On the 9th December Graham Walker from the PAA finally accepted my invitation for a day on the river Itchen and brought his son with him. Unfortunately the Itchen was not on top form being a funny grey/green colour as it had been recently been in heavy flood. I was unable to trot a float for more than a couple minutes and the fish were reluctant to feed. I spent most of the day trying to put Graham onto some fish and introduce his son to the joys of centrepin fishing. Both caught some fish and Graham being a much more experienced angler managed a large chub probably over five pounds and a Grayling in excess of two pounds. I ended up fishing with a maggot feeder out of desperation, this being the only method my wrists would allow and I was rewarded with a four pound twelve ounce chub.

On packing up I noticed that the Young’s Purist centrepin that Graham’s son had been using was missing one handle. Earlier that day I had noticed a specially machined screw laying on the bank and my magpie instinct had caused me to pick it up not knowing what it was. This was the screw that had held on the missing handle and I now only have to replace the black “plastic?” part.

I have been told by Weller of the Yard that there is an ex employee of J W Young who can supply all the parts for the reels and I have just left a message via his website. This is one for all us centrepin freaks.

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