Elton

Hi Chris, I replied to your private message on Sunday on Facebook. Please check your messages there. Take care, Elton

I'd love to take the credit for fixing it, but I can't lie....

Merry Christmas, everyone. Hope you're having a nice time and 2024 is a good year for you all.

I'm absolutely gutted to have just read on Facebook that John Stephenson, known to many of us as Snatcher, has passed away. John was an absolute force of positivity and I enjoyed reading his regular posts on Facebook. He always raised a smile and usually raised a glass. If you've got a glass handy, please raise it to Snatcher right now.

I'd love a Marina! I'll show some of our mopeds up on the channel soon. I have, erm, one or two...

It's amazing how many people have remarked about that car. They were great vehicles of their time and it still looks palatial inside there. I'm glad it reminded you of a good time.

Some bloke, who used to have time to go fishing and run this website, has recently started making videos about his crappy old cars... https://www.youtube.com/@ukbarnfinds/

This is the post all of us hoped we'd never read. Dave was a pillar of this site, way back in the days when websites ruled the internet, and we were all blessed to have him in our lives. Without him, these forums would not have been what they were. He entertained us with his personality and knowledge, both here and on the bank, and his book, Angling Vagabond, is one that should be read by anglers everywhere. Next time I cast a line, it's going to be for Dave. My sincere condolences to you and all of Dave's family and friends. Rest assured, 'Vagabond' will never be forgotten. Tight lines, Dave, and thanks for the memories - Elton

It's a legit BBC site. I know, I couldn't believe it, either

I saw this on the news. It's been in there a while now. Have they caught it yet?

I honestly thought I'd been tricked into visiting a spoof site when I came across this. Anyone else here seen it? https://www.bbc.com/pidgin I get all my news there now.... https://www.bbc.com/pidgin/articles/c51lj8ln1zgo

Welcome back to a familiar name

I read a tragic report of an angler passing away in his bivvy recently. I don't know the facts, only what I read, but would urge all fellow anglers to not cook in their bivvies, or use gas heaters in them. I feel terrible saying it, but I've done both, in my ignorance, in the past. Never again.

There's hope for me yet, then

They certainly were different times. I'm sure there are some forums that are still doing well, but I pretty much threw the towel in when social media came along. The whole culture of the internet seemed to change; instant gratification and nastiness abound, whereas it was a lot more 'real' back in the day. We had our rows, our troublemakers and seemingly weekly threats of legal action against me, but the good parts of it made up for it; friendships, robust debates, helpfulness, get-togethers.... just like how the 'real world' used to be. I'm sure it's still like that, away from phone screens.

I'm so sorry to read of your loss. I've sat here for a few minutes, trying to think of something to add, but there really is nothing. You said it all.

I speak to Steve regularly and fish with him occasionally, and also see Wurzel at the marina sometimes. It would be good to arrange a catch-up at some point. And you're right, we're not getting any younger. I feel about 90 now.

That’s really sad. Thanks for letting us know. Den was a great contributor to this forum, back in the day.

In case you weren't aware, here's the artwork for 2022... New fishing licences unveiled by the Environment Agency - Anglers' Net (anglersnet.co.uk)

Bob Wall - martial artist who featured in Bruce Lee films. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Wall

Yep. That's the bit that caught my eye, before the photos. Odd looking thing!

Not one I'm familiar with, but I spotted this oddity on eBay earlier - https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/125121329402

Unfortunately, I don't seem to have enough time in the day to do all the things I'm supposed to be doing, but you'd think one of the bigger tackle shops, such as Birds, might consider it (maybe they have). The concept is sound (my biggest fear would be thieves/vandals). I occasionally use a farm shop nearby that has a vending machine for chilled produce (and even one for milk), so the technology is there to supply all manner of products, not just maggots - About Us – Suffolk Farmhouse Cheese (suffolkcheese.co.uk)

It certainly has the potential to, especially when you expand it out to other baits.

At the moment, it does seem to repeat the same shows over and over. It also appears to do them in blocks, so you get a complete series in one go. Can't complain, though, and they may well buy some other shows in the future. The Catching The Impossible is a favourite with the family, as it has a bit of the old Go Fishing feel about it. In fact, I watched one the other day that had John Wilson in. I didn't realise, or had forgotten, that he was Martin Bowler's uncle. Occasionally, you get the shows that weren't edited for standard daytime use. Hearing Bernard Cribbins dropping the F-bomb is TV fishing gold