Andy Thatcher

Not sure about the boat Newt. Have been looking a bit at the local St Johns River more than lakes.

Think it should be pretty good as it will have cooled down, for here. Only just starting to investigate what is available close by and the options are pretty impressive either on the local St John's river, heading out towards Titusville or one of the thousands of lakes but guess you know that. Hopefully will have some solid options by January. Hope you have time to meet up and say Hi

Plenty down here near Orlando. Drop me a line if you want a few local contacts or do a search on Mosquito Lagoon

Well I do my best but things tend to get a bit mouldy but the time they reach Hertfordshire from Orlando

I would steer clear of Vanish. I have had problems with this in the past and to be honest if you want hit and hold line I would go with a tried and tested one like GR60 or Big Game. Both are great for that. If budget is a consideration have a look at Daiwa Sensor, cheap as you can get and also a good line.

Yep. Mice accounted for 3 cork handles, 1 bedchair mattress and a couple of nets I noticed when moving out of my old house Trouble is that all my stuff is now in my aunts garage awaiting to be shipped out here so gawd knows what damage will be done by the time that happens

Had a few social trips there over the last few Closed Seasons. Nice easy access and comfortable pegs but apart from a social don't think I would pay it much attention. As for the alleged 30's they have been in there waiting to be caught for at least 4 years, ermm still waiting.

The Barbel Society are offering their not inconsiderable support to our efforts by way of providing their fantastic Sutton Fishery on the Trent. So if you are free on the weekend of the 26th/27th February pop along to the BFW Shop and buy yourself a ticket and I will see you there.

Den, Not hassling people mate just letting people know. If you have done what you can excellent good on you !

But could you get a new Harrison rod for £5.20 or any of the other prizes ? This is not about the winning but the contributing. Thankyou Elton ! [ 01. February 2005, 10:32 PM: Message edited by: Andy Thatcher ]

I moved away from your haunts last year so know it quite well. The Ouse is about 30 - 45 minutes away. A closer option would be the Lea at Wheathampstead. Either the free stretch behind the Bull public gouse of Verulam club. Why did I move ? Got bored of the 45 minute journey so have now got it down to a 2 minute walk if needs be !

Pop down the A10 to Simpsons of Turnford. About 15 minutes from Ware. As for what maybe Mainlines The Grange ?

If you want to join a club Verulam has the upper Lea fairly well covered around Wheathampstead but there is a free stretch there as well behind the Bull pub. Nothing of any size but usually a few bites. Lower down around Hertford is worth investigating. I had 12's there 8 years ago and they were not old fish so should have grown on but due to me and the guy I used to fish with having moved I have lost touch with what is happening.

I see 20lb Power Pro has been mentioned and that is what I have been using for a few years. As Newt says it cuts through reeds and weed easily and has never given me a moments grief in any aspect. Would I go back to mono for the rivers ? Haven't met anyone big enough to make me yet. That said there is one species that I use mono for. Namely perch. Mono gives you the cushion you need to ensure the hook stays in place where as I have noticed losing fish when using braid.

Owner released a similar hook in the UK in smaller sizes that I played with for a while barbel fishing so using a hair rig. Stopped using them after the 3rd fish when the hook had somehow worked it's way through the lip twice. Sorry but once is enough and if you lost a fish with any line then tethering is a possibility.

Used to use them but that was yonks ago mate !

I went for a couple of years on the bounce but had to miss out last year. If you can go do it ! It is a good laugh and as said loads of money raised which is really the important part of the event.

I took the exam whilst living in Germany. OK it helps speaking German. It is not awarded as such just an exam you can take and must pass to be able to legally fish or even join a club. You are lucky Peter as I tried to show a UK License and was laughed at ! Get in quickly to see if you can get an Fischereischein with it. The key notes have been hit as regards to the official line on catch and release but one area has not been mentioned. A lot of Germans indeed most Europeans being mainly land locked compared to the UK actually enjoy eating what we consider to be coarse fish. To us it is an anaethma but we have always had the alternative of relatively fresh sea fish. Having said that the laws are draconian and in Germany you can forget the myth that Europeans ignore their laws. If it is on the statute the Fluss Shutz Polizie, River Protection Police, will have you. I am still in regular contact with friends over there and things are changing amongst the anglers themselves. I have mentioned this on another site but if you buy one of the weeklies you might not need a translator if you buy UK magazines regularly. Names like Marsden, Cundiff, Bowler etc are all regular contributors. The articles are directly translated to German without editing for the German market so our attitides are well known and especially amongst carpers and now starting amongst barbellers. Catch and release is being very, very, very quietly practised by a few. Have to admit to being something of a tree hugger myself but Leon is spot on when he say that we need to keep our eyes on the political situation.

Get up to Bungay Elton. It is a good days pleasure fishing. Either that or fish the Deben. Not sure but I think Woodbridge club has given up the rights to Wickham Market stretch. If so or if not there area some nice roach to just over the pound and perch to the same weight. Given the choice I would and used to head for the Waveney !

The attraction is that they fight like nothing else. Absolutely awesome is the only way of describing it. On the bank the behave impeccably. The downside ? They do look like overgrown tadpoles !

Done

Thanks for reviving this Elton. Was thinking about a quick weekender

Agree with Rob 20 is still a respectable fish. Might be more of them but that doesn't change the pleasure of seeing the scales go round to that mark for the first time.

Not bad but I went for one of those cheap kilo freezer bags of corn in the bucket and deposited the mollasses over it and gave it a good stir. Best doen whilst the corn is froen as it will start to take in the mollasses.

The Medusa Rig I used was a pop up, be it boilie or poly/cork ball, covered in super glued maggots.