OCUK Fishermen Unite...

Richdog · 21 Nov 2007 at 21:10

I've always loved fishing, and have fished for carp/perch etc etc in the UK, Spain, Germany, but haven't been in quite a while. However i've now decided to make a cocnerted effort to get back into it as I do genuinely love fishing, and where I live near Crawley in West Sussex has some good venues around. I also love sea fishing and had a great boat trip down in Brighton this Summer, some nice bass and bream were caught and eaten.

Any other anglers here, particularly of the freshwater variety?

Richdog · 21 Nov 2007 at 21:15

Ohhh you a fisherman Justin?

Richdog · 22 Nov 2007 at 11:08

Nickg said:
id go on a fishing trip in the NW area. For sure.

i do mainly course fishing, semi bream, roach, chubb, carp, pike etc.

pb is a 12lb carp, and a monster 17.5lb Pike.

Recently fished the Ure in Rippon (leeds way?)

What did you catch the Pike on?

Richdog · 22 Nov 2007 at 12:15

I'm looking at getting some of the ABU reflex sinners today from an online store here http://www.sportfish.co.uk/product/34215/Abu_Reflex_Red_Spinners.html

Would you reccommend these for pike/perch?

Richdog · 26 Nov 2007 at 21:16

Nickg said:
anyone on Maggotdrowners?

I am now.

Over the last week i've been buying some nice kit and now have a nice tackle box, good hooks, swivels, wire trace for pike, wicked boilies, ordered soe nice lures... only thing i'm missing now is a reel!

I fish for carp mainly, but would want one capable of general purpose use if I decide to go for the odd pike, tench etc. I have a budget of around £55 and don't really want to spend much more than that (i'm a casual angler, not hardcore), though i'd be tempted to plump some extra for a really good deal. The ones i've been looking at so far are:

*Mitchell Avorunner 5500 Reel (inc. FOC line) - £49.99 - http://www.poingdestres.co.uk/Produ...ryID/1/v/50d121c5-ecdb-4cdb-bdd8-ffe3fe1c6669

*Shimano Baitrunner Aero RE 8000 -£46.99 - http://www.poingdestres.co.uk/Produ...ryID/1/v/50d121c5-ecdb-4cdb-bdd8-ffe3fe1c6669

Okuma Powerliner Plate65 - £49.99 - http://www.tackleshop.co.uk/Product...ID/171/v/a9ac17bb-1f61-43a5-bc31-bc1e28d018cd

*Okuma MAX-4 Bait Feeder Camo - £36.00 - http://www.tackleshop.co.uk/Product...oogle/productID/4725/groupID/8/categoryID/171

I know Shimano are very well-respected and consistently good, i've never heard of the Mitchell, and the Okumas look decent for the money, as well as one being being camo (gets points for coolness in my books). However of the Okamas the Powerliner looks best, and the Plate60 can be had for a tenner less on Ebay.

Soooo.... which out of those would I be advised to buy for a reel that will provide me with good general-purpose usage, high reliability, and smooth action?

EDIT - Ok in a usual Richdog "U-Turn" i've now decided that the Shimano Super Baitrunner XTEA Reel 10000 available here is worth getting http://www.bristolangling.com/ProductDetails/mcs/productID/5989/groupID/12/categoryID/59/

Reviews i've been reading are awesome, and I know well the value of investing in decent kit if it's going to last me years and make my fishing life easier and more pleasureable.

So... do you think this would be the best choice overall if I plump the extra?

EDIT EDIT - Also the Quantum Crypton Big Pit 770 looks decent for £40 http://www.tacklebargains.co.uk/acatalog/Online_Catalogue_Freshwater_Fixed_Spool_Reels_58.html

Richdog · 26 Nov 2007 at 21:43

trescodrucey said:
sea fishing is where the fun is, non of this fresh water lark

I've been wreck fishing in the UK and when you catch a fish whether it be cod or tope it's just like lifting a dead weight... when you catch a big carp it's a real battle.

Richdog · 19 Dec 2007 at 11:16

Beautiful fish! What weight was that? Also what bait did you use, boilies?