Marginmaster

Folks, Isn't it national fishing weekend this weekend (shame about the weather) this is what its all about getting the kids inolved and enjoying the sport. Keep it up. Mates son and nephew coming out this weekend carping, but perhaps thats not the best way to start, I learn't so much from messing about on the local streams and puddles as a kid, but nower days it seems kids go straight into carping missing out on stuff like watercraft etc etc. Gonna take a float rod with me and until they can catch rudd to order (they will I know) they aint gonna touch the carp rods. S

Wondered why I hadn't seen the mother in Law in a while, good to see she emigrated

Many thanks Julian, thats really sound advice, I actually know the herdsman from the farm not far away, so I'll have a chat to him first to sound out how the farmer at home farm might react, and also try and find out why he stopped access as I guess it would be prudent to try and mitigate the possibility of the same happening again before I make the approach. I'm used to dealing with confrontation with the work that I do so understand what your saying by playing to the ego and not being afraid to keep working on him if he does get negative. I'll pluck up the courage and let you know how I get on. Again Cheers. Forums great thanks. S

Folks, Here's the second dilema that I would appreciate some help on. Fifteen years ago I fished (only once) a gorgeous little lake, about 2 acres surrounded by trees, duckboarding on one side big enough to take bivvies and a good stock of really pretty fish mostly mid doubles with a sprinkling of 20's. behind the Main lake was a small, but deep, stock pond, stuffed with what looked like the offspring from the main lake. Now for some reason the farmer stopped access shortly after my first trip. The lake is till there, the fish too, (late night camo adventure !!!) the duckboards have just about disintergrated and the stock pond still contains fish. I want to approach the farmer with a view to getting access primarily for myself, and would pay well for the priviledge as well as spending the time it would take to put the duckboarding back up and getting the place looking nice again (I enjoy that sort of thing so pleasure rather than chore). (travelling down to oxford costs a fortune in petrol anyway). I would perhaps consider a v small synidicate if the farmer was obliging. Now the question is, what's the right approach ? I think I write a fairly clearly, so was going to start with a letter, content similar to above, but then thought the direct approach might work better, then thought suited or booted, then thought aghhh to many thoughts. Has anyone had experience of making an approach to a land owner to try and access their water, I'd appreciate any advice ??? Stu

Just wish I had the clout to make some rule changes, but I don't so its using precious holiday from work and fishing midweek for me. I've got another question that I could do with some help on, but I'll leave it a bit, don't want to look like I'm posting loads only being a newbee. S.

thought it looked abit familiar.

Very interesting, I'm really pleased that this thread has generated some interest. I had never actually considered Angling pressure as a contributing factor in growth rates, but I think the argument put forward here is acurate. Gaunts lake on the Linear Guys Syndicate, now I have thought about it ,is a calssic example. The bigger fish seem to have reached their max ceiling weights, the two forties (had one of them, show off !)haven't varied in weight by much at all for the last few years and I think that sits in line with more anglers being on the pit for longer over that period, I certainly know that the fish turn off on a Friday afternoon as the cars roll along the gravel, then turn on again on a tuesday morning when the banks empty, perhaps if they had three morre days to munch they might start to grow again, but how do you spread the pressure when most can only do weekends, thats a question I havbn't a clue how to answer. S

Julian, Took a peak at your gallery, there's some lovely fish on there, the really dark common is a fish I would like to catch, not massive but a real wood carving. The picture of the lake with the four rod set up looks absoutley stunning and I would love to get the sportyak out again, I've not used it since I pulled off stoneacres (linchHill) a couple of winters ago, I take it its not in this country ? S

What ever you do don't sell your kit, I've heard of numerous people doing the same then regretting it.

Rob, Tend to agree actually, most of my fishing is done on the linear complex which as you probably know has had numerous stockings of Simmos, and although growth rates are impressive the fish seem healthy in the main and fight like tigers, but there is a common problem that I have seen with a number of the simmos an that haveing what looks like a rib sticking out (not breaking the skin) just above the vent, any ideas what thats all about ????? Stu

Folks, I was asked my opinion by another Carp Angler on whether the growth rates of fish, particualry the Simmos in the Oxford area was healthy or are we setting ourselves up for a great big fall in a few years to come as these fish grow too big too quickly. To be honest I didn't know how to give a response which was based on any fact, and only drawing analogies to the Human Race where the Obese are generally less fit and healthy than a preson of normal weight (Sumo wrestlers excpted). I then struggled on wether a big carp is actually obese, again no facts, so thinking of the fights I have had from some big Fat??? carp, I was thhinking Sumo rather than Simmo. So I guess Iam asking does anyone have any facts or evidence that supports a fat/big carp that has grown to 30lb in a few years on a diet of mostly pellett and boilie being healthy or unhealthy. I notice Jim Gibbinson is on the forum as we speak I'd appreciate your view. Stu

Save up and get a set of Daiwa infinity BR5500's, big pit and baitrunner, I'll not buy another carp reel again.

Go to the tackle shop in Enniskillen its on the other side of the river and ask them for the up to date info.

Hello mate, you can actually move the limp section to the other end of the leadcore by trapping the outer braid and inner core with your left hand (rod end) then pulling the outer back with the right hand so that the lead core pulls up to the loop, then realse the left hand and pull back the outer braid. If this doesn't make send I'll try and draw it for you. Stu

Cheers Rudd, you are spot on, over the last week or so I've been chubbing on the tiny river Blythe and had a four pounder on hook and hold tactics. Also took the fly rod out and had a few more chub, going to northern ireland next week to county fermanagh so will do some summer piking on lough earne............ the Buzz i back

You really need to prebait on Lough Earne if you want the tonn up catches that were reported in the late eighties. You could also phone up the tackle shop in Eniskillen, can't remeber the name but if you google tackle shops eniskilen upi should pick it up.

If any "Proper" eel anglers are interested, I had a fish of exactly the same weight from Catch 22 in norfolk two years ago whilst carp fishing, probably a water worth targeting.

Gozzer, You have got this wrong, no offense, but I know An EA Officer who was beaten to a pulp when he approached two eastern Europeans taking fish for the pot on the dorset stour. He never went back to work.Its happening and its happening a lot. These people need to understand and integrate with our culture if they want to live in this country. you don't see the Chinese going down the local Dogs home and having a few pooches for the pot so why should the eastern europeans be any different. S

Sounds like good angling to me mate, well done, and good to see the Paprika worked.

I don't hink adding food colouring to your breadcrumbs will do you much good, the red colour in Most branded mixes will be Robin Red, but this is expensive so as you are trying to drop the cost get to your local indian food cash and carry and you can get red pepper powder or papika powder does the Job well and proper.

[PGC, Many thanks for that....... S. Leaving work now for a half day chubbin !!

Folks, after three years of chasing I managed to pull off my dream of putting one of the Forty pounders from the Linear Guys Syndicate (gaunts lake) on the bank 6 weeks ago by design. 99% of my fishing has been on Linear waters over the last 12 years or so and there has always been a challenge for me to keep the passion going, be it the cats in St johns the Tench on unity chub on hardwick etc etc. I now don't know what to do, I keep scratching my head thinking what I can challenge myself with, but can't come up with anything. I think I'm going to have to find a new water but What do I look for, I just don't know ?? Has anyone else got to this sort of cross roads in their angling I'd love a bit of direction..... Stu.

There is a problem with the Wychwood Extremis reals, the freespin drag does not tighten perticuarly tight, so if you want to fish semi locked up on the bait runner you couldn't. I had a set of maximisers last year, they only lasted about six months bought a set of Daiwa infinity BR5500 and will never look back. Hope this helps.

Tony, How much would you pay per 10 rigs made. Stu.