Flittin through Facebook I came across another one of those, buy these advert little films

and what it was for had me grinning with the insanity of it all,

for a while now, pretty near every pole manufacturer has been plugging the latest add ons for thier respective best evers

one of these was "Short Kits" which according to the blurb and scuttlebutt, improve the pole no end once you have laid out your hard earned

this latest one though......................wait for it,.........................................drum roll,................................. was for

Extention pieces for those short kits, for when you need that bit more length

either Im loosing it or the worlds getting madder each day

Having been away for so long, I had to relearn how to prepare hemp and tares for roach fishing. I had always used the soak then simmer method, which worked well for the hemp, however the tares were problematic.

It didn't matter how closely I watched the simmering pan, some were always over-cooked, split and squishy.

I have been enjoying Mark Wintle's Roach Reflections and noted his method of preparing tares, so with nothing to do yesterday evening, I gave it a try.
I hadn't got any iron tablets, so used bicarb instead.

Half a measuring cup of un-soaked tares in a .75l flask, teaspoon of bicarb, topped up to 3/4 full with boiling water and left overnight.

Result this morning is perfectly cooked tares, no splits, just right to squash between finger and thumb and very dark in colour.
I am a convert

When Barbel fishing I watch the tip, you notice all sorts of little knocks and movements in the flow especially on a quiver tip.

I remember John Wilson touch legering for Barbel, something I've not tried, and he said before you get a bite you feel a sandpaper sensation on the line, this is apparently the Barbel's whiskers on the line before they take the bait!

Had a few little rattles today and told myself that's a Barbel's Whiskers in hope. I doubt it was and more likely to be stuff hitting the line causing a slight rattle on the tip.

What do you reckon, Barbel whiskers or stuff hitting the line?

How long would you keep unused rigs for ?
Stored in dark

In the latest Q and A with Des Ship he was asked what is views are on CARP, and the maximum size suitable for
commercial match fishing,
He suggested, that 8lbs would be a good limit, if that was possible, as removal can be difficult in many ways (quote)
Our main match water has carp to 18lbs, with many 14lbs plus coming out regular in the summer months, not many
are hooked and landed in matches, most being carp of 3lbs --- 8lbs
The larger carp tend to be targeted by the specimen lads or feeder angler, if these larger carp were removed from the pool
the club fear that the pleasure/ specimen/ type angler would lose out, so the vote is to leave them be.
Whats your view?
Do you think carp over 8lbs are to big in matches for the pole angler,give us your view.
Must admit I personalty like the chance of catching a larger carp in a match, specially on the feeder, or down the edge on...

How does your River fare after a Snowfall ? I've had some good Days on the Wharfe a day or 2 after snowfall for them Chub.