welder

Phil, scroll back up and read the last few lines of Cyborx' post. Then Hawkman's post will make more sense. I wholeheartedly agree with both of them, by the way. Ian

I frequently use worms as bait and have no particular favourites when it comes to hooklinks so I tend to assess the water and my swim's accessible features before choosing what to use. I've had good results using black coated braid with the final inch of coating stripped back to give me a hinge effect and a button of black rig foam to lift the lobbies up a little. Ian

You're not alone in loving cork handles. I'm sort of betwixt and between in that, a few years back, I had my Greys Prodigys customised to suit me and my needs rather than having full-on custom built rods. The first thing that I insisted on was full Portugese cork handles which came out just perfect for me, all these years later I'm still loving them. I also had Fuji reel seats fitted, all of the eyes relined with PTFE which has the lowest coefficient of friction in the civilised world (possibly ) and slightly larger diameter tip-eyes. Oh, and rather posh brushed stainless butt caps. These rods are now fully mature (read "old") but I'm very fond of them and ain't looking to change them any time soon. Ian

I just buy mine. ESP make them much better than I ever could. Ian

Blending in. Either use flouro which is close to invisible when submerged, or a dark/black coated braid with the coating stripped back to suit hinge effect or whatever, especially in silty conditions. Ian

I almost always leave tags, too. Sometimes blobbed with a flame, sometimes not. No pun. My reel handles, on the other hand, point wherever they like because I'm just a rough welder who doesn't give a stuff. Ian

Hi, Your rods are more than man enough. They have a habit of wareing through the hook link with there sandpaper like mouth pads. If I was fishing a lake with a few, I would be using long hooklinks made of very strong and super smooth polished braid, there a a few of them about. They love fishy boilies and pellets, but will get hooked on just about anything including sweet corn. Terry, as Frank has stated, your rods will cope just fine and Sensor is known to break well above it's stated breaking strain so as regards tackle you're all good. While I've never caught a cat in the UK, I've had several from Rushes Lake in France. I found wide-gape, large hooks to be the answer with Sufix Black smooth-coated braid as the hooklink. The Rushes cats had a preference for 24mm halibut pellets on a longish hair. Oh. Double check your knots and, if you can, fish in or on the edge of silty areas. Ian

Keith, it was Mick who showed me those Avid Chod Beads. They work very well for me, cleverly designed kit. As is a lot of what Avid have to offer. Unlike you, I never use any form of leader, my silt/chod rigs run on the mainline. Ian

Love it! I have PB,s with Grebe, Coot and Swan. A fish or two would be handy. Ian

Just to let you know Tim has contacted me and he is going to post the stick to me so hopefully sorted now till I can get some chubb bars. Just wanted to say a big thank you to you both for all your help and advice. Simon, I should have had a look on here before rummaging in the garage! I can't find mine so it's just as well that Tim is sorting you out. It's good to see that the forum is maintaining it's reputation for being a friendly place. Tim, you're a star! Ian

Frogy, you'd probably be better off accepting Tim's (Newmarket) offer of his flexy-stick thingy as I've no idea where I chucked mine and if you could see the inside of my garage (read skip) you'd fully understand why it would take some time to find it! By the way, despite lacking the bit we're discussing, you've done very well indeed on price! I'll have a look tomorrow, honest. Oh, and I'm pretty sure that Tim's nearer to you. I'm in North Warwickshire, near Brum. Ian

Frogy, if I can find it you're welcome to my original, nasty elasticated pole thingy for free, mate. You'll be better off with the Chub items though, trust me. Ian

Now you've got me intrigued, what other way? I have sent jrc spare parts an email so hopefully they will reply tomorrow and let me know if any spares are available. Buy a set of 3 Chub telescopic bivvy braces and use them instead of the elasticated pole thingy. In fact, the latest Sti's have them as standard, now, so you could use those I guess. My STi is older and I used to have the elasticated bit which was a nightmare to deploy. Now, all is sweetness and light. Oh, and the bivvy is far more rigid when assembled. Ian

Esmine, if you don't already have one get a fleece lined overblanket. I use a Trakker Peachskin which has straps and buckles to attach it to the side frame of the bedchair so it stays put. It's the business! Ian

Same. Ian

Nathan, it's more proactive fishing in that you're actually doing something rather than waiting for something to happen, and, of course, it's far more fun! We all need fun in fishing otherwise why bother? Ian

Steve, try all of the above but use a 1.5lb test barbel rod! It's proper sport, talk about getting a bend in your rod... Even a 6lb common feels like you've hooked a monster. I've always enjoyed mixing old techniques with modern. It's my age.............. Ian

Been there, done that. There is very little in angling that can be described as new. Just new takes on well established techniques to be candid. Just realised....I sound like my Dad. That's ok though, I learned a lot from him. Ian

I've been doing it for about 50 years now. Ian

BLESSSSSSSSSS! Ian

Jules, please do. Something a bit different. Ian

Well, first I have to ask my granddaughter's permission.......then go to ramming speed. Ian

Go on then. Nothing whatsoever to do with fishing but a topic close to my heart. My 1937 Morris 8, all dressed up for my son's wedding last year. There's a tale behind this. If anyone is at all interested I'll add to this thread. Ian

Spat cider. Have you seen the price of cider.........? Ian