chrisd1

Hello, Regarding rigs...most eel anglers generally stick to two basic rigs, the John Sidley Rig and the Dyson rig. Diagrams of which can be found on the NAC website. It is recommended wire trace is used also to avoid bite offs, even more so if Pike are present. The sidley rig is basically an "on bottom" rig whilst the Dyson enables you to suspend a bait well off bottom if required. Barbless hooks are recommended. Eels do not like resistance, even the line pulling out of a line clip or off a bobbin is likely to result in a dropped run. Most of us use rollover indicators ( from Zandavan). All runs should be struck as soon as possible. Both rigs are designed in such a way that any interest shown by the eel should result in an indication and therefore a massive reduction in deephooking. However this does happen occasionally and if so the trace should be cut as close as possible to the mouth, on no account should a disgorger be used as the vital organs are situated directly behind the head. Regarding baits....Lobworms, deadbaits/livebaits all work. The sense of smell is very acute, so use this to your advantage, broken worms for example or pierced deads. Use baits that the eel is used to eating, if the water is full of small roach then use small roach. Locating eels is the main problem, big eels tend not to roam so " think conger" and look for snags, the snaggier the better and fish close to them. For more info visit the NAC website there are numerous articles on rigs, baits, handling etc etc. Hope this helps.

The author i believe is referring to extinction of the species as a result of the anguillicola parasite, if so this would not strictly be a natural extinction as the parasite is an alien species passed on to the European eel from Asian species as a result of uncontrolled aquaculture shipments and therefore human activity is to blame. So money should be spent if that is the case. I am a member of the NAC amongst other groups and i would just like to say we do not focus entirely on eels, many of our members do have other angling interests and would fight for those species just as much should the need arise. As most of you already know the eel is important ecologically and surely that in itself makes it worthy of conserving, and i know some of you do support that. May i just add before anyone suggests i should stop fishing for them, if there was definitive proof that angling is detrimental to the population i would stop. But would that then mean that angling for other species is detrimental to their populations????Whether they are in decline or not.

Here's a shot of a Cormorant, although probably not regarded as beautifu by some...

I just thought i would clear the matter up regarding Eels in Scotland. All eel fishing is prohibited in Scotland EXCEPT under licence. The Scottish Govt. have no problem issuing said licence as long as 100% catch and release is practiced. In addition redrafting of the legislation so as not to include the recreational angler practising catch release is in the process of being drawn up. So the NAC are NOT trying to get so called Special licences this applies to all. The whole point of opposing the ban was due to a lack in consultation, the SFCA knew nothing of this proposed legislation. Not for our own ends, as you know not many people actually fish for them, the SFCA were notified also as a means to protect anglers who may also catch Eels in matches etc. On the subject of as to whether ther should be a complet ban, should the same apply to Salmon anglers or Sea Trout anglers as these species are in decline also. As to the causing of harm to fish, what about some deep sea species that come to the surface with blown swim bladders. Should we stop fishing for them. What about any species then? They all get a hook stuck in them as was put earlier. I haven't posted very much on this forum, my first post was taken in the wrong way by many and seen as bullying tactics when all i was asking was anglers to think before using eels as bait as there are other alternatives, especially when some of the species fished for are actually non native/introduced. I find some posters on here can't have a proper discussion without being offensive or downright rude, whilst playing follow my leader. This will be my last post but don't suppose that really matters anyway as nobody is entitled to an opinion unless the chosen few agree with it. Good Night and Good Luck.

Here is a few more.... Enjoy The last couple i modified with Picasa.

My last post of the larger versions is'nt showing but the 3rd one on the original post is a close up of a carniverous plant called a Sundew, found In moorland area.

I think the salt would not be too muchof a problem on larger rivers due to dilution rates. However, where i live in far NW highlands there are loads of roadside lochs with small feeder streams and small outflows. All the salt does wash into the lochs and as saline water is denser than freshwater it is possible that a layer of saline/brackish water might occur on the loch bottom. The aspect of road salt is what else it comtains, i have tried to find out but the powers that be won't let on as cyanide is thought to be present in it. One problem we also found on a small stream next to a salt depot was that leaching caused a change in water quality, eutrophication took place and this then became blocked with weeds and overgrown vegetation, blocking access to Salmon and Sea Trout and smothering spawning areas.

Are these better

I have loads of photo's so will post more as i get them uploaded Enjoy!!!

These were taken last week outside our house. Temperature was -10 in the afternoon. Sorry they aren't bigger

I do not eat fish, just for the record. I don't like the taste. I apologise for not reading prior threads also. But all i wanted to do was raise awareness, i wasn.t having a go at any angling groups in particular either, and yes some do treat the Eel with respect, but there are a lot that don't. Does the use of Eels as bait mean you catch more/bigger fish? I doubt it.

It is us anglers that are trying to do something. We are pushing for bans, i wasn't portrayng anyone being a problem just highlighting the plight and raising awarenes. Like the article says there are many issues regarding the decline so why add to it. Is raising awareness bullying??

So is there a need to use Eels in the first place. The point i am trying to make is that if there is a demand this will drive the market. I agree with the point in Elver fisheries but disagree to some extent that anglers are sympathetic towards the Eel. My experience tells me that most treat them as a nuisance. If the BBC ( masterchef etc ) can change their policies regarding using an unsustainable species why can't anglers. If every predator angler used a couple of packs each season, not counting the ones that are killed on the bank then the tally soon adds up. It is not my aim to have a go or anything like that i just want to make anglers aware, treat the species with a bit more respect and ask not to use them if you don't need to. I remember a few years ago up here in Scotland when Pike were being killed everywhere just because they predated on Salmon and Trout, Pike anglers were up in arms then. I also supported the cause as i felt that evry species deserves its place in the river,lake etc. Trouble is it might not be long until the Eel is gone for good.

With the pike and zander “season” well and truly under way now, many anglers will be considering using eel section as bait. We (the National Anguilla Club) ask pike and zander anglers to think again before the purchase a pack of eel sections or kill an eel to use as bait. Whilst “one or two” mature eels taken in this way will not affect stock levels, the quantity used by significant numbers of anglers will, and buying eel sections only feeds the market. If tackle dealers find that anglers do not buy them then they will not stock them. Your refusal to eels also sends a very clear message to other anglers and non anglers that we are serious about saving the species. The extract form a recent article shown below highlights the fact that there is no sustainable source for the eel: The European Eel Anguilla anguilla is a complex and often misunderstood species. It starts life in the Sargasso Sea where it drifts on oceanic currents before reaching European shores up to 4 years later. From here, as Elvers, they migrate into our River systems where they spend up to 50 years, feeding and growing before returning back to the Sargasso to spawn. This long lifecycle along with some natural and anthropogenic influence makes the species susceptible to possible extinction. It is already thought that the species has declined by approximately 99% since the 1980’s. This is alarming and has raised the question as to whether Eel stocks are sustainable. The decline of the species has been reported since the 1940’s in Northern Europe and since the 1980’s in the rest of the continental range. Scientists from Indicang (pan European Eel research group) have demonstrated that Eel stocks are in decline and in some regions, mainly in the North of its distribution area, the situation is critical. Some restocking programmes (Northern Ireland, Baltic Sea and Italian lagoons) have succeeded in sustaining local fisheries but the decline continues where stocking has not been carried out. So what are the causes of this dramatic decline? There are two major stages of the lifecycle which affect the decline in stocks • Elver Recruitment • Spawner escapement Both are linked, it is thought that a reduction in spawning stock, caused by declining Eel stocks may be sufficient to cause a recruitment collapse as in 1980. There is evidence that the decline in recruitment was preceded by a decline in Eel landings approximately 2-3 decades earlier, as the time lag roughly corresponded to the generation period for faster growing stocks. Therefore, initial stock decline could not be caused by reduced recruitment but could be a potential cause of reduced recruitment. Causes. Recruitment Decline • Over Exploitation • Changes in oceanographical conditions, possibly linked to climate change • Reduction in accessible freshwater habitat • Pollution • Parasitism Stock Decline • Over Exploitation • Loss of good yellow Eel habitat, loss of wetlands, pollution, over abstraction. • Barriers to migration, physical - weirs etc and water quality and quantity. • Reduction in Elver stocking in waters beyond normal migration range. Eels are not bred in captivity; aquaculture relies on the collection of seed Eels (Elvers) which are then grown on. This means that the species is unsustainable as ALL Eels sold in restaurants, shops and bait suppliers have been taken from the wild initially. The European Eel is currently deemed the most at risk vertebrate in the country and is currently on the IUCN Red list. Help us save the eel – do not use them as bait! THANK YOU C.Daphne Environment Officer National Anguilla Club The NAC are currently working alongside the Angling Trust and the Environment agency in order to save the species.