Ferg

I agree. Unless you are just buying because its small and easy to carry I'd go for a feeder rod. There are some good value one to be had around the same price and they give you a much better chance if you hook into a big'un. Ask at your local shop. I always ask whether they have any second hand stuff that people have traded in for newer models. This way you can get maybe last years model at a cut price. I know of a few tackle shops round me that have are now doing this. Tight lines.

It depends on how far you want to travel. There is always Bradshaws Hall fishery in Bolton. Google for directions. Around Wigan there are a couple I have fished matches on, Wrightington produces some good bags of fish as does Charity Farm. Both are relatively easy to get to as they are just off the M6. Closer to where I live near Blackpool there are some good'ns. My current favourite is Highfiled Fisheries in Hambleton (again google for directions) It has a 3 lakes Ash which is small carp and silver fish, Beech which is predominatley carp to about 5lb and Oak which is the Specimen lake and can usually only be fished by prior booking (especially at weekends) Carp to 30lb. If you try it ask George the Fishery Manager for advice on method, he is always v helpful. The other one round here is whitmore which is just off the motorway at Junction 3 of the M55 (Kirkham turnoff again Google for directions). The last two have been producing really well of late and as a consequence are fairly well booked for matches at weekend so if you're coming from Manchester its always best to give them a ring to make sure you can get on. If you fancy the river there is always the Ribble at the Tickled Trout. Come off the motorway at Preston and you can buy Day Tickets from the garage next to the hotel. there is also a thread on this forum http://www.anglersnet.co.uk/forums/index.php?showtopic=66371 which allows you to put in your postcode and it will tell you of other fisheries near you (thanks to boozlebear for that). Hope these sugestions are of help. Tight lines.

One method I have found when using a method feeder is pack the feeder with the method feed (make sure there is plenty of particle bait mixed wih it ie corn, hemp pellets) which is mixed so it is quite hard (so it doesn't come out of the feeder when casting or sinking). Have some more method mix slightly softer, get a bit of this and mould it onto the feeder with your hook bait in it. When the fish (carp usually) start banging the method feeder the softer stuff breaks off first revealling the hook bait which is hoovered up. Don't be tempted to strike if your tip starts moving a bit thats just the fish banging the feeder. Trust me when you get a take you will know about it! I hope this makes sense. Tight lines

In the dim and distant past every monastery and nunnery had a carp pool. These were used for fish for the table as catholics in particularwere not allowed to eat meat on a Friday and fish was the only alternative. Before transport and refrigeration/freezing were introduced people away from the coast couldn't get fresh fish (or so I am reliably informed). Hugh Fernley-whithingthingy (the River Cottage man) as well as cooking pike also in one of his earlier offernigs caught and cooked a carp. Before he cooked it he had to put it in a massive bath of fresh water for about 3 days because he said that otherwise the flesh tasted very earthy (presumably from feeding off the bottom). The thing is, the lengths these people were seen to be going to make it edible probably put the average no-michelin star punter off ever trying to cook these fish

Yeh You shouldn't need to buy. Just go to any bank or building society and ask for one. I'm sure they will be happy to oblige.

Greedy Greedy Greedy. It will come back to haunt him hopefully. You won't go there again an through this forum others will know not to!!!!

Just found this recommendation from Mark Addy River Dee Farndon (free stretch) Contact : Chester Tackle Locker : 01244 345069 Mark says in the Angling Times "You can park behind your peg upstream of Farndon Bridge and if you fish a simple stick or feeder rig you can catch Roach Dace and Chub all day long on maggots" Mmmmmm may give it a try myself.

Yes, the Angling Times as been publishing free licences so you can take someone. The idea is that you put your licence number along with your friends name and address. It looks like it is valid for 1 person for 1 day between 19th and 28th of August.

Yeh I seem to remember it tasting of Jelly Beans

Probably with the 2012 Olympics coming up the Great Britain team need to be seen to be winning gold in order to get sponsorship for the games. I think thats why he was chosen. By the way has Dwane Chambers ever apologised. I can't remember seeing one.

Sorry. I couldn't review the links you had on this forum this afternoon as I was on my work computer and I have to watch where I point the browser. I was just reading Angling Times on my lunch and your plight came to mind. Be sure I will be more thorough next time

We were supposed to be fishing a match on Witherington Farm a couple of months ago and it had to be cancelled at the last minute as there had been a big fish kill (so the match organiser told us). Better to check before you go if that was the case.

If its shot and line thats the concern surely its imaterial as the water flow can bring it down from anywhere upstream of Worcester. Anglers and swans seem to have co-existed so far. One of the problems is people who feed swans/ducks in areas where people fish. This tends to make the birds less wary of humans and more like to go for a bait in the water.

Found this in the Angling Times this week www.pwneedham.co.uk Hope it gives you the details you need.

I use Stimswim green Get a bait box, put in some stimswim shake it level. Add water until the stimswim is just covered (add any liquid attratctors at this stage ie brasem) Leave it for about 20 minutes, you'll be amazed how much water the stimswim will absorb. Give it a mix and if its still a bit soft add a little bit of dry and mould into a ball. I sometimes do this an hour before I'm finishing a session as I don't like making it with tap water. If you do it this way put it in the frezzer when you get home and get it out the night before and its thawed in time for your session. This paste is quite soft so it needs to be put in using a pot. The best hook to use is a Kamasan 911 size 10 or 12. I've finally got this method producing good bags of fish but its taken me most of the summer to get it working properly. Good luck

A place I have been to a few times when I've been that way is Todber Manor. It has its own tackle shop for bait etc. Its in Wiltshire but I know we have been through Salisbury to get to it from Weston-Super-Mare. http://www.todbermanor.co.uk/ Good luck

Theres always the River. Local tackle shops should be able to give you advice on free or Day Ticket spots. Another place is Hampton Springs. Its a commercial but there is plenty of variety of fish. Check them out www.hamptonsprings.co.uk (be careful there are quite a lot of rules you can fall foul of). Tight lines

Doubt it. They only have them twice a year, usually in April then again in August. Look out for a similar event in the Angling Press. It happens again twice a year in Manchester. There must be one due soon. Its organised by Used Tackle and most of the same stalls are there.

Punched Luncheon meat left overnight in dark red food dye has been one of my killer baits over the summer. The carp and tench at my club lake love it. used to eat Bacon Grill when I was a kid but then I found a product called bacon. Its much nicer!!! (or it was until they started pumping it full of water and crap).

Know the guy from the tackle shop. Was hoping for some gems of wisdom from the guys on the net.

The first week in September I will be going to Ireland (luck me). I am staying in Einneskillen. Have been over many times before and I was just wondering if anyone had any reports of good or bad places they have fished over there (within say a 40 - 50 mile drive). Many thanks in advance

If you dont use bicarb soda to do your hemp don't forget to save the water. Its great to use when mixing groundbait as it has all the oil the hemp releases when cooking.

Hi I went to the tackle fair on Sunday. How do they do gear so cheap. I bought a new landing net and keepnet (Middy Commercial approved) for £15 a new weigh-in sling for my club (again commercial approved) for a tenner and all the bits and peices I need for Ireland next month (feeders hooks etc for another tenner. If I'd done this at my local tackle shop it would have cost me twice that.

Exactly my point, have it with you for emergencies only. Fishing is about relaxing. How can you do that if every man and his dog still has you at their beck and call.

Let me know Which canal What tackle have you bought? Presume you are pleasure fishing. Maybe be able to help as I have fished competeively on both the leeds liverpool & the lancy canal