Uncle Fester

You probably stunned it while it was waking up, female blackbirds stun easily. Beautiful plumage!

So where are all the Michael Jackson jokes??? Unc F

I think it comes with maturity, with no offence to anyone. The ability to appreciate the whole package of a fishing session, flora and fauna etc and not just fish in the net. If it had just been for the fish, I would have given up years ago. To see a Kingfisher flash past, a Robin stealing your maggots, a Grass Snake swimming across the pond, a Barn Owl quartering the field opposite,even the overpowering aroma of those late summer Poor Man's Orchids, no phone ringing, no stress... who cares if you catch or not? Yours looking forward to my next trip, Unc F

I think most of us realise the vital job that Pike do for maintaining the purity of fish stocks. So Pike aside, by my reckoning that makes approximately: Eels No1 enemy Bream No2 enemy and Carp no3 enemy. (or maybe Bream and Carp equal 2nd) Lets see how the polls go after a days fishing on the 16th. Unc F

The poor old carp get a lot of bad press. It's not their fault that they have changed the face of modern angling. Another case of the minority spoiling things for the majority. Can't be doing with eels though. Unc F P.S. why don't eels have names too? (or are they all Eric?)

Hi UK, I have an R/O unit at work which feeds a machine, and I store it into an open cistern, which is why I'm reluctant to draw it from there in case of chemical contamination from the environment I work in. However, now I have bought a drum of hopefully known cleanliness, I can refill it straight from the R/O unit for future changes. No more deaths so far, and the remaining barbs looking slightly happier following the Myxazin doses. Thanks for all your help. Unc F

Right then, been into my local Maidenhead Aquatics, and have bought a test kit conering Amonia, Nitrite, Nitrate and pH. Amonia and Nitrite check out very low, so filtation is efficient, Nitrate checks out at around 75ppm which as a previous marine keeper is higher than I would want, but acceptable for the barbs. pH is about 8.0 which is what I would expected given our location. OK, the remedial action: Have bought r/o water and will do partial changes every few days for the next week or so (with the addition of the minerals). Have bought Myxazin, and will dose every day with that for the next few days, and we will see how it goes. Also will gradually drop the temerature down to around 75o F. Unc F

Thanks UK. I suspect the real problem is with some form of gill infestation. I will take advice from the local Aq shop, but I was thinking a doce of Myxazin might well be going the right way. Also a check on Nitrates would be sensible. I already have the additives to go with the R/O water, so a partial change with that would be good too. I wonder if the Aquasafe neutralises Chloramine? And of course, if it does, what is the by-product? Have lost all the other barbs now except the Rubys, and the Plec, and the Cory seems oblivious to it all, and happy as Larry. Need to get them breathing properly before I can do anything else. Thanks for all your help, I'll keep ya posted. Unc F

Perhaps the fishery had more recently gone barbless due to the mentioned damage to fishes mouths. One of the waters I fish is barbless only, and its a pleasure to unhook the fish. More often than not the hook is already stuck in the net and the fish is unhooked by the time you pick it up. Easy peasy. So less damaging for the fish. Unc F

Chesters, born in India, but never (I think) wore a turban. Unc F

Puckoon by Spike Milligan for the second time around. I've read all his war memoirs, and not sure what to move onto next. Unc F

Hi Uk, I'm in Thames Valley, hardest water in the World. I must admit I haven't tested either tap water or tank water for Nitrate, must be the next step. I do have at my disposal some reverse osmosis water from work, but I'm reluctant to use it in case its got more poluted than the tap water. Don't have an air pump, but the water is circulated by 2 internal filters, and one external filter, which is now quite a lot for the size of tank.

Yes, I had some in the late 80s early 90s on a particular water which I still fish now and again. I was convinced at the time that pike were the culprits, although there genuinely doesn't appear to be any in the lake. A strong run, then strike into nothing, all tackle intact except the hook is gone. Happened enough times to get me really curious, but wasn't really sure what they were until I read this thread. All my more recent fishing (and very occasional at that) on that lake has been on the float. Managed a common of around 7lb on an 18 hook with a single grain of sweetcorn last night. First carp for a good few years. Well chuffed! Unc F

My E.A. newsletter this year talks about the Thames fishing well as far down as Tower Bridge, also listed the free fishing strethches below Teddington as well as above but doesn't mention anyhting around where you are talking about.

Managed it, piece of cake. Right button, then click on the finish spot. Works every time. (except it doesn't seem to register for some unknown reason!!!) Unc F

Thanks NetFull, will reply in my "alter ego" as I'm at home for a change. Wasn't aware that barbs suffered from low oxygen levels, although it certainly fits the symptoms. But with three filters pushing the water around, and now a low stocking ratio (a cherry barb has now gone also leaving 5 ruby barbs, 2 small golden barbs or Shuberti as I remember them, the plec and the cory),it's hard to imagine as the water is 2/3 new anyway. I guess the water is about 80oF by the thermometer, a little on the warm side, and allowing the fact that the thermometer might be pants, the water doesn't "feel" warmer than the thermometer suggests. They are all gulping fast, but they are not on the surface as lack of oxygen would suggest. The missus wanted me to put in new sand, and new plants, but I think what I did was less harmful than her suggestion. It was clear that urgent action was needed, and there was no way to get the water quality back from dead without some harsh action and risk. But I just can't understand the rapid breathing, the rest I can put down to the conditions. Perhaps I'll try cooling them gradually down to 75oF, but with the weather now on full blast, it might not stay there anyway. Thanks for your reply, Uncle Fester Bikenut

Snatcher, Will do. Unc F

My grand daughter has got what I think is a 3/4 size, she's only 7 and cant play but strums open strings while reciting nursery rhymes. I tuned it for her, and it plays really well, with good tone and plenty of volume for a nylon strung. The 1/2 and 3/4 size refer literally to the size compared to a full size acoustic guitar. Jumbo is larger, the others smaller which I think also applies to the length of the neck. (and the space between the frets which is roughly what is refered to as the scale which you might have to consider when buying new strings). Nylon strings will certainly be kinder to your fingers when you start out playing, steel strings will hurt. Don't be tempted to put steel strings on an acoustic guitar as they aren't made to take the tension and the neck will most likely bend and you will be forever trying to get it in tune. As you've played instruments before, you should know how music works and shouldnt have too much trouble getting a tune out of it. Nothing much compares to getting your first tune out of a guitar. The good old 12 bar sequence is a good place to start, although orignially a blues format, an awful lot of rock and pop songs are still constructed from it. Beatles, Stones, and I'm sure Oasis have all used it. Status Quo might even have used it once or twice (read 1000 or 2000 times). You can buy song books from music shops that give you the chord shapes and lyrics if you can't find what you want on the web. Enjoy, Unc F

I love Wales (no jokes about large waterborne mammals and eating a whole one please). Been there 3 times last month and gotta keep going back. Best motorcycling roads south of Hadrians Wall, best camping, probably the best fishing but to be honest I don't tend to catch fish wherever I go(although I nearly got my first ever limit at Crafnant). Best radioactivity, best rain, what more could you want. I think its the most beautiful place I have seen. I have never met any but nice Welsh people. I want my ashes flushed down the toilet in Snowdonia. Spent last week on hols near Newcastle Emlyn in the middle of nowhere with the view of the hills toward Carmarthen, bliss. Now back to the daily grind in the Thames Valley, can't wait to get back. Unc F

Would that be Malcolm's brother then? Uncle Fester X

Bought mine online for the last couple of years without a problem until this year. They were unable to send confirmation emails, although they gave me the numbers for mine and the lads. Their site claims they will post the licences the next working day. Phoned yesterday, 10 days after booking them, quoted the numbers and they told me they were printed and posted last week and they would send some more. Hope they turn up soon. Good job I saved the web pages with the numbers on, so at least I've got something I can print off as proof. Uncle Fister

Anybody got a spare spool or 2 for a Suveran S3000M??? Or any advice on where I might get them. Thanks in advance Uncle Fester

I used to carry a copy of the Thames Water Authority by-laws in my fly fishing bag in case of being challenged whilst fly fishing on the Thames backwaters during the coarse close season. Anyone know if there is a current E.A. version available to download. As far as I understand you can use a fly, spinner or a minnow TRAPPED in the water you are fishing. Didn't know you could use worms. Who is to say a river is a trout river or not?. Brown Trout are a native species, and one could reasonably expect to find trout anywhere. Be a bloomin' shame if you caught a clonking great chub on a mayfly this time of year. Naturally I would take all possible precautions to avoid such an occurrance, and return an illegally caught chub immediately (after photographing it). Uncle Fester

Amen Unc F

Inflatable