Browns at Leighton Buzzard to close...

[Alan Whitty]

Priory Tackle (owned by Alan Brown's widow, but run by the Chalkley brothers) and Bleak Hall angling at Kempston, both decent, but I can bet not a patch on the shop/s you use, we simply don't have any, as I say both these shops are over 20 miles from me, because of the sort of anglers we are we are quite demanding and only buy what we consider is best, it is becoming impossible to support a tackle shop when they can't afford to hold stock from several manufacturers, which then forces people like myself to shop online, whether I want to or not...the two shops in the Luton area what I consider poor fresh bait, one doesn't sell any hooks retailed by the big four manufacturers, the other sells Drennan stuff, but only a fraction of their hook range, I don't condemn him for it, as I understand he can't financially warrant holding all those patterns in all their sizes, however it equates to me not being able to purchase what I require, so I unfortunately don't visit the shop at all because he would question why I'm hardly buying anything, shame because I really like the guy and did try to spend a few quid there even when i didn't really need stuff....

 

[chevin4]

Priory Tackle (owned by Alan Brown's widow, but run by the Chalkley brothers) and Bleak Hall angling at Kempston, both decent, but I can bet not a patch on the shop/s you use, we simply don't have any, as I say both these shops are over 20 miles from me, because of the sort of anglers we are we are quite demanding and only buy what we consider is best, it is becoming impossible to support a tackle shop when they can't afford to hold stock from several manufacturers, which then forces people like myself to shop online, whether I want to or not...the two shops in the Luton area what I consider poor fresh bait, one doesn't sell any hooks retailed by the big four manufacturers, the other sells Drennan stuff, but only a fraction of their hook range, I don't condemn him for it, as I understand he can't financially warrant holding all those patterns in all their sizes, however it equates to me not being able to purchase what I require, so I unfortunately don't visit the shop at all because he would question why I'm hardly buying anything, shame because I really like the guy and did try to spend a few quid there even when i didn't really need stuff....

If you fancy a run out Alan Rib Valley has a well stocked shop aimed at the all-rounder rather than the Carp boys. The lakes there are worth fishing for big perch and roach. The coffee shop there is pleasant particularly on a nice day where you can sit on the patio looking down on the lakes

 

[Alan Whitty]

Sounds nice, it's near Ware isn't it? I think I've driven past it...once, lol...

 

[chevin4]

Sounds nice, it's near Ware isn't it? I think I've driven past it...once, lol...

Spot-on its on the right hand side of the road coming from Stevenage about a mile before the A10 roundabout. Staff are very pleasant

 

[silvers]

Priory Tackle (owned by Alan Brown's widow, but run by the Chalkley brothers) and Bleak Hall angling at Kempston, both decent, but I can bet not a patch on the shop/s you use, we simply don't have any, as I say both these shops are over 20 miles from me, because of the sort of anglers we are we are quite demanding and only buy what we consider is best, it is becoming impossible to support a tackle shop when they can't afford to hold stock from several manufacturers, which then forces people like myself to shop online, whether I want to or not...the two shops in the Luton area what I consider poor fresh bait, one doesn't sell any hooks retailed by the big four manufacturers, the other sells Drennan stuff, but only a fraction of their hook range, I don't condemn him for it, as I understand he can't financially warrant holding all those patterns in all their sizes, however it equates to me not being able to purchase what I require, so I unfortunately don't visit the shop at all because he would question why I'm hardly buying anything, shame because I really like the guy and did try to spend a few quid there even when i didn't really need stuff....

ah yes … Bleak Hall was there back in the day as well!

we have Lanes in Coventry not too far away as well, but I do end up buying stuff from EBay or Benwicks if local doesn’t stock. Recent example being 5-8 g bolos

 

[Alan Whitty]

I find it difficult to source Dave Harrell floats anywhere near here, around 70 miles is closest, I like his speci-sticks for the small river I fish, no others meet the thrashing they are likely to get, as we both know when you find something that seems dead right, we see lesser products failings when we put one on, all terminal tackle is comes with the same problems, some shops near here don't even have stick floats of any sort....

 

[steve2]

I have a tackle a 10 minute walk away but I haven't needed to use it yet. I have more than enough rods and reels and bits and pieces. I have been in for a chat and it seems like a nice one. I remember growing up we 5 just in Romford where I use to live.

 

[xenon]

Davies angling at Staines do the Dave Harrell float range-pretty sure they do mail order too.

 

[John Aston]

Commercials caused the initial decline in tackle shops. Not only did they often have their own shop, but the huge increase in pellets as bait meant that maggot sales fell off a cliff too, We have all gone for pint of maggots and come away with a new rod or reel at some time . Greater specialism has enabled makers to produce huge amounts of niche products designed to appeal to the carp or trout guy (etc) and no shop is big enough to carry every little bit of stock . I buy lots of specialised lure stuff and when you have a firm as incredibly efficient as AGM Lures ensuring your new jig hooks are a click away and will arrive tomorrow you're disinclined to do a 20mile trip to see if your shop has the gear on the off chance .

Half the population is too lazy not only to cook but even to pop out and buy something to eat - you trip over pizza delivery people even here in the sticks - so we have a society which expects everything to appear at their back door anyway.

My nearest big shop is 50miles away , my nearest small ones 8-10. And lest we get too misty eyed , I wouldn't mourn the loss of some tackle shops. You know the ones - a crowd of locals bantering loudly at the counter and regarding any newcomer with suspicion , if not downright hostility. No tears about their demise from me .

 

[silvers]

I find it difficult to source Dave Harrell floats anywhere near here, around 70 miles is closest, I like his speci-sticks for the small river I fish, no others meet the thrashing they are likely to get, as we both know when you find something that seems dead right, we see lesser products failings when we put one on, all terminal tackle is comes with the same problems, some shops near here don't even have stick floats of any sort....

you can order DH products direct from his shop (although the postage is a bit steep). My local has a pretty good range, just not the bigger sizes … but they are catering for people who fish the Avon rather than the Wye!
Similarly … after a battering on the float league at Bewdley in the summer, I wanted some larger clarusso Torpedos (flat float) but local doesn’t stock larger than 15g, so had to go to Benwicks for 20g and upward! Severn with water on fishing for whiskers is the usage … so maybe once every two years? Probably have a dry summer next year now

 

[Alan Whitty]

What I find amusing is when I was a kid we used to lay on with a waggler putting an AA or two on the bottom when the river was carrying, I'm sure Bertie wouldn't give a fig if you had two/ten swan on the deck, or near it...

 

[steve2]

Commercials caused the initial decline in tackle shops. Not only did they often have their own shop, but the huge increase in pellets as bait meant that maggot sales fell off a cliff too, We have all gone for pint of maggots and come away with a new rod or reel at some time . Greater specialism has enabled makers to produce huge amounts of niche products designed to appeal to the carp or trout guy (etc) and no shop is big enough to carry every little bit of stock . I buy lots of specialised lure stuff and when you have a firm as incredibly efficient as AGM Lures ensuring your new jig hooks are a click away and will arrive tomorrow you're disinclined to do a 20mile trip to see if your shop has the gear on the off chance .

Half the population is too lazy not only to cook but even to pop out and buy something to eat - you trip over pizza delivery people even here in the sticks - so we have a society which expects everything to appear at their back door anyway.

My nearest big shop is 50miles away , my nearest small ones 8-10. And lest we get too misty eyed , I wouldn't mourn the loss of some tackle shops. You know the ones - a crowd of locals bantering loudly at the counter and regarding any newcomer with suspicion , if not downright hostility. No tears about their demise from me .

I remember those tackle shop that made you feel as if you were intruding on a match meeting.

 

[silvers]

What I find amusing is when I was a kid we used to lay on with a waggler putting an AA or two on the bottom when the river was carrying, I'm sure Bertie wouldn't give a fig if you had two/ten swan on the deck, or near it...

whilst not full international rules … you’re not allowed to float leger (or even pole feeder with an indicator Bob!). Ian Hughes and Steve Maher both won matches last summer using flat floats taking 40g (= 25 swan shot).

 

[Alan Whitty]

But you could get round it by using a waggler of a similar capacity and and suspend the bulk just off bottom using dropper shots on the overdepth section, it's not as if your not fishing overdepth on a flat float eh? In fact the flat float is an efficient way of getting around the rules, bit like a hands free kit in your car...

 

[silvers]

But you could get round it by using a waggler of a similar capacity and and suspend the bulk just off bottom using dropper shots on the overdepth section, it's not as if your not fishing overdepth on a flat float eh? In fact the flat float is an efficient way of getting around the rules, bit like a hands free kit in your car...

Exactly that … you can imagine what the flow is like to require that much weight in 8 -9 ft of water!!

 

[@Clive]

The old timers like FWK Wallis used swan quills carrying up to 20 SSG when laying on for barbel on the Trent.

But you could get round it by using a waggler of a similar capacity and and suspend the bulk just off bottom using dropper shots on the overdepth section, it's not as if your not fishing overdepth on a flat float eh? In fact the flat float is an efficient way of getting around the rules, bit like a hands free kit in your car...

That is similar to how I am intending to fish tomorrow on the Charente, but using a sliding Avon of 3g to 8g dependent on the flow. The bulk olivetti will be a foot off the bottom and there will be three shots between that and the hookbait. It is my standard rig for fishing near bank, deep water for barbel, bream and carassins.