RED HILLBILLY

Red, take your UK tackle back to the US and show them some real angling! Peter, I have plenty of Uk tackle over here already from my many visits. I fish for carp 95% of the time (sorry ) but I use very light tackle. Carp are the only fish common to both countries (at least where I live). You wouldn't believe the looks and comments I get, especially when I tell them I'm fishing for carp. To be honest, carp fishing is catching on, starting mostly in the "pay lakes" where heavy gambling takes place. I could bring my UK stuff over but I would have to give up one suitcase of our checked baggage and I will need all of that with a six month stay. Don't tell my wife but the real reason is I want some more Brit style gear . Hillbilly.

Thanks, Newt, I haven't posted much on here as can be seen by my join date and post count, in fact this my first post for a few years. The reason for this is the time difference between the UK and the USA. I have been lurking though but not joining in. But there is GOOD NEWS. On Wednesday, next week, My Childbride and I fly to Blighty for a six month stay. We are thinking of moving back to live in the Old Country to spend our retirement but don't want to burn our bridges by selling up and buying a new house etc. I think a six month stay will let us know if we will be able to settle down or not. The place has changed a lot in the 30+ years since we left and we know this from our bi-yearly visits. The Brits on this forum will know what I mean by that and it can be explained by the footnote in your posts. I am looking forward to doing the type of fishing I did in my youth, trotting a stick float down the R. Trent. I am also looking forward to kitting myself out with some new fishing gear. Obviously I will not be buying expensive stuff because if we decide to come back the USA, I'll be selling it in six months or more likely giving it away. I will not be buying a computer so will probably not be posting on here for a while. Anyway, tight lines to everybody. Hillbilly.

How do I remove the spool ? Mitchell's scant instructions don't show/tell you how If the reel is the same as the new Mitchell 300X I have, the spool comes off by gripping it at its base and turning anti-clockwise. This leaves the clutch adjusting mechanism in place. This is a patented process by Mitchell (damn clever these Chinese). This was quite clearly explained in the manual that came with the reel I have. I am assuming you bought the reel new. If this does not work, Ask again with details of how you are trying to remove the spool. Please keep in mind the 5 hour time difference in our locations. Hillbilly.

My wife talked to our daughter this morning. It appears that Rita was a non-event as far as Katy was concerned. Although they had some high winds and heavy rain no damage was done. I thank you all for your best wishes and hope that all the other forum members with family and friends in the hurricane zone have similar news to report. Hillbilly.

Many thanks for your good wishes for my family in Katy, Texas. My wife spoke to our daughter this morning (USA time) and all was well at that time. During the conversation my daughter started to laugh because the next door neighbor was watering her lawn! Some people! Hillbilly.

Many thanks for your good wishes for my family in Katy, Texas. My wife spoke to our daughter this morning (USA time) and all was well at that time. During the conversation my daughter started to laugh because the next door neighbor was watering her lawn! Some people! Hillbilly. [ 24. September 2005, 04:04 AM: Message edited by: RED HILLBILLY ]

Thank you, Elton. What are you doing up at this time of the night? We managed to contact our daughter on the phone a few minutes ago. She had just finished her shift at the hospital and she said it was pandemodium there with poeple being brought in from the highways suffering from heatstroke and carbon-monoxide poisoning. At least one has died, so it was perhaps a good descision to stay put. The authorities have told them it won't be has bad as at first thought with winds only reaching 50 mph or so, but I'm not too sure. We expect we won't be able to contact her when the storm hits but she has promised to phone us as soon as she can. I'll keep you a ll posted. Hillbilly.

Just read on BBC News that the fish disease that struck at the Calverton hatchery in December has been found in 7 rivers, all in the north and the midlands, including the Trent and Witham. This sounds like big trouble. From what I pick up on the BBs (I'm in the USA) the rivers were in trouble before what with the black plague and all. Let's hope it can be contained. Hillbilly.

quote: Originally posted by Randy: I have never found a place (here in the US) that had ready made bodies. Randy, I've found readymade bodies made out of polystyrene or cork in such places as Big Lots, K Mart etc. They have bits of cotton through them for whatever reason. You may have to drill them out the right size. They are a bit big for UK style fishing but I only fish for carp and use suitable tackle so need a float that carries a lot of shot. You can find smaller versions with a tapered plastic insert that are ok for the light stuff or can be used as is for floaters. You may struggle getting a nice finish with polystyrene but the fish don't care and neither do I. I use bamboo skewers for the stems. I've made dozens over the years and give most away to American anglers who have never seen a real float (and don't know how to use one). Hillbilly.

A car boot sale is a flea market. Hillbilly.

Here's hoping everything is ok with you and yours, Newt. No wind or rain here in West By God, just a little cooler. Hillbilly.

ben88, so you think your reel is not worth much because it is well used? Believe me, it's priceless! Why? Because your grandad gave to you. Treasure it, son. One who knows, Hillbilly

I bought a spool of "invisible" fluoro line (Vanish) to try but I can't find it. Hillbilly. [ 19. June 2004, 04:43 AM: Message edited by: RED HILLBILLY ]

What's in the bottle? Hillbilly

Same here, Newt, big non-event. Hillbilly. [ 21. September 2003, 04:29 AM: Message edited by: RED HILLBILLY ]

Chesters, I bought a tank aerial rod kit about 1960. I spent many hours shaping the handle and whipping on the eyes. It was a screw in type and was crap, junked it straight away. The Apollo Taperflash (stepped taper) were quite good but fragile. The good old days weren't that good (fishingwise that is). Hillbilly.

Wunnus, Fish do fart. I've seen the bubbles. Hillbilly.

Several years ago I was travelling through Alabama and passed a bait shop. I called in to take a butchers. They had the usual bait to be found in a US bait shop (minnows, shiners, meal worms, crickets, nightcrawlers and spikes). They also had cartons of "Alabama jumpers". I asked what they were and the owner took the top off a carton and pored about 2 dozen worms on to the counter top. They didn't do much so the owner said "touch one". I did and the worm jumped straight up about 2" just like a coiled spring. I jumped back as if it was a snake and the owner laughed. Needless to say I bought a couple of cartons and went fishing with them when I got home to By God West Virginia. Setting up I anticipated catching monster fish that couldn't resist the action when they touched the worm. After managing to grab one of these action worms I put it on the hook ready to cast. I decided to give it a little touch to see how it wiggled on the hook. It didn't move! After several more pokes it still had not moved. I tried several more with the same result. As soon as a hook was shoved in 'em they gave up the ghost. I fished with my dead worms and managed to catch a few bluegill but nothing out of the ordinary. This is another example of tackle made to attract the angler and not the fish. Hillbilly.

Hi, Hillbilly here. Some of you may remember a post I made on the now closed war, religion and politics forum where I included a local (Morgantown, WV) newspaper report about an English guy who was beat up by a bunch of bikers in a West Virginia bar because he was complaining about the war in Iraq. He told them he was "a lean, mean English fighting machine and he could whip any six of them". He spent a night in the hospital for his efforts. Well, I was born and raised in a small town just north of Nottingham (Hucknall) and moved to the US in 1975. I get the local paper sent over by snail mail and just recieved the April issues. When I opened one up, there was a picture of this guy staring back. It turns out he is from Hucknall and has lived in a town about 15 miles to the south of me in WV for the last 10 years! The local Hucknall paper report made no mention of the English guy bragging about his fighting prowess and said he was just "picked on" by the bikers because of his accent. I'm not surprised about this because the information was given to the paper by the English guy over the phone. I suppose the readers of the Hucknall paper are now blaming the hooligans in the US for everything. It goes to show don't believe everything you read. It's a small world. Hillbilly.

Good story, Chevin, made me laugh. On the subject of the cost of a pint of maggots today, I think they are about the same as in years past considering the wages today. As I left the UK 27 years ago I will let other posters judge that comparing with other stuff (petrol, beer etc.) and the average hourly pay in the UK. Hillbilly.