Jigotai

I must admit that smile lasted a few days! You had a blinding day too, it'll be a while before we both do any better.

What a beauty! Well done Wayne.

What a great day, I do enjoy these fish-ins. It didn't start too well as I left my directions behind and couldn't find the ASDA supermarket, so missed breakfast. Luckily though I managed to find the fishery. On arrival I met Leon and as we discussed centrepins others started turning up and I handed out an AN pin to whoever wanted to test one. At first glance there was an air of approval but it would be later in the day when they had been used that I would find out if they had been a success. After loading up the truck with Rich and Anderoos gear we headed up to the top section. I'm sure they thought I was mad after we passed so many fantastic looking swims. There weren't many swims left at the top, as most of the popular spots were already taken, but we soon settled and got into fishing mode. I ended up in the swim I started off in last year, and after a couple of trots through I realised it was going to be a tough day with the pin as I started to struggle with the wind. I did well in this swim last year and even managed a couple of 2lb + grayling, but this year it wasn't producing, not giving me one bite. I moved upstream a little bit and soon connected with my first grayling of the day, all of about ½ lb, but it was a fish at last. After a few more of about the same size I decided to move upstream and managed to catch a small salmon parr and a few more small grayling. I lost a nice size fish that shot upstream then snagged me in the reeds on the far bank before I managed my first decent grayling of 1 1/2lb. This was soon followed by another of about the same size. The wind finally got the better of me and I headed off downstream to find some shelter. I found a nice bend swim, not entirely out of the wind but it looked a nice swim so I settled there. After a few trots through I hooked and landed another nice grayling of 1 1/2lb. What with the wind and the way the water swirled and eddied around the bend I was finding it difficult to get my float where I wanted, so I decided to set up my feeder rod with a maggot feeder. This made a difference and I was soon into a big grayling that with a quick flick of its tail waved goodbye to me just as I was bringing it the last few inches into the net. A couple more casts and I had another good fish on, this time I tried not to get too excited until it was in the net. As it came closer I could see the big set of lips of a nice chub. This one weighed in at 3lb This was the start of a nice little run of fish, my next fish being a grayling of 2lb 5 oz, an absolutely pristine chub of 4lb and then the icing on the cake, a pb grayling weighing 2lb 12 oz. It went quiet after that run of fish until the 3lb chub I caught a couple of hours earlier decided to visit the bank again. The light was beginning to go as I was joined by Rich and Anderoo. The swim had just started to liven up again and the next fish hooked managed to free its self. I didn't want to leave but unfortunately time was up and we finally headed off for some much needed bacon rolls and mulled wine. A great day, and as always with AN fish-ins, great company. Judging by the posts since the fish-in, it seems the AN centrepin was a success too . Here's a few pic's of the river. 1 2 3

Sorry I kept you waiting, I found it really hard leaving I was enjoying myself so much. Thanks for the bacon rolls and the drink at the end, they were much appreciated. Thanks also to Seph for organising another great fish-in. I'm a bit knackered a the moment so I'll post a full report tomorrow.

Hi Lyn, it certainly stands out! I've put some line on for you as well .

I couldn't let this thread go by without giving these reels showing.

Me too!

The restaurant opens at 8.00am I think, so I'll try and get there for then. If you follow me to the river make sure I'm following someone who knows where they are going .

If all goes well on the drive down I'll be at the ASDA for breakfast.

Hi Andrew, here's a couple of fish you are likely to come across in the dams. The top catfish I believe is what the Africans call Barbel and the other two are Mozambique Bream(I think these are the bream Kleinboet mentioned). I'm sure you'll be able to catch Tiger fish in the Zambezi as well as the lakes. Andy

I liked the look of the Asp in the 'Catch report from Holland threads' that Jerry posts.

Thanks for all the interest guys. All of the first batch are spoken for now, but I will still be taking names for anyone interested in the next batch. These should be ready in June. Andy.

If had the opportunity to go again, for my big trip I'd have to go back to Lake Kariba and the Zambezi fishing for Tiger fish. Lovely fish with a mean set of teeth.

Hi Peter, sorry I didn't get back to you sooner. I'm keeping a list of people who are interested in buying these reels, so if you would like one send me a PM and I'll put your name down. I only have a couple from the first batch that aren't spoken for, (the next batch won't be ready until about June) so you might want to get you're name down quick. Andy

Hi Gozzer, that's what I'm hoping to do, and the idea I'm working on is similar to what you have suggested. Chavender, I have pm'd you a drawing, let me know what you think. Andy

Hi Budgie/Leon, I didn't think I'd be able to please everyone, I doubt that'll be possible, but I do have a spool without the spokes that you can try at the fish-in. Out of curiosity, how many people out there take the handles off. If there's a demand I'll also make some extra spools without the spokes.

No probs John, you're not the only one.

Which ever one you decide to get , don't forget to attach the transmitter thingy to a wire trace as I nearly lost mine to a pike.

As some of you already know I am making these reels for AN. I have not posted too much about them myself due too the fact that I already make reel parts for somebody else and did not want to lose this work. I have now spoken to them and all is ok. The first reel was finished in time for Timsbury last year and with the weather we had, was certainly put through the mill. It performed well and even caught some fish. Since then I have been making ten more. These will be ready for the Itchen fish-in and some of you have kindly offered to test them. Any feed back will then be used to improve the next batch I make, which will then be sold through AN. The reel is 4 ½“ diameter and runs on two st/steel miniature bearings. The back plate and spool are made from machined aluminium then anodised black (or blue Lyn). The ratchet mechanism is polished st/steel and the foot is made from polished brass and chrome plated. And as you can see from the photo’s the handles are wooden. Pic 1 Pic 2 Pic 3 A lot of you have also mentioned spare and wide spools so I will be making these available too. The reel has no drag at the moment but after looking at some interesting sketches pm’d to me by Chavender, I now have an idea rattling around inside my head (must put it down on paper soon) that I am hoping to make as an option on later models. I will also be making a line guard as an option. Elton and myself have not yet decided on a price, but as Elton said earlier in this thread it's not going to cost too much. you will probably get two of these for the price of one of the more expensive reels.

Dant, you have a PM.

Here you go Andrew

Yesterday I finally got the chance to take up Anderoo's offer to go perch fishing on one of his local streams. We also had the honour of Richard Cappers company, who, after reading so much about his wingham haul and perching exploits on the Thames, I was looking forward to meeting. The day started out looking good being overcast and dry, but that soon changed when the sun came out, making it far from ideal for perching. Anderoo gave us a quick tour and pointed out some likely swims, and as it was my first time on the stream, gave me first choice of swim. There were plenty of good looking swims but I finally chose a swim that sat in a slack, just behind a bush overhanging into the water. I initially started to fish using a ledger on my quiver close up to the bush, but the only interest my bait was getting was from crayfish. I changed over to float but still found it hard going, even after scaling down and fishing with maggots only managed a small roach by about 3.30pm. With the bright conditions we were having and lack of action we were looking forward to dusk and the hope that our quarry would finally decide to feed. My first bite on lob worms came just before dusk and after striking was left with half a worm. This happened a few more times before I finally connected, only to wind in a pike that couldn't of been more than 1/2lb. I still felt confident with that spot and felt the pike had been attracted by the chopped worm I had put in earlier. With that I chopped up some more worm and dropped it in around my float hoping the perch would follow. About half an hour later with the light fading, I was putting some of my gear away when I noticed the end of my rod nodding. At first I thought I had knocked it, but when I looked at float, it was just resurfacing. Another missed bite. I re baited and cast back to the same spot and put in some more chopped worms and almost immediately got another bite. This time I was on it like shot and connected with what felt a nice fish. After a short battle I netted a lovely looking perch of 1lb 12 oz. Not the biggest of perch but as my perching lately hasn't been too successful it was very welcome. At last! they were in the mood, so with my bait back in, my confidence was on a high. I was not disappointed when, about 15 mins later my float slid away. I connected with the fish and straight away it felt heavier than the last fish. As I lifted the net out of the water I could see that it was larger than the last fish with a nice fat belly. My previous best was 2 1/4lb so I was keen to see if this one had beaten that. We weighed the fish, and at 2lb 8 oz I had a new pb. Thanks Anderoo for a great day, with good company and a new pb. Perhaps later in the year I can help you get a new Barbel pb with a return visit to the Lea.

Hi tinca, oops that was supposed to be a PM

I'm not sure how healthy a poisoned squirrel would be .

Yes