Phone

John, Tochue Phone

All, I noticed the price of gold was up again today! WoW! Phone (sorry, I just can't help myself)

Andy, You have to share a ciggy bankside. Phone

RUDD, It does bring back old memories. I'm afraid my "first" has been lost to the posterity of bad memory. My grandmother (mother's side) had 5 daughters. They in turn all married men who acquiesced to my grandmother's authority. There was the "big" house surrounded in a semi-circle by the 5 girls homes. Grandma was boss! Each daughter had an assigned responsibility in the "family". There were grandchildren as follows: 1 grandaughter; 22 grandsons; one grandaughter. We didn't really have "personal belongings" until perhaps 14 - 15 year old and even then ownership was tenuious. My first "personal" rod and reel that serves my memory was a Zebco "bomb" reel and steel hex rod of about 4'6" (they were made from a flexible steel sort of like for sword fighting - know what I'm talking about?). Strangely, today I use a Zebco Optima and a 6'6" UglyStik. So, in my lifetime, I've gone from simple, to fancy and back to simple. Both these Zebco's are spincast reels with a casting range of about 25 yards on a good day. Today, my rod holders are "forked sticks" made for me by one of my grandsons in Boy Scouts. I use Eagle Claw hooks (carefully inspected to insure quality) and freeline. It might also be added I don't catch many fish anymore either (ha ha). But, like you, I will be ready to GO whilst drawing my last breath. Phone

All, On the subject of "specimen" chasing. Driving about the country on fishing holidays I often would stop by a marina or local bait shop for information. They serve as information centers too. Anyway, my point is, you can't believe how many 100 lb carp lurk around ever marina in America - just ask. I've never even caught a 40 from a marina. To many tiddlers hang out for the freebies. (Actually not freebies. The marina charges $.25 for a handful of floating dog food so folks can feed the carp.) Phone

Dales, Access to some waters are limited during salmon runs. Other than that, you are pretty much on your own, There are "parks" where bears intercept traffic and look for handouts from noddie campers and families on vacation. Lots of signs that say "Don't Feed The Bears". People think they are safe inside a car. BAD MISTAKE! Still, they feed the bears anyway. The "best" advice is the same over here as it is over there. Use common sense when a "situation arises". It is stupid people who usually get in harms way. From a sport fisherman point of view "bears" aren't really a huge problem. The purist, you know the guy who goes solo grayling (or is it greyling) fishing in a pristine stream in the spring does run a slight risk. I confess, I haven't done any "excursion" fishing since the 1970's. In those days you "packed with a purpose" (I liked a 45 cal long colt for the ft/lbs of energy it could generate). In today's political environment I'm just not sure what "the right thing to do" really is. The best person to ask is Budgie I suspect. The bear's favorite "deterent" is baked goods. Donuts were always at hand and really really do work. Forget the fact the bear smelled the donuts in the first place, that's why he came around. Unless, of course, you get between a sow and her cub. That's the worst possible circumstance. No win for the interloper(sp). Phone My "best ever" such trip was 600 miles from the nearest telephone. You have no idea what a relief that can be for the soul to count 30 or more varieties of moss without moving an inch.

Worms, I always knowed you'ns talked funny. Yu'all didnt have to say nuttin. Phone (What I hate the most is your prolific waste of perfectly good "u's" after an "o") As in "color"

Worms, "De-fence" a wire on posts seperating two properties or a pen. (That, as I should have noted, is cut and pasted (mostly)). Phone

All, In another thread there is a preliminary claim for a new record crucian carp. The claim is that is is 9 drams the better. My question - how many carry scales measured in drams? Do the fish hold still for it? And - - - - - - - - Drams are: a. a unit of apothecaries' weight (troy), equal to 60 grains, or 1 / 8 ounce (3.89 grams). b. 1 / 16 ounce, avoirdupois weight (27.34 grains; 1.77 grams). Which scales are used by UK anglers? Phone

Wotnob, You guys ever use a spot of superglue? On the inside of the shank as near the "j" as practical. Phone (Some say superglue leaves an "afterodor" - that's for you to decide.)

All, Come on!! 5000 views and 3 comments. I'm curious myself? What'dya think? Phone

John, I too appoligize. Never a bad idea to blame the new guy, especially when he's guilty. My post #9 was the beginning of the end of the "nice fish John" posts. I am always open to be beaten about the head and neck for "hoof in mouth". Certainly I know how to do it. Your always welcome to "suggest" I'm off topic. I take suggestions very well since I'm usually out of order. Not particularly fond of FU Phone, especially in two dimensions. That is better handled man to man. But I understand a civil critizism among gentlemen. Spelling sucks tonight but the message should come through. No question I started this thread on a "different" path than the congratualtions that were in order. Sorry. Phone

Dales, I do have a couple, maybe six "bait manufacturer" DVDs. I will say those guys are serious as a heart attack. Phone

Col, I bet this is what you are talking about. A seafood processing ship. It was originally a military craft in WWII. "Zeus was sold 1 August 1974 by the Defense Reutilization and Marketing Service to Mickey Jones for commercial service as a salmon processor and freight ship, whereupon she was renamed Cape St. Elias. Sold to Snopac Products in 1986 for service as frozen fish freighter in Alaska. Again sold in 1988 to Icicle Seafoods, she was renamed Coastal Star, and served as a seafood processing ship in Alaska. In December 2005 she was resold to Snopac Products, renamed Snopac Innovator and is currently in service as a seafood processing ship." There was talk in the US of converting other drydock ships to DRMS craft. Phone (maybe, I see the inclusion of the word "weights") Now I'm in a quandry?

Worms, Just so you know there are not enough otters on the planet to make a difference I've cut and pasted a couple selective paragraphs about Utah Lake. If this doesn't give you the message I don't know how I can. Here it is! (For the carp guy, don't bytch, tell us what to do - we'll listen to any suggestions - no matter how silly). ""SALT LAKE CITY -- What do you do if you have 100 million ugly fish in the wrong place? If you're the federal government, you steer a million dollars toward the problem and hope it will do some good. That's what began happening in Utah Wednesday. The federal government issued a check to pay for a large-scale commercial fishing operation on Utah Lake. There are 100 million carp, but the goal is to tackle the 7 million biggest ones to create a cleaner lake that's more fun to fish. They're big, they're slimy, they're ugly. Not everyone's idea of a tasty treat. "To eat? It's not my first choice," said commercial fisherman Bill Loy.He has caught more than a million pounds (edit: Phone, that's in 2008 in the "pilot" program) of carp in a government pilot program. Now he's revving it up, thanks to a carp-shaped check for a million dollars, intended to drive a stake through the heart of the carp population."" [You probably guessed, carp are not very well liked in Utah] Phone again - the byline is 2008 - the project is renewed annually and currently the catch is up around 5 or 6 million pounds (total weight is just a guess on my part) of 4 to 6 lb fish . Since the state of Utah, and the fish, are so far from any processor the worst possible outcome is what happens to these fish (can you say backhoe). Each 6 lb carp has up to 300,000 babies a year. Frankly I hate it - but what can you do?? This is NOT THE ONLY EXAMPLE I could site. Phone

Worms, Emma's right. But to answer your question specifically = yes. Otters are native (thought you'ld like that). They actually play a pretty important role in the balance of nature over here. One execption, the "smallmouth bass" and "white bass" guys hate them. Sort of, not anything near what I read about otters in the UK. Someone will tell you the equalivant of these two species. It was a big deal (positive deal pretty much by all involved that they were re-introduced into our Ozark National Forest 4 or 5 years ago. Nothing can desimate a population like humans. That's what happened to the otters down there. It's really hard to "explain" how many fish we have. We are really really blessed. Thankfully, everyday more people start to notice that fact. Phone

All, We only have limited stocks of tench (the green ones). Favorite bait(s) for targeting tench all seem to be very salty. A pal in California used field corn stored in a rock salt brine solution. "Carpy" baits are common but tench anglers (VERY few) all seem to rave if copious amounts of salt are added. You guys do that? I've never caught a tench on purpose, just carping once in a while. Phone

gozzer, BTW, the way you "catch" carp is a hair rig (circa 1950). You use a #2/0 hook with a loop of butchers string and hang a 2 inch square of cottonseed cake about 2 inches below the hook point. The string is tied in a loop, drill the cottonseed cake, half hitch it to the hook. Phone

gozzer, You fail to remember I had an annual 700 hook longline license and a 50,000 metric ton quota for freshwater "rough fish". For a couple years I was a part of every cat in America's life. Sporting value and commercial value are as seperate as night and day for me and my carp. I love them on more than one front. Phone

All, gozzer, [You]"side tracked onto other issues"? Ha ha! Since I don't have a clue what the topic is all about "bream spod mix" I'm afraid I'm the one who exited stage left on it. It does not hurt my feelings to be reminded of that fact from time to time. Phone

gozzer, I've been meaning to talk to you about "the way you fish"? Phone

All, Addicted Addicted, not likely, Phone's back. I do think it is time to "cut and paste" my disclaimer. It does appear AN has plenty of experts with "singular" opinions and views which are personally life sustaining for them. What's with the personal BS? Here's my disclaimer from around 2000 and still true today. All Lots of new guys since I used to post as Phonebush, now I'm Phone so it is time for my disclaimer to be repeated. I, Phone, frequently lie (it's a fundamental part of American fishing culture). I, Phone, never quote outside sources since I am an exhaulted and oft quoted expert on all thing carp myself. Each period ending a sentence posted by me, Phone (Phonebush), is an implied smiley face. I, Phone (Phonebush), practice the tennants prescribed by the origins of "sports angling" and put a great deal of emphasis on the word FUN, as in "Phone tries to have FUN" rather than competition. There is no universal way to fish. If ever I infringe on any poster's personal values I am truly a temporary twit, declare a Senior moment (I am well into my70's), and appolige now, in advance. Phone

Dales, The Asian Carp are going to be a tough nut to crack. First, let me say in this post Asian Carp will mean Silver Carp. The Bigheads don't seem to be the same cup of tea although they are thrown together as Asian Carp. You need to multiply your vision of the problem. Netting for the Asian food market would only work if we could get the fish to Asia. I mean we have L O T S of Silver Carp already. Something like "feed China" would be a more appropriate statement. (tounge in cheek, only slightly). They are really hard to net. They dwell in top to mid-water and these fish are very spooky and will jump 3 or 4 feet out of the water when challanged. Equally, they are filter feeders and not subject to longline commercial fishing, at least very successfully. The most fun way to catch the Silver Carp is to run the boat up and down the river at high speed. The fish will jump into the boat. Being careful not to get hit and use a net to snag them whilst airborne. Like butterflys. Phone

All, That photo picture is disgusting. Perhaps I'm getting a "better" albit less than rose colored, picture from your point of view. I have a "feeling" for no particular reason I guess, the UK is moving in extreams. Your big carp are laughably taken out of the norm by unscrupulous feeding. And equally silly from here, you guys talk ad nauseam about the glory of fish to 14 ozs. Even worse, I kinda like it! Phone

barry, ""An International Expert Consultation composed of 20 experts from academia, policy and NGOs, convened by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), agreed today on the first international guidelines on responsible recreational fisheries."" That seems noble enough to me? I doubt the intend to include any "old fogies" like you and me in the "guidlines". I'd say if they get the word "recreational" defined before I die they will have accomplished something. Like it or not - the world is getting smaller. (I for one don't like it). I'd be curious if there is even ONE recreational angler among the 20 experts. No question, they'll speak for the next generation - but not ours. Phone