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Balls, if they weren't so slimy I'd have got my camera out. Maybe it was an albino? Can't tell because they've got red eyes anyway.

I caught a silver tench at Frank Lakes on Saturday, are these common at all? I've seen golden tench but never silver. It weighed about 1.5 lbs (sorry, no photo). Also, I deep hooked a few bream using waggler and luncheon meat. I didn't think I was particularly late on striking but what's the typical pattern of a bream bite? Should I have struck at smaller movements? Ah well, thank God for barbless hooks. Cheers

Ah, thanks all

Hi all, I'm thinking of buying my brother one of those leger/float rods with the split sections enabling you to fish quiver tip or a float tip. Any opinions on these or would I be better off buying a fit for purpose? Ta

So apart from me, mink, parasites, old age, predatory fish it was in quite good health.

On the last day of the season I saw this bream floating around my swim, not quite dead but just about, when it came near enough I hauled it out and put it out of its misery. It had a parasite on its fin. Did parasites do it in?

I'm ambivalent to this and can't work out which side of the fence I'm sitting on. On one hand if the river was overpopulated with pike to the detriment of the trout then maybe something should be done - however would the larger pike not predate on the smaller ones rather than loads of jack be swimming around snapping up the trout fry. What would our attitude be if we killed all the lions on the Serengeti because they were killing too many gazelle - uproar. And why should trout be more important than pike - simple economics? God forbid they start culling chub as well. And where do I go to start catching these chub?

Sorry mate, I don't think so either. Boo! Nice fish though. as much as I'd like to claim a 2lb perch my biggest is only about 1lb 8oz. Must get out there more.

I had the dubious pleasure of watching pike try to take every fish bar one small chub I hooked today. I was fishing a very small outflow from a lake on a ledge about ten feet above the water using worm or sweetcorn. The first roach got swiftly grabbed by a small pike which wouldn't let go but eventually bit through the line. The second two roach were both taken by a much larger pike, the first one it got straightaway but the second roach was a bit more wily and the pike missed once but then took it on the surface with a huge surge and a shower of scales erupted from the water. Obviously I tried to bring the pike in but on a 2lb hooklength in fast water this would've been quite a feat and both times the pike let go enabling me to net the fish. The last roach was looking very worse for wear and a few minutes after being released there was a lot of splashing in the shallows as the larger pike finally got its meal. I think I'm going to have to go back with some trace and a spinner or deadbait to catch this one, a very large fish for the size of the water.

* applauds * Well done Mark, will join soon.

When I first starting going fishing in my early teens (late 80s, early 90s) it was often to the Wandle in Beddington and there was a healthy head of roach, chub and even trout in there. Wasn't the best fishing but a great spot to go to cut your teeth. I am gutted for all of the people who've put in solid work over the years to clean the river up and to restock it in an attempt to restore this historic river. I'm angry that it has happened and only hope that severe penalties will be meted out. Tragic.

The guys at John's Tackle Box in Friern Barnet did a great job for a fiver on a rod that my wife blundered into whilst panicked by a wasp. Can't help you with the numptyness though!

Left my rod unattended whilst I went to help a mate and turned round just in time to see my rod take off. My despairing dive just missed and all my gear got towed off by the boat in whose prop my line had got tangled. Another mate was playing stupid and hooked me in the nose in Leatherhead town centre. Cue him trying to pick the hook out of my hooter whilst the townsfolk looked on confused and disgusted.

LOL, that'll teach me not to re-read.

Arf! My garden backs onto a park with ponds and duck rape has been spotted a few times. My wife sometimes chases the males off. Also seen one eat a pretty hefty frog. Lovely.