BoozleBear

Looking at the first pic it looks like they were using lures!

I wasn't really knocking the EA, just putting things into perspective (with a get-out clause for being tired and grumpy!). I might of been having a bit of fun but my question in my previous post about species and balance was a serious one. Why no stocking of preds? And (for example) isn't stocking thousands of Bream into a river upsetting the balance of nature as much as removing loads of pike would be? And I am not saying this as a predator fisherman who only cares about preds, I am saying this as a fisherman who cares about all fish and fishing. Simon

Let's say there are 3 million anglers in the UK (my guess), that's 0.13 fish per angler they have stocked! Sorry but that's the glib unenthusiastic me that rears his head when he's been working all day and is a bit tired and grumpy. I also see no Perch, Pike or Zander have been stocked. Am I niave and missing something obvious here? Is it that they won't stock preds as they are worried about the balance? Surely pouring 13,000 Bream in to a river is upsetting the balance just as much as removing some pike would be? Again, I might be being a bit naive or missing something here, hence my questions. Simon

Indeed. Feels like Christmas! Gonna give it a try on Sunday I hop.

Yep, that's the one Shaun. Mine's 20-50g casting weight.

They won't ban them, they'll tax them. Another nice little green earner for GB.

I reckon there's an smidgeon of pleased-ness about his face in that photo!!!! Nice on mate, I'd be grinning like that too if I'd got one like that.

I bought a Cortland CXS100 10ft Spinning Rod on ebay. It's 3 piece, cork handle, British Racing Green in colour and looks lovely. Not sure when I'll christen her but hopefully soon. I believe Corland are a well known brand in the US. I got the rod for £43. I was just wondering if any of you knew much about them and if you thought that I got it for a good price. It was adevrtised as a Salmon rod but don't see why it won't be good for old Esox. Cheers, Simon

Phew! It's hard to tell nowadays! Interestingly enough, there's nowhere in the article that says they think kids did it.... Cheers, Simon

No problem at all Steve. In fact that's good, as means I'll be lugging less kit around! Cheers, Simon

I'd agree. I have one, don't use it so much now as fish with a more roaming approach, but these boxes are strong, reliable, and very good value, and for something quite flat, not at all uncomfortable. Simon

Can I just check this is not directed at me? If it isn't, sorry for posting this, it's just that it followed my post and it seemed like it was. If it was, please re-read my post and realise I am not sympathising with the kids and nobody else is. And thanks for the post anyway - saves any of us having to buy a copy of the Daily Mail today!

Steve, at the fish in is it possible to fish for Pike and Perch in the Carp lake in the day and then have boilies on alarms out in the evening? Thanks, Simon

I hope you don't think for a second that I think it's ok people are doing this king of thing. I don't, I find it totally abhorent. I mentioned the fences and lack of CCTV just to make the point that it makes it an easier target for idiots like this. Because I didn't mention thoughts on tougher punishments doesn't mean I don't agree with them, I was simply saying why it was probably targeted. A fishery shouldn't have to have such things, but it may be necessary to keep scum like that out. That's a sad reflection on today's society and kids behaviour in general. I remember hearing something on the radio where a quote was read, written by a prime minister or head of state of some sort (I forget the title) where he said something along the lines of : "the teenagers and young people of this country have lost their respect for authority and most things that surround them. They congregate in unruly groups and act with threatening and antisocial behaviour." Sounds familiar. The quote was from the 1800's !!! I am not saying oh well kids will be kids, I'm just saying that it's always been a problem and probably always will, and with our prisons as full as they are and with the amount of paperwork the police need to tie up the smallest of arrests, means that these little sods can get away with it. Incidentally, whatever year it is over the centuries, the average time people quote for when the good-old-days-were is always 50 years previous. God knows how they worked it out, but I thought it was interesting. Don't think for a second that I am blaming the fishery or just saying ah its what kids do. Nowhere in my previous post did I say that but when its on passionate subjects people can take extra meaning out of stuff, so I thought I would clarify that. Simon

My guess would be one of 2 things... 1. They know a kid (or kids) who fish there, don't like them / have a bone to pick with them and have done it to get at them. 2. It doesn't matter to them it's a fishery. It's a place, by the sound of it, with no CCTV and weak fencing which is an easy target for bored kids who can think of nothing better to do than go trashing things. Unfortunately I think no.2 is the most likely. Simon

Cheers you lot, I am going to get some normal ones rather than digital. It seems I'd have to spend quite a bit more to get digital one's I'd be confident were any good. Plus I just got a good price on ebay for some scales with a weighing slip chucked in for good measure! Cheers for the advice. Simon

I think it depends. If you don't get to go fishing often you can end up building up a little bit too much towards the next trip and, if you are like me, then getting too excited! And a blank day at the end of that can get a bit much. That's why I always go with a mate or my son. There have been many times when I have blanked but my mate hasn't and that's been fine. It's nice to see a fish on the bank. And when I fish with my lad it's fine if I blank as it's great seeing the look on his face when he catches. But all in all I'd much rather than go for a days fishing and risking blanking than do pretty much anything else (within reason!!!). Simon

I need some new scales as the last set I had broke, and I then got some digital ones which told complete lies - 3lb fish were 1lb etc. Checked fully at home with many objects and compared to what our kitchen scales said it was always about a third of what it should read. That being my only experience with digital scales doesn't make me too keen. Having said, looking on ebay and a few other places it seems digital scales are cheaper, and I like the fact that they take up a fair bit less space. So over to you lot to drench me in unbiased advice, opinion and wisdom in all things scales. Cheers, Simon

I'd say do it, definitely. You can buy a rod license online so you could be fishing legally by 10 mins time if you wanted. I'd suggest you find out where your local tackle shop is and ask the owner what water there are around, which are fishing well at the time and with what baits etc. Do keep visiting here though and ask some more questions, if you get specific about location, bait, or species, there are a lot of people with a lot of opinions and suggestions on here. It certainly helped me out when I was starting up and still I pick up interesting tips nowadays, as I'm far from an expert. Cheers, Simon

I agree - never had issues with a spratt being deep hooked. 7 years piking under my belt. Simon

I wouldn't say it's the same. If I get in my car and drive 10 miles there's a possibility I might run over a hedgehog. Doesn't put me in the same camp as somebody running over a hedehog on purpose. (I would like also to point out I am just stating my opinion on Joe's comparison, and not comparing those who livebait to people who would intentionally run over hedgehogs.) (There you go Anderoo, my dodgy analogy contribution to throw into the festering pool! )

Going back to Newt's comment about post 51. I think he's right. I've seen it before when somebody puts on an inflamotry post and leaves everybody to it to get angry with them, and argue amongst ourselves. They'll pop back every day or so and post, just to pick the pace back up and have a bit more of a stir. I hope I am wrong but... Do you lot remember the livebaiting with a mouse fella? Same thing, same pattern. And there have been others. Perhaps we should all stay quiet and it'll just die down and go away just like all the previous annual-irate-debate-on-livebait. Cheers, Simon

...or buy a Bob Nudd DVD!

My two pence-worth. Some people go with livebaiting, some people don't. I for instance don't livebait, but that's more out of squeemishness than anything else. I agree totally that if you put a hook through any living creature, maggott, worm, slug, roach, it amounts to the same thing. I agree also with the origin-of-deadbait comment is a worthwhile one. I may be seen as a hypocrite, but like I said I don't disagree with livebaiting, but would rather not do it myself given the choice. The problem with this issue is people are (rightly) passionate about it. However, TT, if you title a thread with something that is going to upset people and put their backs up, you're going to be lucky to generate a decent debate. Calling something people enjoy doing and believe in 'barbaric' is not going to do anything but start you off on the wrong foot. This seems to have settled into a decent debate now, which is lucky. I think a few posters managed to chuck a bit of water on the fire, which was handy! Cheers, Simon

Great little film. I could have watched an hour of it.