fenboy

I've just gone back to my last order from Cabela's and can tell you that the shads I rate best are in fact called STORM SALTWATER SUSPENDING WILD EYE SWIM BAITS. (I'm not shouting, I've just copied and pasted from the emailed confirmation and I can't be bothered to rewrite it in upper and lower case). But I do agree that the majority of unrigged shads are all much the same and certain companies do charge premium prices for the same stuff you can buy cheaper elsewhere.

I don't think all shads are made in China (unless I'm being a bit naive). My current favourites are Storm's (I think they're called Swimming Shads). They come rigged, with a belly treble and a big single. They suspend. And although I haven't got any packaging to check, I'm pretty sure they're made in the USA. They're brilliant, by the way. During the autumn they were outperforming everything else I tried.

Personally, I find Harris Angling hasn't got the stuff that interests me any more, since the tie-up with Sportsmail. Shame, I've used them for many years.

I was in Skeggy last week to meet some folk for a magazine feature. It was perishing. Absolutely no sign of spring there. My 87-year-old father, who happens to live in Norfolk, says his garden has been invaded by flocks of redwings and fieldfares, which he says is a sure sign that we are in for big blizzards. Early to mid February, he reckons. Mind you, Dad predicts a hard winter ("like the ones we used to get") every year without fail. Seriously, I agree that it's very mild. Shirtsleeves weather in my back yard this afternoon. Hope it lasts.

I got my circle hooks from a US website, www.staminainc.com, which specialises in lure-making components. Excellent value, reasonable shipping and very prompt.

"Gudgeon have no place in the River Endrick and IMHO any angler catching one whilst fishing there should not return them" Crikey. Gobio slaughter in the Highlands, eh? How very noble. It could even be a movie: how about casting Mel Gibson to lead the local clans on a determined campaign to rid the Endrick of the English invaders? I'm sure it will make a lot of difference. But what would make more difference to sport on the Endrick and every other salmon river in Scotland - and I assume it's salmon the locals are concerned about? - would be to stop catching and killing them, whether by net or rod and line, as they ascend the rivers to spawn. The Earth's flora and fauna can't be preserved in a timewarp. Even if Man wasn't on the scene, populations of other creatures would wax and wane, expand and contract. But I guess that for those obsessed enough to see the humble gudgeon as a threat of some sort, then some form of cull would provide a relatively harmless way for the tribes to indulge in some blood-letting. And I'm equally sure that there will be a certain comedy value for those better able to get things into perspective.

Peter, thanks for sharing your wisdom on circle hooks. I can see what you mean about letting the hook hang loose - by it's very nature it's not going to get hung up too often, is it? Do you think big circle hooks would work on plugs, as a replacement for trebles?

I've got a feeling anything I write will be an anticlimax following Lee's Drainland Adventure (part 1). Can't wait until tomorrow. But what I will say is this: Fen drains look featureless and, quite often, are pretty featureless. But predators swim up and down a bit, so even if you make an inept choice, the odds are you'll catch a few if they're on the feed and hunting. But location isn't that difficult. On a shallow drain, a stretch a bit deeper is usually a killer. On a drain with few marginal reeds, a bed of Norfolk reed will hold fish. Bridge swims can be good in winter when roach pack there. Anywhere near a bream shoal (usually a long way from bridges) will be a banker. Snags are obviously good. So are pylons. This is because dredgers can't operate beneath them so there's usually extensive beds of swan and zebra mussels. One reason today's predator anglers hate drains is because they want to sit it out with all the gear, all the rods. And their results will usually be inferior to those who adopt a mobile approach. If you want to get to know a drain, fish it in late summer/early autumn with lures. Arrive early in the morning (so you can see where the fish are topping) and fish through to dusk, so you can do the same. In between you'll cover a lot of water and learn where the weedbeds/lilypads are. The remains of extensive weedbeds, especially lilies can be great holding areas in winter. And look for other subtle changes. True bulrushes usually mean a gravel bottom. That's pretty unusual on most drains. The areas where side drains enter always hold prey fish and, therefore, predators. Similarly pumping stations and junction swims where drains converge. If you do have a summer/autumn recce, take a break in the middle of the day and take refreshments at the local pub. Getting talking to the locals, because even non-anglers have an opinion on pike. And after you've sifted through the bullsh@t, you'll get a few ideas. It's not difficult. If it was, I'd never have caught anything.

Newt, I've decided to stick around and try to be nicer. Worth a shot.

Newt, Christmas trees, eh. What a brilliant way of recyling. I love it.

When you see what has happened in Germany thanks to the politically-correct, right-on, folk calling the shots, perhaps you can understand why I'm so pessimistic about angling eventually getting banned here (or so bogged down in idealogical nonsense that it's not worth the bother)? We will lose fishing as we know it through stealth... the gradual erosion of our way of doing things. The "good" news is that we won't be alone. This Government will interfere in every aspect of our lives until it becomes illegal for anyone to do other than what is decreed acceptable by a certain in-crowd that resides within a fairly tight radius of Islington, North London. Whoops! To think I'd pledged not to get controversial again. That's another NY Resolution busted! Sorry...

Andy, that's brilliant. It's nearly 2am so I can't digest it all now, but I will tomorrow. Thank you. On the subject of winter shoaling, I think that tight shoals are often caused not through the prey fish sticking together as a defence mechanism, but because the pike have hemmed them in to a tight area and they have no choice. Picture if you will a tight circle of Wild West wagon train folk surrounded by Red Indians. That's the scene.

Peter, Do you let the circle hook hang loose, or do you nick the point lightly into the shad to make it virtually snagless? Also, have you considered threading the trace to where an adipose fin would be (in a member of the salmon family) and putting a little weight into the belly of the shad to compensate and keep it on an even keel, as it were? I ask that because, again, it would stop the hook from fouling. I understand that you don't strike takes on circle hooks, but simply wind in (I've read that). Does that still apply? If so, how long after a take (or pluck) before you start winding? I want to try your method, but I'm still trying to get to grips with the physics of it all. I have several (unused) circle hooks in front of me as I write this and they SHOULDN'T work (I know they do, but they go against all the instincts!!). I'm desperate to attain the confidence required to actually fish them. I do hope you'll share your expertise, Peter, because I'm sure I'm missing out here.

The best long-term "groundbait" for predators is a snag. Make of that what you will, because I'm guessing this form of "baiting" is probably illegal. But it works. Just be environmentally friendly and don't introduce anything hazardous (old cars, and their compenents, contain nasty liquids. Old metal milk crates and car tyres used to be good... and are soon colonised by molluscs. In fact it can be (morally) argued that such actions are good for the underwater environment, at least in otherwise featurless (dredged) fisheries. Best of all, though, is that if you create your personal snag only YOU know where it is (apart from those who get stuck in it, of course). Perhaps I've said too much.

Yes.

I wasn't going to get controversial, but: Ruffe livebaits have worked for me. I used one as a last resort about 1979 and immediately had a double-figure pike. Of course pike anglers introduced ruffe to Lomond. In the 1970s and early 80s when a blind eye was turned to fish introductions, all sorts of stuff went in there. I personally used crucian carp and tench livebaits there in 1983... and I've seen chub and small common carp used, too. It was pike anglers that (accidentally) introduced roach to Ireland, much earlier than that. But barbel? I just can't see it. Too difficult to transport as bait. ANd rather difficult to catch them small enough. By the way, and changing the subject slightly, haven't ruffe become a bit of a problem in the US Great Lakes after being inadvertently shipped over in the bilges of cargo ships? Perhaps Newt can fill us in on that?

What sort of collection is that? Nothing there by John Bailey.

Dogfish, I'm intrigued by the camo. Does the blacked-out face help spooking the fish when you're piking on the very shallow reaches of the Old Beford / Delph?

Haven't gone away, just keeping my head down. I'm aware that I've upset a few people on the forum with my outspoken views... and it's a situation I don't like, for a couple of reasons: 1. I don't think squabbling on a public forum does any good for the image of angling. In other words, I'm probably guilty of doing a disservice to the sport I love - and that would be rather hypocritical, wouldn't it? 2. I don't like upsetting people (ie I usually regret it afterwards). But when I get wound up I can't help myself. In the blood, I guess, because I'm very capable of doing it face to face and not just on forums. Sorry about that. So, I reckon it's best I cool down a bit and enjoy the nice banter between you reasoanble folk, while keeping my own strongly-held views to myself. I haven't gone away, I'm just keeping quiet.

Mr Matthew... It's late, I've had a few drinks (getting some in before Mr Blair bans it). Am I misunderstanding you or are you saying that the Americans sort of "deserved" 9/11. I do hope you're not. I do, however, agree with your opinion on the distastefully biased slant on UK news coverage of the Indian Ocean Disaster - ie a handful of Brits dead dominates even though 25,000 (min) people have lost their lives. Which brings me round neatly to saying: whether you're a Brit, a Yank, a Malay, an Indian, a Sri Lankan, an Indonesian... dying is every bit as unwelcome. So let's not make nasty comments about 9/11, eh?

Mr Matthew, you say: I do think there is an element of class war in banning hunting but personally I think its nice to see the glove on the other hand - usually its the establishment trying to ban or regulate something the general population enjoy...... So, why's it nice to see "the glove on the other hand"? Spite? Getting one over on the other side? That's hardly the basis for law-making, I'd suggest... Get real. This Government is systematically banning things other people enjoy. Angling won't be next, but it will be on the agenda within my lifetime. Don't gloat over "toffs" or "the establishment" getting their comeupance from "working class heroes". Blair went to public school. He's a barrister, so's his missus. They're not of common stock. Look at the bigger picture. New Labour are control freaks who want everybody to conform to their very narrow, very urban, point of view. ANgling simply doesn't fit in. Get real.

Andy, you are herby arrested by the PC police. They are not dwarfs, they are vertically challenged.

And another thing... The whole hunting issue is flawed by townie emotion, where the welfare of the creature(s) concerned gets mixed up with hatred for the participants. What's worse for the fox? Getting hunted by hounds or gassed as a pest? Not a lot of difference, I'd wager. In fact if the fox had the wit to decide for itself, I'd wager it would opt for the hounds and the chance of outwitting them. And so to the fishing. In Germany apparently it's wrong to catch and return fish but okay to catch and kill them. To the eyes of the PC, the former is done for enjoyment, therefore it's wrong. Has anybody bothered to ask the fish? "Tell me, Mr Fish. What would you prefer - (A) to be hooked, landed and returned or ( hooked, landed and smashed on the head? "Did you say B? Are you sure?" You see, these anti-country laws have less to do with animal welfare than class warfare. You mustn't be seen to be enjoying yourself under the new Dictat. But you ain't seen nothing yet. New Labour have yet to make their impact.

John, I've always been told to avoid arguing about politics and religion. It's advice I have ignored. So, if you don't mind, I'll stray to religion... As a priest, I assume you have signed up to the human ascendancy bit that I believe is a basic building block of Christianity? Many years ago, when I used to date a girl whose parents lived in the grounds of Belvoir Castle, I got to know the local parson, a family friend, who was a keen hunter. And he was supremely at peace with himself because he reckoned the Bible said it was okay. (as an aside, he was also an immensely likeable and unpretentious man who enjoyed a pint of real ale and a glass of port, took a geat interest in fishing and the countryside and had a hearty sense of humour. ). So, my question John is this: has that "human ascendancy" bit been wiped from The Book? And if not, why are you asking us rather than advising us? I thought the latter was part of the job description?

You took the words right out of my mouth, Peter.