nzangler

I have recently aquired an old split cane rod from a blind auction. Maker is Alcocks of Reddich England - model "The Gernsy" This is 4 pc butt, middle and two tops, length 11 ft. It came with a wooden form that housed all four sections. Condition was really grotty but the cane itself seems to be in excelent condition. Does anyone over there in UK have any information on this Alcocks rod? I should really appreciate some history of this model. Tony Stevens

Here in NZ the biggest fear is a giant eel. For us this means in excess of 20 lbs. The bite can be as delicate as a crucian carp or the violent pullround from a specimen barbel; the end result is total chaos, any normal fish is bad enough in the dark but a big eel is unbelivably bad. Nightmares are made from encounters such as this.

This season down under having just returned to fly fishing after a few years off bought 2 Ron Thompson rods and here is what I think of them. HYPERSPEED 3pc 10 ft 7/8 wt A great rod for large water be it lake or river, best with a 7 wt DT wet or dry This rod handled some awsome fish with great ease up to 12 lb. browns, rainbows small salmon. The only adverse comment is that I found it difficult casting into a stiff wind on High Country Lakes SPEEDFORCE 3 pc 9 ft 6/7 wt Prefered lines 6 wt floating DT & 6 wt WF Fast sinking Without a doubt the best rod that I have ever owned, I can land a dry on a dime at 30 yds in still conditions, swing a team of wets down and accross or fish pocket water with a team of Czech nymphs with this rod. It outperforms rods costing many hundreds of dollars from some very prestigious names. It's easy action, light weight make it my prefered choice whilst traveling through the South Island. This rod just has to be the best designed rod for many a year and has given me a whole new joy in the sport. Well done Svendsen Sports with this Ron Thompson rod.

I am in New Zealand and fish predomonately freestone rivers and spring creeks backpacking into many high country areas. Until now I have used a Shakesphere Traveler 6 pc 9 wt but this Christmas was given a 3 piece Ron Thompson Speed Force 6/7 wt 9ft . What a rod! this little beauty beats Sage and Loomis hands down for Czech nymphing and fishing fast rough water, at less than NZ$100 a real snip. I am so impressed that I have ordered a 10ft 6in rod for light salmon and sea trout in our big Canterbury rivers with 60 to 80 cumeck flows and just can't wait for it to arrive to try it out PS the Ron Thompson handles 6 to 8 lb browns and rainbows with ease and is a joy to fish with for an 8 hr. day!

I must have been mad; it was minus 5 deg C and here I am down on the local river trying for a perch when down the stream came an eel writhing on the surface. There was a small splash and what I thought was a rat chugged across, grabbed the eel in passing and continued to the far bank. On land the stoat as that is what it turned out to be paused and gave me a look that said, "There, that's how its done mate" It then dissapeared amongst the tussocks and willows.

As an expat now living in NZ where there are realy humongus eels I would suggest deep eddies on a very large river on a dull humid day with a steady barometric pressure. Try dead baits of about 1/2 lb or so on a 50 lb. braid hook link on 15/20 lb line. Best method is freelining in the margins close to weed beds with a bite alarm to give warning of a run. Use single hooks and have a really good disgorger to remove hooks as eels have incredibly powerful jaws. Ground bait with liquidised tinned fish based cat food. Lastly the rod needs to be tough, I use a 3 1/2lb TC. My best is a wee one of a mere 17 1/2 lb so far, my target is 40 lb. plus

Here in New Zealand we have been following the Jameses saga with their suspension from the renowned ACA with great interest. Surely the fact that Bob James is a world famous personality and that if his name is attatched to any appeal, information or press release has immediate responce has been overlooked by the ACA committee. By their actions in the suspension they have lost a great deal of good will and support from those of us not in the UK.(possibly of those in the UK also) Just what finantial value should be placed on the services of a celebrity is not for us to say but I would suggest that the looser in this case is without doubt the ACA. It is whowever gratifying to learn that the Jameses are not involved in any illegal or unethical charges. All that remains is to wish the Jameses and the ACA a more positive and successful future. Tony Stevens (ed Keeping Afloat)

Angling in one form or another is a world wide obsession. All participants will disagree on most aspects according to their particular quarry but the biggest division is to kill or return your catch. Being "A" British in origin but Scots by birth, "B" a game , coarse and sea angler see and hear many sides to this knotty problem. My personal preference is to return all fish with little but preferably no harm. I use mostly barbed hooks as baits dont crawl off but use the best disgorger to remove them. I hate seeing fish dumped on the ground having had the hook ripped out of their mouth and left to die and rot (ie sea anglers and small dogfish) If fish are to be kept for food I have no problem but do not understand mistreatment, after all it is destined for your table. The best way of dispatch that I know is the Japanese Iki spike used for Tuna that is to be used fresh and raw (very expensive and very nice) If we as anglers do not treat our catch with care and compassion all that we do is load the heavy guns of the loony lefties of animal rights and anti huntin, shootin an fishin groups. I think it pays to care!!

TO: johnclark, Please dont envy us here, blank days are common. We do have fish that are completely wild and exceedingly hard to catch - a red letter day is 3 perch for a 6 hour session and water that has never seen a balif or keeper. At present half the river is unfishable due to bank to bank weed. If you come to NZ go to Lake Karapiro just south of Huntley on the North Island and stop at the campground at the bottom of the lake. I had a week there and had bags of rudd to 120 lb., I broke my personal best 3 times in one day ( It now stands at 3lb. 12 oz. ) from the bank. This is the best ever . On the south Island we have nothing remotely like it. I remember with great fondness the pits round Colny Heath in Hertfordshire. As a kid I never had a blank day summer or winter; most were under the control of the DeHaviland Aircraft Co Club as I remember

Gives a whole new meaning to the trade name "Luron" see yr copy of Mr Crabtree Goes Fishing rear page ad. Psychedelic crap; mind you it would complement the guy/girl in the pink tutu fishing the next peg!!!

what a bugger!! I hear that they are out of business on the grapevine. Tried a month or so to access them on the net and it would apear that their site is now porn. definately fishy !!!