BigMac

Paul, Ive kept koi for over 20 years and they are a very satisfying fish to keep. I am presently collapsing my pond as I feel that they deserve more time than I have been able to give them over the last couple of years. I've got a formal (above ground)pond of 2500 gallons including the filters. I have kept mainly Japanese koi that I used to import with a friend but now only have 6 left after selling the other 25 or so that I used to have. One of them, a matsuba was 26lbs in weight when I sold it last summer. As a result of collapsing my pond, when I have managed to find a home for the remaining 6 fish, I will have some equipment at very reasonable rates that may be of some use to you, filters, pumps, UV's etc. Personally, I would recommend that you cast a concrete base and then block build up out of the ground and above ground level add an outside "skin" of brickwork. This can then be rendered and then painted with a fibreglass type paint. The gravity filter can either be fed by a bottom drain or by a 4" pipe extending to the bottom, if you have a slight slope on the bottom of the pond this would serve your purpose without the hassle of a bottom drain. My pond built in this way just required hoovering fornightly (through the warmer months) to keep the water crystal clear. If you do need any advice at all feel free to give me a ring and I'll help in any way I can. Al As a post script, I have 6 koi for sale all between 12 and 18 inches, a sanke, a kohaku, an ochiba, a goshiki, a doitsu goshiki and one non descript fish that I have had for 20 years. that all need a good home! Not looking for a fortune, about 50 quid each or so.

Done. Sitting pretty at the moment Tom

Martin, you are now officially my new hero All sorted and now able toaccess all areas!! Cheers Al

Its been over a year now that I've been unable to access the members sections of the forum Any ideas??? Al

Adam F - Bass - 9lb 12oz 2) Alun J 3) Paul Jennings - nothing wieghed, tope circa 35lb 4) Charlie Chapman 5) Dan Chapman 6) Colin Francis - Bream - 2lb 2oz 7) Bobi Francis - Garfish - 1lb 8) Terry Bartell 9) Dean 10) Martin 11) Paul F 12) Paul D - Conger Eel - 34lb 13) Dave Evans - Ling - 22lb 14) Peter Senior - Bream - 3lb 8oz 15) Duncan Mackie - Bass 5lb (gutted) 16) Neal Sturt - Spotted Ray 4lb 17)Craig/Gas 18) andy garrett - bass- 7llb8oz 19)Will Summerell Bream 2lb 20)Stuart Summerell Thornback Ray 14 lb 21)Helen D ( Webmistress )- Bream - 1lb 13oz 22) Allan Mac Bass 8lb 4oz 23)Rupe Morrall Bass 7lb 12oz 24)Carl Hurren Bream 3lb11oz 25)Aaron Murray Lsd 2lb5oz 26) Tom Bettle - Conger Eel - 67lb

Adam F 2) Alun J 3) Paul Jennings 4) Charlie Chapman 5) Dan Chapman 6) Jon Parker (Soleman) 7) Colin Francis 8) Bobi Francis 9) Gordon Holt 10) Terry Bartell 11) Dean 12) Martin 13) Paul F 14) Paul D 15) Dave Evans 16) Peter Senior 17) Duncan Mackie 18) Neal Sturt 19)Craig/Gas 20) andy garrett 21)Will Summerell 22)Stuart Summerell 23)Helen D ( Webmistress ) 24) Allan Mac 25)Rupe Morrall Al P.S. Who and where do I have to hand in the entrance fee to Adam?

Adam, 1.) Alun J 2.) Paul Frey 3.) Will Summerall 4.) Jonathan Summerall 5.) Stuart Summerall 6.) Pete Russell Snr 7.) Colin 8.) Bobi 9.) Charlie C 10.) Dan C 11.) Neil Stur 12.) Allan Mac 13.) Rupert M Al

She looks a beauty Well done Adam and Bob, what a great job you've both done!!! See you out there Al

Thanks for that Charlie, thats a really much neater version of the knot Al

Charlie, "my" turns work away from the hook eye, bringing the tag end back towards the eye and then back up through the three loops. It does bulk up the knot, but using a pennel or a big single hook rig I find it makes virtually no difference to bait presentation in most circumstances. Al

That knot is exactly the same as the knot I use in heavy mono. Hold the hook in one hand and wind the mono round your thumb nail three times, take the tag end and slide it up the side side of your thumb nail, through the three loops. Lubricate and pull tight. I've used it on mono up to 150lb fluro and have never had the knot let me down. I also much, much prefer it to crimps and the damage that they can do if the correct crimping pliers are not used. As it is a strangulation knot, I've not tried in lighter mono's, but am more than happy with a grinner that retains nearly 100% line strength and achieves the same thing Al

Its very unpleasant trying to tee bar off an eel or any sizable fish at the side of the boat if your crew are not using mono leaders. The braid will cut your flesh to the bone if not wearing gloves. The smaller diameters are too thin to pull with a straight line in your hand and you will end up putting a couple of wraps around your hand to get some sort of grip and this could prove dangerous. I insist my crew use mono leaders in all but the lightest of fishing situations and still retain all of my fingers!! Al

Weather window not looking so good now chaps Another day on the xbox me thinks Al

Great stuff Dan!!!! A brace of chub that any angler would be proud of Well done mate Cam and Si were saying that there was a guy in the same swim earlier in the day who had packed up early having been extremely pleased to have landed a brace of 11lb barbel !!!! Well done again Dan, Al

13lb bone