BrentfordBob
New member
It's been thirty odd years since I last fished...
But last year, my youngest lad and I attended an introduction to fishing session in Chandlers Ford, Hants.
For me, it was to see if much had changed in thirty years - it hasn't, apart from that pole fishing for monster carp seems to be the way people like to fish nowadays. But for my lad, it was just to see if he liked it. Thanks to Justin Naylor (our coach for the session), he did like it. Very much infact.
So since then, I've been put under increasing pressure to go out and get some tackle together for the two of us to do some basic float fishing. Several visits to Homestores in Southampton, and about £150 later, we're ready to go.
Graham at Homestores gave us some sound advice and some basic tackle - two Shakespeare Firebird rod and reel combo's and the usual stuff that accompanies it.
We've got our licences and a one year pass for Hiltingbury Lakes in Chandlers Ford (just off the M3, if you don't know).
Our first outing was mixed. I spent more time untangling line from the reels than actually fishing but when we did fish, we were getting lots of small Roach and Perch with maggots. I have to admit to one disaster with a tiny Perch where I couldn't get the hook out - it was lodged way down the poor blighter's throat and having such a small mouth meant that using a disgorger or forceps was nigh on impossible. Unfortunately he died in my hands, which I felt terrible about but I guess/hope that this is one of the drawbacks of being a novice.
On our way out, I got chatting to another fisherman and mentioned our issue with reel tangles. He pointed me towards braided line, and another £15 later, I was set for our second outing.
This was far more like it.... no more tangles, although one of the Firebird reels literally fell apart when I was casting, so we were down to just one rod between the two of us. No problem - I was happy to let my lad fish while I soaked up the sun. We changed our bait to sweetcorn this time and the results were good. Less tiddlers and infact, one good Roach and one very nice Tench. This was far more what we were hoping for.
I've now invested in a (hopefully) better reel - a Diawa Crossfire, and we've got some soft pellet bait arriving soon.
Onwards..... I look forward to chatting to some of you on this forum, and getting some helpful advice.
Cheers!
But last year, my youngest lad and I attended an introduction to fishing session in Chandlers Ford, Hants.
For me, it was to see if much had changed in thirty years - it hasn't, apart from that pole fishing for monster carp seems to be the way people like to fish nowadays. But for my lad, it was just to see if he liked it. Thanks to Justin Naylor (our coach for the session), he did like it. Very much infact.
So since then, I've been put under increasing pressure to go out and get some tackle together for the two of us to do some basic float fishing. Several visits to Homestores in Southampton, and about £150 later, we're ready to go.
Graham at Homestores gave us some sound advice and some basic tackle - two Shakespeare Firebird rod and reel combo's and the usual stuff that accompanies it.
We've got our licences and a one year pass for Hiltingbury Lakes in Chandlers Ford (just off the M3, if you don't know).
Our first outing was mixed. I spent more time untangling line from the reels than actually fishing but when we did fish, we were getting lots of small Roach and Perch with maggots. I have to admit to one disaster with a tiny Perch where I couldn't get the hook out - it was lodged way down the poor blighter's throat and having such a small mouth meant that using a disgorger or forceps was nigh on impossible. Unfortunately he died in my hands, which I felt terrible about but I guess/hope that this is one of the drawbacks of being a novice.
On our way out, I got chatting to another fisherman and mentioned our issue with reel tangles. He pointed me towards braided line, and another £15 later, I was set for our second outing.
This was far more like it.... no more tangles, although one of the Firebird reels literally fell apart when I was casting, so we were down to just one rod between the two of us. No problem - I was happy to let my lad fish while I soaked up the sun. We changed our bait to sweetcorn this time and the results were good. Less tiddlers and infact, one good Roach and one very nice Tench. This was far more what we were hoping for.
I've now invested in a (hopefully) better reel - a Diawa Crossfire, and we've got some soft pellet bait arriving soon.
Onwards..... I look forward to chatting to some of you on this forum, and getting some helpful advice.
Cheers!
