Moggy

What thickness of line does it hold?

Truly a green approach to the problem!

Thanks for that Newt, That's what I had guessed. Yes I saw a young guy here in Denmark using grasshoppers with equal effect...I was flyfishing at the time. Up to then I'd had no luck, so I dug out a bare hook, and gave it a try...just flopping it gently on the water and letting the current do it's work. The sun came out, a rainbow shone in the sky and angels began to sing! I have the same problem finding maggots in sufficient quantities...I breed my own. It's simple enough if you have an outside area to do it in. You can also buy them by post, can you not? Moggy

I'm invited to take part in a sea trout competition in the north of Jutland, Denmark next weekend and need to tie some suitable flies. What are your favourite saltwater flies? If they are your own creation, a brief description/tying instructions/hook size and type would be appreciated! It looks as though there may be a fair blow on, in which case I'll take along my spinning rod too. Favourite spinners? Has anyone tried using the old Devon spinner? I have a bunch of 'em that I bought at an antiques fair some years ago that I've never used. Cheers...Moggy

Tigger The gooseander isn't an indigenous species to the UK...this voracious predator was introduced for it's pretty plumage in the 1800's. The River Wenning AC has a membership of only 30 anglers, and most of their fees go to re-stocking the river from their own stock fish. I don't feel it's wrong to regulate the wildlife to aid their survival. Such indigenous predators as heron are free to come and go as they've always done. Pulling out a beautiful young brownie with lacerations along it's flanks where a goosander has bitten off more than it can chew may change your mind about this. It's hard enough for the indigenous fish to earn a living as it is, in a spate river such as the Wenning without having to cope with needless injuries. Moggy

Yep....lacewing. Bad news for you I'm afraid John S...it'll eat any insect/larva/insect egg that'll stay still long enough! An epidemic of these and you're on a diet mate! I seem to remember that in some countries they're sold commercially for pest control. Moggy

Use the 6mm. I'm sure that the 3mm is strong enough for most uses BUT I don't think it would be strong enough to pull out a well lodged anchor, which of course would mean losing it! The braided 6mm will have a tensile strength of around 2000 lbs which should be ample as long as it doesn't fray. Be sure to mount a deck cleat for tying off, and a fairlead on the corner of the deck, otherwise you'll find that the gelcoat will wear away in no time! When anchoring, you need to pay out the equivalent of three times the depth of water you're anchoring in, and more if there's a big ground swell. Moggy

Yes...we had a pair that took up residence on the Wenning (Tributary to the Lune in High Bentham near Lancaster) The only coarse fish there are loach and ruffs etc. and the members took exception to the smolt being snapped up. Being a club bailiff and living virtually on the banks of the river, I did notice that one or two of the members (Who shall remain nameless) had taken to carrying shotguns, the problem did not persist. I'm not condoning this course of action, I am a conservationist at heart, but it did stop the decimation of our wild stocks! Moggy

Always a delight to introduce anyone to fishing, but especially the young 'uns! What's in the cannister Newt?

Thanks Chris...had a look and found stacks of good stuff....unfortunately not sails though. Oh well! Search goes on! Moggy

Are there any yotties out there that know of anywhere where one can buy used sails? I'm interested in buying a genoa and a main for my Sadler 25. Moggy

Probably far from practical for fishing from...but take a look at these hand made wooden kayaks from Struer, here in Denmark. They probably cost an arm and a leg, but they are truly the work of craftsmen! Click on the model number for an image. The "K-2 Force" is a double yak. http://www.struerkajak.com/?p=1 Moggy

Feel I have to strike a blow for our traditional heritage here. There are tons of very professional recordings of folk music in all it's myriad forms...you're confusing this with folk club evenings where amateur musicians play for each other, and their audience. This is what we did before the days of instant electronic gratification. Folk songs are broadly speaking stories set to music, snapshots from a given period. The level of musicianship comes second to the telling of the tale, and in some songs, the opportunity to participate yourself. I listen to and play lots of genres, but the folk scene was where I was able to air the results I practiced hard to achieve, and have my meagre talent appreciated. I can assure you that I don't play for beer these days, unless it's for a friend or for charity, but I do look back fondly on the days when I did, and I still feel that it's a better use of time than listening to my generation's music being re-hashed and debased by todays so-called musicians. Of course there are lots of talented performers out there, but take away the technology and ready made songs, and some of them have very little left! Hey nonny nonny no....Moggy

A hare of the dog???

Can heartily recommend the Yorkshire Ouse and the Wharfe...cut my angling teeth at the tender age of seven up there. Unforgettable! Moggy

Valiant try mate! Had me well fooled! We used to speak Italian a lot here Max, but we gave it up in about a.d.410 in favour of Saxon German! Welcome to AN...and Buon Pesca! Moggy

Hi Nick, The striking fish could just as easily be Salmon or sea trout! You can spin for either with success. Fly fishing is also an option, of course if you've the tackle. I've never fished either of the rivers you mention, but they both hold game fish, and one assumes that the river is therefore fairly clean, especially in the tidal areas. There may well be restrictions governing the tidal areas, you may well need a game fishing license, check! The fines for fishing without are huge! There may also be a catch and release policy for all or part of the year. You can put your questions to the Environment Agency if you can't find out locally. Try the local tackle shops...they're bound to know. Tight Lines...Moggy

Try float fishing with worm on a #14 hook and "groundbait" with a few bits of chopped worm to get them interested. I suppose the main advice would be..."Give 'em time!" Don't strike at the first twitch of your float...wait until it starts to run. They have a tendency to mouth the bait a bit first before they commit themselves...so keep the hook as hidden as possible. You can go to www.tenchfishers.com for advice on rigs and much more besides. Tight lines!

Don't worry about it Mike...it's of no consequence. You didn't start the argument; as often happens someone wasn't concentrating! Never mind...don't let it dampen your enthusiasm! Keep the posts coming, and as Tony U suggested...use your spell-checker. That way you avoid the wrath of the super-literate and you'll notice the mistakes you make often and eventually learn from them. Moggy

John...go to the library and borrow "The Complete Flyfisher's Handbook" by Malcolm Greenhalgh and Denys Ovenden. ISBN 87-00-37274-9 It really is all you need to know about the sport, well written and covers virtually every aspect from history to casting. You could read the relevant parts in a long evening, and it will answer most of the questions you can come up with. There are also descriptions of the various type of fly, and how to both tie them and fish them. I borrowed the book and went out and bought it the following day and to this day use it as my chief reference book on the subject. I can thoroughly recommend it! Moggy

Another classic from across the channel, also from Le General:- "How can one conceive of a one-party system in a country that has over two hundred varieties of cheese?”

Hiya John, It will depend on the day when it comes to which type of fly to use. One never can tell! If there are insects over the water end the trout are rising to them, then give the dry fly a whirl. I fish almost exclusively dry when fishing for trout or grayling and I catch most of the year, but my local river is totally different in character to yours. Wet fly and nymphs should be fished across and downstream, retrieve slowly to begin with and just cover as much river as you can. Trout do tend to be more sluggish in the winter, but they have to make a living. They use more energy than lake trout, swimming against the current, so are often a bit hungrier and more willing to co-operate. I'd take a sinking line as well as a dry...I usually take two rods, one rigged wet and one with a floating line, but if you've only one rod then take two reels or at least two spools, one of each. As you say...if you fish nymph for example, keep them small, fish it deep and slow, though be ready to change tactics if that doesn't give any joy. Sometimes a larger flashier fly / lure will provoke a response where a small fly won't. Tight Lines! Moggy

Or local Communist Party manifesto!

Hi Mike...you can try checking in the "Great Glossary" here on this site...there are a fair few terms there. Moggy