remote. I know the RSPB do a few things like this, as do the wildlife trusts. But does anyone know of any particular nature reserves in scotland or possibly ireland that might have use for a residential volunteer, or anyone know of any of highland estates which might do a similar thing, such as the places which have released beavers and the like. Id like to get volunteering somewhere wild and remote, like the scottish islands. The cold doesnt bother me too much. any ideas? I want to do these things while im still young and free! Cheers Dave

Hello all, skimming through the posts, it appears people are scuffling amongst each other on occasion, over the subject of recreational fishing for eels and their decline. I think this is missing the point a little, firstly, the old antis do enough scuffling over the subject of recreational fishing, but secondly, there is a larger point............ I think much of the problem behind reduced eel recruitment is not fishing related, but rather pollution related. It is this that you should focus on. I know there have been a few papers written on the subject of heavy metal accumulation in eel fat reserves, metals such as cadmium and zinc. These effect the energy resources of eels, by acting as hormone mimic, fooling the eels endocrine system into thinking it is supposed to put more energy more into reproduction etc. I am only familar with a small amount of the literature on eel threats, in an academic sense, but I know the problem isnt based on over fishing. Look at these links, rather than thinking its due to angling practices, with all due respect. Look mainly at first and last links http://www.sciencedirect.com/science?_ob=A...1b5912c9917894e http://www.sciencedirect.com/science?_ob=A...f6eb3dcd414bf95 http://www.ingentaconnect.com/content/iafp...000010/art00039 http://www.sciencedirect.com/science?_ob=A...cc8e54bb555927d http://icesjms.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/cont...tract/64/7/1368 http://www.int-res.com/articles/meps2003/254/m254p307.pdf If your interested search in Google Scholar, under the terms 'european eel management OR threats OR heavy metals' Cheers Dave

This reel is classed as a Lever drag type, rather than those multipliers with the star type drag. Having looked at the going rate for such reels on ebay and similar places, I think a price of £25 is about right. dave i have tried to attach some image files too.

Hello, I have in my possession a Policansky boat reel, no 4. It is a large reel, suitable for 30-50lb class gear was originally used for shark fishing off west wales. Its quite old, but very well made and in fair condition. If anyone is interested email me on davetompkins20@hotmail.co.uk it is of no use to me, as I only ever fish with light gear. I can send you a picture if you want. Cheers Dave

Cheers nick, I will give it a go, using the upstream nymph I think. Wont be too bad if I dont catch, just nice to try somewhere different, fish are just a bonus! thanks dave

Hello, I have access to a stretch of the River Lugg at moreton, near hereford. How does the river fish for trout at this time of year? Ive never fished it, or seen it, but realised I have access to it on a club ticket. Cheers dave

Cheers Rich, I think I may go along there when we get the next set of mild weather, some southerly winds. Maybe from the bank, or i might take a 12ft rowing boat. Mainly for pike, but wouldnt mind going for ferox trout too, trolling trout deadbaits for them. I will have a look at the place on google earth. cheers dave

Ah, good good. Rich, as your in the area of north wales, would you happen to know anything about the accessability of lake bala for fishing? I have a small boat I would like to take pike fishing. Was just wondering if you might know anything about it. If anyone wants any info from me for fishing in my area, just ask. Id like to be able to give information out as well as recieve it. cheers dave