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Just tried out a pair of Vass 175 winter bib & brace and was very impressed. Freezing cold (2*) start and was comfortably warm then by the time i packed up it was 13* and sunny but didnt overheat, which was my main concern. If they are as waterproof as they seem i’ll be made up. Very comfortable...

Thanks for that! Still chuckling 🤣

I’m not even sure what point i am trying to make by the post tbh. Think it was just a reaction to things i’ve read & heard recently! For example: just read an article and the wonder rig pictured looked more like something a rock climber would use!, massive, thick hook, swivels, beads & shrink...

Gardner 30” folding net arrived today. Quite pleased with it as regards size & depth for what i need so intend to use it on Friday on my stretch of the Severn (that’ll be a blank then!🙄). There actually seems more useable space than a 32” triangle and the drop is similar. Hopefully, It should be...

I dont mean for a minute that Barbel or any fish are totally thick. ALL living things have some sort of intelligence, whether that just be a survival instinct or actual way of working out problems but i dont believe that they try & outwit us or think “mmm, that rig is sooo last week”

Fish are not intelligent! We as anglers like to believe they are as it makes our captures seem more of an achievement. Catching the biggest (or a named) fish is harder because you are narrowing down the odds greatly, not because that particular fish is cleverer than the average. Good...

Thanks, I’ve ordered the Gardner as i cannot do with Korum as a brand tbh. Lots of great ideas but everything i’ve tried has either not been quite right or has let me down in some way. They are also useless with any sort of after service so will not use them again. I have the river brolly and am...

I’m fishing the Severn near to Shrewsbury which is very much like the Wye. Lots of 6-8lb fish, a few scraper doubles and a very rare maximum of about 13 (the club record for this stretch is 13). A 36” triangular net is plenty large enough for anything i will encounter as the few doubles i’ve had...

I normally use a 36” triangle net but saw the 30” pan nets marketed by various companies as ‘BARBEL’ nets & imagined they would be fit for purpose? I’ve not seen one ‘in the flesh’ as none of my local tackle shops stock them. I’ll consider it’s usefulness when it arrives and if i think it’s not...

Funny how nets seem massive in the shop but look tiny on the bank….

That sounds like the one! I generally like Gardner stuff too. I’ll order one to try.Thanks 👍

Anyone recommend a folding pan net suitable for Barbel? No shops near me have any to look at and have been put off the Korum ones with bad reviews. (I’ve got a plain pan net i use for Tench etc which seems ok?) Larger the better as long as it folds but imagine 30” is the one to go for?

Yes good idea but we are fishing near to boulders as big as a mini so been using about 6mtrs of shock leader just in case

Yes thanks, i was using double grinners (& still do for finer lines) but it just didnt sit right on heavy leader material so last year got to grips with the Albright (after a few attempts!). Always test my knots before use but think it was just confidence using a knot i’d not used before

Can i ask how you join it to the braid? I’m coming up to my annual Windermere pike trip and have been using shock leaders due to the rocks (60lb Whiplash main line) and although not lost any am not entirely happy

Vass winter bib, Brasher jacket & Fortis thermal wellies for me! Never been cold or wet (yet!)

I just saw a post on Insta stating ‘new for ‘25’ so probably be out in the new year maybe?

For anyone interested, just seen that there is a Daiwa Theory Speci rod (New for ‘25) in 1.75lb & 2lb https://www.daiwasports.co.uk/product/theory-speci Think the last ones were well regarded so might be worth a look? List price is £134 so imagine they’ll be £120 (ish)??

Surely, Large hooks although looking large overall have a negligible increase in the gauge of the wire (in most cases) which is the only thing that affects a hooked fish. The actual length and width of the hook make no difference? I rarely use anything larger than a 10 but thats due to my bait...

What about the Pallatrax wide gape Gripz? I’ve been using them for 2 years and think they are the best hook i’ve ever used. Super strong and never lost a fish while using them. Hook comes out easily when unhooking like a barbless too