andyml

I'd recommend NOT buying Fox digital scales...I am very unhappy with mine. Can you believe they don't have on off switch?.....They also have to be returned to Fox each year for calibration - who knows at what cost and how long turn round might be? Oh yes..they dont like working in rain either! steer clear.... <')Andy<

Hi Folks, I wonder if anyone can help me? A Dutch friend of mine is trying to source a pair of Kevin Maddocks Carbon Formula 2 11' 3lbs t'c rods in good condition (KMCF2). From the spec I can't imagine that many of these rods were sold but if anyone has some to sell or can recommend another site, apart from ebay, i'd very much like to hear from you. thanks in advance <')Andy<

hi folks, futrher to my previous posting i feel that the tench, on this pit at least, are responding to longer day light periods rather than absolute temperarures.... but u gotta have a bait in the water. rgds <'))Andy<

hi anderoo, i'd have to agree with that article...i fish a large thames valley pit which has been producing tench steadily for the last month......best i've seen on bank went 9:02..i had a 7:08 female. it might be true on this particular pit that the fish are in tighter groups...i expect them to be caught from more swims as the season progresses aren't they beautiful?.... tight lines <')Andy<

djfwest, pop into harefield tackle - they should have the relevant paperwork for you...joining the river in no way gives access to nhwas' lake. brgds <')Andy<

hi manni, thanks for the excellent description you gave for making cage feeders....it's always rewarding to make your own tackle. what part of france are you from? tight lines <')Andy<

rich, you coukd try the palomar too... tight lines <')Andy<

Hi guys, thanks again for your input...much appreciated. I will definitely take on board your advice about keeping trace strands parallel in the bore of the crimp and have to agree with Steve B about the superior suppleness and anti kink properties of the 49 strand wires... in my case I've only used Wychwood's but really like it. I was having problems getting the wider section trace through the crimps twice but made a few more rigs up this afternoon and had very little difficulty. tight lines <')Andy<

>>Anyone else seen anything quite like this....?<< Hi Jim... yes i have ...in Holland. Herons often stand next to anglers waiting for a titbit...i've fed a few myself when on the quiver. I'm also told that when the Dutch Canals freeze over in winter the herons come to the market squares in towns and are fed on herring from the wet fish stalls by people who take pity on their hunger. By the way...did we ever meet in Chicago?...at one of the Carp Classics run by the Chicagoland Bank Anglers in the 90s?.... tight lines <')Andy<

thanks for your responses guys..... in fact i do make my own traces and have been doing so for many years - perhaps i should have made this clearer. i was just so disappointed at how this particular rig failed (on a crimp)..it was fox's 20lb wire...i prefer wychwood's forty-nine strand wire although it's a little more tricky to feed through the crimps. i am keen to know which brand trace you use... thanks again <')Andy<

Hi Folks, having had a pike trace fail in a 17 pounder's mouth the other day (luckiliy after landing) I am interested to know what other pike angler's prefer for deadbaiting?....this trace was retailed by a major brand and rated 20lbs b/s I have been very impressed indeed by some whychwood trace wire in my tackle box.... very supple with excellent anti-kink propertes albeit at the expense of increased diameter (which doesn't bother me) looking forward to hearing your suggestions brgds <')Andy<

>>Used to be plenty of carp around where it joins the Thames in Kingston... << pike too!.....you may also have heard recently that at least one of RDAA's nice mirror's from Whistley Mill (Twyford, Berks) has turned up in an EA electrofishing survey at Kingston Bridge....apparenty displlaced by the recent floods...how many locks has that had to swim through i wonder.... tight lines all <')Andy<

goosequill >although I fear a large number of carp have found their way into the Thames via the Windrush from the numerous pits in the area. << hmmmm interesting.....i'm an associate member of rdaa and regularly fish sonning eye (just downstream of reading) . since the flood we've been catching lots of small "pasties" in this enormous (300+ acre pit) which we weren't catching before...some have significant mouth damage as if they're from a commercial somewhere....almost certainly flushed in to sonning after the thames broke it's banks.... what we're not sure of, of course, is what might have got flushed out!!!! tight lines all..... <')Andy<

goede dag, wotnobivvy sprekt u engels? tot ziens <')Andy<

hi folks, for what it's worth i have a canon G5 and it's batery life is phenomenal - unforunately it's sucessor, the G7, offers far less in that department. the g5 is a quality camera and if battery life is an issue for you why not pock one up off ebay? it's also one of the few cameras that allows you to swivel it's screen forwards for self portaits on wireless remote tight lines all <')Andy<

folks, >>I also ensure that the rod points more of less directly at the bait otherwise any movement can be absorbed by the rod top. This can make a huge difference to sensitivity.<< steve is so right...this also applies to any form of legering for what it's worth.....i prefer front bite alarms with my own home made rear drop offs and definitely NOT my FOX rear electronic alarms as their heads are way too heavy. tight lines all <')Andy<

....or order some online... good luck! <')Andy<

Hi Folks, I wonder if anyone here can help me? I'm just about to run out of my favourite boillie dip and need to get some more. It's made by the French company Starbait (website under construction) and is called Instinct Factor. I bought it in Holland a year or so ago and that shop hasn't re-stocked unfortunately - does any one know if their products are available in the UK and from whom? thanks in advance <')Andy<

Rob, >>I've never found a better Tench Groundbait than Sensas 3000 Tanches although I've not seen it for a few years now mores the pity.<< I agree...excellent stuff.....still available ...i've seen it in Hounslow Angling, West London and in Holland. brgds <')Andy<

thanks, guys, for your feedback.....makes sense too...i'll see how i get on again tomorrow tight lines <')Andy<

hi folks, i wonder if you guys can help me out? i had a very enjoyable afternoon bream session on a very large home counties gravel pit yesterday and landed 6 good sized bream between 4 and 7lbs after they found my groundbait. I also missed load of takes...even with the rod tip pulled right round i missed plenty ....it wasn't just me either. Another angler experienced similar difficulties. Is this an issue to do with hookling length I wonder?... I was fishing braid to a free running cage feeder in about 5 - 6 feet of water...Can't wait to get back...the bream were really beautiful...very dark fish resplendent in their spawning finery. My only regret is that I'm off to Holland for three weeks carp fishing in week week and will miss out on this water. grateful for any advice...thanks in advance <')Andy<

hi elton, i've been fishing in this area for many years and am not aware of any specific "children's" fishing clubs and, to be honest, reckon that it's going to be difficult to go fishing without a car it might be worth googling for Gerrards Cross and Uxbridge District Angling club (GXUDAS?) and Harrow Angling club.....also consider the Grand Union Canal....or the Thames... or suggest they speak to their LTS.... good luck <')Andy<

>>I found that carrying rods on a trolly was a real no no as they tended to make the whole thing top heavy.<< thanks peter, guess it'll shift the centre of gravity way upwards....i always use a quiver but with three rods, 'brolly,storm rods, net, six bank sticks etc it weighs quite a lot particularly if it's all soaking wet... i'll keep googling...but still favouring a trolley brgds <')Andy<

thanks for the feedback guys... i'm tending to favour a trolley but am not sure how i can securely load my rods if the lower platform is fully occupied with my rucksack... but will google the jrc barrow.... rgds <')Andy<

hi folks, i'm about to invest some of my hard earned in either a barrow or a trolley...i no longer fish night sessions and reckon a trolley is my best bet... i usually "only" take my rucksack, quiver, and chair but it weighs quite a lot and some of the furthest swims are a bit of challenge on the big pits... i'd be very interested in your recommendations .. thanks in advance <')Andy<