frenchdub

Hi there, Even small cats will wear through a 45lb braid. Catfish hooklink doesn't have to be hugely expensive, but get a good dyneema braid, of at least 45kg, what ever size you fish for. Any less will see you lose fish. Qucksilver is just not up to the job. Ton up is good stuff and not over kill .. otherwise give Catfish Pro a call or check their website, I got stuff from them for an Ebro trip which was good and not overly dear. cheers Gareth

Cheers Steve, I've a few reviews of gear I own on my blog, that might interest you... check out the link below my post. cheers Gareth

Hi there I looked at the Korum when I was in the market for a rucksack, but found it way too big for my needs. I know what I'm like.. if it will fit i n the bag I'll carry it, so the pack ends up weighing 20kg. I opted for the Fox Specialist rucksack. Its fairly compact about 35l and easily takes all the gear I need for a day. Pros: Small, compact yet well laid out. I prefer a rucksack to a shoulder bag Lots of pockets, (large front one will take a Fox box)., and fairly spacious main compartment Nice carry handle Good quality buckles and zips... so in all looks fairly robust. Neat straps & buckles for a roll up unhooking mat. Waterproof base Very good price too. Cons Could use more padding on back, if my buzz bars end up at rear of main compartment they dig in my back. Same goes for the shoulder straps. While I don't find them uncomfortable, they would be better with more padding. Shoulder straps could do with a sternum straps (which I added) to stop them slipping off your shoulders. Waist belt is a bit high and unpadded. All in all I'm very happy with the pack... cheers Gareth

I've not fished in South Wales for many many years, but used to live there as a kid. Other than the Taff which does hold some decent fish, chu & barbel too... My mates used to catch mullet down behind the Castle.......In your place I'd head up to the Wye area though. You have some excellent fishing out that way with the Monnow, the Usk & the Wye. I think I'd concentrate on the Wye if I was still in Wales, as it has some excellent fishing especially barbel these days. Its fairly easy to reach too from Cardiff as the roads are good and the traffic easier than some areas of the UK. Can't offer any specific stretches as most have changed since I was last there, but I'm sure there are clubs, syndicats & day tickets to be had. Even Ross is only about 90 mins from Cardiff. cheers Gareth

Hi there I fish with a Method feeder for 90% of my stillwater angling these days. I find it is a deadly short session technique. I've recently started to use the ESP mega Method feeders in the XL 70g size, and they are absolutely brilliant. I fish with a mix of various pellets of differing sizes from 2mm to 7mm (carp, betaine, halibut etc). I wet these down with a little hot water and leave to stand for 15 minutes or so. Once the have taken up the wqater to make a sticky mix, I adjust the consistency by adding more dry pellets or ground pellet powder (just ground up in a coffee grinder). I then add some crushed biolies and perhaps some hemp or sweet corn. I fish this with a short hooklink 10 to 15cm and a 14mm fluoro pop up. When you mould the pellet around the bait it give a perfectly formed feederful, that casts well, and offers a devastating presentation with a pop up sat right on top of the feeder. I've had carp to 36lb using these feeders, but they also help you get other species like tench & crucians. Regards Gareth

Hi there I've a Barmah Ozzie floppy hat, I bought a year or so ago over the net... mine is brown leather, but I've worn it in rain & sun and its a brilliant hat. It serves as well as a baseball cap in the sun, and stops sunburned ears. In the rain it keeps even the heavist downpour off my glasses and hair. If the surface of your hat is smooth, I'd do like I do and wipe it down with some G Wax and a cloth. This not only keeps it supple, but acts as a very good waterproof barrier. I've done mine about 4 times since the spring, and this year has been very, very wet. I think also these floppy Ozzie bush hats look better with a worn battered aspect. As with all outdoor clothing it was made to be worn... cheers Gareth

hi there No not a technique I've tried. There are lots of flints and mussel beds and snags on the rivers I fish, I've already been cut on a run. I'd be too scared of it getting snagged up all the time. I always try to keep my rigs as immobile as possible for that very reason. It might be worth a go on the smaller more intimate rivers but the Marne, Meuse & Seine are quite big rivers. That said since my mates let me in on their latest techniques for the Severn, Trent & Dove ie: Halibuts I've not really looked elsewhere as its been catching so well. Regards Gareth

All the best with your quest for barbel. I think you'll find its pretty pioneering stuff, and you'll not get much help from local anglers or tackle shops. No one in my area directly targets barbel... Most will tell you they get caught on live baits or supple lures, that you should use cheese and maggots. Naturally all will catch fish, but if you are the first to tackle stretches with a feeder filled with pellets (timebomb style) and use a hair rigged halibut, you'll no doubt get right in amongst them. Pacific peche online, does some reasonable heavy cage river feeders, as my local tackle shops only stocked wimpy little 25g & 35g jobs. The Marne has needed 150g at times. If you grind up some small halibuts to use as ground bait and fill the feeder with that an dry pellets, the fish find it really quickly. I've slowly upped the size of my hook bait too, I started off with 12mm on a size 12 hook, but I've been using a 18mm pellet on a size 8 in an effort to limit the numbers of bream. These tactics have produced around 75 barbel to 7lb 8oz and numerous chub to just under 6lb since mid September. Glad you enjoyed the blog.. feel free to leave comments Good luck & tight lines Gareth

I know of Pescalis, but its a long way from me and not my type of venue. I'd be surprised if the rivers to the north or you don't hold barbel. The Loire is know to have them in abundance and the Vienne is a tributary of it. I know there are areas of France not known to have them and they do seem more numerous in the northern rivers, Seine, Marne, Meuse, Rhone, Aisne etc. I think part of the problem is that the French just don't fish for them, and the few that catch them accidentally are probably carp anglers, as most pleasure anglers fish too light to land anythng but a small barbel. I guess you'll just have to try modern barbel tactics to see... even if you don't catch babel you'll certainly get some chub, bream & possible carp. cheers Gareth

I'm certain there are barbel & chub in the rivers you mention. In the summer they are really not difficult to catch, and no one fishes for them, so in your place I'd just go out and try. All your local rivers have good heads of fish. This year as you've read no doubt, I've decided on a change from carping and set out to get some barbel. Tactics would work everywhere as they are really taken from those used by anglers on the Wye & the Severn etc. A large open feeder, filled with ground up pellets made into a groundbait & dry pellets. The most successful hook bait has been a drilled halibut pellet. During the summer I've simply been looking for a decent stretch of river, and fishing two rods on the crease. I cast every 10-15 minutes for the first hour or so to get some bait going in, then every hour after that or after a fish. Usually you'll get all sorts of knocks and taps as the fish find the bait and attack the feeder or pull at the hookbait. When a barbel, chub or carp gets hold of it you usally get a decent bite. I engage the baitrunner as I've had even modest sized chub pull the rod right round, and barbel virtually rip it off the rests. I think a few day sessions fishing a couple of hours in each swim and you'll soon find out the potential of your rivers. Barbel are often the first fish onto the bait and if they are there I usually expect to get a fish within an hour. Bonne Chance Gareth

Hi Steve, Thanks for your comment. Thought I'd write a blog about my general fishing in France. Naturally it includes carp, but for most that's all anyone talks about over here, and there are loads of specimen fish to be had of many species and not just carp. Regrds Gareth

Hi there I recently started my French Fishing Blog I've been after a few species this year and its been great fun. Please feel free to comment. Cheers Gareth

I have used the original Viper since it came out, and it is a roomy one man. I have used it with two bedchairs and the Winter wrap, but the ends of the bed chairs stick out pas the zip in front, so in fair weather its ok but in the rain - not really. Looking at the photos of the new version it doesn't look any bigger, so I'd hazard a guess that it would be a squeeze. The back slopes quite steeply so your head is very close and you can't sit up on the bed. If you put the beds side ways one guy will be stuck in the back of the bivvy...ok if the one at the rear isn't fishing. Personally I'd go for a larger Trakker type 2 man.. cheers Gareth

Hi Kes, Gis a call if you need more info... cheers Gareth http://www.croixblanchelakes.com

Ok cheers Elton: Croix Blanche Lakes Rob: Not sure either if qualifies as a runs water or if such a thing exists. But anglers using pellets have managed to get a good number of cats in a week and some big ones too. And we are only 2.5 hours from Calais. Cheers Gareth