Recent content by Ralph Harris

I brought the blanks for a twin tip Avon in Spring 24 so Harrison’s had them then. However I do remember them saying they would look round to see if they had the spliced tip so perhaps they were considering not doing them any more and mine was old stock. If you fancy building yourself don’t be...

The Harrison Avon is particularly nice with the spliced in 3oz quiver. Don’t know why but it just feels better than the plain Avon to me, I have a twin tip. Sorry Rob Francis I don’t want to part with mine, not had them that long. Good luck with finding one.

Donation Well I don’t live anywhere near there, but I thought P & D AA could do with some support so I donated on their website. It’s not just about the money, which was not a lot, but also about letting them know other anglers care about their situation. If you want to do the same it’s a pain...

Log into Facebook marketplace and search for Harris ( nothing to do with me by the way) rods two for sale Seems a strange advert so may not be true, but you may want to have a look.

Sounds a really good tip.

Recently tried to remove a tip ring, the heat destroyed the fibreglass before the glue melted. I’m guessing this was put on with epoxy since hot melt glue melts at a much lower temperature. The rod is about half inch shorter now. New tip put on with hot melt glue in no time at all.

If I remember correctly the main problem with lead shot was the containers it came in. Many were not single shot dispensers and there were many shot spills in areas where swans deliberately picked up and small stones and swallowed them. The shot was the sort of size swans would choose. They use...

Happy to help, I don’t do much still water fishing any longer so it was a bit of a struggle to remember them, I did not mention Broadlands lake and there are other lakes nearby, I think controlled by test valley angling club. I’m also east of Southampton, Warsash, so if you discover a hidden...

Difficult to find a large water that is not known for its carp fishing. You may have already researched these. Local angling clubs with waters of about that size are Eastleigh, Portsmouth angling, RN and RM ( Dryad lake) some local clubs have exchange tickets for Dryad I believe. Park gate royal...

I clearly remember casting to a new spot in a swim and being rewarded with a good roach. At the time I was fishing a slack for roach and not getting any. Mr Crabtree taught me to fish slacks in winter, he always did well. However what he did not say was fish don’t have problems with streamy...

Just one on flake out of Harbridge stream when the Hants Avon was in flood. Many years ago.

Hi Andrew, I think a lot of fish are getting bigger for one reason or another. When I was a teenager, half a century ago, I won a prize from Angling times for a 3-11 perch and they had incorrectly reported it as 2-11 so I may have got the prize for a 2-11 perch. I think many are now caught over...

I think at one time there must have been a fashion for long cork handles. 2ft of cork today would be a significant part of the cost of a rod. A near 6 back in 83 would certainly have been a fish of note. The seemingly unstoppable increase in chub size must be a function of the available food...

Thanks Jim, I brought the rings from buzzard rods but it’s always good to get another opinion.

Could you clarify for me as Im interested in the minima rings, do you like the Minima tip rings as well as the guides? Also do you use the single leg rings, the two legged or a mixture. I have used just the single leg minima guides on one rod and I was concerned the large single leg guide I have...