Right, Ive spent hours aimlessly surfing different websites looking for a complete fishing kit not necesarily for beginners but just an all round decent set (for under £15).
Ive found a telescopic rod/reel combo I like here:
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?V…
Me and a mate want to go fishing here in Winchester, Hampshire (UK NOT AMERICA) on the River Itchen. We’ve been told the river contains "mixed coarse fish and game" whatever that means and I just want to make sure the rod is the right one before we purchase a couple. Are they good enough?
Also, Im trying to find on ebay a small starter kit/box that contains all the necessary equipment like hooks (which one is best for the river barbed or non-barbed), weights, floats and whatever else we need, but dont want to pay more than a fiver for it. Is it better to get these sepretaly?
Is this all we need to get started fishing in the river? What bait is the best maggots or "boolies" (spelling may be well off) or is there something better?
Were not looking for a world class fishing set just something cheap and chearful cost is the prime factor. Ive been fishing a couple of times before and used a basice red/white plastic round float, about 30cm or so down the line i put a size 8 barbless hook, and a fishing weight (it was kind of pear shaped not the small ball ones) and used maggots as bait. It worked succesfully in Holland when I was there but I went in England once and it didnt work not a single bite what am i doing wrong.
Any help is appreciated, thanks.
ok im going to start a new question to continue this thanks for your answers so far.
I’m a member of EADAC (Eastleigh and District Angling Club) and we fish that water.
For a cheap rod and reel and advice go to Dennis at:
Eastleigh Angling Centre
325 Market Street, EASTLEIGH, SO50 5QE
023 80653540
Argos is another good place for cheap gear (spot on Magicmus) but you can’t beat local advice.
The Itchen is Gin clear and so the fish spook easy. Maggots work well with small hooks but boilies are really for still lakes and carp, unless you are near the winchester lakes and then using boilies in the Itchen for Carp would require stronger gear. Try Luncheon meat, sweetcorn or bread paste. Look under cow pats for worms.
Please make sure you have licences and day tickets. Fines from the river authorities are up to £2500.
Have a look in the Argos book some good kits there, ….tight lines to you.
References :
I hope you have found a public stretch of the River Itchen as most of it is controlled and costs an arm and a leg to fish there. The private sectors are strongly policed and a fine for trespassing is £2000 and loss of all of your tackle. Ensure you have an Environment Agency fishing licence too – again the fine is £2000 for not carrying one with you when you go fishing. I couldn’t access your link, not sure whether it is broken or not. Maggots are a good choice of bait.
References :
i have been a fisherman for 20years 15 quid to spend is not alot im afraid but they do a starter kit in argos for 15quid, its 15 for a reason its not very good wont be able to handle big fish , ifr your just going to catch roach , dace , or something that small , it would be ok , but if you decided you want to take fishing up big style that costs alot , all my kit cost roughly about 3grand, maggots catch all species , but at some venue’s fish are only used to the bait that is mainly used ,ie most carp waters the only thing anyone ever uses is boilies , tiger nuts , trout pellet, but on general commercial fisheries bait can be very cheap and very effective , bread , sweetcorn, luncheon meat , maggots, 1 thing i would advise tho is to buy some decent line from a tackle shop that has a low diameter , the line you get in cheap package deals is poorer the poor,
most fisheries now only allow you to use barbless hooks, you will need a landing net in case you hook into something big and get it in ,
you need a rod license too you can get them from the post office , if you get caught without 1 the fine is upto 2 grand i think , i have never been asked to produce one but i get one anyway and plus the yately complex and all the other syndicate fisheries i fish ask to see it before you get accepted,
i just seen steve’s answer below me and as he fishes that water ask him for some advise on best swins , tactics etc
if ya need any more info email me and i will do my best to help ya out
References :
20years experience
I’m a member of EADAC (Eastleigh and District Angling Club) and we fish that water.
For a cheap rod and reel and advice go to Dennis at:
Eastleigh Angling Centre
325 Market Street, EASTLEIGH, SO50 5QE
023 80653540
Argos is another good place for cheap gear (spot on Magicmus) but you can’t beat local advice.
The Itchen is Gin clear and so the fish spook easy. Maggots work well with small hooks but boilies are really for still lakes and carp, unless you are near the winchester lakes and then using boilies in the Itchen for Carp would require stronger gear. Try Luncheon meat, sweetcorn or bread paste. Look under cow pats for worms.
Please make sure you have licences and day tickets. Fines from the river authorities are up to £2500.
References :
http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Product/partNumber/0744115/Trail/searchtext%3EFISHING+ROD.htm
Zebco My First Fishing Set £9.79. This whip does not have a reel but you do not need to be far from the river with it.