freshwater freshman

[spurspants]

Afternoon all I just got re-hooked after 20 years off. Used to dabble in my early teens but never really knew what I was doing. Last summer in France we were staying by a lake and the lovely old fella who owned it lent me his gear and I loved it. Every afternoon/evening for 2 weeks using only bread pulp and bacon fat I happily hooked little roach after little roach. Got back home and I've hardly had a chance. Managed a few attempts at Wake Valley Pond, my local water in Epping Forest. Hooked something decent but snagged in pads and lost it but got such a buzz playing it for a couple of minutes! Only managed tiddlers after that till the freeze stopped me going. Only river nearby is the Lee and near me it's sluggish, rubbish-filled and depressingly abused and neglected. I'm going to try my first commercial this Sunday, Holyfield Fishery in Waltham Abbey, as it's closed season in the forest. I want to target Tench. I've got some feeders, some floats, an old swing-tip and a new quiver-tip, a budget alarm and a bobbin and can't afford any major purchases at the moment. Bait left over from before Christmas is some little halibut boilies, halibut groundbait, sweetcorn soaked in monster crab attractant, peperami, spam coated in moster crab and brasem. Any tips anyone can give me? I'm thinking 6lb line to 4lb hooklength with hair-rigged boilie on size 12 or 14 hook. Is that ok or am I way off? And should I use alarm and bobbin or one of my tips? And would you use a feeder or just a bomb? Or should I be float fishing? Phew I can waffle can't I! Sorry all. Just a bit overexcited at the prospect of catching something other than a little roach.

[pompy.bass.man]

coooooolll
welcome aboard the forum, where a frendly bunch and we will give you advice wenever you need it, but dont ask me im saltwater, im just welcoming you to the forum ,

[spurspants]

cheers ollie. I'll get round to trying the sea one of these days.

[fishypaul]

hello mate welcome to the forum