Recent content by Neil Kirk

I haven't done much barbel fishing this year but I decided to have a few hours on the Wharfe on Wednesday as it was my birthday. It was a pleasantly mild day but the river level was lower than I expected. There was another angler in the swim above where I was planning to fish and he had had 3...

I have used Royal Mail Special Delivery for 4-piece rods (by design rather than due to mishaps!) and UPS without any problems but it is expensive and I would always send in a heavy cardboard tube as you get in rolls of carpets. However, I apreciate that losing a rod due to breakages will...

Sandy Balls?!! No I'm not being rude or personal but I caught my one and only Hampshire Avon barbel (a double) during a family camping trip at Sandy Balls about 20 years ago. Very satisfing - got the fish on the very first cast.

I'm still happy with Hinders Elips - they are still working for me.

I recently bought a Diawa Spectron Competition M2 13/15 ft rod. A recent BFW discussion had got me thinking and when I saw one on ebay I bought it. At 13 ft the rod was great but at 15 ft I found it a bit nose heavy and annoying (I have previously sold on any rods over 13 feet for this...

I'm confused. All my barbel rods have up locking reel seats and most of my float rods have down-locking but once the reel is fixed in position what does it matter which way the locking reel seat operates?

I have about 40 rods but that covers barbel, avon rods for other river fishing, carp rods, float rods from light to power, spinning rods - perch, pike, bass and salmom, fly rods - trout, grayling, salmon and bass/mullet. I could easily get rid of 10 but would struggle a bit after that.

OK - I have caught a few mullet but nothing big. I have a mate who lives in Christchurch so we have had a few goes.

You would probably get more by selling them seperately.

You've lost me Graham?

Success!⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ A five star review for Tom Casey's nail polish remedy for getting the Twistlock handle to lock. It worked a treat ... but I will still order a new locking bush from Drennan for any future problems.

My handle is 15 to 20 years old and has been in the river and in the sea with absolutely no maintenance until it stopped locking last week...and the spindle looks perfect. 😏

I don't know how old you are Julian, you look a lot younger than me in your photo, but I (at 62) am starting to think I will have plenty of time to sell off rods when I'm not fit for fishing and need distracting from Homes Under the Hammer etc ...yes we do all arrive there unfortunately. You...

What a lot of great advice! I will request a new locking bush from Drennan and give it all a good clean - I may well give Tom's advice a go and apply of a couple of coats of nail varnish on the existing bush while I'm waiting for the new bush.

I gave one a spin in the tackle shop and it seemed OK ish - it spun freely but not quite smoothly and just felt a bit lacking in substance . I could only really compare it with my Okuma Aventa and Sheffield reels (rather than my Gary Mills and Chris Lythe centrepins) and I would say that the...