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He joined the Navy then after that moved to Spain in case you're wondering why I didn't see him much!

I never knew that the Walton phrase came from the bible Alan! My oldest brother was a keen angler and I remember when he caught a 4lb 6oz Brown Trout from our local stream and the fuss it generated ( he caught it on a so called friend's rod who then thought he had a right to it!). Also remember...

Glad you mentioned Zander Graham. Never seen one, let alone caught one. High time I did! 🙂

Started when my Dad took me out in a boat fishing in Portland harbour near Weymouth age 5. By age 8 I was fishing on the local stream catching brownies and later a few Dace and Roach. Like many, done my share of match fishing which gave me a good grounding in simply catching the fish in front of...

Luggage is a very personal thing but whenever I buy something new I'm left thinking 'I could do better than that'. I know what you mean about the multi pocket thing. I bought a Nash rucksack that had so many pockets I could never find anything! Rod holdalls are as bad. Too big, too small, not...

Exactly. Its hard to find the motivation!

A scenario repeated on many rivers. The Dorset Stour for one. When you live an hour away, it's hardly worth bothering with short sessions but definitely that is the way to go if you live close enough.

I agree with that Alan. In low stock rivers what is the point of moving from a swim you either know or are confident there are fish? Better to sit it out I think though a couple of similarly productive swims can be alternated. When you have plenty of fish you can afford to be more impatient...

I think there's a great deal of truth in what you say. I guess at the end of the day we all fish in a way in which we are most confident. I am interested in your approach though Chris. My results have been poor to say the least on the H. Avon this year. It's a case of breaking away and trying...

Years ago at Throop it was common to have fish in your swim all day but not get a bite until dusk. If you couldn't see them you'd never have known.

I agree but likely in the same area though held up somewhere ( how do you know though?) 👍

I have lost count of the times when I've sat in a swim all day then caught one right at the end. I'm talking low stock venues here. The question is, was that fish there all along and only interested in feeding late on? Or did it just arrive? Either way I always need a pretty good reason to move...

Another thing I like is the position of the handles well in from the rim. It makes a difference ( to me anyway) when playing fish. I have the new one ( mark III) but presume the earlier ones are the same?

Years ago a well known Wessex Piker used to swear by centrepins. I think they were Grice and Young Pikers. He was very successful using them. Great for trotting (obviously) but also good for paternostering. I can see the attraction of the RW pin for casting though I've never used one. A big...

Feels rough? It's one of the smoothest, best casting lines I've ever used. It's not right. Duff batch, must be. The 15lb I've used in gravel pits for Carp. It's excellent. All lines tend to go wiry after a while but when first spooled up it should be smooth and supple. I'd complain!

Interesting. All you can do is try things I guess. Things like horlicks or any other sticky substance need moisture I think. Starch I think needs heat to thicken. A real brain teaser! 🙂

I wonder whether you could look into the properties of potato or corn starch. Corn starch has waxy properties. How you would apply it to bait I'm not sure. Just a thought. 🙂

I have never ever been let down by ESP Synchro XT ( not the loaded version). I use it with complete confidence in strains between 12 and 18 for Barbel and Carp. Usually 12 for Barbel.

Wheat gluten was always the main binding agent when trying to get pastes to hold together well prior to boiling. Don't know of anything else though.