As part of the "Chatsworth Countdown" I have been searching for a suitable rod to use. I mean let's face it, I'm not tied up with anyone (yet) and so I can use any damn thing I want.

DFR shock

So I asked around and settled on a DFR. I like the DFR; I believe it to be one of the best rods I have ever cast. It's fast, it's progressive: it's a great rod. Or it was (this was my review). Since I last tried this rod, however, Redington have changed the blanks. I have a problem with this.

I have reviewed this rod and said "wow, fantastic", or something to that effect. People buy on my recommendation. They take my advice, and unbeknown to either of us, they possibly will now buy a rod that is inferior. This is not the rod I assessed. The DFR I know bends all the way through the blank and not just at the tip section.

So I feel very strongly about this. If you are going to, in effect, change the entire action of a rod, then you should sure as hell change the name as well. So of course I have asked Redington. This will be interesting :-)

Fortunately I have just tried a Sage XP AFTM 5 4-piece and become very excited indeed. Now I wonder if Gary Coxon has one in the back of his car? :-) Smoothest newsletters around...

Chatsworth Angling Fair

So the Chatsworth is on the 20th and 21st of this month. Here is the schedule on the Game Fishing Demonstration Platform (same each day):

• 10.45 – 11.15 Never say can't, with Andy Beadsley

• 11.15 – 12.00 Michael Evans – Spey Casting Techniques

• 12.00 – 12.30 Paul Arden's own fishing techniques

• 12.30 – 13.00 "Knee Deep" with Coxon & Jardine

• 13.00 – 13.30 Safety Demonstration – Bill Hudson and Charles Jardine

• 13.30 – 14.00 The Two Ghillies

• 14.00 – 14.30 Keeping Fishing in the Family with the Jardines

• 14.30 – 15.00 Break

• 15.00 – 15.45 Michael Evans – Spey Casting Techniques

• 15.45 – 16.45 The Ultimate Match of the Hatch.

So that raises some interesting questions doesn't it? Like, what will I be doing exactly? Frankly I have no idea. I like to go along and just "do it" it's what happens anyway. But I do notice that the task has fallen to me to, at the very least, cover some basics in single-handed flycasting. Of course that's just going to be the start...

If you do come, make sure that you bring your wellies. It always turns into a mud bath. In fact this year I think that I'll wear my waders! And, I don't know why, but this year I am really looking forward to it (inspite of the cold - it's always cold up there, even in mid-May). And so, with this in mind, I know that I'm going to have fun.

Which bring me to…

Dirty Tackle

BBC Radio5 6.05am (who's up then?) Sat 3rd Nov (who's in England then?), I'll be talking about Sexyloops to Nick Fisher. It's just been recorded and so I feel safe to tell you about it. We had some fun and talked about Karen and Steve, about New Zealand, underwater flyfishing and why children should be encouraged to throw stones in greenhouses.

The Experience

Talking of Karen, lesson 3 of The Experience has just gone up. This one is a bit more technical and covers actual fishing basics. I think that this section of the site, has now reached the stage, whereby someone can read it and go fishing. I'll be heading back to Australia soon so that I can teach Karen the double-haul. Isn't that nice of me? The sheer hell I go through for Sexyloops :-)

New look

Steve and I have been changing the front page to (a) make it a bit sexier and (b) free it up so that I can change it daily. Let's face it, there's always something new to write about! Unfortunately Netscape Navigator is giving us a few problems (this sucker kicks like a mule at times) but we're on to it .

Discussing women

And lastly what is it with women??? Karen writes in to say that she's had a nibble, and the discussion board goes berserk!!! Christ knows what going to happen when she actually catches something...

Anyway, there is some really good content appearing here and I'd like to welcome the recent influx of new members. There has been the odd CGI bug that crops up. We thought that some of the old bulletins were lost; we are currently recovering them and uploading a newer version of the board - and when I say 'we' I actually mean Steve of course (who, BTW, is trying to catch moles in his garden…)

Cheers,
Paul