News from Rick Humphreys of Fishsiam Ltd. in Thailand

I have attached pictures of this weeks latest Arapaima gigas caught from IT Lake Monsters in Ratchaburi.
We estimate the 2.3m predator to weigh 130kg+.
It was caught on a mackerel deadbait fished to a pre baited marginal area.

Bill Rushmer reviews the Greys G-Tec 15ft Float Rod

When I assembled this rod, I was amazed at the perfect progressive to tip action allowing for quick line pick up with the power reserves to handle a good sized lump. This particularly well thought out rod has a host of quality features including top of the range SIC guides. The ringing is good with 15 well spaced rings made up of a tip, 12 intermediate twin legged and two larger three legged rings giving excellent line management.

Geoff Maynard reviews Hardy's Marksman Specialist 13ft float rod

When I was a kid, I really wanted a Ferrari. Only two things put me off getting one. Firstly, there was no way it could take my fishing rods. Secondly, it was slightly out of my pocket range. Perhaps a roof rack might have helped the former problem but nothing could affect the latter. I also wanted a Hardy fishing rod but that too was almost as unobtainable as the Ferrari. I had to wait donkey’s years before I acquired my first Hardy and that was a second hand one because to me at that time, they were just plain unaffordable.

Rick Humphreys reports from Thailand: Rick emailed us with some amazing photos and this story:

Gary Cullum heads off to the Grand Union Canal in search of little Tommy Pope.

I remember legendary Wessex river angler, and 1980s multi-Drennan Cup winner Martin Hooper telling me years ago when I fished with him on the Dorset Stour that he hated the title of his book Specimen Hunting by Design.

The publisher insisted on it so that us punters would know what to expect from it… and would buy it. Martin, forever the romantic, wanted Avon Days and Stour Ways ( or it could have been Avon Ways and Stour Days…my memory is hazy). But as ever is the way, the publisher called the shots.

I was reminded of that title…‘by Design’ when contemplating this article as I sat merrily for a few hours watching pigeons roosting on the Grand Union Canal near Watford. Well they weren’t roosting on the Canal, but you know what I mean.

Roger left the tackle shop in a jubilant mood. He couldn't believe the bargain he'd just had. Sure, he had spent rather more than he had meant to in total, but then again, he'd walked out with a far better deal than he had thought he'd get. Such a low price... How could they do it so cheaply? Those rods were virtually brand new! He'd thought he might get away with spending perhaps a ton each on them if he was lucky, but to get three for £200 was just too good a bargain to resist. And so what, if he had blown another couple of hundred on the reels to match and those top quality buzzers? He didn't have to answer to anyone.