Steve Redrobe

"Tesco heavy duty black rubber kitchen gloves are perfect." They are indeed excellent. I have also used a golfing glove, to good effect, for many years.

Each to his own.

No, I wouldn't do it. I used to livebait about thirty years or so ago, but eventually realised the horror of what I was doing. Each to his own though.

I'd never go fishing with anyone who livebaits for pike.

Interestingly, during the thirty years from the early 70s to the early years of this decade, considerably more people died as a direct result of illegal parking than were killed due to the troubles in Northern Ireland.

Journalist interviewing Sir Paul McCartney about his failed marriage: "So, Sir Paul, do you think that you will ever go down on one knee again?" Sir Paul: "I'd prefer it if you called her Heather."

Good one!

Just pulling your leg

Well, it's comforting to know that.........I think.

At this point, I think it is only fair for me to point out that I am absolutely 100% straight and nothing, I repeat nothing, is going to change that. Having said that, I think it could be a good idea for the future. Three buddies, lure-fishing for pike from the same bank of the river Lea should produce some fascinating tangles, if nothing else

Yes indeed, Russell, I use lures almost exclusively these days. Many thanks.

Many thanks, Russell. I'm presently unable to view 'profiles', however I shall certainly give yours a good viewing, should I be deemed worthy to do so at some point I am familiar with the pits in the Lea Valley, but they are all a little inaccessible to me at present, due to my inability to walk very far. The river Lea around Tottenham, several miles south of Enfield, however, would be ideal for me, as buses run nearby. I wonder if anyone has fished for pike there?

Hello again, Unimexsol. I gave up on ready-made snap-tackle about thirty years ago, for similar reasons. Depending upon the wire trace and crimps available, I've often not bothered with knots, with no problems.

Thanks very much, Unimexsol. That's very kind of you.

Hello again, Budgie. I don't seem to be able to view your details yet. My email is steve@stephenredrobe.com Cheers, Steve.

Clickable: The Ripper

Well, I'm certainly pleased to read that, as I've never seen such a bunch of big girls' blouses in my life. Of course, another way of looking at it - and, sadly, probably the correct one - is that they're almost all simply cheats. It rather cast a shadow over the whole event, for me.

Many thanks, BUDGIE. Perhaps you could give me the name of a good piking venue please? If I were to come down to Kent, I'd be looking for somewhere reasonably picturesque, as I'd like my wife to join me (she has some holiday time coming up). I should point out that I'm presently unable to walk very far, so a train station near the venue sounds good. As regards accomodation, I think I'd rather look out for a nearby hotel than sample the delights of the bivouac.

The recent football World Cup has proven that the game of rugby, as seen on television, does not exist - it is a fake, just like the moon landings. You see, if the World Cup has shown us anything, it is the frailty of the human body. For about a month we have seen daily evidence that a footballer, if subjected to even the slightest contact with another player, will invariably fall to the ground in agony and will often require a stretcher to carry his battered body from the field of play. This incontrovertible evidence must, once and for all, put paid to this 'rugby' deception, perpetrated almost every weekend by the BBC. We have seen proof that a human being could not possibly withstand a game of this 'rugby', therefore it is all a fake, using trained actors. The BBC have covered this up for many years, probably by making threats against the families of those involved. I, for one, have always suspected that the late Eddie Waring was about to blow the whistle on this and was murdered by those with a vested interest in maintaining the deception. There are a few other brave souls at the BBC who are committed to bringing the hoax to the attention of the public. Why, the man who first introduced that ridiculously-shaped ball risked his life to try to alert us to the impossible nature of the game. Many of you will have seen men in public houses at the weekend, boasting extravagantly about their prowess on the field that day, and about how many pints they downed in games of 'fizz-buzz'. Well, I can reveal to you for the first time that they are, in fact, agents from a top-secret government department, trained to spread disinformation about this subject to the public. We rugbologists refer to them as 'The Men In Rugby Shirts', or MIRS. I had better not say any more at this time, as my own life might be in danger.

Many thanks to all for the advice - and the welcome!

Dear Simon, this is immensely helpful. I have fished the Vale Of Health pond at Hampstead Heath for over twenty-five years and have had some fine sport there. Some years ago, I had eleven pike, up to 12lb, before 9am one Sunday morning, much to the chagrin of a bivouaced commando who was encamped on that 'bay', near where the circus people stay. I have also had the odd jack from that little pond with all the lillies, known locally as 'red arches', a few hundred yards further down from the Vale. However, I was completely unaware that there were any pike in the men's swimming pond (if you drop anything, don't bend down to pick it up!). Have you had pike from there yourself?. I am certainly keen to try it now. Many thanks!

Hello there. This is my first post. I live in north London and am restricted to public transport. I was wondering if anyone knows of any venues I might try for pike? I am familiar with the North Met pit in Cheshunt and Dobb's Weir, a little further north, but those are quite a trek for me. I was considering, for example, trying the River Lea, around Tottenham (Ferry Lane). Any suggestions would be appreciated.