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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.

I don't believe you can ever be sure in any particular conditions. You never know what's running into the river in high water conditions do you? They feed when they want to feed and this isn't always when you think they will is my conclusion! Obviously stock levels will have a bearing on whether...

Fair enough Robert. Have you tried moving it back up the rod a bit? I personally fish mainly in the day and occasionally for an hour into dark and would rather have nothing on the rod during the day but if you mainly fish at night I can see the attraction. I would think though you'll still get...

What, they shared the cost! 🤣

I only have one Free Spirit Barbel rod. The original Seeker. I was very disappointed with it when it arrived. Too thick in the tip and tip heavy. Not a good rod for the Stour or Avon imo but I've used it on the Severn where it's better. I broke the tip on my Torrix 11' Specialist ( my fault) and...

Why not Robert? If you put them behind the first eye along from the tip you won't get many wrap rounds. Sure it's not quite as sensitive as by the tip but for Barbel does it really matter? You'll still see knocks and rattles well enough if you fish with a nice fine tip rod such as a Torrix...

I think Paul Boote passed the Graham Phillips banner to Nick Whip but as to whether either still build rods I've no idea. There will be plenty of recommendations for rod builders forthcoming I'm sure.

Give me Shimanos any day.

Big reels for Barbel surely? I had a 5000t ( I think that was the size). Didn't have a very good line lay and all in all was a basic reel that I gave to my son in law for sea fishing. I guess the 4500 is a bit smaller but even so big reels. I have the SS2600's and I would think they're a much...

Sounds good. 9 Barbel is a season's total for many on the Wessex rivers now and that's not float fishing either! 👍

Sounds like the perfect excuse to take a few days off and go fishing!