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Paul, mine has a toggle inflation in case the auto-inflate doesn't work and also a non-return valve inflation tube for you to blow into as a plan C. 150N should keep you afloat if you enter the water conscious, guess we can't cover all bases, just risk mitigation.

From a mariner's perspective Paul, a lifejacket is considered to be the bulky non-inflating type that if fitted correctly will keep you the right way up and your head above water even if you enter the water face first and are unconscious. There are different manufacturers and ratings for weight...

Having conducted dozens of inspections of merchant ship ballast tanks over the years I can confirm that they contain all kinds of creatures. The recent legislation to restrict discharge is however very much a case of closing the stable door after the horse has bolted.

As an extra precaution I always let my wife know which stretch of river I'm fishing and what time I expect to be back. If fishing alone then a quick text to an angling mate or two who know the stretch and my favourite swims, I've given my wife the contact numbers, especially important when I...

I sometimes do in floodwater to produce an extra scent trail but suspect that it is all washed off within a couple of minutes. Can't do any harm I suppose but I don't think it makes a great deal of difference.

No easy answer Jonathan, horses for courses so depends on what works on the rivers you fish. So many variables, stock density, depth, water clarity to suggest but a few. I use contrasting methods which I know from experience works for a particular scenario on the day, the proof in the pudding...

Hi Mike, do you no longer need to catch the biggest barbel with a split cane in order to win another one? Not that I'll be bothering the scales but just wondering what gear to bring.

On an unfamiliar section of river I spend an hour or two trotting a stick float down to establish the features, always a chance of catching a fish while I'm at it!

As an experiment when fishing a rocky swim a couple of weeks ago I used some 10lb home made wire traces as hooklengths, when the fish were up for it they weren't bothered and I didn't lose one.

I've met him too, the same bloke who when you advise that you're presently blanking looks at you in disgust and tells you about the bloke here yesterday who was bagging up.

The Gardner net has changed, I've recently bought a couple of spares from different suppliers, the last one I bought has a thicker diameter frame and the whole net is more rounded than the elipse of the previous version. I'll be sticking with the Gardner after taking the usual precaution of...

Hi Dean, I use this sort of thing: http://www.screwfix.com/p/smith-locke-medium-duty-storage-hooks-zinc-plated-blue-sleeves-6-pcs/3982j I have lots of them in my garage which is on the house burglar alarm system. These racks cheap and cheerful but I'd only use them for carbon rods (not my...

Drove over the Trent via the A1 yesterday morning, more tents than Glastonbury.

My usual boat in the Canaries is having a bad summer for marlin too apparently.

Thanks Mark, appreciate the information.

I'll go along with that, I was making up some barbel and carp rigs yesterday using various patterns of Owner hooks all nominally the same size but the gauge, gape and eye size varies considerably from pattern to pattern.

Hi Tony, I use them fairly regularly on the smaller rivers coupled with Speedia reels they're a real joy and add a bit of extra fun to the game. I have around a dozen split cane rods for various disciplines but the ones that I use mainly for barbel are the aforementioned mkIV Avon and a mkIV...

Agreed! I dug my original ones out for a carp session recently having not used them for about five years. Worked fine and batteries were still good!

I've had a couple on one short session. Haven't got bored with barbel yet!

I'll have a swim with a near bank feature please, canes and Speedias may get an airing this year! They seem to be a lucky combination for me on other rivers this season.