Recent content by Gavin Burt

Cracking fish thy are. I fished the Meuse (Fumay) this year and absolutely loved it. Was way out my comfort zone, due to the size of the river, but still managed to catch. That river you fish looks beautiful and similar so the type of river I fish in the UK. Will check you YouTube vids out...

The 501 is a great reel but can be a bit heavy in the hand after a while trotting. It may or may not be in budget but I’ve got a JW Young Ray Walton “Rolling Pin” which tilts at 90-degrees so you can cast properly at distance if needed (with a lead / feeder) but still trot it down a swim should...

They’re crafty bu99ers AD are. The only actual size you can buy at this price is a MEDIUM. The rest are either (allegedly) out of stock or still at full price.

May sound daft but have you got access to a small boat ? Also, where is this place as we all want to visit 😂😂😂😂

I'd be heading to these spots if it was me, although I note you said you cycle so may not be easy to get to.

I would personally be looking for barbel on the gravel patches, but then again I don't know the river. If there's rain on it then look for some slack water on the inside margin and drop in a rod-length out (or where the crease-line is).

As others have said you’re fortunate at having shoaling fish. Get the bait in and have them grubbing around for it and competing between themselves. Hemp is good as it’s not as easy for chub to pick up when it falls between the stones…a barbel however will hoover it up like a vacuum. Have a...

Used to be a great stretch, those last few pegs where great fish-holding areas (bit bloody spooky once dusk came though). I remember walking back to the main gate through the spinney about 10pm one night and a pheasant flew out from underneath my feet, scared me half to death !!! Sadly that bit...

Very true. Two or three a season is now more realistic.

Got this pretty much finished and loctite / glued everything in place. Bottom spike is a tad on the pi$$ but will still function correctly.

My mate dropped of some lovely straight Bamboo a few weeks ago and I had an idea to make a handmade rod rest. Never done anything like this and I like a challenge. I have a lathe at home and set about making a brass ferrel from some hex off cuts. Epoxied some ally rod down the core of the...

Oh wow that’s beautiful. I’ve got a lathe at home and treating myself to a milling machine next year and have thought about making a pin out of billet. Was it super difficult (I’m self taught) to make or not ?

Thanks, I did see that but am after one that’s hand-built to my own spec as it’s a special occasion present to myself.

Back on topic, the most I’ve spent on one item is my JW Young Ray Walton Rolling Pin. It’s a thing beauty even when it’s not being used. I’ve just made an enquiry about a hand-made split cane Barbel rod so that’s definitely going to trump the cost of the pin.

IMO it’s the best time of year to fish, mainly as no one is on the riverbank (how I like it) and you can have pick of the swims.