Recent content by Tim Marks

I have. I’ve just sold my Chimeras. Not quite sure why ….. I love the Torrix 2.25 as they are so versatile. The bad news is I’m currently using a Shakespeare 12ft 2lb test Concept rod. And it works just fine…. It cost £32 brand new.

I was also pike fishing Abberton when the first (probably) drop off indicators came into being. A piece of flexible plastic sheet bent round the rear rod rest and held together with elastic bands. The mainline was held between the 2 bits of plastic and was pulled out by a running fish. The...

Fantastic float rod; I own one.

Dough bobbins. Butt indicators - made from swing tips. Home made bobbins made from biro or aquarium tube. Monkey climbers made from plastic wine bottle tops First generation Fox Swingers with weird triangular plastic protrusions to rest on the line -rapidly replaced by plastic tube, a beta...

It is a great book; and yes you have to be a bit mad to be a serious eel fisher.

You (the manufacturer) sell what the market wants (looks/price/quality/quantity etc) - not necessarily the best available product. Even with a custom rod building option ‘people’ still spec their rods with odd fittings/the wrong rings etc etc; or even buy the wrong blank/rod in the first place...

The match boys rave about HH clothing. I bought a used bib/brace a few years back and it does exactly what it is supposed to….

TT have some really good stuff at sensible prices. I’m tempted by a couple of their rods…. But I’m still in selling mode - so must resist the temptation. I’ve sold 6x Chimeras this year - so that is a small step towards downsizing.

Some of Archie’s flavours were particularly good for perch in cold water. Notably the ‘hot’ ones. The last Winter roach fishing I did was with maggots flavoured with a very sweet CC Moore flavour. Happy to look it up for you if that helps. I’ve also had a surprising number of decent roach by...

Mine were half price in a Fortis sale - very good value. Previous pair were (old version) ESP and they were very average. As has been said already, put a goretex or similar shell over the top.

A group of manta rays jumping out of the Indian ocean whilst I was GT fishing from a small skiff. Sharing a small bay in Haiida Gwaii with 3 humpback whales. We were fishing from a 5m rib ! Shame my regular travel fishing mate and photographer extraordinaire Matt Harris wasn’t with me; the...

A mate of mine was on the upper B Avon today and at 4pm they started running off the river to make more room for the forecast rain overnight and tomorrow. It is already chucking it down (9pm).

I was on the phone to my mate last night when I had my first (line ?) bite of the session. I had no idea what it was, he told me it was a barbel and sure enough I hooked one/it next cast. If my mate can tell what species it is down a phone, then Jack H will have no problem face to face.

Signature Pro is a good call - excellent rods. Maybe a Tricast XS; but that is only available in 14ft. Slower action but more powerful than a Sig Pro or Acolyte Plus.

I’ve never used a 1m rig for barbel in my life (apart from maybe using maggots once or twice 30 years ago; and I didn’t catch many then either). Mine are now usually between about 7 and 15”. Occasionally shorter. For context I’m fishing very low stock venues with few anglers on them.