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For those of you that aren’t overly brand conscious there are some bargains to be had here…and postage is free. I already use a Westlake (FR own brand) 36” landing net head and in the current sale they are 19 quid. The mesh alone is worth that. They do a 42” for a few quid more. The 36” is...

I sold a set of very early Delkim conversions a year or two ago for a silly amount of money. The guy who bought them said he was going to send them to Darren as 2 weren’t working. He is the best…. I used to know his Dad - he ran a (Specialist tackle) shop in Romford.

As Joe W pointed out earlier one could argue that the EA isn’t the problem - it’s inability to act is just a symptom of central government mis-management of U.K. plc.

What a travesty! What sort of state are we in if the EA is complicit in the water companies effectively ‘hiding’ significant pollution incidents….. I sat on Thames RFERAC for a decade and told the EA that allowing the water companies to self monitor would be a disaster - so did the rest of the...

4 piece coarse rods would be great. Fold them in half for carrying made up to the river and into quarters for posting. I have plenty of 4 piece fly rods (up to 14ft) and 6 piece salmon fly rods are the new must-have for air travel. They wok just fine (I own 3 and am looking for another)

As has been said above, you are lucky ! I have 3 rural post offices fairly close to me. One takes anything, the other two are really pernickety and won’t take anything over 1.5 m

A mate of mine runs a rod building company and he recommends UPS. I use the Post Office for shorter parcels eg 4 piece fly rods.

That’s a great idea. I buy my home coffee from Rave unground (because it is local and good). I normally just take a flask of made coffee, but water and bags would be better. A jet oil is too much for my minimalist, short session approach; unless I was fishing out of the car.

Basically it is using every possible means to register small indications. Ideally the bobbin will be heavy enough to fish on a short drop - but in a strong flow that might not be possible. So then the heavy bobbin becomes a means to register slight drop backs. In addition, the use of a heavy...

When I was zandering on the 7 it was 2 rods, watch the tips and fish heavy bobbins with buzzers too. Rear drop offs are okay if you fish them with decent buzzers; but on their own you might miss small indications. I have some ‘Billy’s backbiters’ but prefer Delkims for sensitivity when zander...

And I though Mako fly reels were expensive; they only cost a couple of grand ! Every day is a school day…..(Apologies to Tom Brown for that)

My point was that unfashionable rods are cheap - as in Chimera 2.75 and 3lb test (which make excellent pike rods). Chimera 2.5 lb test are also cheap (if you can find some) and make good heavy water barbel rods. Chimera 3 (2.25) barbel rods are not cheap as they are still viewed as excellent...

I hope you have a chaperone…….

Reel life update: My pal was originally minded to get an ss 2600; yesterday morning he tracked one down in a shop sale and went to have a look. He didn’t like it (and neither did the shop manager who is a very competent angler and a mate of both of us). Instead he bought a Daiwa TDM 4012 -...

If you want a cheaper option (I’ve nothing bad to say about DL rods) look for some chimeras in 3lb or 2.75. I found a pair for £50 !

I used the original (red) Enervite mix from Nutrabaits many years ago (for carp). It worked. I also used home mixes including lots of another bird food called Ce-Dee (yellow). That caught some good carp too. Never tried straight ‘bird food’ baits for barbel; but (and it’s a big but) if you...

I started a thread recently on virtually the same topic (on behalf of a mate). ‘4000 ish non-baitrunner reel choice’. There are some interesting suggestions in there……

Thanks guys; I’m passing on the recommendations…….

Thanks chaps. Super helpful. I will pass on the offers and see what transpires.

My fishing mate sent me a picture this afternoon of his rod and an Abu 55 at work on the Thames. I responded saying that the reel was rubbish and that he would regret it…. 3 hours later I get a text saying the reel has misbehaved and he ended up trashing his mainline behind the spool. I laughed...