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Either high summer or the last month of the season would be my pick. Somebody I know catches them in the summer whilst barbel fishing. My own experience is that roach (any roach!) are very catchable on the Thames right through the colder months as long as the water is reasonably warm and is...

Could be an early Century blank - I had some from Paul Boote (Tristar) that looked like that. They did have spigots. And he did a 12ft 2 1/4.

For feeder fishing they are much more user friendly. You can set the standard drag as ‘normal’ and then use the fighting drag to dial out current etc. For stillwaters, cast out having set the standard drag, then set you bobbin and lastly slacken the fighting drag to allow a fish to pull line...

The Shimano XR’s are great reels. I have 2x 5000 size. I use them for float work. However for a feeder set up I would use a Shimano 4000 Gt-Rd. Primarily because it has a fighting drag which makes it super versatile. I’ve used various similar Shimano fighting drag reels since about 1990 for all...

The Sabre compact is a fantastic Small rucksack. Highly recommended.

Just phone Dave Lumb. He has a selection of suitable blanks 10/11/12 ft and 2.5 - 3lb test curve. On a budget I would look for used 2.75 or 3lb test curve Harrison Chimeras.

Soft Plus is excellent; but I only use it for hooklinks - so the unit price isn’t such an issue.

Phil; PM incoming.

Same for me, Tiger line in 16lb was really good. I tried X-line before that and didn’t like it. But bear in mind that was a few years ago. I would probably try Hybron these days.

Happy New Year 🍷

That’s bad news - they are brilliant nets.

Buy a Westlake (go outdoors) 36” landing net and throw away the arms/spreader if you don’t like them. They are cheaper than buying just a new net elsewhere. I use the whole lot and it works just fine and so does my fishing mate once he saw mine.

I have. I’ve just sold my Chimeras. Not quite sure why ….. I love the Torrix 2.25 as they are so versatile. The bad news is I’m currently using a Shakespeare 12ft 2lb test Concept rod. And it works just fine…. It cost £32 brand new.

I was also pike fishing Abberton when the first (probably) drop off indicators came into being. A piece of flexible plastic sheet bent round the rear rod rest and held together with elastic bands. The mainline was held between the 2 bits of plastic and was pulled out by a running fish. The...

Fantastic float rod; I own one.

Dough bobbins. Butt indicators - made from swing tips. Home made bobbins made from biro or aquarium tube. Monkey climbers made from plastic wine bottle tops First generation Fox Swingers with weird triangular plastic protrusions to rest on the line -rapidly replaced by plastic tube, a beta...

It is a great book; and yes you have to be a bit mad to be a serious eel fisher.

You (the manufacturer) sell what the market wants (looks/price/quality/quantity etc) - not necessarily the best available product. Even with a custom rod building option ‘people’ still spec their rods with odd fittings/the wrong rings etc etc; or even buy the wrong blank/rod in the first place...

The match boys rave about HH clothing. I bought a used bib/brace a few years back and it does exactly what it is supposed to….

TT have some really good stuff at sensible prices. I’m tempted by a couple of their rods…. But I’m still in selling mode - so must resist the temptation. I’ve sold 6x Chimeras this year - so that is a small step towards downsizing.