Nottskev, re your post. I have his latest book, it's very good, thoroughly enjoyed it. I also have Braddock's book Fantastic Feeder Fishing, it's one of the books that I couldn't put down until I finished it. Braddock is one of those authors who actually knows what he is talking about.
Your fascination with...
- Thread starter Aknib
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It's all real and practical with him. He did a talk in a room above a pub a while back, where he took us through the in's and out's of charting moon phases in the context of other variables like temperatures, levels, wind and so on, then put a selection of the barbel rigs he'd been using after dark earlier that week - it was November - on a table, with baits mounted on hooklengths etc, and invited us to have a look and ask whatever questions about the what's and why's. In between the main topics, his common talk is full of things he's tried, tested and measured. I remember him explaining which boillies break down at what rate and so need re-casting when, what to put in pastes to stop them going hard in cold water, how to flash crust in a toaster then freeze it to make it stay on better, ..... He started at 8pm. and only finished at 11pm when the landlord called time on us. He'll be 82, I think, at the start of this season.
Keith M
Well-known member
I bought some ‘sugar & spice’ flavour powder from Archie Braddocks about 35 years ago and it did work well when sprinkled over maggots. I think I may still have some left in my shed. I wonder if it still has its attraction, I suspect it still will.
Keith
Keith
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Knottskev, you mentioned Braddock charting the moon. I can confirm that even in daylight the moon does have an adverse effect on roach feeding - it does not effect my catches though because I still blank! Seriously though, it's all so very interesting!
Steve Arnold
Well-known member
Since the early days of my sea fishing I have a slight obsession with beachcasting rods. I met Leslie Moncrieff, who was a champion caster, when I was 18, I already knew Ian Gillespie and Nigel Forrest who were into lighweight rods and tournament casting respectively. Guess I was a youth of that era!
I have never had enough money to really indulge in the latest beach rods, but fortunately there are plenty that do. So I usually pick up rods at about two years old as the wealthier fashion followers move onto the next wonder nano-boron-kevlar- graphene etc,etc marketing ploy.
I sold most of my beach rods about 4 years ago before moving to France. I still have four and I have been trying to find a place to practise a few distance chucks. There are no bits of river that are wide enough near me! Even the fields are too small!
Despite being so remote from the sea I still dream of that perfect cast over a rolling surf
I have never had enough money to really indulge in the latest beach rods, but fortunately there are plenty that do. So I usually pick up rods at about two years old as the wealthier fashion followers move onto the next wonder nano-boron-kevlar- graphene etc,etc marketing ploy.
I sold most of my beach rods about 4 years ago before moving to France. I still have four and I have been trying to find a place to practise a few distance chucks. There are no bits of river that are wide enough near me! Even the fields are too small!
Despite being so remote from the sea I still dream of that perfect cast over a rolling surf
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laguna
Well-known member
Beach casting dudes are a strange lot aren't they? I know a guy who spends far less time fishing than he does casting. Another guy I once dealt with who sells reel bearings and sponsors some of the worlds best distance casters... some of whom have never fished nor caught a fish in their lives!
Then there is me, a one time regular beach caster back in the 70's but I live much too far inland these days to test out my brand new, never used 12 year old rod (I have every intention of using it before I am unable to cast/walk/stand)... mine has fold down rod rings. In fact that's why I got it.
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Steve Arnold
Well-known member
The first sea angling club I joined had a few regular tournament casters. I did go to one of the big competitions, just to watch and pick up tips.
For me it was all about the fishing! I could put a bait out well over 100 yds in almost any conditions. The big casters could get a few yards further, but in strong lateral tides their grapnel weights were pulled out whilst I fished on!
I was winning club matches whilst they were just showing off their casting skills!
About 5 years ago I was getting over sepsis which had nearly cost me my right hand. My wrist was permanently damaged but, despite the pain, I was determined to be able to cast a surf rod again. So I joined the Scottish Surfcasting Association - SSA to get some practise. Good bunch of blokes, some top casters there. Paul Johnstone gave me a lot of tips on setting up the fixed spool for distance.
Although I had been a long time multiplier reel user my wrecked wrist did not like them at all. A change to the fixed spool made a big difference and less pain.
Anyway, I found casting in a field quite therapeutic. Damned good exercise walking over a boggy field to retrieve your leads, exercise badly needed after the time I had spent in hospital!
Although I never got really competitive my casting distances went up from 120 yds to over 170 yds. My wrist got stronger, as did the rest of me!
I really got to enjoy these casting sessions, good company as well. Wish I had got into before the age of 62
laguna
Well-known member
I must admit I found casting in a field quite therapeutic too!
We also used tin cans for target practice at 50 yrds. We could cast further but we couldn't see the targets in the grass.
We also used tin cans for target practice at 50 yrds. We could cast further but we couldn't see the targets in the grass.