Martin Salisbury

http://www.eelfishing.co.uk/art.htm can't stand them myself but woody's talk was inspiring. his drawings are amazing

I have a bic 252. I have just bought it from a friend and to be honest don't envisage using it very much but it was a good price. He used it on the oar or electric motor for float trolling. There is loads of room in it for one. It is flat bottomed as well. It has a wheel which means you can put your gear in it and wheel it in for launch. It goes on my roof rack but is probably just too heavy for one (well for me but i am a bit of a weed) I would only consider using it on the big lakes on calm days were the weather is settled and you are unlikely to be hit by a storm. Well worth looking at.

Just watched part 1 which was very interesting. It's that emphasis on fresh deadbaits again that brings me back to that initial question. Maybe I should have asked whether frozen roach from pike packs are worth using or are they a waste of time? Hopefully, Steve might be looking in soon and can expertly answer saving me plenty of rod hours in the process! Anyway irrespective of that I'll be trying for a few more hours again this evening.

I should have added that the water is heavily coloured and therefore lures probably not the best. I know I could try lures that rattle n vibrate but most of what I have read and experience says that it may not be really effective in such coloured water. It's also well stocked I'd be worried about foulhooking! Noodle I'm curious....see you soon Regards

I've really got a bee in my bonnet about getting a big perch at the moment. I have a commercial very close to home that I know must hold a big perch or two. In summer i've seen fry being attacked and there have been a couple(not many) of reports of big perch being caught although nobody really targets them. I've read Steve Burkes excellent articles and some previous posts on here. I'm using prawns and lobs as baits at the moment but I'm positive that the big perch are taking fish as their natural food source. I can't use livebaits and have read that fresh deads are the next best thing (but my fresh deads would could from the water I am fishing that doesn't allow livebaits so I can't really catch and kill from there either). If I'm to use fish baits what is my best alternative after livebaits and fresh deadbaits and if appropraite were can I source your recommendations from? Thanks in advance, martin

These sort of clips are popping up everywhere and whether you like it or not it's possibly the sort of medium that people are now using. The cost to produce probably wasn't that expensive either.

FYI: Thursday August 21st. at 7-30pm At the Waters Edge programme on BBC Radio Lancashire will feature the late Fred J Taylor MBE talking about his friend Richard Walker. Followed by Richard discussing the catching of Clarissa, The Magic Hat, his writing career, Baits, Recollections of his articles, finally his views on Water Authorities etc. Part 2 of the series will be broadcast Thursday 28th August at 7-30pm on BBC Radio Lancashire Fred Crouch discusses barbel fishing, Bruce Vaughan on Chub while the later Len Head talks about tench and river fishing in winter and finally Mike Harris discusses Roach Fishing. At the Waters Edge programmes can be heard via the internet www.bbc.co.uk/lancashire click on listen again then clock on At the Waters Edge all programmes can be heard for 1 full week

Hi Rob, I've used the enterprise sinking hemp as per the hyperlink above. Its magic stuff and have done well with it this year. Years ago I used to bait heavily with hemp but would struggle to get bites. Using this stuff over the top hair rigged with a bit of pop up corn to counteract weight of hook has worked well. It is tricky to hair rig but I use fine mono and a small sewing needle. I use a small black bead as the hair stop. I'm not sure how well it will work direct on hook.

Log on here and post your views. Bottom right hand corner, takes less than sixty seconds and all you have to is request they bring back the fishing. www.bbc.co.uk/lancashire/sport/index.shtml I bit my tongue and didn't make a wise crack about it being replaced by ice hockey! I can understand fishing not being everybody's cup of tea but ice hockey!! I have a direct email into a sports desk producer. I was very tempted to post it on here so people can vent their frustration direct but with it being a public forum I will refrain for now.

Thought I'd bring this to your attention as it can be accessed from anywhere via the web: BBC Radio Lancashire Honours Fred J Taylor MBE BBC Radio Lancashire's At the Waters Edge programme on Thursday 19th June at 1930 hrs is dedicated to Fred J Taylor. It will include interviews with Chris Tarrant, Len Arbery, Dougal Grey, Marsh Pratley, and Pat Marston - Walker, Peter Wheat and others. Put this in Google. .bbc.co.uk/lancashire .scroll down the screen right hand side to. Listen again, click on this. It will then bring up a list of programmes click on At the Waters Edge Any problems contact Lynette Horsburgh lynette.horsburgh@bbc.co.uk Web Producer www.bbc.co.uk/lancashire

I have been using a cunning little rig with the artificial hemp and so far have had tench, bream and a pb rudd. I will do a little article with pics etc in due course. Incidentally, I stuck some golden syrup in my hemp last time out and failed to catch a tench for first time this season. Think I'll go back to chilli-ed!

Been using some 'chilli-ed' hemp for the tench but had been wondering whether a nice sweet addition might be better. Just been reading one of the monthly's that recommends addition of salt for bream. To save some time on experimentation (need more fishing time) I was wondering if anyone had any clear preferences based on results. Thanks

That sinkbraid is just the business and at the weekend I had a lovely 4lb 10oz tench that looked so much bigger. I followed that a couple of days later with two more of about 3.5lb and 2.5lb. I had plenty of fish feeding in the swim. Think I need to play around with bait selection and hooklength a bit more. Thanks martin

Has anybody got any experience of using the Polaris floats, do they work on a similar principle?

I have some silkworm and will have a look at the sinkbraid. Its a gravel type bottom but unbelievably clear. I am already using the fake maggots etc but know I need to play around with the hooklength with the key I think being shortening the hooklength - the proof of the pudding will be in the eating! With such a short hooklink I suspected I had to move away from the flourocarbon/powerline/double strength but still not mega confident using some braid. I might add a PVA bag of maggots n a touch of hemp as a focus as well.

I can see these fish at close quarters and can see them cruise in, tilt and then right themselves to digest a small mouthful of bait. I intend using small baits as I can see them picking up the smaller of teh morsels I am feeding and I think a 3 inch pop up might be too obvious. I was using a stonze weight but because of the fine hooklength I used a longer length than wanted and watching them feed I think a short hooklength might nail them. I obviously didn't want to use a short powerline hooklength but I am also reluctant to go to carp style heavier hooklengths. Thanks for the replies as it has sort or confirmed what I was thinking. I am using a 6lb mainline and softish rods (again reluctant to go higher at close range) and need a sort of 'mid range' hooklength. I will have a look at the 10lb braided hooklengths. The water is very very clear so I want my hooklength to be invisble and I have two variables that I can't seem to match - invisible but short hooklength!

Hi Kev, I was fishign a crystal clear water at the weekend and after several frustrating but fun hours fishing at very short range couldn't induce a bite. What sort of length hooklength do you find most successful with the helicopter rig? I am thinking of toying with some different hooklengths from 3lb powerline through to 20lb(ish not sure what i have in my tackle bag) kryston snakebite on a little hinge rig. I was wondering what others are using for their tench hooklengths?

My purchase was Bennetts of Leicester not Sheffield. Anyway as previously stated it was fine. Alan, what I really wanted was MJ's Chubbing rod but I don't think he will give it up easy and I wasn't going to fork out probs £300 for a one off custom made effort. Normally, I'm very placid and share captures with everyone but as MJ was haulin' on the River Wye I went back to my peg in a mega sulk. I decided I needed a rod to match and ordered the Grauvell - sulk number 2 when it arrived and wasn't exactly like MJ's version. Anyway after spitting my dummy out on the Wye I landed a pb chub good enough to grace the front of Anglers Mail and I've had the Grauvell out on the Ribble for a few hours Sunday and although no fish its action loooked spot on. The rod is just gonna fold beautiful when i get a chub bite. All is rosy again!

Yes, I was after a Grauvell 1lb 2oz specialist test curve rod and they had one in stock. I do a lot of internet purchases but was a bit concerned as I had never heard of them and it went through to a weird HSBC payment page. All was hokey dokey and rod turned up well packaged two days later and I think it will be perfect for my chub fishing that it was intended for. No problems with them but only obviously only used them once.

Roddy Porter sounds spot on. I thought he broke the record by a few pounds though. I'm going to guess that it was about 1990? I would be grateful if you could dig out the article and confirm the details including where caught from. I know current was around 65lb + but I have lost touch a little so don't know precise details.

Hi, Just wondering if someone could help me out with some record carp info? Chris Yates held the record from 1980 with his 51lb 8 oz fish. When was his record broken and what was the weight of the then new record? Any idea who caught it? What is the current record? From where, weight and captor? Thanks in advance Martin

Hi, I think I've decided to get myself a smartcast for depth finding. I have done a quick search of the forum but there aren't many up to date threads with my questions. I was just wondering whether they are worth it ?(I guess so as I have a fixed fish finder on my boat and use it for depths not finding fish! and its very useful) I wasn't sure whether they would be quite as effective being used on a rod. Does anybody have any experience of wrist , rod fixed and portable receivers? Which one is the most convenient? Thanks Martin

Good day everyone I fished Redmire for a week with Dougy Wood and the late Len Head in 1985 We paid £750-00 for the privilege in the Carp Society auction for the first week of the season. I used my MKIV rods, Mitchell 300 reels 1953 vintage silver paper indicators and soft paste baits. It was the most exciting experience I have had in my life. I didn’t even use a bivvy, just an umbrella. During our stay I cooked breakfast, served sandwiches and tea for lunch then cooked a full three course dinner each evening with wine. It topped my visits to the Arctic Circle fishing for Char or living in the Amazon jungle. If you have the chance to visit, don’t take bite alarms, radios, mobile phones etc enjoy peace and quietness, the history of the place and walk in the footsteps of giants. Kind regards Martin James

My small offering http://www.anglersnet.co.uk/index.php?news=701

Me? I'm still here looking in with plenty of info to look through and work at. Got some emails too, thanks everyone for your help. I only have flights at the moment so need to sort hotels, transport etc etc etc and tie this all in with some fishing. It's also actually my second honeymoon (had a few days in Rome at the end of May) so need to balance the travel and sightseeing with the fishing. Not showing the new wife the thread now peopel have mentioned ants and snakes. Also have work that takes up far too much of my fishing time ............................