Fishing

looks good!

Got a couple of days AL next week so off to Devon to try Nymph for grayling

@Colin_the_Bald you recommended a Maxcatch rod as good value ~ 9ft, 5 or 6 weight for a beginner. I can't find the V-Feather / Crystal Black on their website or eBay.
Is this the one (but renamed)? https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/173108568384? or do any others look a better bet?

and @jupiz how did you find the Maxcatch reel(s)?

Thanks!

Maxcatch are really decent, especially for lines and reels. My reels have been great, bumped around a whole load of stuff and haven’t broken but tbh for uk you don’t need anything fancy. Most used one is a plastic loop one that gets bumped around the boot as it’s pretty much unbreakable.

In terms of rods will you be fishing rivers or still waters/lakes mostly? If rivers a 9ft 4/5wt is a better option, if lakes go for the 6wt. ebay is great for 2nd hand rods as like cyclist fishers have way too much kit. If can get a snowbee prestige or vision rod (onkis are good) for ~£100 it’s likely all the rod you’ll ever need. 9ft 5wt will do pretty much everything.

No, that isn't the one, but is almost certainly perfectly good, although the fast action is probably better for those of us who have made a complete bollocks of casting for many years. The v-access which was shown beneath it on your link should be more forgiving for a beginner at £50ish. I won't argue with @jupiz, 9' 5 weight will do anything other than launch a fly looking like an overweight budgie at the horizon on a massive reservoir.

@jupiz @Colin_the_Bald Thanks for the info!

I plan to start in the new year on the rivers around Salisbury.
I'm probably going to go new rather than used, so that I don't pick-up a lemon. Something 9ft 5wt fast action, around £50-80 sounds like it'll do nicely.

Is there also a recommended starter fly set? I saw that you recommended barbless-flies.co.uk previously.

Fair enough - what rod you like is pretty personal. If you can give them a cast beforehand that would be best. Above rods I recommended I’ve used for last few years and are well regarded. As are Shakespeare agility rods (and a bargain).

For river work I’d steer away from something super fast/stiff that feels like a poker as you rarely fish more than 30ft away and often use small flies and light tippet.

For flies you’re better off getting a few patterns that are general imitators (cover caddis and upwinged/mayfly family of insects) in a range of sizes and weights. For nymphs you need to get down so tungsten heads are very useful. Look at hares ears, pheasant tail nymphs and caddis and olive dries in size 14-18. And then the odd big mayfly for May/June.

Had a nymphing day with a great ghillie called Andy on Friday. Didn't realise you were supposed to later up underneath your waders, so I just had a pair of sports shorts on the bottom half and some socks. I froze. Was about -2 all day too.

Anyway, great day, few grayling, learnt some techniques and had a bonus out of season wild rainbow. The wild rainbows don't spawn until the spring so wasn't too bad and it went back very quickly. This was all on the Hadden estate in Derbyshire where the Wye meets the Derwent.

Reason for the boot pic - how long do they tend to take to dry/any tips to expedite the process? Stuffed newspaper in them for the first day

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Anyone knowledgeable on Scottish salmon rivers by any chance? Bit of a long shot I know

I know a man who does, he is an ex-ghillie. I can always put your question to him (he lives for salmon fishing).

Send me a DM, will be having a beer with him on Friday.

Will do thanks very much

Just let me know what you need, presumably which river in which month (and your budget). If you need more detail, I will ask if he minds you giving him a call, I have his number.

Have sent you a PM this lunchtime! Thanks

Had a decent FB marketplace pickup today for next year's salmon trip (hopefully a couple). As soon as I put the rod together, it gets stuck and is had to separate. Anything to do to prevent it being so stiff when separating it? I've been reluctant to fully push it closed.
Also going to look at replacing the netting on the new net.

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With spigots of that type they’re not supposed to be fully together which might be why it seems so tight!

Try a light coat of vaseline or similar, bottom bracket grease should do it.

The oracle has promised to come up with beats, ghillies and reasonably priced accommodation before the new year. Around £80 per day for the fishing seems to be par for the course.

Also, what @jupiz says! About a cm of the spigot showing is quite normal.

Thanks very much! Slowly getting the gear

Had a fly fishing lesson at a local fishery on Friday, it was great! Caught two rainbow trout, lost one, but really enjoyed learning new skills. Appreciate I’ve got lots to learn re: casting technique, but I’m excited to get out around Salisbury when my membership comes through for SDAC.

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after a second hand spinning reel. Trying to sort my dad a salmon spinning setup for his bday. Picked up a 9ft 15-40g rod, ideally (I think) I want a 4000/5000 size shimano baitrunner. Has anyone got anything for sale? Cheers

Builth Wells on fish passport. High, coloured water. No salmon. One wee brown trout

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River Darent, opening day today, the home made priest performed its duties.

On the Shimano baitrunner front: they're not a dedicated spinning reel, but I use an ST6000RB for salmon spinning (and most other things). They're lightweight and extremely robust and can be had new for about £50 on Ebay. A 4000 version does exist, but I would stick with the 6000. Second hand reels are a real (reel?) gamble unless you have actually held them in your hand.

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is that a river stocky? what did it take?
Fair play re used reel. This looks decent. Anything 4000-6000 would work I think

Candle wax for spigots.

Yep, stocky, as were 3 of the 4 I caught before the deluge sent me to the pub, one stocky and the token brown went back. All on size 14 Copper John, it took me an hour of looking a pillock before working out they wanted something bouncing bottom. The new member who told me how to fish the Test blanked.

There's nowt wrong with that reel, it just costs more than the RB for no reason I can discern. The top-end Shimano are superb, but bloody expensive, it's a bit like asking yourself whether you need Dura Ace or 105.