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Yes. I know what you mean. There are some huge Barbel coming from the Avon but I think it's worth noting that many of these are recaptures of a handful of big fish, though not all. The population is low but there are people on here much better qualified than me to offer an opinion. I did catch 3...

Hi Ralph. You raise an interesting point there about Chub sizes. I agree with you that the modern baits have made a difference to Chub sizes. If we take my nearest river, the Dorset Stour, it is a river of two halves. The big fish of over 6lb become much more common ( wrong word really) from...

Nice job. My first proper Chub rod was a NW. I bought it as a blank with handle fitted. I've never seen such a long handle! After shortening and ringing up I caught some good fish on it including a 5.15 and a bit🤣 in 1983. Massive fish then. Would it have been an SS5? Seems to ring a bell. Sadly...

Here's a good '6' from my last day of the season on the Stour. Two bites was all I could manage. One found a snag and this was the other. More than happy with that on a difficult day. 🙂

Good information there. As for the two rods you mention, the SU Avon has more of a traditional through action whereas the Torrix ( you may know) is much faster and more tippy though it will bend through under pressure. It has a very fine tip and appears quite a fragile rod whereas the SU Avon...

Makes sense. I wasn't aware of Rod rings and things. Seems pretty good though I did notice a great many products were sold out so difficulty in getting stock perhaps? I don't know. Because I will mainly be using a centrepin on the Chimera 1 I may just be better off going down the route I took...

Hi Ralph. I'm grateful for your detailed and informative post. You have given me lots to think about! It's nice to see there are still people about that like to do things their own way. This is an excellent group with many such people I dare say. Love the cardinal 54! 😁

Th Thanks Bob. Appreciate that. 🙂

The closing of Guides and Blanks ( part of Hopkins and Holloway) was a big loss for those of us that tinker around with rods. I have a Chimera 1 that I bought from Walkers of Trowell ( going cheap). The handle is far too long for my taste and has the standard short cork shoulder above the reel...

A bit like ASM. I think it has Essential oils added to Alar Salar but hey, he knows his stuff doubtless it will be effective but I'll stick to what I know and have confidence in. How many times do you need to change your bait I would ask? Serious question.

Matt Hayes has uploading some nice films onto YouTube entitled Fisherman's Country. The river sections cover the middle Severn principally and as you would expect from Matt they are very well presented ( along with Mick Brown) and nicely shot. Another guy I like to watch has a Facebook group...

New one on me but I am old school! 👍

It all depends on how much you like the rods really. If they suit what you do and you like them enough then yes getting them re-whipped is worth considering but ask for a quote first. I don't know those rods but you might be able to get something that suits you just as well for less than the re-...

I don't think they do Joe. Gardner do a 12 in their Target Specibeaked point range but it isn't such a tough looking hook as the 10 which I have used quite a bit. I wouldn't personally recommend the 12 in that range though I've not used the ones I bought.

Another vote from me for the Bank Tackle wide Gape. Recently they have added a proper size 10. The old size 10 was really an 8. They're strong and very sharp. What's not to like? The Gardner Specimen hooks in size 10 are also very reliable. 👍

Who knows. I wouldn't drive 180 miles to fish there. Maybe they could have a two tier membership similar to Lymm AC where you can join just the rivers and not get caught in a massive waiting list to fish the stillwaters.

Lucky you! I'm something like 750th on the waiting list. I'll be dead the time I'm offered a place! And yes, it's Dudmaston Hall clogging everything up! I want to fish their river stretches which hardly seems fair!

Reflects very nicely what I like about the middle Severn. 👍

As Cliff has said, Hampton Loade Kinver Freeliners. There are decent numbers of Barbel along there including fish into double figures. I should imagine ( though I don't know for sure) that the Warks Avon would be a more difficult proposition with fewer Barbel. The Severn is perhaps a safer bet...

I am never, ever mentioning this subject again! 😀