Another nice place. Loads down that way. Forest lane is good and redwood.
Same here. Even when I venture back into shore fishing I go old school. Tbf probably because that the tackle I have and wouldn’t change it for the sake of 4/5 times a year. My uses the fixed spool set up and does okay. Loses a lot less gear.
Same here, been using Penn 525s for years and love them, so never changed to braid. Not as keen as I used to be in my youth, and my times limited with working away all the time, so can't justify spending hundreds on new gear. I'll stick to my trusty Mk1 Apollo and 525, caught me plenty of fish in the past.
I know what ya mean. The 525 is class. Best of it is you buy one second hand for 60/70 quid then ten year later sell it for 60/70. I’m a century man myself and use the kompressor SS. It’s crazy how anywhere in the country you can spot a decent sea angler and it’s normally the breakaway seatbox with back rest that gives it away. I was heavy into the match angling both sea and fresh water but mainly stick to the boat nowadays.
You've seen me then
Ah mate last week I fed a short line and a long line. Had lake to mesel. Fish a Chuck on method feeder with Sony airs chocolate orange mixed with 2 mil pellets mixed in.Sounds absolutely ideal mate.
Not a massive Carp fisherman and like you prefer to fish remotely or in peace and quiet.
Tench are cracking to catch and always prefer the Waggler float rather than ledger of feeder. The excitement of seeing the bubbles when they start feeding and watching the float dip and get nudged before sinking away is magical.
If not already tried put a feeder on and mix breadcrumb in with casters, hemp and maggot. Start with a size 16 hook, double maggot and 4lb line.
Set the clutch just so it’s enough to give out line without snapping.
3 tennis ball size of groundbait in the same place you will cast.
Give it an hour and those bream and Tench will be bending that tip round.
Tight Lines
Exactly right mate. I used to go to angling classes as a 15 year old ran by a bloke called Jack Melton. The bloke never took care of his gear but his bait was always spot on and the fish followed.Superb.
I was always raised on Rivers, particularly the Thames.
Just going back “home” fishing the same places I did as a kid is still magical.
Cracking post that.
Just forget everything. Whilst the highs of football are massive, fishing, even when you blank are better than the lows of football.
Without doubt we are blessed with two wonderful interests
Never forget fish don’t eat rods, line, reels or hooks.
Only bait.
Presentation and bait get fish feeding.
An excellent traditional Roach fisherman many years ago told me he fishes for bites. So right. What an angler he was.
No mate, margins with float and towards centre with ledger. Usually fish kestrel, had a day last year got about 12 carp but usually get around 5 in a 7 hour session. Not bad but I see people reeling in 15+ and they always seem to use robin red pellet.
Used to be my favourite that one, u til I had a bad day and got told a lot had been taken out and put in match lakes, probably haven’t like but it was a good excuse for my shit day haha
Get shot of the luncheon meat mate. It has its day specimen fishing but on them match lakes it’s all about building a couple of swims. Groundbait and pellet over the top. Also it took me a while to commit to pole fishing But once I changed I never looked back. presentation is unbeatable. That kestrel lake normally fishes best just as you go through the tunnel. I’ve seen someone take nearly 600lb in a 5 hour match there. The lad went on to win fish o mania.
Not my idea either to be fair. I don’t mind matches that are on ‘normal’ lakes but the match lakes where they are just stocked to the hilt with 2lb carp is a bit crude for me. Can’t have a piss or you are 4 fish behind.
I agree on the freshwater gear. But the sea fishing stuff from China is garbage. If it was a french made 208 it will still be better than 95% of the reels on offer today. A lot of tackle is designed to catch anglers rather than fish these days.
Just made me laugh that last comment.
The public comments deserves a thread of its own.
Used to fish a few River matches, just prefer now the solitude.
Just gets me wound up when I fish and two lads fish across the lake and constantly talk loudly.
Give me the Rivers and lucky to see anyone all day.
“Caught anything Mate ........”
over the side telling me I’m casting too far. I caught 2 codling about 2lb each in 10 minutes so he walks over “aaaayyyyyeeeee I’m not after codling like”
I'm still using it !
So use the pellet as the hook bait too? Hair rig the pellet on or band rig mate?
If you use a hard pellet if fishing the feeder rod just band them (I do that at woodlands) on a method feeder works a treat. Two swims at 10 and 2 at your desired length and keep the ground bait going in. Winter time I drop to the Bango feeder as it smaller and the carp don’t like loads in the winter. You can use a soft pellet with a pole as it’s not casting and no splash and it my preferred method at woodlands if it’s not windy.
