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When I reached the age of 70 I thought I'd better start acting like a grown up. Didn't like it so I've gone back to being a pillock. Far happier now. Ian.

Dumbbell boilies? Mixers for surface fishing? Circle punched meat or pepperami?

I had a visit from the EA about a month ago on a commercial miles out in the sticks, the first time I've seen them in over 30 years. At least a few years ago you used to get a printed licence with a David Miller painting that softened the blow a bit, now it's all done virtually. Mind you, the state of the Royal Mail, it probably wouldn't have turned up anyway!

I have to agree with your take on the bailiffs at Horseshoe. They seem to revel in being important, some to a greater degree than others. I've fished the water on many occasions but never really felt welcome there. Ian.

Something needs to be put in place, the spam is getting pretty bad

I spent some time on there late 80's, flitting between summer and winter bays, the attached photo was summer point, this was also when I became aware of tiger nut's, having been mostly using chick peas until then, the carp went mad for tigers so I made the most of it, getting hold of them wasn't easy though, a non fishing shop in Swindon refused to sell any to me as they knew I was using them as bait..! Good times then though, I seem to remember some of the guys talking about an angler there fishing the winter bay near all the snags (now long gone) called John Allen, who'd recently had that 200lb cat from the Ebro..

Ha, thanks, I guess there's different levels of grown up

grown up !!!

What a session. Well done to the lad. Yesterday I went for a walk around a water on which I have a ticket starting in June. It's an awesome place, nearly 90 acres of water in a massive nature reserve/SSSI/SPA. A proper big pit with everything that you could hope to see..... bays, islands, snaggy margins, massive sheets of water that go on forever, a really impressive place. I actually fished this water ~25 years ago when I was completely out of my depth. I caught one carp, to this day one of the best I've caught. Would you believe it..... I walked into the swim I caught from all those years ago, and there were loads of gulls diving on a huge hatch. I persuaded the Mrs and kids to stop for 5 mins so I could check it out. Straight away I spotted the carp popping there heads out feeding on this hatch, well within casting distance too. All that water and I found them straight away. Couldn't believe it. Law of the sod dictates I'll not find another chance like that once my ticket starts but it certainly got the blood flowing ready for June!

I used to fish some of the South Cerney waters many years, mainly Ham Pool, Bradley's and Hill's for the tench before Watermark took the last two over. The Bailiff they had then was a annoying old curmudgeon and he used to check my ticket every single time I was there. I think it was a 2 rod rule then and I had an old pike rod set up with Heath Robinson spod made out of an old washing up bottle. The good old days, if you wanted something, you had to make it, not like the kids of today........(better stop there, I'm sounding like one myself!) After he checked my ticket, he shouted that it was a 2 rod rule and so I fired back at him that it was a spod rod and he turned away laughing to himself - the old [censored] got me! One day when he was in a more agreeable mood he told me a funny story. At Ham Pool there was a club house and bar and it included a fruit machine and one of his jobs was to empty the cash from it. You could buy day tickets on the bank then and for juniors it was £1 in advance or £2 on the bank - I did say it was a long time ago! Anyway he came across 2 lads and they came out with the old "I've only got a £50 note trick". Quick as a flash, he went to his van and dumped £46 in pound coins on them! I bet they didn't try that again!

Definitely not the only one. grinds my gears lol

Just renewed the license..... 55 quid. I can't be the only one who resents paying that. Can't think of a single way the funds reinvested have benefited me.