DerwentBob

OK the hardened criminals wouldn't benefit but just think how many would never get to that stage...

OK the hardened criminals wouldn't benefit but just think how many would never get to that stage...

Give us some details Alan, I didn't even know it existed!

I assume it is from the latin oestrus but I looked in my latin dictionary to find that oestrus means gadfly or frenzy. Suddenly it all becomes clear...

I assume it is from the latin oestrus but I looked in my latin dictionary to find that oestrus means gadfly or frenzy. Suddenly it all becomes clear...

The Derbyshire Derwent, I got the name from winter grayling fishing in Darley Park in Derby. On several occasions I slid the full length of the bank and ended up bobbing up and down in the Derwent. I suppose I'm just not used to being a beginner again, you tend to take for granted the fact that you understand all the underlying principles. I'm always conscious that I might need to look at fly-fishing with a beginners mind so that I don't jump to conclusions. An example which I sorted out recently was the leader, to my coarse fishing mind the lower breaking strain hooklength is to minimise the amount of line left trailing in the event of breaking off in a snag. A fly-fishing leader is set up to maintain the energy transfer down the line until the fly is at the end of a fully straightened leader. That one was far from obvious unless you get right down to the nuts and bolts of the matter. Oh well only another week and I can give the trout a go instead of flinging pigeon feathers at the cat .

Well at least we can answer the feminist antis now. I wondered why I was developing breasts but I put that down to drinking too much Bass...

Well at least we can answer the feminist antis now. I wondered why I was developing breasts but I put that down to drinking too much Bass...

I'd like to know all that stuff as well, how about expanding the fishing rigs section to a Techniques section and someone who knows this stuff bunging a few beginners articles in there. I'm hoping to start fluff-flinging this year after many seasons of coarse/lure/sea fishing and I'm finding it quite difficult to get to grips with some of the finer points. You know how to do something from a coarse POV but things are often done differently by the fly brigade.

I have to second the whip idea, you can pick up three whips 3m-5m for around a tenner, one spool of 3lb line a packet of hooks, a hook tier, a shot dispenser, a disgorger, a couple of wagglers and a bait box - should all come in under £25. If you find goose quills or even swan quills show the kids how to make quill floats, I used them until I could afford the likes of Middy's finest. Margarine tubs (Vitalite etc.)and a hot needle make useful bait boxes, you have to eat the vitalite first to save anything though . If you are after rods & reels take a look at Shakespeare's cheapest ranges. The Alpha rear drag reel is a tenner, not bad for someone just starting. The MG match rod comes in at about £16-£18, yet again not the best rod in the world but I wish I could have had one when I was a nipper .

I have to second the whip idea, you can pick up three whips 3m-5m for around a tenner, one spool of 3lb line a packet of hooks, a hook tier, a shot dispenser, a disgorger, a couple of wagglers and a bait box - should all come in under £25. If you find goose quills or even swan quills show the kids how to make quill floats, I used them until I could afford the likes of Middy's finest. Margarine tubs (Vitalite etc.)and a hot needle make useful bait boxes, you have to eat the vitalite first to save anything though . If you are after rods & reels take a look at Shakespeare's cheapest ranges. The Alpha rear drag reel is a tenner, not bad for someone just starting. The MG match rod comes in at about £16-£18, yet again not the best rod in the world but I wish I could have had one when I was a nipper .

I think you meant to say shot, shot & treble hook... ...seriously pirked off... Coarse, Predator & Sea Angling . I didn't see any info about his meeting either, I could have gone to see my sister in Royston quite coincidentally when Gord was in the area...

I think you meant to say shot, shot & treble hook... ...seriously pirked off... Coarse, Predator & Sea Angling . I didn't see any info about his meeting either, I could have gone to see my sister in Royston quite coincidentally when Gord was in the area...

We were all gathered around the aquarium waiting at 1:30 to find a bloke with a mobile phone looking worried. He told us that they were expecting him any minute but they couldn't actually find him or phone him so they didn't have a clue as to whether he would arrive on time or not. We looked back at 4:00 but he hadn't shown up all day. Still it gave me more time to take a look at the fly-tying and talk to Hywell Morgan.

We were all gathered around the aquarium waiting at 1:30 to find a bloke with a mobile phone looking worried. He told us that they were expecting him any minute but they couldn't actually find him or phone him so they didn't have a clue as to whether he would arrive on time or not. We looked back at 4:00 but he hadn't shown up all day. Still it gave me more time to take a look at the fly-tying and talk to Hywell Morgan.

Does anyone know why he didn't turn up on saturday at the NEC. We went because he was going to be doing his demo which was brilliant last year but no GB

Does anyone know why he didn't turn up on saturday at the NEC. We went because he was going to be doing his demo which was brilliant last year but no GB

I started up again about this time last year and I found that Daiwa stockists tend to sell off last seasons stock about now. I got a Vulcan X match rod for about 25 quid, half the price of the Shimano Sedona reel I got to go on it... Granted I may not be using the same rod in two years time but the cost allowed me to spend more on other stuff to replace my rotting, rusting heap of ex-fishing tackle.

I started up again about this time last year and I found that Daiwa stockists tend to sell off last seasons stock about now. I got a Vulcan X match rod for about 25 quid, half the price of the Shimano Sedona reel I got to go on it... Granted I may not be using the same rod in two years time but the cost allowed me to spend more on other stuff to replace my rotting, rusting heap of ex-fishing tackle.

The Chatsworth Angling Fair is on the 18th &19th May and the Chatsworth Country Fair is on 31st August & 1st September. Have fun.

Kevo If I could cast for toffee I would venture an opinion However from a purely mechanical point of view when these things are stretched they are not as floppy (technical jargon there!) as when they are compressed so it probably wouldn't be a problem...I think?

I shall be asking my MP next time I see her as I am not adverse to a little saltwater myself...

I shall be asking my MP next time I see her as I am not adverse to a little saltwater myself...

Why restrict yourself to using either the clutch or the handle - use both. The clutch is primarily a device to prevent overloading the line so I generally set it so that it will just move under a sharp tug on the line and use backwinding to play a big fish. By not setting the clutch too slack I still have control over the fish and can give line whenever needed via the handle. I can't see the point in locking up the clutch unless I am casting a heavy feeder and then I slacken off again afterwards. Conversely setting the clutch too slack means that the reel is playing the fish not me and I like to have a say in the matter. Also repeated use of the clutch will introduce line twist.

Why restrict yourself to using either the clutch or the handle - use both. The clutch is primarily a device to prevent overloading the line so I generally set it so that it will just move under a sharp tug on the line and use backwinding to play a big fish. By not setting the clutch too slack I still have control over the fish and can give line whenever needed via the handle. I can't see the point in locking up the clutch unless I am casting a heavy feeder and then I slacken off again afterwards. Conversely setting the clutch too slack means that the reel is playing the fish not me and I like to have a say in the matter. Also repeated use of the clutch will introduce line twist.