Recent content by Andrew Jackson

Very good English. Some sites are an embarrassment the 'English' is so poor ( by English people). Great fish! 👏

Thanks Chris.

Sorry. Must learn to keep up! 😅

Going way back we used a piece of reed. You can pull out the centre and it leaves a coil that you can slip over your line. A swan shot can be nipped onto the tag of the leaf for extra weight. Then there was the coils of plastic moulded in a film cannister dropped in boiling water. I never got on...

Having beaten a 20 plus Carp in a raging flood on the Stour, pulling it across the flow and up to the net due to restricted access below, on my Torrix 11' 1.75 I have no reservations about its power to cope with any Barbel ( or Tench). I suppose it might not be the best for slinging big leads...

Which ones were a pig to cast with Chris? The 12' plus? I think the Flex would be all I need most of the time. I spoke to Steve Harrison who confirmed they share the same top section so will get the Flex butts and that will be all I need. I dont enjoy extreme range fishing and rarely even cast...

I think that's a good attitude. I have bought Aviator Carp rods but really so far, it is early days, I cant see much, if any, difference to the Torrix Carp rods. For the fishing I do I think I actually prefer the Torrix as they are easier action. Same as the Torrix specialist. I bought those...

There may well be if the Carp rods are anything to go by. They have all sorts of lengths and test curves. I think they have only just started producing them so will go for the common 12' 1.75 first at a guess?

Yes the Aviators have been around a fair while now in Carp rods. My Aviator plus's are a little firmer on the cast than the Torrix 3.25 although to be fair most of the time I only cast 40 yards! Occasionally I will fish 80 - 100 so it will be interesting to note the difference to the Torrix 3.25...

Screw down fitting that is.

I have heard ( from another site and via somebody I know) that Guides and Blanks ( Hopkins and Holloway) have recently reopened. If this is true, does anybody have a contact number for Martin I think he's called? Trying to get a screw fitting for a trotting rod. Very difficult without this company.

That says it all Ian! For a reel to fish with 100 - 200 will get you an excellent reel. I suppose it's always been the case though that some like to indulge in their hobby, particularly those with plenty of money and probably no kids!

With big lumps of meat I put them directly on the hook. The bites are usually obvious and in a coloured river I would work on the fish being active and looking for food. They dont tend to let go of a big piece of meat when they have it ( in my experience) though I admit it's not something I have...

I agree with you Richard. I'm just describing things as they seem to be. 👍

People are protective of their fishing. It makes sense though I do understand what you're saying. Away from the big '3' rivers Barbel numbers are often low to nearly non - existent. Why would you want to draw attention to a significant catch? Since I started fishing the middle Severn it has...