Hi, new guy here

[saladdodger]

Hi people :)

Im Andy from Berkshire.

Just started fishing again, last time i went was when i was, i think, about 15years old, im 34 now. Totally forgot all i had lernt back then, i used to fish canals only as it was close on the push bike, although i did fish Black Park once if anyone knows it.

Ive got plenty of questions toask, pretty much google anything before asking but cant always find the right answer.
Im very nervous when i fish, more about where i fish as the canal used to be rife with muggings and bullies, also pike scare me aaaa

Thanks for reading

Andy

[MRG2000]

Welcome to the forum Andy .....

[saladdodger]

Cheers dude

[Dadwood]

Welcome Andy, I'm a new member myself but I can already assure you that the lads and lassies on this forum are a very helpful bunch. They can be serious when necessary, but lighthearted at other times. I fully understand your concerns about risks of muggings. For most of my fishing 'career' I have fished alone, but a recent bad experience with three from the travelling community (when I had to defend myself with my filleting knife) has made me seek to fish with other anglers when in remote locations. I don't know how you combat this curse, which the police tell me is happening more and more.

[Baz T]

Welcome to the forum, Andy. You never know, you may find someone on here who lives local and will go fishing with you. I tend to be a bit of a loner when fishing (unless I take 16yr old son), however you cant be too careful nowadays. I did notice though, that when I did go fishing a couple of times with a more experienced angler than myself, I did learn quite a lot off him, so perhaps I should give him a call sometime and pick his brains some more when we are down by the lake!

[Dubbed Squirrel]

Hi, welcome to the forum Andy. Haven`t came across your problem of thugs up here (touch wood), but as Baz said you may get to know someone on hereto fish with.

Peter

(Stop telling porkies Baz , the only reason you`re a bit of a loner, is because you sulk when your son catches bigger fish than you).

[Baz T]

Your wit knows no bounds Peter
and yer right, who wants to fish with an old grumpy git like me..

[the pyromaniac]

Bem vindo!

We can be serious, it's true, though we prefer not!

As for the issue of thugs, I carry a 9" filet knife, but I also have a physical appearance that lends itself well to not being mugged (5'9", 270 pounds, ear gauges, 3"-long goatee). I also take a local chef known as Tóño the Mexican with me when possible, seeing how nobody is gonna bother 550 pounds of redneck and Mexican with fillet knives and a gun........ I fish the ultra-remote Appalachian Mountains here in the States, so a big, ugly Mexican with a gun is a pretty good thing to have with you............ I'm just glad we don't really have Gypsies here.

As for pike, yeah, they're freaky! I want very much badly to catch one, as well as our local pike species, the muskellunge, chain pickerel, redfin pickerel, and grass pickerel.

[Baz T]

Hi pyromaniac - dont think you would have any problems with you and Tono. Your description of yourself sounds uncannily like that of my wife!

[the pyromaniac]

Originally Posted by Baz T

Hi pyromaniac - dont think you would have any problems with you and Tono. Your description of yourself sounds uncannily like that of my wife!

@Baz, I'm glad I'm not married to her... As for the other thing, a big Mexican with a gun tends to discourage a lot of bad things from happening... You'll also never eat better than when you fish with a chef! Trust me on this one!