I'm Back and confused

[henrytheturkey]

just retiring early, and I've been allowed to take up fishing again after 16 years. What a difference in those years. Just a few observations and questions.

 

Pre tied rigs? whats that about? Hair rigs, bits of twisted wire dangling off a size 14 hook I still have my old hook tier thingy will I be laughed off the pond?

 

Leaded line? what is its purpose, when would I use it?

 

Braided line whats that got over good old mono, again when would I use it?

 

I've noticed a distinct reduction in cost in real terms ( no pun intended) just picked up a nice drennan feeder for 85 quid.

As my reels were beyond help I've got my eye the new shimano 2500DL FA mini baitrunner it felt amazing and at around 75 quid brilliant value.

My work mates are getting me a new rod bag ( the mice got my last one ) and another bait runner, now that is a good idea, I nearly lost a rod once when an over energetic sommit or other grabbed a piece of ledgered flake and made off with it, luckily the club had a boat and I was able to get it back.

 

Commercials appear to be stocked with carp of various sizes, now I'm used to tench water of around 4lb, and river fishing, what sort of line weights, hooks, hook links etc would peeps recommend for the average day out, not specimin hunting or anything like that?

 

Finally any descent books to get me back on track and upto date.

 

Cheers guys and gals

[watatoad]

Hello henrytheturkey,

 

Welcome back to angling and welcome to anglers net, Everything you knew from the old days is just as valid today as it was then. There are simply more anglers fishing for Carp in commercial waters than there were sixteen years ago.

 

Back then the Carp fishermen were in a minority but today with the advent of commercials and extremely well stocked lakes (some will say well overstocked) lots of anglers regularly go to commercials because they are sure or should be sure of catching large sized fish very easily.

 

For books I would say take the following magazines, TOTAL COURSE FISHING; IMPROVE YOUR FISHING; ANGLING TIMES; ANGLERS MAIL for a couple of months just to get the feel and learn the new terminology and new methods of fishing.

 

The Carp fishermen and women are now very heavily equipped with trolleys bite alarms, bivvy's (a sort of half tent for overnight fishing), amazingly comfortable chairs, specialist baits and terminal tackle set ups, wonderful reels and in my opinion most carp fishermen and women spend a fortune on baits and tackle and take more fishing individually than the average match team did sixteen years ago.

 

I am told 7lb and 8lb Tench are not considered amazing from commercials there is also Catfish, Sturgeon and much more. Then in the last few years Traditionalists often nicknamed 'Pinheads' because they favour the use of centrepins and many love built cane rods have really appeared on the scene and in some areas these are a strongly growing group.

 

The there are the river fishermen and women who other than a few changes in tackle are pretty much as they have always been except there are a lot less of them.

 

Last and by no means least are the specimen hunters or roving lightweight anglers.

[Dick Dastardly]

Only 16 years then I wouldnt worry to much! I still catch on tactics I used 30 years ago if not longer!

[Andy Macfarlane]

Henry, the simple fact you can can even use a hook-tier, leads me to suspect you know a fair bit about fishing as it is and no, you won't be laughed off the water for using one. A well tied spade end will still present a single pinkie, fished on the drop, better than any eyed hook.

 

After you've read a few of the coarse fishing magazines for a couple of months and spent your spare time in here, you'll be well up to date but Budgie's bang on. The old methods can outscore the newest tricks on their day, simply because the old methods haven't been been used much on certain waters.

 

Welcome aboard by the way.

 

....Andy....

[henrytheturkey]

Got my rod licence yesterday, applied online wednesday, I used to queue longer than that in the post office. Mrs Turkey is beginning to regret letting me off the lead, as she is beginning to realise that it may be going to cost a bit to get up and running again! Found a shop close by which is well stocked, and helpful, so they will be getting my business.

 

Still I don't know what she's moaning about, I don't smoke and I brew my own beer, although I still have to occasionally go to pubs to do "research".

 

Thanks for the tips, roll on beginning of May, when I will hit the water.

 

[suffolktoad]

check out the net before you buy locally, it can give you a better idea of what tackle is about, but also remember to support your local tackle shop. Local tackle shops cant stock wide tackle ranges unless they also sell on the net.

 

Join a local club they can help you with the newer methods but I do what I have always done not much different in 50 years.

[arbocop]

Got my rod licence yesterday, applied online wednesday, I used to queue longer than that in the post office. Mrs Turkey is beginning to regret letting me off the lead, as she is beginning to realise that it may be going to cost a bit to get up and running again! Found a shop close by which is well stocked, and helpful, so they will be getting my business.

 

Still I don't know what she's moaning about, I don't smoke and I brew my own beer, although I still have to occasionally go to pubs to do "research".

 

Thanks for the tips, roll on beginning of May, when I will hit the water.

 

 

 

Just in time for tench. Surely you recall the lift method? That will be fine. Float legering? That will be fine too.

 

Despite what you hear, the old baits and methods will still work. Ask around where there are tench, find a spot with a weedbed and if yiou ahven't been there before either ask someone, or plumb the depth for about 4-6ft of water near a weedbed and off you go. You might get someone coming round and giving you advice, but take it all with a pinch of salt until yiou get back into it. Soem of it is guff gleaned from magazines and hearsay.