Timothy Frost

I am within easy reach of Ashord Canterbury and Folkestone - right bang in the middle of all three up on the Downs. Thanks for all your advice it has been read and understood with great interest :-) Tim

Hi all, I am very new to the fishing scene having only been once before with some fiends for a couple of hours in a chalk stream in Dorset. I now live in Kent and after changing jobs have a lot more time on my hands. I am keen to start fishing but am struggling to find out what kind of equipment I need. I fancy float fishing for 'non carp species' but I am not having much luck in find suitable bits of water. I would prefer to be able to fish in rivers/canals as a commercial fishery does seem very expensive. I live in East Kent and have looked in Mid Kent Fisheries, but I wonder if anyone knows of any other places to fish that does not require a memebership until I decide how often I will be going. Looking through magazines I have my eye on a Shimano Hyperloop Rod (what is better easier a 13 or 14 ft rod?) but I am a bit stuck as to which reel to go for. What is a Rear drag reel in comaprison to a Froont drag reel? What kind of floats should I go for? I have seen lots of mixed packs in adverts in IYCF and TCF. What else would you consider vital/non vital? I really only want to spend £60ish and the test in IYCF recomended the 2 'kits' from Chapmans and NWAC but are these any good for river fishing? These may seem stupid questions but any answers/advice would be greatfully recived. Many Thanks Tim :-)