Andrew PI

Not worried about that now. That fish was enough to keep me going for a while. Hope to see you out on the bank soon.

Went fishing on the Bristol Avon today with Glenn armed with enough pellets to fill the river in with the one aim of catching my first Barbel. Managed to hit a couple of small chub, but then around 1 I looked away from my rod as I have a habit of doing, then turned back round to see it bent double then eased into the fish. After about 20 minutes, and at one point thinking I had lost the fish in a snag, Glenn did the honours and slipped the net under my first Barbel. We weighed it the net with Glenns scales which bottomed out at 11lb. Any thoughts on what it would have weighed. http://photo.apotterirwin.com/Fishing/

Which stretch you fishing Lyn?

Sorry to hear about your ankle Mark. Get someone to carry your stuff and you will be sorted. Not out this weekend but will be next Friday when Glenn B has assured me we will be going to a stretch of the Bristol Avon where the Barbal walk up your rod to you.

I love how its called an early payment discount as if it's some sort of special offer they run. Maybe they should do get two tickets get the 3rd free.

Best thing for all of us to do is to put the EA number in our phones and call them ASAP. Not when you are stood next to them otherwise you will end up next to the fish. As much as the EA are the ones to govern the whole thing it does come down to us to make sure that anything wrong is reported. They may not take any action but at least you have done your part.

Think there was a topic on here a few months back about the Wandle around the time that there was an article in IYCF with Bob James. I maybe able to dig it out for you when I get home and could see if I can scan it in and mail it to you if you want?

I would be up for this. Never caught a Barbel and it's on my to catch list.

Steve, the offer to allow us to fish at Wingham is a great one and something I wish I could take up. However a lack of money means there is no way I can even afford to get there. Would love to come along and just be happy to stick a float out and see what happens. Hope that I can make another time should it arise.

Just booked the day off. Not sure what I am going to be doing yet, but it will probably be a trip to the Bristol Avon. Whereabouts and what for I will decide closer to the time.

The main shop in Bristol is Veals so will pop in there and have a look. I have a Silstar Rod that I use for float fishing called the traditional Light line canal. Love using it and has enough power in reserve as I have had carp upto 15lb on it before.

I forgot about perch. Now I can't decide what I would want to go for. Decisions decisions.

Chris, if possible I would like to come along as well. Have spoken to Glenn before about fishing the Kennet aftter seeing some of the stretches when I went past on the train a while back. There must be some huge roach in there?

David, I have to say that rod does look nice. Is it only available online or do you know if I am likely to find it in any shops?

I like the sound of that. If it does happen can I have my name put down please?

I met JW a number of years ago when I was a little nipper and used to live next to a film and TV studios. My dad who worked there at the time came home to tell me that he was there and I could go and meet him. Managed to sit there while they were going through some details for his series. Got to chat to him for a bit and he also gave me a tape of an upcoming show. Was happy to let me ask him loads of questions but I really wanted to ask him if I could go fishing with him for the day but was too scared to ask. Wish I had done. He came across as someone willing to listen always ready to offer advice.

Whatever gave you that idea then Glenn. Pole would work well but I would be scared of those pesky pike taking a roach. After reading an article in AM yesterday a guy on there managed to bag a 3lb roach on breadflake using liquidised bread and crushed hemp in a feeder. Think I will have to get some of that for the new season as I have just been using bread.

Couple of questions. I am looking to spend a lot of my time next season hunting down big roach. The river I currently fish is only 10-15 metres wide so am looking to get hold of a small bomb rod. Anyone got any recommendations? Also, my main bait is breadflake which I use the Drennan flake punches for. But I would like to know what hooks people use for fishing with flake when targetting Roach?

Not sure in this Glenn but I think the hemp has to be dried first before it can be crushed. Not sure the best way to do this but I am sure someone round these parts will know.

Those locals were quite entertaining. Not sure if they really did know that much about the area. Was telling me to fish right in the trees. When I said that it was full of snags and you end up pulling branches out all the times he just replied. "Its good fishing though". Maybe if you are a specimen twig hunter then yes it would be. Also, wouldn't have thought that snaggy swims would be the best place to target roach.

Steve, I reckon that bread has to be the bait for that stretch. You may have noticed just downstream of you at about 3.30 a buy came down to feed the birds. He does that every day so if you fish that swim a bit of bread is going to pick up some roach. The bridge just above you did look tasty for some chub. Will have to find out if there are any there. Maybe Rabbit will be able to shed some light on it. Its the road bridge right at the top of the stretch.

I will those Pike would leave me alone. Had one jump up in my swim althought it was only a jack then saw another when I tried to lob a slice of bread to a swan and has it landed in the dead weedbed a pike shot out from it. I reckon with the size of the stretch you should be able to cover it many times with a lure so a few pike should be on the cards.

Went fishing today with Glenn, Steve Walker and The Flying Tench who made a cameo down our way. Was a nice day apart from the chilling wind. Meant it was tough to register bites on the tip but still managed to pull out 4 roach upto about 1 1/4 lbs. The pike also made an appearance again but at least this time I didn't have a roach on this time. Looking forward to 3 months time when I can there again and sit in shorts and t shirt.

You could also buy a hooktie thingymebob. Think there was a topic on here about the different ones you can get. I got one myself and it takes no time at all to tie a hook on. Few goes with it at home and you will be a dab hand.

This is one of the problems with all forums. You can read all the posts above and not know who is having a laugh or who is being deadly serious. This then leads to people taking things the wrong way and situations getting out of hand. I can understand why the Mods have to lock or delete certain threads. Its fine to have healthy discussion but there comes a point were names a insults start being thrown around or abusive language is used. This is a forum that anyone can get onto so the mods have to bear that in mind when reviewing posts.