Steve Chertsey

alot of tackle shops open on Sunday, but just till up until about 12, or 1 Middlesex is a big place, whereabouts. Staines, Northern Surrey has tackle shops open on Sunday.

er.. 'scuse my ignorance but what is a match rod? I've got a 12ft feeder rod, and want to get my kid a rod for fishing the Thames (mostly) with me. Is a match rod ok for this? 22quid seems nice n cheap

Yeah get a Shimano reel. I am new, and had the same question, but the 2 shops I went to the guys advised me to get Front drag. I got a front drag, but I don't think it makes a huge difference, its more a personal preference thing. The Hyperloop Shimano gets an excellent review int he mag clipping i've got, but I got a Nexave which was 30 quid, the Hyperloop is like 17 quid? Don't pay more than 30 sheets, it probably aint worth it as begginer stage.

Thanks. Harwood Hall looks great.

Does anyone know any good fishing spots in Thurrock? Preferbly non pay (I've got my EA license) just wanna fish the Thames or council lake.

I think i've started something

If I cannot get to a river, how do I dispose of maggots in the proper way?

Thanks. So much of fishing is common sense "after" someone explains it to you Cheers!

I have been using size 16 on the Thames, and catch little fish. But, I am starting to think maybe I am hooking bigger fish that then pull off the hook and get away. I seem to "snag" when I pull my feeder in which I presumed to mean weeds, but the line came in pretty clean most of the time. Could it be bigger fish? I would have though the line would pull away from me if it was. And is 16 small for Thames fishing?

Not sure if you asking, so that you can explain it to me, or whether you are asking for yourself *blush* I know that twisting it one way makes it harder to pull the line out before it "clicks" and the other makes it easier. The skill I guess is judging how tough to set it. I had it set to high initially and was stretching the line as I pulled some out to load the rod. Its why I lost 4 Drennan feeders on my first day out :-)

I have the exact same reel. Shimano Nexave 2500 FA. Wondered what that little switch is on the bottom of the reel. Its to stop you backwinding eh? Why don't they put instructions in the box :-) [or perhaps they do, and someone robbed mine]

Newbie question: The chap where I bought my rod and reel spoolled the line onto the reel for me. Now I've fished a few times, the line is only taking up half the reel, and from what I have read it should be to the edge (1mm off) right? So do I just "add" more line by tieing the line I have thats spare onto the reel and winding some more on? Or do I throw that lot out and wind on another fresh lot?

Wow, that looks like a nice place to fish. 20 quid for a years permit too.

Good tips all. :-) Long trousers in this weather? Mozzie milk and some of this Avon stuff will do the trick. I'm gonna look like im preparing to swim the channel, but if it allows me to fish bring it on

Anyone got any tips on how to keep flies at bay? I am bitten to hell on the back of my legs from yesterdays evening session. Damn those pesky flying human eaters. :-)

The good thing about an unhooking mat, from my 1 use of one, is that it is easy to wipe down to get rid of the fish slime The downside is, the paddedness makes it bulky to carry (if you are on a bike like I am) But, I will take mine. It was 10 quid from a shop in Dorking. S C Fuller I'd get one of those, and degorger thing. I caught a fish last night (tiny) and the hook was so far down i would not have been able to get at it with my fingers. Anyway, stay out of my parallel universe... Hmmmmm 'kay?

Wow. Thanks all for your posetive words. And offers of assistance. I am overwhelmed at "hooking up" <yike> with such a great bunch of people. I got my license ordered online. I got a book. I've been twice since, and I can now cast without birdsnests! yay Thank you, thank you thank you. Much appreciated. I can feel the divorce courts and financial ruin (so much great kit ) approaching rapidly Cheeeeeeeeeeeerrrrrrrrrsssssssssss !! Steve.

Your situation sounds exactly like mine! Was out on the bike, and saw folks fishing, looks great huh? Well, as others have said, you need a license. But I can't recommond anywhere to fish, as I am "darn sarf". I was told to get a feeder rod, a reel, some hooks, some feeders. A couple of pints of maggots, some line. A box for the maggots (obviously) I spent 90 quid in total + the 24 quid for the license. I imagine the Argos stuff is ok. I looked at the cheap stuff in Tesco's. And I would not buy this even for my kids. Although I bought a 6 quid rucksack in Tesco, that had a hand "stool" built in, so I can take my tackle in the rucksack to fish, and sit on the stool yay The reason the chap told me to go for feeder fishing, is that I was river fishing with ample fish in the Thames. Its also alot less "technical" than float fishing, which you upgrade to once you know the ropes. I would say (if you see my post elsewhere with "my thoughts on *your* hobby" in the title) that it is not easy to get going without at least some tuition. The guys in the shop assume so much as they have been doing it so long. I only found out yesterday that threading your line through the reel has a right side up, or upside down. (And I still don't know what the switch is for under my reel ) My advice is to go into a tackle shop. I have found all the fishy folk I've spoken to more than willing to explain to novices how to get going. In the shops they are like drug dealers, they know one fish and your as hook as the fish itself, and you will be back buying more stuff They all seem very decent folk, just like other cyclists I got a book today called "The Complete Guide to Fishing Skills". By Tony Whieldon ISBN 1-84188-167-8 Seems very useful ! Some very basic instruction but its just what I need. Also check out the Discover Realtime podcast, they only have 1 so far, but its a good one. I've been fishing 3 days on the trot now, my results are: - 1 x 2 hour session in Weybridge - 1 9 inch fish after 6 casts (alot of them birdsnests :-) ) - 1 x 3 hour Aldenham resevoir, 6 casts, no fish, all 4 feeders lost, but I learn tons with 0 fish - 1 x 2 hour session tonight, 4 casts, only 1 lost feeder. I caught a fish and used the degoudger tool thing on my brand new unhooking mat to let the little blighter go, on Laleham Thames section I am a complete numpty, yet even I managed it. So I would say go for it. Its so relaxing, and much more active than it seems. I had visions of falling asleep, but I dont even know where the hours go, its fab. :-) Hope some of that is useful

I woke up this morning, and decided, today I learn to fish! I have recently moved to Surrey (Chertsey) and have taken up cycling, and have noticed whilst out and about on my bike various people fishing. And thought this would be a good thing to do with my sons. So, I scoured the net, bought some mags, went to two shops and here are my discoveries: * There is _not_ a gentle introduction to which type of fishing you should do. There seems to be: Carp, Course, Feeder (Same as Course?), Sea, Pike, Fly, Pole. Phew, I had no idea. but decided course sounded like the thing the "kids" at the rivers seemed to be doing, from my noddy view. * I went to a shop in Staines, milled around with my Girlfriend, no one seemed to notice us, and it was busy. I looked for some books, DVDs, there was nothing, no "beginners" section, so I moved onto another shop. I went to a tackle shop in Harefield, and was engaged by the staff as soon as I entered. He suggested a feeder style of fishing, so I left 90 quid lighter with: - Shimano feeder pole 12' (38 quid) - Shimano reel (30 quid) - Some line - Some maggot feeder things - Some maggots :-) - Some hooks - Some swivel things The chap said, its easy, pull this. Twist this, tie a knot in that. Easy. My girlfriend seemed to keep up, but I was totally lost, so thought I would rely on her brain :-) * Took stuff to river tonight. AHhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh "()$*)$£*(%)*)(*)% OK, so no one had explained how to use the reel. He spooled it for me, but it was only when talking to another fisherman (well, I say fisherman, he was some guy with rods who had consumed way too many Tennants Super) he tried his best, but it was only after talking to him I realised the reel has a clutch !!!) I then found a switch under the reel, I thought this may have something to do with every attempted cast, I got a big ball of line ( a nest?) caught under my reel. I was swearing like a trooper by then, and my girlfriend had lost all interest. I persevered, and on my 6th cast, I got a bite !! Not only that, I reeled that baby in !! No idea what I caught, but it was silver all over. Probably 9 inches in length. What no one had prepared me for, was unhooking the fish. It looked really distressed, so was I as I couldn't get the darn hook out. I kept watering the fish until finally I got the hook out. It floated awkwardly for a while, then turned itself upright properly and swam away. By this time, my girlfriend was _really_ stressed out So to recap: - The shops should make more of an effort for beginners - I really should have waited and gone with my mate who _can_ fish - I need to find a tutorial on reels, as I still dont know how to use my reel properly - I still cant cast properly, another tutorial :-) - Damn flies won't leave me alone on the riverbank !! ug - I am worried that this hurts the little fishy - I am not sure that my girlfriend will ever get into this fishin' lark If I had not caught the fish, I suspect I would have immediately sold the kit on eBay tonight. And never fished again. I bypassed Argos in order to pay more to get some good advice, and maybe I did get the right advice, as I caught a fish at least Is my experience normal? Can any help with some of my issues/ got any pointers on the internet for reeling? I found the experience draining, yet exhilirating, but its hard without having someone to help. Now I have gone through the pain, I can then take my sons (6 and 10) to try it out. Please tell me its all downhill from here Thanks for listening, the newbie / wannabe fisherman . Steve.