NigelT

Aerial Gem's are sought after reels. Should cost a bit of money. They are very good.

Phil, John has me on that one. I think I might have been an embryo when John first fished for barbel on the Wear. He has a good few years on me having learnt his trade with I Walton

Have a look at David Lumbs website. Good value for money and built on Harrison blanks. Plenty of rods in his range to choose from.

Keith, I've got knowt else to do at the minute. Hope I don't get banned before I join I'm not sure about the swan muscle thing, in fact I'm not even sure how good a bait they are fullstop. It was just a suggestion based on a few decent fish during a couple of seasons.

Phil, I think description of swan mussels was that they worked on one particular water (after pre-baiting, which is probably banned aswell). As for stirring things up - never. [ 08. January 2004, 04:56 PM: Message edited by: NigelT ]

"Over regulated fishery" too true, too true. Lobs it is then Phil, if they don't ban them aswell.

Not quite sure about some of the complaints about Redmire. I am sure some people would have double swims to take the latest seven man Nash/Fox et al bivvies and shower blocks. As Chris Yates said in passion for angling "they are even tidying up Redmire" When I fished Redmire, over ten years ago, it was the best fishing trip ever despite gale force winds, driving rain and a blank for me.

Might well be the secret lake but it ain't Redmire.

Jack Hilton I think (from memory) makes the point that it wasn't the problems that meant he gave up fishing it was that he found something better. Stange I know but I think that is how he saw it.

To be honest Glen there isn't a great deal of info in Carp Season about the exact reasons JH gave up fishing. He does say that alot of things were going wrong in his life and the more he tried to put things right the worse it got. I think he was always into religion but started to 'study' the bible a bit more and eventually found the answers he was looking for. Hope this helps. Nigel.

Issue number 24 July 2003. Price of back copies £6.00.

Stumac, All grayling in Scotland are introduced and non-native. Their introduction is well documented in angling literature. There are no grayling in the Tyne but there are grayling across the Pennines in the Eden, again they are introduced stock.

See what you mean Spindle, however I still tighten mine up with a tool as extra security.

Phil, No I had my sarcastic head on. Nobody wastes any time carrying out studies re; salmonids but is the same money ever spent in studying the decline of coarse fish stocks in certain rivers. Roach in the Tay, roach and dace in the Tweed/Teviot, dace in the Tyne and Eden.

Spindle, Doesn't really make that much difference the spool still comes off the same way whether it is the version with a drag or without (with a ratchet).

Andrew, Nothing to fall out, the spool will come off the spindle in one piece.

They should be doing a study to find out why coarse fishing has declined on the Tweed to such an extent it is non existant. Salmonids rule in Scotland of course.

You can make a tool to loosen the spool. I cut down an alarm key to make a wide/thin screwdriver type head, it works fine. Make sure you only loosen the spool rather than the backplate. If you loosen the backplate the spindle will fall out. The spool is the bit with holes (perforations) in it. Insert your newly made tool and turn anti clockwise to remove the retaining nut, remove the spool, clean the reel and re-oil with a fine oil. For a bearing reel like the AS sewing machine oil will be fine. Nigel.

Try Berkley XL, cheap, supple and durable. Nigel.

Oakbank lakes is run by Sid Boulter, he can be contacted on 01228 791108. Caters for carp anglers, lots of fish into 20lb. Hope this helps, Nigel.

Glen, I have a Chris Lythe Scotton Long Trotter, Paul Whitcher Avon Elite, Richard Carter Aerial Gem and an Adcock Stanton. You are welcome to any information. I am also thinking of doing a small article for a local angling clubs website.

Spindle, What is your CL reel like for Wallis casting, I presume it will be quite good. I sent some clock oil to Chris the other week as he was running out of his usual machine oil, I wonder what oil he used on your reel? Enjoyed the Wallis casting video, I must have been impressed as I copied it.

Spindle, I told you it would be worth the wait and that you would like it. Agree with the comparison with the Youngs and the CL, or rather there is no comparison. My CL reel is great to use and I still have not been able to scratch it, the black anodised finish is superb. If I had the money I would be tempted to have a new Paul Witcher but I would also want another CL reel. I have a Paul Witcher Avon Elite which is very finely made but I like the way Chris' reels have that handmade feel about them. I know some people don't like the fact that he uses screws instead of rivets or that his handles are quite large but I think his reels are brilliant. I know Chris has some new reels in the pipeline, I am really tempted again.

I have a Witcher Avon Elite which is a gem of a reel, especially for grayling fishing. However, I still think my Chris Lythe Scotton Long Trotter is great. If I had £500.00 to spare I would certainly Buy the new PW, but then again Chris is making other reels I would love to own. Oh for a sugar daddy!!

Hi Duncan, I have been out a few times but the rivers are in the fields at the moment. Didn't catch any sheep but I hooked a coo!! I will send you an e-mail.