lutra

One of my local rivers the River Darwen gets a flush of sewage every time it rains hard as Darwens sewage works cant handle the excess top water. This has gone on for years and years as the cost of building a new sewage works that can handle the excess top water ( millions ) is far more than paying a 10k fine a few times a year. Sad really as its a very pretty river in places and Ive heard it said it was one of the best sea trout rivers in the country pre industrial revolution. Maybe the threat of prison for deliberate polluting would make some of the big companies think a bit more.

Come from the same family i think you mean that being Cyprinidae. I could start pointing out the difference between the to species but i should think after 60 years of fishing you can tell them apart, cant you ?

Ive no doubt that a small number of carp can live in a water almost unnoticed. How ever its when their mates move in and empty the fridge and throw it out of the window that im concernd about. Harmony, that's a word id associate with air clouding squatter's so i suppose it might be relevant. gobby and irate, well that just reminds me of the smell of a rabbit gentilly simmering on the stove. As for the rest of it, I'm not going to defend other peoples actions of which i know little about. Ive never come across a zander but there are plenty of pike around here that have never bothered me.

Sorry I'm not aware that there is anything wrong with smacking a fish on the head as a way of killing it. The culling of carp was merely a suggestive view and i was really hoping some one would come up with a better way of controlling these illegally stocked or escaped invasive pests before they take all our waters over. fancy a go? ignorance, mischief, kidding not words i was thinking of.

Well Barbel (a fish that is adapted to living in well oxygenated flowing water and know to suffer when captured in low poorly oxygenated times) in heavily fished still waters, what can i say? Not only is it fitting that its brought up here as it takes the mickey out of the term All-rounder, But should be one for the courts under cruelty laws if you ask me.

Sorry to drag this one back up Den. Just wondering what your interpretation of the word fishery is as it reads to me like you would be happy to see some of are less number native species confined to the zoo in pursuit of your pleasures.

Well that's a bit harsh coming from a girl like you. Ignorant? As you can see I never ignore a problem. Bigot? Id happily take the polish lads at work a carp.

I wouldn't say your a pessimist on this one John. There's been a few carp in my beloved Ribble for years and some quite nice ones to 10-20lb. But only a few and they have never been a problem. Id even go as far as to say a nice change every year or two when one turned up when I was Barbel fishing. The bad thing is that last year i caught about six in the 2-6lb bracket and know others have been catching them to. Now these aren't fish that have bred as they have just suddenly appeared at that size. So someone is responsible for it one way or another and i think it needs to stop before it dose become a problem. Transporting a carp when i catch one to some where there not a problem is not an option so smacking them on the head and leaving them in the bushes if they do become a problem is the best bet in my view. At least the foxes will like me for a change.

I would guess more dogs = more noses = big area can be covered quicker

I wouldn't be to worried, Ive been playing around with long sticks and bits of line on rivers for years and the fish have always been quite safe.

The thing that really gets me is the way coarse and match anglers try to distance themselves from hunting and shooting. When you look at it coarse and match fishing is all about the thrill of it and with no good reason. I could go on with other things about commercials and match fishing that i dont like but i dont think it will help any of us. Its just ironic that it was anglers throwing stones at another country sports that started all this off. Maybe you should remember we all live in glasshouses these days and try and stick together whether you like it or not.

Here we go again reading whats not there to try and help your weak views. Never said I love fox hunting in fact I said the opposite ( fox hunting is a none starter). Only ever went so i could get my facts right not that it would mean must to you. And if you are going to quote me as stating some thing at leased put what i stated not your twisted version.

Den I hope my cheap shot at getting a rise from a goby irate rabbit did not upset you as it was not supposed to be aimed at you or your actions. I can see you have a connection between your heart, head and keyboard unlike some people. Having said that we have very different views on hunting with hounds. To me fox hunting is a none starter because you can't take it home and eat it and I don't kill any thing for fun. But i firmly believe hunting with hounds is a far better way of controlling the fox population than shooting. Its no accident we have a healthier fox population than the rest of europe. shooting is completly indiscriminate where as the hounds tend to take out the week and old. I never had any interest in going on a fox hunt until the talk of a ban seemed real then i went out a few times with the lakeland foot packs and i can honestly say most of what is said by antis is hype aimed at tugging at Joe publics heart strings and carries no truth. With hounds they have got the fox or they have'nt, with a gun who knows what gets away injured to die a slow painful death. Having spent the last 30 years hunting, shooting and all round fishing, I can honestly say coarse fishing by far has given me the most concern for cruelty. no wonder to me the coarse anglers on here feel so touchy.

Looks like the red mists come down.

No i said I WOULD HAVE not HE SOULD HAVE. stop reading whats not there.

Amazing how man can have a hand in his own problems. Maybe all them cormorants that us anglers go on about are just after their sand eels back.

I thought that was sad to, I would have put it out of its misery instead of watching it die.

Nice read that but i must stop reading things like that at this time of day, don't no if i should go and get my work boots or waders now.

Anyway back on topic, nice looking dog Josh and sorry to hear the barbel did not want to play. maybe you should get the dog to help. I know my collie, greyhound cross would if i gave her chance to.

What a load of crock. Thats the view of fox hunting an anti would like you believe, not one i would hope for from an anglers net member.

someone catching a rabbit to take home and eat is sick, but you support foxhunting?

Given that most pleasure anglers fishing for bream seem to try their best to put 100lb of fish in a net are carp a more fragile or more precious fish ?

What i do is just cast to where you want to fish and tie some pole elastic about 10 foot beyond your end eye. when you cast now just aim beyond your chosen spot and when you hear the clatter of the elastic going through your eyes put your finger on your spool and stop the line. With a little practice you can get good and stop your cast with the elastic 10 feet beyond your end eye and in the same spot every time.

Over rated ? I think they're great. Every time they play I get the river to myself.

I'd start by giving anglers world holidays a bell on 01246 221717 for a free brochure. lots of places, prices and info in there.