Meatballs

I never worried about the bag ( don't know where mine are!) as the rods were always in use so invariably kept set up.

Hi Dan I have two of these rods (an 11-6 and a 12ft twin tip version) although mine are rather old and I they have been such a tremendous buy. The Daiwa blanks have a good-all through- forgiving bend but plenty of power. I have used them for all types of fishing and cannot fault them. Have a good time with them. cheers Alan

Mixture of hook pulls and the pesky lilies. Those tench there really fight well. Only could get the bites close to the lilies or reeds. didn't want to know in open water.

Sorry Dunk'I'll give you some more mental torture. I had two day sessions last week on the KAPS stretch of the Beult at Yalding and ended up with a dozen tench between 4-6 lb along with the customary large roach etc. The haul would have been double had I not lost a load.

And don't forget your insect spray etc.

For info, I hope to be down there before you other guys arrive ready to provide with a welcoming cuppa. I also said to Steve that, if you guys want, i'm happy to provide welcoming bacon sarny but you will all probably be too anxious to get to your swims to worry about such things. By the way, tea and sarnies would be free. Meatballs

Hi Anthony It was in the silt. depth was fairly uniform so no real decernable slope. I did try the gravel and the slopes but got nothingas most fish seemed to be using the channels between the gravel bars. As said before though each swim is so differant. meatballs

I've never fished there but suggest you might canvas the local tackle shops. They should know about the ponds and might also know people who fish them meatballs

I've fished wingham a few times now and here are my hints. First comment would be to match your tactics to the swim you are fishing. Some will be better suited to close range and others to long. Equally some will be more likely to produce certain species than others. For example my swim last year had not been previously noted for it's perch and so it showed. Last year, I had a fairly even gully in front and fished a couple of rods at 40/50 yards on red maggot, in-line feeders and a small pva bag of red deads attached to the hook. This gave me three of the four tench including the 9-13. I fished worm and corn at times and had the other tench on worm and maggot cocktail. I lost one pike and had no takes from perch. Remember these fish do not see many anglers and therefore I would suggest keeping things simple. The main baits I will be using are red maggot (live and dead and aritficial), worms and corn (inc artificial). I might dabble a bit with halibut pellets for the bream. As for groundbaiting etc, the jury's out as better to spod or not. I did spod last year but.... As mentioned already, these fish do not see many people so can spook easily. It really would not be sensible to start spodding in the evening or at night as you could just spook the bream away for good. Your neighbour might not be too pleased either. As for spod /groundbait/stick mix etc. The Bream appear not to like hemp but of course the tench love it. As I will be doing this year, you could try baiting one area with hemp mixture and one without. Bream everywhere do seem to like fishmeal/halibut etc so that will be going into "bream" mix along with sufficient corn and dead maggots. Hope this has helped. One other thing. I hope to be down there before you other guys arrive ready to provide with a welcoming cuppa. I also said to Steve that, if you guys want, i'm happy to provide welcoming bacon sarny but you will all probably be too anxious to get to your swims to worry about such things. By the way, tea and sarnies would be free. Meatballs

Since the Autumn, I have been using Ultima power plus as hooklink (and now also as mainline) in all strains from 4lb up to 15lb and found it to be fine. I am also using Pallatrax Steamlink and found that to be excellant. Unfortunately it doesn't come in lower strength than 15lb

I will be trying my hardest to winkle out just one bream and that 10 pound tench from Wingham. Above all, whatever I do, I will endeavour to just enjoy.

Steve Like Lynn, you might find that some won't be able more than 2 days and that might just open up the chance for someone to fish one night. (Rob only made it for one last year and the jammy so and so had a Bream out!). That said it will increase the amount of admin and running around. I have booked at least the Friday off beforehand anyway to help you set things up so let us discuss separately whether you want more help earlier in that week. Meatballs

Hi Andy I agree with Lyn about asking your local tackle shop. always nice to have the feel of a rod first as well. As to the type well I am not one to try to double up and find one rod to do both float and ledger/feeder. I think the actions and the type of work they do are sufficiently differant to warrant two rods. I agree about twin tips though for ledger. As to make, all down to personal preference I have always found the Daiwa rods to be excellant and I still use them every trip (lake or river) even though they are up to 20 yrs old. I think you can still get them for less than £50. Meatballs

Are we sure that it is a genuine Angler as opposed to an anti pretending to be one. Easiest thing in the world to show how barbaric fishing is. Has anyone mailed the said Jiggerman suggesting he might wish to be more discerning with his photos?. Meatballs

I note you don't mention anything about how the session went. Do I take it that nothing was caught or is the jibe at Elton a bit of jealousy because he caught and you didn't?

I was thinking of a snooker rack myself but witht he attic being so low and joists in the way the only place I could set it up would be in the far side and difficult to get to. I've bought some right-angle wall brackets which think could be screwed to the beams to allow horizontal storage

Sorry Seph, internet down and then not much time to reply . Thanks so much for arranging this, - great experience. Also to Sue and Tony for their vitals and of course to all that were there - agood crowd. Amazing pictures as well.

Hi Guys I have been looking to tidy up my gear in the loft and wondered everyone else stores their rods.e.g. upright, lying down. etc In the old days rod bags had a loop by which you hung the cane rods up, I think to stop them warping. What do you think is the best for today's rods?

Hi Stinca I think there are some DT barbel fishing on the tonbridge stretch of the medway below the flood barrier but I have not fished it. You might wish to check with the local tackle shop or Tonbrisge APS. meatballs

Hi Mart I invested in a Drennan super specialist which extends from about 2 metres to about 3.5 metres I think. The extension is via a twist grip. I have been very happy with it and it covers all my fishing up to carp fror which I have a specific handle/net. Given the choice I would buy it again. meatballs

WOW, 500 hundred cases and £60,000 collected. That works out at £120 a case half of which goes in legal fees. How does this equate to maximum fine of £2500 and when has there ever been a fine this big. If the EA were really interested they would be pushing for higher fines which in turn would help fund people (inc those part time) to rein in those others out there. Good to see such a message but where is it being displayed? in tackle shops (didn't see it this morning) at places like Argos (what a joke that would be)?.

Add me in as well please (subject to health treatment not getting in the way). Cheque in post. Meatballs

Hi Boozle I can support Tony's choice as I bought one earlier this year and cannot fault it. Although I may not yet had a monster carp or anything it has landed tench to just under 10lb. meatballs

Have a good trip down Anderoo ( and that goes for everybody else). Hopefully I will have tales of huge chub and barbel from Throop as I will be hitting it tomorrow (and monday and Tuesday) but more likely the one that gets away or didn't bite. I'll join you in the centrepin novices club having just acquired an Avanta Pro. That is along with Spinaholics Anonymous. Meatballs

all rods shall be equipped with a suitable landing net I wonder whether this means two rods= two landing nets?