How much are you prepared to spend…

[Alec Hague]

My golf club is £2k p.a. BAA £30 HDAA £40 ... fishing is cheap as chips ! What Id spend on tackle is the same as anything else, if I can afford it and I want it I'll buy it.

When I retired Cliff, I had thought maybe take up golf. But the RSM bought me match gear form my 65th. Hadn't held a rod for 50 years! I decided to persevere with fishing and gave myself a budget of 1k pa, reasoning that that was about the annual membership fee for a golf club. Never match fished but found the kit not want I wanted so found ebay and had years of fun, firstly with trying lots of reels, then rods. Kept well within my budget even when including club memberships except for the year I indulged myself at Peregrine! Frankly that was the best decision I ever made re retirement. After 15 years I have what is for me is an ideal rod/reel collection which I love using. The rods range from a 40 cost to 400 but each have special memories and club waters where I use them . Sadly for various reasons Ebay is not what it was but then frankly neither am I, so it has worked out rather well and far better than I could have ever hoped for. Still a few wants and that will only stop when I do! I hope all members and their families have a truly memorable Xmas and healthy new year!

 

[Tim Marks]

Hi men

I'd sell a kidney for a rainbow session , or a leg for a savay ticket , either one take your pick

Hatter

Re Savay; if it any consolation, I (and my mate) were offered Savay season day tickets a while back - basically ‘on probation’. We both know Tom B as we have fished his CWP water. We fished Savay for a season without breaking the strict rules and hoped that a full syndicate ticket might materialise but it never did….In other words it is pretty tricky to get in, even if you know the boss……

 

[Mark Anderson]

Re Savay; if it any consolation, I (and my mate) were offered Savay season day tickets a while back - basically ‘on probation’. We both know Tom B as we have fished his CWP water. We fished Savay for a season without breaking the strict rules and hoped that a full syndicate ticket might materialise but it never did….In other words it is pretty tricky to get in, even if you know the boss……

Hi men ,

I fished on the days only ticket before , and that's all I was looking for , but it seemed I crossed some sort of line by texting him . I have etiquette in my fishing and showed it in my messages to him , but as I've found out before people who run fishery's can be strange people , and found out on this occasion.

Hatter

 

[Huanzhou Zhu]

Hi men ,

I fished on the days only ticket before , and that's all I was looking for , but it seemed I crossed some sort of line by texting him . I have etiquette in my fishing and showed it in my messages to him , but as I've found out before people who run fishery's can be strange people , and found out on this occasion.

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Hatter

Is Savay lake still fishable due to the HS2? I heard that it is like a building site now?

 

[Mark Anderson]

Is Savay lake still fishable due to the HS2? I heard that it is like a building site now?

Hi men ,

Yes a bit messed up , but still being fished , it is what it is , historic water and as I'm getting old I would have liked a season or two crack at it

Hatter

 

[Brendon Mullins]

Re Savay; if it any consolation, I (and my mate) were offered Savay season day tickets a while back - basically ‘on probation’. We both know Tom B as we have fished his CWP water. We fished Savay for a season without breaking the strict rules and hoped that a full syndicate ticket might materialise but it never did….In other words it is pretty tricky to get in, even if you know the boss……

Did you have any success Tim?

 

[Adrian Mitchell]

May be going off topic slightly but bare with me.After the kids had left home etc my wife and myself found ourselves in a position where the world was our oyster.
After watching Matt Hayes (shows how long ago it was) in Cuba I managed to convince her it was the place to be.Obviously I took a telescopic spinning rod,small fixed spool reel,small spinners,plugs,hooks etc in my suitcase.Happy as larry the first few days catching small barracuda and jacks off the beach but was itching to sort out a boat trip to get into the big ones. Unfortunately all the boats going out were booked up.On the beach one day got talking to the guy with a small boat with a outboard motor who was taking people out water skiing.In "spanglish" I asked if he could take me out fishing.He looked at my rod,laughed then said give me 10 mins.He arrived back with what could be described as vintage fishing gear.The rod had insulating tape holding some of the rings on,a very large multiplier with about 200 yds of rope on it,a steel trace like a hawser and a lure which at one time may have been a large rapala but looked a lump of wood with hooks attached.Suprisingly we had not been fishing long when I hooked and landed a couple of large Barracuda
That explained the lack of paint on the rapala.It went quiet for a while but we carried on trolling when I felt a gentle take on the rod,struck and the reel began to empty rapidly and a huge silver fish,no exaggeration,it was massive was jumping out of the water.Cut a long story it snapped the line above the trace,the boatman was in tears about losing his only lure,I was in tears about losing the fish.That was the start of my obsession to land a tarpon.
Found out I could book a local guide on the internet after we had arrived back.
We ended up going for 9yrs annually and every year I was taking more and more fishing gear in my suitcase and less and less clothes.Had also booked at least 3 trips in our 2 wk stay.Every year I was hooking and losing them so the year after,newer and shinier gear,eventually landing one around 50lbs.Looking back I dont even want to think about how much it cost me to scratch that itch but that feeling when I eventually landed one was priceless.

 

[Alec Hague]

May be going off topic slightly but bare with me.After the kids had left home etc my wife and myself found ourselves in a position where the world was our oyster.
After watching Matt Hayes (shows how long ago it was) in Cuba I managed to convince her it was the place to be.Obviously I took a telescopic spinning rod,small fixed spool reel,small spinners,plugs,hooks etc in my suitcase.Happy as larry the first few days catching small barracuda and jacks off the beach but was itching to sort out a boat trip to get into the big ones. Unfortunately all the boats going out were booked up.On the beach one day got talking to the guy with a small boat with a outboard motor who was taking people out water skiing.In "spanglish" I asked if he could take me out fishing.He looked at my rod,laughed then said give me 10 mins.He arrived back with what could be described as vintage fishing gear.The rod had insulating tape holding some of the rings on,a very large multiplier with about 200 yds of rope on it,a steel trace like a hawser and a lure which at one time may have been a large rapala but looked a lump of wood with hooks attached.Suprisingly we had not been fishing long when I hooked and landed a couple of large Barracuda
That explained the lack of paint on the rapala.It went quiet for a while but we carried on trolling when I felt a gentle take on the rod,struck and the reel began to empty rapidly and a huge silver fish,no exaggeration,it was massive was jumping out of the water.Cut a long story it snapped the line above the trace,the boatman was in tears about losing his only lure,I was in tears about losing the fish.That was the start of my obsession to land a tarpon.
Found out I could book a local guide on the internet after we had arrived back.
We ended up going for 9yrs annually and every year I was taking more and more fishing gear in my suitcase and less and less clothes.Had also booked at least 3 trips in our 2 wk stay.Every year I was hooking and losing them so the year after,newer and shinier gear,eventually landing one around 50lbs.Looking back I dont even want to think about how much it cost me to scratch that itch but that feeling when I eventually landed one was priceless.

fabulous tale. well done. life is about ticking off dreams if we are fortunate enough

 

[Tim Penn]

Is Savay lake still fishable due to the HS2? I heard that it is like a building site now?

It’s still fishable but certainly different, the railway viaduct basically arcs across 1/3 of it, it goes straight through Korda lake next door (was BCSG but lost to fishing) and harefield which neighbours savay on the other side, that has been/is being backfilled with the gravel washing. Crying shame really. There are 3 lakes I’d sell my soul to fish in the valley now savay has changed (living locally)

The cons
Fisheries inn
waltonians
Even cressacres/croxley hall won’t ever happen for me.

Decade plus dead man’s shoes waiting lists and needing to know current members mean it will always be a dream.

Edit: infact even mentioning the names on here probably would mean I couldn’t get a ticket anyway, the rules prohibit any mention of them anywhere without permission

 

[Adrian Mitchell]

fabulous tale. well done. life is about ticking off dreams if we are fortunate enough

Thank you Alec.See post "Beer".Have a lovely Xmas.

 

[Graham Elliott]

I was quite happy in my youth to fish
N H Waltonians
LAA
Stockers (BA)

Some fantastic tench in Stockers, and NH and LAA was piking.

I could probably get back on Stockers as ex BA but has so many restrictions now

 

[Tim Penn]

I was quite happy in my youth to fish
N H Waltonians
LAA
Stockers (BA)

Some fantastic tench in Stockers, and NH and LAA was piking.

Stockers looks like a water you could get totally immersed in, the gravel bars look fantastic, I’m very jealous Graham. I’m on the NH waiting list for the river

I’m a member of reading, Abingdon, newly verulam because it’s local although I only joined a half season two weeks ago, but I’m tempted by London anglers if only for a few adventures to Britford

 

[Graham Elliott]

Stockers looks like a water you could get totally immersed in, the gravel bars look fantastic, I’m very jealous Graham. I’m on the NH waiting list for the river

I’m a member of reading, Abingdon, newly verulam because it’s local although I only joined a half season two weeks ago, but I’m tempted by London anglers if only for a few adventures to Britford

I had many days on Stockers, and the gravel bars were excellent spots for the tench. You could also sometimes see them patrolling in the clear water and I had a few by dropping a freeline piece of flake in their path. Those days 1970ish, you could night fish.

The LAA had a lake between Stockers and NH over the road

I might join LAA Salisbury river wise this coming season

Fished it many times when it was DT. Often with Keith Speers together with Dave Currell ( prev barbel RH)

It's a fantastic bit of water although the 2lb roach are not so prevalent

 

[Mark Anderson]

Stockers looks like a water you could get totally immersed in, the gravel bars look fantastic, I’m very jealous Graham. I’m on the NH waiting list for the river

I’m a member of reading, Abingdon, newly verulam because it’s local although I only joined a half season two weeks ago, but I’m tempted by London anglers if only for a few adventures to Britford

Hi men

I was guested on harrow by Mick the plumber , sat on the lawn swim chatting bait with Alan Smith while he drank my tea . I thought I was on for a ticket , but when my application came up someone on the committee said that I was a mate of "Rob Maylin" , which I am , but that's an instant black ball for some reason .

Lawns at Harrow , again pick a kidney / liver / leg

Hatter

 

[Tim Penn]

I wonder if the black ball was because because rob maylin named the lake in his book ‘tiger bay’ ? Maybe they didn’t want the water advertised or named or something, who knows, that whole area is incredibly secretive from a fishing pov, at least the syndicates are. It’s odd being within half hours drive of them all but never having a hope of accessing them

 

[Brendon Mullins]

Other than the secretive big 3 ie Harrow, Cons & Fisheries aren't all the the others just known / named lakes ie Pits 1-4, Savay, Broadwater, Korda RIP, Wraysbury, Horton, Kingsmead etc

It's not there are any super secret lakes that are completely off the radar in the CV is there?

 

[Tim Penn]

Not 100% off the radar no, but add in the old Boyer leisure waters too like orlitts, Rodney meadow, mayfield, cookbook west, thorny pool, old slade etc which are close by to the valley around the slough area and there is a lot of water there in very close proximity that’s very difficult/nigh on impossible to fish/find info out about/enquire about.

 

[Tim Marks]

Did you have any success Tim?

We were targeting the tench (and bream).

I had a Broadwater ticket when the BCSG still had it (to target the bream). But they weren’t very big at that stage. Also a Kingsmead ticket for a season in the very early days.

Another mate got access to some of the other super waters (eg Longlife) via work connections. He emptied it (bags of double figure tench and more 30+ carp than you can imagine) and annoyed a lot of carp anglers in the process. He then did the same on Korda - which I couldn’t get a ticket for !

 

[Brendon Mullins]

Ah cool I remember seeing Brian Hankins with some big Savay bream. Didn't he have a massive eel from there too?

Who runs longlife?

 

[Mark Anderson]

I wonder if the black ball was because because rob maylin named the lake in his book ‘tiger bay’ ? Maybe they didn’t want the water advertised or named or something, who knows, that whole area is incredibly secretive from a fishing pov, at least the syndicates are. It’s odd being within half hours drive of them all but never having a hope of accessing them

Hi men ,

I was offered a river ticket on harrow but was fishing elsewhere, shame as one year they could not sort it out and Co opt them into the full club before splitting it again , but not getting in the club because I worked at Vauxhalls with Rob was a tad harsh
I'm an idiot as when Rob was catching those fish I should have been more cut throat about getting a ticket , we both worked at Vauxhalls and he would phone through those catches to me the next day , and I thought I would try for a ticket the next year , what an idiot . I took some of those photos in Tiger Bay at Arlesey , my fav carp book .

Hatter