welder

Adam, Jez is right about the pasties in Barston Lake. It's owned by a match angler and it's been stocked with LOTS of small carp. There are some big lumps in there but you struggle to get past the smaller fish. A tip. Don't bother turning off for Barston, carry on along the dual carriageway to a roundabout and take a left. Carry on, looking for signs for Lavender Hall Fishery on the left. Fish the far lake, by the railway station. It's their specimen water and is far better fishing than Barston Lake. You might want to have a look at it on www.Fisheries.co.uk Ian

Grand Union Canal, Shropshire Union Canal, Birmingham-Fazeley Canal, Essington-Wyrely Canal.......erm.....every canal. Just fish them, nobody else does. Ian

I regret that I know nothing about this water, but it's rewarding to read your positive comments about the place. It makes a refreshing change. I wish you luck when you fish there. Ian

Yes, three rods during winter months. Didn't notice what the change-to-summer date is. Ian

Andy was on peg 6 and it was something of a quagmire. His groundsheet was a very sorry looking thing. Several of the lower numbered pegs really could do with some remedial attention. I imagine that the place would be even more pleasant in dry, warm weather and with rather more fish in there. Ian

There will be those amongst you who know how much I love visits from Mother Nature's creatures. On Friday afternoon, still daylight, Alan, Jez and myself were standing in my swim chatting when a Barn Owl flew gracefully towards us and landed on a fence post maybe 30 feet away. We just stood and watched in silence as the bird proceeded to hunt in and around our vicinity for some minutes, each time landing upon ever nearer fence posts and studying us, presumably for signs of threat from us. The owl obviously perceived no threat as it now ignored us as it hunted from the air and on the ground for a good while. The following morning I was awoken by the sound of a Woodpecker, doing what they do best, in an Oak tree right behind my bivvy. This also went on for some time. Later that day Alan was trying to shoo off a small duck from his swim by chucking a few boilies at it. The duck just ducked them (pun fully intended) and returned a few minutes later to dive for the boilies, bold as brass, bless. He got the lot! Love it. Ian

If I'd caught a fish every time I laughed I'd have had hundreds! Great fun in great company and it was good to see Del out and about. Wicked shame that Malc's van broke down and he was unable to attend. Andy, bless him, took on the role of chef for the weekend and fed us very well, and because he had taken suffcient breakfast stuff to feed 8 people and only 5 of us made it, to say that the portions were huge really is an understatement. On Saturday evening we were allowed access to the large wooden hut which has mains power, hot and cold running water, fridge, freezer, proper full size cooker and a huge gas barbeque. Said barby had no gas cylinder attached but I spotted one lurking, along with suitable jubilee clip and a screwdriver....hey presto, huge barbeque very soon fired up. Result! Andy then took charge of it and we all donated stuff to be cooked and, once again, we were very well fed. This morning we used the hut once again for yet another gargantuan breakfast, tidied and swept the hut and it's contents and as the weather forecast was bleak we all agreed to clear off early. Packed away virtually dry and as we were leaving the Fishery the heavens opened, as predicted. Perfect timing or what? All the time we were there only 2 fish were caught, both from the opposite bank from us. One around 10lbs and one around 6lbs, so not exactly prolific fishing. Good weekend nevertheless. And I was astonished that, for a student, Andy is quite intelligent Ian

Now that REALLY made me laugh out loud I've packed two sets of thermal underwear and may well wear both at the same time! I might even wear proper clothes as well. Oh, and I found today that I own two peachskin overblankets ( ) so both are in the Transit with all the other kit. Cold? Bring it on! Miriam, bless her, did the Big Shop this evening and bought us about a hundredweight of food and more Pot Noodles than you could shake a stick at. Alan and I may have to say for a month, just to use up the supplies. The barbeque is loaded, along with a couple of bags of charcoal and there are a couple of cans of Diamond White and some wine, apparently Quite excited now and really looking forward to meeting up with some cracking people again. Ian

Dave, there is some talk of a summer social at Merrington. Nothing is cast in stone yet and I may be jumping the gun....but the crack at the last one generated some firm friendships. If you manage to sneak off and visit us I'll make you a brew and introduce you to some of the friends I made last time there. Ian

As Alan and I are travelling in the transit we'll bring a barbeque and some charcoal. This will, of course, be available for all to use. I'll get some sauces and relish too, also for general consumption. We're hoping to arrive around 11-00 am ish. Ian

Send me your boss's phone number. I'll call him and tell him a pack of lies, no need for you to beg or plead........good heavens, this is fishing we're talking about. Ian

Seconded. Saturday, soonest! Ian

Dave, you know it make sense. In fact it will probably be the only thing that does.....I've fished with these people before. Do it. Ian

porshec2, please consider your thread well and truly hijacked, aided and abetted by a moderator and an administrator, amongst the rest of us. I hope that the resultant descriptions of our weekend at Merrington go some way to answering your initial enquiry. If not please feel free to join in on the next Grumpy social. You don't need to be Grumpy, just sociable. Watch this space, the seed is already sown. Ian

Use that infamous charisma & charm of yours to get us on the warm side. We're going to need it. Have you seen the weather for next weekend? I've just visited several weather forecast sites and the outlook isn't too bad. Snow is unlikely, some very light rain, possibly, on Saturday. On Sunday we'll need the Factor 8. Or not. Coldish at night but warmish by day. To be on the safe side I'm taking all the warm clothes I own and may well borrow even more. I guess that the Peachskin overblanket will be deployed once again. The last time I used it was at the Grumpy Old thingy last year. Please God, don't let it be that cold again. Ian

Use that infamous charisma & charm of yours to get us on the warm side. We're going to need it. Have you seen the weather for next weekend? I'll sleep in the van if the infamous charisma and charm fails us....particularly if the weather forecast is even half right. The ultimate, all weather, fishing shelter? Transit HiCube. Just trust me on this. Carpet lined, Pink Floyd on the stereo................ Ian

Some of us, eight in all, are doing a long weekend at Merrington next weekend. A bit of a splinter group from the principals of the Grumpy Old Men social of 2008. Jez, bless him, has once again become organiser and arranged the bookings etc. I'll take my camera and, upon return, try to learn how to post pictures......possibly I suspect that, yet again, we're going to be well fed, which is a strong clue as to one of the participants..... Better take the barbeque. Again Ian

Nick, I suspected that the thread would be relocated. I've PM'd Peter with suitable links....in the hope that some of them make him laugh as much as I did. Ian

You and Courtz are right about the crowds. When quiet, Willesley is a lovely place to be. It's not quite so pleasant when the crowds descend. Still beautiful, though. Also agree with Courtz on the fact that a marker rod really is a useful tool on this water. Oh, and if fishing overnight, don't ignore the margin Ian

Yes, it was very cold indeed on one of the banks. Ian PS Welome to this cracking forum. I've sent you a PM.

I've just been on Google Earth to check out a caravan site we're going to visit in May and I realised that the village of Standlake is surrounded by lakes which appear to have been gravel extraction pits. Some of them have static caravans near the banks while others have power and sailing boats in evidence. Does anybody on the forum know wether or not I can fish any of these waters? The caravan site in question is called Lincoln Farm Park in case this helps. There's also a smallish pool attached to the site....any good? Ian

Quinoss, you're spoiled for choice, mate. Go on www.Fisheries.co.uk and you will soon realise that you are almost surounded by suitable waters. Ian

PM sent, Andy. Ian

Stu, go onto www.Fisheries.co.uk and have a look at Milton Pools, Oxfordshire. A couple of years ago around a dozen of us held a mini-social on there and it's a very pleasant place to be, with all the facilities you could hope for. Ian

Is that the caravan holiday Park Paul, with a small club house? Small pool then the lake? As I went there over 20 years ago No i think you might mean unity farm or maybe northan farm in brean? Northam Farm, Brean, has a small lake/large pool that looks unlikely. Despite that I fished it when my wife and I stayed there in our touring caravan in 2007. I had some very nice fish from that water. Best was 18.5lb mirror. Nobody was carp fishing while I was there, just me. The other anglers were mostly holidaymakers using Argos-type tackle....or that stuff sold in the promenade toyshops....and not catching much. I had a look at the Unity Park pool while there. Looked rather nice, or as nice as an overfished, holiday park water can be. Ian