Fishing

From what I have seen, the lea looks a lovely river to fish. Some of this is filmed there I think: https://youtu.be/GEZn4iQ4ONg

Barbel (and river fishing in general) is just the best. I have lost almost all motivation to even look at a stillwater since joining my local river club on the Medway.

I have a small barbel fishing library. You're welcome to borrow any if you like. Can easily post them out.

I cannot wait for the season to start!

Some of this is filmed there I think

Good spot! Some of that is filmed is on the very club stretch I was talking about. I can understand the preference for river fishing, but that's probably my fault for fishing still waters all through the winter without much to show for it. Thanks for the book offer - very kind!

Fished all yesterday and today and not a sausage to show for it. Nevermind, nice to get out the house though and weather wasn't too bad.

Thinking about getting a reel exclusively for river duties, my carp reel feels a bit over gunned, especially when loaded with heavy line. Anyone know if a Daiwa Tournament ss1600 Whisker reel would be okay for river fishing including barbel and the odd smallish carp?

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I have never used one, but Daiwa are always good and it should be fine. At little more than half the price I can recommend Shimano ST 6000RB, I have had 6 for about 5 years and they have never let me down. They are slightly bigger than the Daiwa and I use them for all my tench/bream/chub and short range carp fishing.

Fished overnight yesterday and today and had carp of 21 and 15 plus a bream which was a certain double that actually weighed 9-14. Trout time tomorrow.

Cheers Colin I'll look up the ST 6000RB, the that's a pretty convincing review. Niiice, any photos? Best of luck tomorrow.

No photos, not an angler within 200 yards and I never retain fish without good reason. I don't cart cameras around, just a phone. I will take pictures tomorrow as the first two trout will be dinner! Hang on until the tackle shops open so you can actually handle both reels, buying reels unseen can be a bit of a minefield.

Something quite nice about nobody around and just the memory of the captures. Where I was yesterday and today it literally had anglers queuing up in the car park, and it's not that special. Good advice about waiting til tackle shops open.

No such problem today, over 150 acres to choose from. Tomorrow is even better, 5 miles of river and 32 syndicate members! All the fish were caught last night, just a couple of bream around the 7 mark in the day. No way could I justify retaining them until first light.

I use one of these for all my river fishing and I think its great. That is, apart from when I decide I want a bloody centrepin, spend way to much on one and then proceed to demonstrate to myself that I can't use them very well at all. This has happened at least once a season for the last three...

As @ColinTheBald says though, loads of shimano reels about for way less money that do the same job and many have a bait runner facility if that's your thing too.

The daiwa's are lovely though, a quite outdated design now but super reliable and nice bits of kit.

I still haven't picked up a rod, I have been doing a lot of virtual fishing tho'... These guys are all right next to where I live, first one's my mate's husband, she's often in his videos..

Each time I drive past a tinny for sale on the side of the road I'm more tempted to leap out of the car and buy it...
https://youtu.be/Nmz4yJ_Vxjw

https://youtu.be/BHJq1BNJhpc

https://youtu.be/YjEWQ5xOpZI

Damn, I love Aussie fishing videos, have seen a few of theirs. Am particularly jealous of the mega kayaks which make mine look like a shoddy barge.

Crow: don't even start on centrepins, mine will come out next week, I will use it with a Richard Walker MkIV Avon from 1956 and a float with a red tip, for tench. I will prove my incompetence yet again.

As @ColinTheBald says though, loads of shimano reels about for way less money that do the same job and many have a bait runner facility if that's your thing too.

Thanks for the info, nice to hear what a real owner thinks. Famous last words but cant see myself owning more than 1 river rod so don't mind spending near £100 if the reels good quality. Might see if there's a more expensive Shimano reel to throw into the mix too.

Sticky Baits Reflections Vol 3 just released

https://youtu.be/KaiLnM52bd4

Just putting the kettle on, perfect timing.

Just got back, so a miracle of timing all round!

The river has never looked better.

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Dinner is caught. On a Hardy rod which is exactly the same age as me and a reel that is only 10 years younger.

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The crowd went wild with excitement...

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Lovely. Where was this?

Nice!

Rumours that Nicola is going to allow activities including fishing from next week 🤞

The Darent in North Kent, membership available when someone dies.

Dinner is caught

Well done, bet they'll taste even better knowing you caught them yourself.

They will, mainly because they are fit from constantly swimming in fast water and eating good grub, not being force fed in a muddy pond for Tesco.

Tonight's dinner was the last of last years crop of turbot, poached in red wine with shallots, they died for a good cause.

Turbot in the Darent? :oP

Loads of them, they run up to spawn.

Booked on at my syndicate lake next Sat as Scotland gets restrictions eased! Yassssssssss!

Need a new bivvy though as my nigh on 20 year old Fox Evolution Bivvy finally gave up the ghost last time I was on the bank, alu pole broke.

Any recommendations for a one man with decent headroom?