In reply to Post #14
That’s what a barracuda can do to a bonefish……

In reply to Post #25
If you are worried about an Albright coming undone consider either a Rizutto finish with the tag end (a simple whipped lock) and/or a tiny dab of superglue.

I’ve never had one come apart and have caught some big fish on them.

In reply to Post #1
They changed the numbers at least once whilst I had a ticket ! So that won’t help…..

I left about 2 years ago.

In reply to Post #14
There is already an AT ‘Code of Conduct’.

First conceived and written by the SAA (Specialist Anglers Alliance) before the Angling Trust was invented.

In reply to Post #1
Your points are laudable and as a fishery owner myself I wish more of my customers had a better idea how to catch fish and how to look after them; but……

You make a big assumption and that is that a German style test will help. I’ve fished in Germany (and all over the place) and angling/welfare standards there were terrible. The local anglers that I came across were no better than here. The only decent anglers that I met were a few carp fishing mates of a friend of mine who had gone to live there.

Another example; I was once travelling in California (80’s) and a friend lent me a truck and some basic gear. He told me a local reservoir was worth fishing and he told me where the local tackle shop was…I found the shop, asked for advice and a licence, bought some live fish for bait and went down to the fishery. Loads of people there, catching not much. I squeezed in and caught fish every cast till I ran out of bait (12 fish). They were a mixture of trout and bass (small and largemouth). Really good fun. The locals couldn’t believe it; and I couldn’t believe that they were all pretty incompetent. I’d never even seen a largemouth bass before in my life - so I was no expert ! It was mad, I even had to kill the trout that I caught so that the locals had some fresh fish to cook !

I agree that in U.K. angling is under the microscope. It would help if standards were raised all round. In an ideal world anglers and fishery managers should be required to pass competence ‘tests’ before they got involved. But nobody seems interested in taking this forward. Maybe a joint initiative between the EA, the Angling Trust and the Institute of Fishery Management (IFM) ?

In reply to Post #1
I use Shimano 4000 GT-RD fighting drag reels.

They have bigger than average 4000 spools so will happily cope with 12lb line.

They deal with big barbel too.

The Fighting drag makes them more versatile than Baitrunners.

Ano (but bigger) alternative would be the Okuma 6000 inc.

In reply to Post #1
Chimera 12ft 2.75 are lovely blanks - if you can find a pair.

As already mentioned the Torrix 12ft 2.25 is very versatile and punches well above its weight. I much prefer it to the Torrix 2.75.

Ano option would be the old Maximiser SPD rods - superb quality. I had a set of 3lb’s and should never have sold them. I think they made a few in lower test curves too ?

In reply to Post #1
Stu Arnold ran a tackle shop in Waltham Cross around that time.

He tried to take on Simpson's of Turnford (located 5 miles up the road) and their Kevin Maddocks carbon rods.

Initially he used some cheap imported blanks that weren't good (I bought some as I couldn't afford KM1's !). After that I have no idea who he bought blanks from.....I think Ritchie worked there for a while.

Tricast sold excellent blanks around that time - I had some carbon Kevlar 'Ultralights' a couple of years later (built by Bruce Ashby). Great rods.'

In reply to Post #1
Me too.

And 'Anglers Net' prior to that.

In reply to Post #7
There have been numerous attempts over the years to provide an angling specific insurance scheme. All have failed for the same reason - 'anglers' seem to think they can defraud the system and get away with it.

As you say - a sad indictment of anglers in general.