Chris Plumb

So far I've got 15 yes's and 3 maybe's. So I won't be needing to advertise it more widely. (Which should save me from a bit of flack!). 20 will be the absolute max though I personally think this is too many for the amount of water - unless we peg down which I've no intention of doing! So if we end up with say 16 it will come in at £12.50 a head. If you want to top this up with a charity donation I'll be collecting again for Cancer Research UK. Like last year I'll also be appplying for a top up from a Charitable Trust at work - which will at least match fund it and probably double it. (Last year we raised £120 quid (from just 10 anglers) on the day and the Trust donated a further £240) More details/directions/etc. nearer the time... Let's hope it's not as windy as last year. Chris

Gray - this link is for you (Which MAY help explain why I've splashed out...) Witcher Review Chris

Chris

Who can tell me what waters the club controls? (Particularly Rivers). Any restrictions on membership - eg Do you have to live within a certain distance of the City? Do they have any Day Ticket waters? Any info much appreciated... Chris

Geoff Maynard got a stroppy letter about this last week has he had an old link pointing to a company (now bust) which used to make them... It appears to have started Here Chris

quote: Originally posted by Davy Holt: he acctualy didn't.. the Vikings found America before Columbus[/QB] Exactly - and the Spanish were catching cod off the Grand Banks way before Columbus's voyage - I find it pretty inconceivable that they wouldn't have known of a land mass to the west of them.... Chris

No apology needed Den - probably more your era. Chris

Thanks Newt - Great Links As for Columbus - he didn't discover America - he was trying to avoid it!!! - Discuss Chris

Gottme!! Chris

Ummm, Very VERY NICE...(Thanks for the pics Glenn) Chris (Looking forward to the day when he has a Witcher in his hand!! )

This is how Wallis himself describe's the Nottingham Cast. Taken from the 1930's book 'Fine Angling for Coarse Fish'. “...the rod, has the reel fixed 10in. in from the butt and is firmly held in the right hand by the first three fingers and thumb, leaving the little finger free to act as a very delicate brake or check on the top rim of the reel. The tackle is held by the fingers of the left hand, the thumb being looped over the line from the reel. The rod is now brought forward and nearly horizontal and parallel with the left shoulder, the little finger of the right hand holds the reel in check; the rod is now brought forward with a firm but easy sweep, and at the same time the line is pulled off the reel backwards to the full extent of the left arm. The momentum contributed by the swing of the rod propels the float forward quicker than the eye can follow, the little finger of the right hand has released the drum of reel and at the psychological moment the line running over the thumb of left hand is brought forward, down goes the little finger on the reel as the cast is completed and the float alights on the water 100ft away. Of course timing of this cast must be as accurate as that of a six-cylinder engine in a motor-car, but once mastered is simplicity itself. The best methods for the learner to adopt being to follow the above suggestions and get just a few yards away to begin with, then to add an extra yard or two every time until the full distance is attained.” So that's all clear then!! Chris

No!! The Nottingham Cast (or more accurately the Nottingham Style) is the cast that Wallis described in print in the 1930's and which now takes his name. Thus the Nottingham cast and the Wallis cast are one and the same.... Chris

Though JW does add to the confusion by calling this a Wallis cast - see he don't know everything.... Chris

Thanks for that link Woods - a cracking read! Chris

Well you can still get the 1995 edition from Medlar press for 48 quid. 1st editions can now go for silly money £100 - £250 depending on quality and provenance. As this is paperback I'm guessing we're not in that league though I have seen softbacks advertised at £65 - £80. HTH Chris

Yup - well done Glenn. I liked it a lot. Though might be too big a file for many to download. Any chance of a shorter version - say around 3 minutes - with just the reel explained and the cast demo'ed? Chris

Don't believe all the conspiracy theories - Bad Astronomy Chris

The ZHR could be an impressive 1200... More on 2002 Leonids Chris

A reminder to sky watchers out there that any early birds out an about on Tuesday morning (19th Nov)have a good chance of catching sight of a Meteor. (As long as we get a clear night which isn't likely ) This year's annual Leonid meteor shower is predicted to have 2 peaks. One at around 0400 GMT and one at 1030 GMT (Which obviously you won't see cause it'll be daylight over Europe). More info Leonids Chris

Well the weather's been very benign down here! I'm just back from a pleasant day's grayling fishing. 32 fish plus a dozen nice roach from a surprisingly uncoloured river. No monster's, though 4 of the grayling were over a pound by an ounce or two and 5 more just under by the same margin... Best part of the day was helping a young lad catch his first grayling. He turned up with carp rod 12lb line and a waggler outfit and struggled in the fast water to keep his float from sinking. Anyway he saw me with my match rod a centre-pin and came over to have a look. He asked some intelligent questions and seemed genuinely thrilled when I caught a couple of 12oz fish. It transpires this is his first visit to the river having been brought up on the local carp puddles. So I gave him a stick float and a packet of barbless 16's hook to nylons (He was using about 6 maggots on a size 6 ). I showed him how it was important to hold the float back against the current and put him into my swim. 10 minutes later and he's had not one but two grayling. Which make both of us ridiculously happy I leave him to it with the words "Corr, Thanks, Mister" ringing in my ears. Chris

Welcome back Chris - you have a Private Message Chris

Welcome to AN. Confucious say "I man who doesn't ask a question is stupid for his entire life. I man who ask's a question is stupid for 5 minutes" - or in your case until a pole angler (of which I'm not one !!) sees your posting!! So ask away and enjoy your stay! Chris

What many folks now don't realise is that The Freshwater Fisheries Act, 1878 was introduced as a Private Members Bill by one Anthony James Mundella. Mundella was mainly responding to pressure from the coarse angling community for such a break - particularly northern anglers including his constituents in Sheffield. (At the time Sheffield boasted of 211 angling clubs!). Having failed in 1874 he was succesful 4 years later. Yes, the close season was introduced at the behest of anglers of the time. Many arguments against the close season appear to be not about the need for it but the timing of it!! Yes, it's a bit late for say Dace and probably too early for say Tench. So yes the timing's not perect but this ISN'T an argument for not having one surely! Peter spoke of pike - in fact spawning is very stressful for most fish and spring time sees many not survive the experience and this without man's interference. In short all the arguments in favour of abolishing appear to be economic ones; those in favour of keeping it conservation ones. I know which side of the fence I'm on. I've yet to meet a TRUE river angler who is not in favour of the close season - unfortunately we make up the minority of anglers (as recent EA figures showed). In fact I doubt if the majority of ALL anglers are in favour. One of the clubs I belong to had a free vote on the issue the season before last. 70% of the membership voted (A high turnout I'm sure you'll agree) - only 20% were in favour of opening up the club's still waters all year round. Hooray for them & one VERY good reason why I will continue to pay my subs! These are the sort of anglers I want to rub shoulders with! I'd like to finish with a quick quote from the late, great Peter Stone writing in Waterlog 3 years ago... "On stillwaters it is too late. Where the rivers are concerned my message is this: PLEASE (his emphasis) do not bow to the pressure from greedy anglers. Long may the fish enjoy their annual love-in undisturbed; long may anglers walk through fresh grass and sit behind lush vegetation. Your job is to protect the environment; do not fail in your duty." It's very sad that we seem to been having this argument ever since. Alas, there are now plenty of stillwaters open all year round so if you want to fish between March and June - seek these out BUT LEAVE OUR RIVERS ALONE! Chris [ 15. November 2002, 08:50 PM: Message edited by: Chris Plumb ]

I NEVER sleep the night before - I'm sitting on the bank waiting for midnight!!! Chris

Or use a bait dropper - I went to a talk given by Stefan Horak last close season and this was pretty much what he recommended as well - often feeding in maggot for up to 6 hours before baiting a hook! Fine if you've got a lot of time - many of my sessions only last 6 hours in total! Chris