Paul Boote

Back here, just briefly, to answer the "conspiracy charge" above (a common charge, this one, in recent years, for me - just part of the endlessly aired, drugged-up, drunken, paranoid, incomprehensible, ego-maniacal Paul Boote charge that continues to go the Internet rounds). I have never been one for Conspiracy Theory, myself, though, it being the province of mostly sad sorts with over-worked imaginations, and of the Hard of Thinking (or both). However, when certain Internet Angling and real-world Angling Community responses (let's call them "stuff that goes down") vis-a-vis yours truly began to appear to be predictable (by said yours truly and by some of my long-time, on-looker, non-Angling pals), lots and lots 'coincidences' over a period of fifteen years can start to look like something suspiciously like conspiracy. But I don't a care a jot. If this is what some 'Anglers' now feel that they have to make of me - for personal, political, financial reasons, for whatever reason - it is entirely their problem, not mine. Jeepster was correct in one thing he said about me here the other day, though: I do have a very strong sense of self - I know just who I am, what I like and dislike, what I will lay my life on the line to defend (not to defend myself, but to defend other people who find themselves being forced to accept the "fuzzy end of life's lollypop"), to defend an important principle, to defend the truth). Never confuse a "very strong sense of self" with Ego, however; they are very different things. Something David Bailey, the famous 1960s photographer, said in interview on BBC Radio 4 the other week: "Nah, I don't take myself seriously. [winning D.B. cackle] But I do take what I do very seriously." I nodded when I heard Bailey say this, and muttered: "Yes, that's me." So, "some" of you, continue your P.B. trashing, public or otherwise, at will, with my blessing - you will have no comeback from me; I will do nothing to stop you. When the record of the present Angling era eventually gets around to being written by one of the designated "victors", he should bear in mind this, however: my extensive and exhaustive personal papers, notebooks, diaries, travel diaries, correspondence, Internet folders and files relating to Angling, Angling Travel, the various doings of personalities and celebs and powerful no-names, individuals and companies, the many and tortuous ins and outs and ups and downs of everything to do with Angling, both here and abroad, in the years 1990 to 2006, which I have recently placed into the hands of a non-angling-related trust, will appear and be published in some form after my death. They will make compelling reading, I promise. Have a good season, ladies and gentleman. I am looking forward to good un, and good few more to come. ATB PB

"Don't let the predators get you." Thanks for reminding me of that, "matey". Leon / Newt / whoever: Please delete my AngNet membership. I can't find a means of taking my leave in "Controls", but am sure that you can rid your boards of my Red Rag name! Thanks.

Indeed. And one wonders why. Earlier this afternoon, before I came back here and discovered all this stuff, I was walking a southern river, looking for barbel. I found them eventually, and was very soon joined by a man I hadn't met before who had clearly found them too. He had some bait with him, so in it went, and out came even more barbel. We chatted together wonderfully for almost an hour, exchanging barbel and fishing talk about lots of southern rivers, discovering that we knew some of the same people, watching the rooting, hoovering barbel and dashing, interloper chub all the time. A lovely hour. Then I returned to this...

A slight matter of slow payment, then non-payment, then a major British sporting bookseller who simply would not do business with yours truly (i.e. pay the man who had conceived and initiated the project, and who had, it quickly appeared, rather had said project and its proceeds taken from him), indeed the entire the British fishing world suddenly badly badly 'off' PB and no longer speaking to him. It began very shortly after publication of 'Crazy River and the very complimentary comments in fishing magazine and national newspaper reviews about the quality of my writing, then continued to the present day. Nothing I said or did, to anyone, I assure you. There is something deeply nasty going on vis-a-vis the Paul Boote name and reputation at present - like here, for example - http://www.flyforums.co.uk/showthread.php?goto=newpost&t=334 Someone we all know, I am inclined to believe. As I said, deeply deeply nasty.

As our North American cousins say: "K.I.S.S." - Keep it simple, stupid. No need for anything but a very simple rig for barbel until the fish themselves decide to get complicated.

Such coolness and dispassion from you, now, Jon, on the morning after the night before. You made yourself look a ranting little idiot here last night, and everybody knows it.

Oh, Jeep, you are a wag! If it will make you feel any better (difficult, on your present showing, though) - you know, help you get you through your frequent dark and shameful nights etc - I'll send you a pair of my previously worn, fish-heavy, "gay shorts" (signed, both front and back). Get back to me, huh?

Indeed. As I said to Slodger awhile back: "Matter closed".

Oh, Jeepie Boy (Do you mind if I call you that, Jon? You do? No matter.), get out now (delete, even), before you commit lasting, possibly permanent, personal and professional suicide. You know it makes sense (or perhaps, in your present state of mind, you don't...).

Love the exclamation marks, Jeep (the sure sign of sad sack, defeated, desperado). I'll have them (and you), later, with some fava beans and little chianti...

Two words to you, Resident Chippy Psychopath - P1SS OFF.

No probs, Slodger. Matter closed.

Nasty bit of posting there, Slodger. Ever considered a new name? "Running on Envy", maybe? I was doing the travelling and fishing thing a long long time ago - for myself, and for no-one else. I took a lot of persuading by "Angling" magazine back in the late 1970s to even write about my first India trip. I wish I hadn't now: it only gets me poisonous little missives from people like you.

Meanwhile, in the U.S.A. http://www.castlearms.com/feathers.html#anchor296406 Tigger, Remember a good blue Macaw tail or two for me for the above tip-off... PB

I got the wrong man - I should have addressed the above to Tigger. So... Tigger, What I said to Glenn still very much applies: I'm in the the market for a few blue tails... PB