Peter Sharpe

I have a feeling that the expression hybrid vigour only came about as the result of a comparison between artificially created, so-called thoroughbred dogs, with all their inherent ailments, and the far healthier, average mongrel. I think fish are quite able to continue reproducing from the same, small gene pool without any such adverse effects, although continual breeding from the same stock within an enclosed water can easily lead to a population of stunted fish. However, this isn't necessarily a problem from nature's point of view, where the optimum biomass is the prime objective. It's only when anglers decide that they would prefer to adjust the equation in favour of fewer, larger fish that the stock needs to be artificially managed. I think I'm right in saying though that a fast growing strain which has been allowed to regress, even if no cross-breeding with "inferior" fish has been allowed, then lowering the stock levels will still not allow those fish to attain the maximum weights possible in the originals. Does anyone know if a fast growing strain such as Dinks, if allowed to breed only with their own strain, will eventually regress within a few generations? Fast growth is a condition that we have imposed, and nature may well have other ideas.

I would probably have been one of those protesting against bear hunting, and I would certainly like to see an end to the obscenity that is gambling on the death of a wild animal. Quote: "Vast areas of countryside are kept for the benefit of the animals rather than being put to the plough. Without sportsmen and women many species, not just the quarry, would have become extinct years ago." This seems to be a curiously naive statement. The only areas not under the plough are ones where it is more economical to use the land for other purposes. In the case of my area, the farmers seem to find it more economical to turn their green fields into extremely wildlife unfriendly housing developments. Vast areas of land have been turned by farmers into barren monocultures, where any wildlife not driven out has been sprayed with poisonous chemicals. Countless thousands of miles of hedges have been ripped out, and I don't regard it as a great favour that a few token bits of greenery have been left for horses to jump over. Anglers phased out lead shot eighteen years ago, and are still being blamed in the media for causing lead poisoning in swans. The shooters meanwhile, continue to fill the fields with collosal quantities of lead, a single cartridge of which, contains more shot than most anglers would have dropped in a season. The main areas of unspoiled land in this country are owned by the National Trust, and on which hunting is banned.

That advert was banned in this country for being untruthful or misleading. They may have a lot of money at their disposal, but they certainly know how to waste it. The only weapons they know how to use are misrepresentation and hysteria. They made such laughing stocks of themselves during their last forays to these shores, that even previously neutral non anglers were ridiculing them. They made a very serious miscalculation, and must have wasted an enormous amount of money, that would probably put any conventionally accountable company out of business. From what I've been hearing lately, the R.S.P.A are a far greater threat, and I think all anglers who may previously have actively supported them should cancel their subscriptions immediately. [ 24 March 2002, 03:02 PM: Message edited by: Peter Sharpe ]

I totally agree with Peter Waller. The CA try to drag angling into the argument at every opportunity, in fact they do more to damage angling than the pathetic attempts by PETA ever did. Quote: "For my money, the brightest pannelist was the deputy editor of the times.She was making the politicians look thick. I was horrified when at one point, she came out with something like "what about fishing, they put great big barbs in the fishes mouths, drag them out of the water and throw them back, they dont even eat them", The point was that in her view there are some things worse than hunting foxes." Come on now Adrian, were the politicians on the panel really as thick as that?

I agree that hybrid vigour is not the appropriate term in this case, but I think from an angling point of view, and taking strict disease monitoring into account, it is of long term benefit to create a good genetic mix by artificially introducing brood stock from widely separated populations. You only have to go to some of the remote Fen villages to see the alarming consequences of restricting the gene pool.

I agree that hybrid vigour is not the appropriate term in this case, but I think from an angling point of view, and taking strict disease monitoring into account, it is of long term benefit to create a good genetic mix by artificially introducing brood stock from widely separated populations. You only have to go to some of the remote Fen villages to see the alarming consequences of restricting the gene pool.

I really do think it's about time Gaffer bought himself one of those parallel orientation devices, or pods as they sometimes known. No need to penetrate the earth at all if weights are attached, and a genuine aid to attaining that perfect Feng Shui arrangement.

All that expense to procure the latest in woodland camoflage togs, when it's far more effective to strip naked, cover one's self in Vaseline, and roll around in the dust and debris of the immediate surroundings. Failing that, I have heard that it is now possible to acquire personal powder coating, which is reputed to be no more painful than a full body tattoo. Of course, this is all to no avail on many of our more popular fisheries, where garments adorned with cans, fag-ends, bottles, and what I now realise are bank stick skins, are far more likely to render comparitive invisibility. Both methods have the added benefit of ensuring plenty of bar space, apres peche, in a suitably non-violent hostelry of course. [ 24 March 2002, 04:55 PM: Message edited by: Peter Sharpe ]

It sounds as if someone in the Angler's Mail offices was sitting at his desk, rubbing his chin, thinking, "Mmm, close season again. What can we do to fill a couple of pages and encourage sacks full of letters? We can't drag up that old "Close season: Yes or No?" chestnut all over again. Got it! Let's abolish the licence fee and get the government to pay it. Idiotic I know, but our readership are a rabble who are easily roused. Go for it!" In the next few weeks: Should there be a progressive length tax on poles? Council tax to be charged on long-stay bivvies. Fox hunts to target zander. French carp immigrant found living in her own council house with 500,000 children.

It sounds as if someone in the Angler's Mail offices was sitting at his desk, rubbing his chin, thinking, "Mmm, close season again. What can we do to fill a couple of pages and encourage sacks full of letters? We can't drag up that old "Close season: Yes or No?" chestnut all over again. Got it! Let's abolish the licence fee and get the government to pay it. Idiotic I know, but our readership are a rabble who are easily roused. Go for it!" In the next few weeks: Should there be a progressive length tax on poles? Council tax to be charged on long-stay bivvies. Fox hunts to target zander. French carp immigrant found living in her own council house with 500,000 children.

It's just another example of the catch at any cost mentality. It's difficult to know which is the worst option though, as there are plenty of mindless idiots who are quite prepared to use the conger gear and rip a fish to shreds by pulling it through the snags. Some of the Baston fish suffered through the actions of these types.

I once caught an eel deliberately on floating crust, after seeing it coming up through a hole in the weeds to scavenge for leftovers after someone had fed the ducks.

I once caught an eel deliberately on floating crust, after seeing it coming up through a hole in the weeds to scavenge for leftovers after someone had fed the ducks.

There was a centre page feature in Angling Times a couple of years ago, showing someone catching barbel from the Tidal Trent on hair-rigged chunks of mackerel. I have tried this a couple of times without success, but I did manage to catch five carp this winter deliberately, using chunks as big as one inch by two inches. The funny thing was though, that it seemed to sort out carp that were smaller than average. It could just have been that the smaller ones were more active that week though.

There was a centre page feature in Angling Times a couple of years ago, showing someone catching barbel from the Tidal Trent on hair-rigged chunks of mackerel. I have tried this a couple of times without success, but I did manage to catch five carp this winter deliberately, using chunks as big as one inch by two inches. The funny thing was though, that it seemed to sort out carp that were smaller than average. It could just have been that the smaller ones were more active that week though.

You cynic. You'll be trying to tell me next that Kevin ________s didn't invent halibut pellets.

You cynic. You'll be trying to tell me next that Kevin ________s didn't invent halibut pellets.

It does seem to be a case of all style and no substance. I thought AT improved considerably when Richard Lee took over from the previous editor, who seemed to be determined to drag it right down into the gutter. Lately however, the trend seems to be in favour of double page features, with over-sized photos that seem to be trying to disguise a very shallow and limited editorial content. This wouldn't be so bad if it was priced to reflect this. Des Taylor seems to think he's the Gary Bushell of the angling world. Not exactly something to aspire to is it? I still prefer his bufoonery to the slick, cynical commercials, sorry, articles, from the likes of Matt "Pescaviva" Hayes though. I think I read this week's AT in about ten minutes.

It does seem to be a case of all style and no substance. I thought AT improved considerably when Richard Lee took over from the previous editor, who seemed to be determined to drag it right down into the gutter. Lately however, the trend seems to be in favour of double page features, with over-sized photos that seem to be trying to disguise a very shallow and limited editorial content. This wouldn't be so bad if it was priced to reflect this. Des Taylor seems to think he's the Gary Bushell of the angling world. Not exactly something to aspire to is it? I still prefer his bufoonery to the slick, cynical commercials, sorry, articles, from the likes of Matt "Pescaviva" Hayes though. I think I read this week's AT in about ten minutes.

You can buy mosquito nets from most army surplus type stores, but they tend to be the ones based around a small, umbrella-type contraption, that is obviously supposed to be suspended from a tree, with the net then draped over a hammock. They are usually an angler-friendly shade of green, and cost about £9 to £10, which seems a bit expensive to me for a bit of netting. When I removed the umbrella gadget and set to work with the scissors, there was enough netting to completely seal off the front of an Evolution Brolly, which is quite a considerable span. I'm sure there is a niche in the market for netting cut to a suitable shape, although I dread to think what the major manufacturers would then charge for something that probably costs pence to produce. Where are Badger when you need them?

You can buy mosquito nets from most army surplus type stores, but they tend to be the ones based around a small, umbrella-type contraption, that is obviously supposed to be suspended from a tree, with the net then draped over a hammock. They are usually an angler-friendly shade of green, and cost about £9 to £10, which seems a bit expensive to me for a bit of netting. When I removed the umbrella gadget and set to work with the scissors, there was enough netting to completely seal off the front of an Evolution Brolly, which is quite a considerable span. I'm sure there is a niche in the market for netting cut to a suitable shape, although I dread to think what the major manufacturers would then charge for something that probably costs pence to produce. Where are Badger when you need them?

I emailed him a couple of years ago during the close season debate, and had a reply within two days. He seems to be very pro-active in all angling causes, and is also a keen barbel angler. I just hope he manages to live up to his projected image.

I emailed him a couple of years ago during the close season debate, and had a reply within two days. He seems to be very pro-active in all angling causes, and is also a keen barbel angler. I just hope he manages to live up to his projected image.

First of all, PETA revealed themselves to be an ineffective joke last time they tried their "media blitz" here, and were made laughing stocks on every debate they appeared in. Secondly, as the hunters claim that hunting is more humane than shooting, the answer to all their problems suddenly becomes crystal clear. Don't shoot those unwanted dogs, release them out in the countryside, then chase them down with horse and hounds so that they can die with a happy smile on their little doggy muzzles.

First of all, PETA revealed themselves to be an ineffective joke last time they tried their "media blitz" here, and were made laughing stocks on every debate they appeared in. Secondly, as the hunters claim that hunting is more humane than shooting, the answer to all their problems suddenly becomes crystal clear. Don't shoot those unwanted dogs, release them out in the countryside, then chase them down with horse and hounds so that they can die with a happy smile on their little doggy muzzles.