Dunk Fairley

I give up! Bye bye everyone.

I agree Peter. Both weeklies set out to teach too much, and not report. However, I think it would be hard for them to change direction, without major re-organisation in their ranks. To be fair to both, their Match reporting is pretty good (if you match fish. I don't, but I reckon it looks pretty informative anyway). But if you look at the way it's done, there is very little photography to go along with it. The rest of the paper's content, is pretty high on the photography side of things, and without doubt, getting the layout of the artwork right, is a logistical nightmare. I would imagine it would be even harder, if they had to rely on (mostly) dodgy photo's taken by anglers, with write ups such as "Dunk caught a 2lb Roash, on flavoured bred, whill troting". By the time they'd sorted out all the spelling mistakes, and cobbled together a few facts out of the myriad of jumbled letters and reports, they wouldn't have enough time to get the paper out on a bi-weekly basis, let alone weekly. Their only option would be "Staff" reporters, and lots of them. Enough to cover the whole country, all discilpines and on call 24hrs. It would be too flippin expensive. Add to that, the advertisers (who really pay for the magazine to be produced. I would doubt if the sales alone, met 20% of the production costs), would soon back off, if there wasn't a bright shiny well known face inside the paper, who could (possibly) help them sell a few more tackle items. Of course, it'd be great if we could go back to the days when angling weeklies centred on news. But then, it'd also be great if the daily papers did the same, instead of running endless features about "celebrities", or snippets of rubbish created so that they in turn could generate more "celebrities" to prattle on about. I think I'm going to have to come down on the side of Elton on this one. By that I mean that I think AM are making a genuine offer, to encourage higher subscription numbers. This in turn should impress the advertisers, who in turn will (may) pay more money. The money they pay could then be used to improve the content of the paper. Or at least that's the way it should work........

Well done Steve! But surely it just goes to show that no matter how much we put into studying and trying to learn about fish, they'll still flippin well act how they like, when they like, throwing any predictions and plans out of the window?

Henry VIII kiled a few thousand Catholics, and Mary Queen of Scots (Bloody Mary) killed a few thousand Protestants, all in the name of Christianity. Add that to all the pagans burnt at the stake, all the africans, native americans, aborigines etc. All killed in much more recent times, because they dissagreed with christianity.

Well, you learn something every day! I never realised they tucked up warm. I see an awful .ot of wasps in lofts at this time of year, when I'm sorting out the header tanks to people's boilers, which they never get serviced until the week before Xmas, when they stop working!

Found this Peacock Butterfly on a wood pile I was sorting for a friend on Christmas eve. First one I've seen alive, but surely it ain't right for this time of year, is it? Surprised I haven't seen one before, they're supposed to be a few around here. It's just a shame it won't make it in this weather. I left it on a lavender bush.

Teh Heh! We'd really love to have you on board though! Please, even if you don't like what you see now, watch what happens and consider it in the future. I'm sure that's all anyone can really hope for.

No, not really a good idea, but there are those within angling circles who don't like pendulum casting.

Before they get rid of all the speccie groups, they should ban pendulum casting. I think it's probably the worst thing to happen to angling!

OK Elton, I'll give you a little bit on that. Perhaps I should phrase it "But I do know one thing for sure. The best way to influence the actions of organisations, or try to, is by being part of them." Incidentally, I heard a snippet on Radio 4 last evening. Can't remember who said it, but it was a piece about apathy in national politics (you know, the politics no-one wants to know about, until their politicians do something they don't like!). Whoever pointed it out, said that the combined paid-up membership of all of the big three political parties, is considerably less than the paid-up membership of the RSPB. I had a quick trawl around, and found the tories at 250 000, Labour 208 000, and nothing quoted for the Liberal party. I reckon this website's getting close to that lot!

Gozzer and Vagabond, like you I've had concerns about the ACA from time to time. I've also had doubts about ALL of the others from time to time as well. Fortunately, those doubts have not often come to total fruition. But I do know one thing for sure. You can only influence the actions of organisations, or try to, by being part of them. If any of the membership of the new body see things going awry, then I hope they put their voices to the fore and actively take part in changing things. I know I blinking well will!!

Merry Christmas All!

I really do think that the "Who elected who to represent anglers" argument, is a dead dog. Let's look at it this way. 3 million anglers, with 3 million points of view, each totally different to each other. Each angler wants his own way, so all 3 million of them go, one at a time, to lobby their MP. The MPs, then make three million different decisions, all totally different, to suit each angler who has lobbied them. Now, angler number 2111654, had his own way, so did angler 145234. Unfortunately, angler 2111654, didn't like what 145234 wanted. So he then goes back to his MP, and complains. The MP then says, "but you didn't tell me NOT to do what 145234 wanted, did you? Anyway, who elected you to overrule what 145234 wants anyway?" Politics doesn't work that way. As the vast majority of anglers are happy to sit back and not involve themselves in ANY elections of ANYONE to represent them, by that I mean by joining a group and discussing points, and voting for a representative to go and lobby their MP for them, I really don't think they are in a position to criticise, or complain when someone who does want to take part, actually stands up and has a go. I have never, and I mean never, heard of any instance where any angler (independant, or representing any club or group), at any of the dozens of meetings I've been to, has not been allowed to have his own say. Sometimes, anglers who do have their own say, are able to have their motions carried following discussion, sometimes not, sometimes they are even laughed at. It's called democracy and if someone isn't of a mind to support it, but demand that their own prioritys override everyone else's, or who grumbles when his views aren't discussed fairly (while sitting on his hat and not bothering to tell anyone what they are), they really shouldn't throw rotten apples at those who are less lethargic. Perhaps the many thousands of anglers who are not going to support the Trust, would like to get together and form another organisation they feel they can support. Then, as they do that, a third group can get together, made up of those who don't support the second group. Then a fourth group could be set up, who don't support any of the other groups, and so it goes on, until there are three million one man groups, none of whom support any of the others. Or, as an alternative, maybe we could all support one group. or is that too complicated?

Voted for No1, as it reminded me of spring, which I can't bloody wait for!

First, we have the Camouflage trampoline: http://www.gforcetrampolines.com/product_d...rampoline%20Set Now, the camoufalge step ladders!: http://www.amazon.com/Louisville-Ladder-L-...s/dp/B0010Y1N6U Saw one of these at my much loved loacl tool shop the other day, definately on my Christmas list!

Humbrol is just fine. I use a base coat of white matt, then put matt fluorescent over the top, but leave a narrow band of white at the bottom of the flourecent, as it helps it show up. I don't use any gloss on float tops, as it doesn't help the visibilty. It's possible to find Humbrol matt varnish, which you could use, but let the paint dry for a couple of days first. Slightly thinned yaught varnish is good for the bodies.

Little nails are fun as well! Good to hear you all ahd a good day though. If the doctors get me back together in time for next year, I'll be there!

Here, you don't think Bigfoot is really a Grayling angler in a Camo suit do you? That'd explain why he's so flippin large and you can't make him out in dense undergrowth! Looks like you all had a good day, hope you didn't gett too cold.

Gold label have always been great to deal with. I really only use them for line and small odds and ends, but they're very good.

Apparently, the river has dried up, a coachload of Eastern europeans have been down with barbies, the car park is full of chrome pannelled caravans, PETA have taken over the lease, Tescos have run out of bacon, and worst of all, I CAN'T GO!!

I reckon £285. Christmas is coming and there'll be a few drunks around, putting in high bids (I once bid $4000 on something I meant to bid £40 for. Didn't notice until 2 days later, when I'd won it for £35..phew!!).

Fully agree. Static Pike fishing can be one of the most exciting ways of fishing. Instead of sitting and waiting for the alarms to go off, you must really study the water, watch the surface for small stuff popping, watch the wind drift. Try and work out where a pike may make a lunge at a fish, which would last a split second, and move the bait a couple of inches (that's all it takes for a pike to take a bait and hold it in it's mouth, so you can hook it). It's not like a lot of Carp fishing (which I like for other reasons), where you have to let the fish move around a bit for bite indication (even when float fishing, or when you can actually see the carp). A pike will slash across the water occasionally, straight towards your bait, but then stop without taking it. Sometimes, it'll take your bait with very little indication, after causing a major stir-up a while earlier. Other times, it'll sidle up to a bait, pick it up with the front of it's jaws, and give just a twich. Then, you need to gently tighten up, and feel for the bite. Often, the pike'll let go. But sometimes, it won't, so you have to wind down and pull the hooks home. After a while, you really learn "read" a water. You'll be able to tell if your bait is or isn't in the right place, not because you can't see movement, or bubbles, but because you'll be thinking "If I was a Pike, which only had to move once a day for food (or once a week for a big ol' girl), I'd be somewhere about THERE. The fish will only then pick up the bait, beacuse you got all your sums right. Pike fishing isn't like Carp fishing.

OK, I'll grant that the "Majority" of Anglers aren't members of the organisations concerned. However, that same majority frequently does better, because of the work of the minority of those who ARE members, to a greater or lesser degree. The only difference is, those who aren't members, get the benefits for free, while those who are members, pay to be members, and then leave themselves open to snide comments and verbal attacks, for TRYING to do something. I'm very happy to be a (permanent) life member of more than one of the organisations, and fully support the efforts put in by my representatives within those bodies.

Oh well, it looks like I'm going to have to use Poppy seeds instead! Or maybe even the seeds of a castor oil plant. Oh yeah, I forgot, that's where Ricin comes from.

Sounds like the thinners wasn't correct for the varnish to me, still at least you've got it sorted now. Good man on rebuilding your first cane rod, it's a bit addictive though, so be prepared!