Leon Roskilly

Not sure about other species, but I once had a pike on one rod, then saw the float moving away on another. I put the reel of the rod that I was holding on free running, and struck into the other fish (deep hooking was my main concern). Now the pike I had been playing stopped pulling as soon as the pressure was taken off. I honestly believe that it had completely forgotten that it'd been hooked. I got the second fish into the landing net, then picked up the first rod and, as I tightened up again, the pike started pulling again. I soon had two pike in the same net, which were quickly unhooked and released. That trick of slackening off has worked a few times since, when a pike has been heading for a snag. Stop pulling, and it stops pulling! In another incident, I played a pike to my feet, and it came off. I lowered the sprat back into the water, and the fish was on again!! As I say, as soon as the pressure is off, they don't know what's happening to them. There is no stimulus to respond to, so they go back to doing whatever a pike does when some mysterious force isn't trying to pull it through the water! Tight Lines - leon

Things like this make me so desperately sad A similar thing happened down in Kent not so long ago. The sluice protecting a small river from the sea was deliberately jammed open, so that the sea-water flooded in on the high tide, wiping out so much freshwater life. The EA restocked the water but, to a friend who fished it, it will never be the same. The balance that was the living river that he loved, was gone. Mindless vandalism, or the deliberate act of ‘antis’ determined to spoil the anglers’ fun? Many people believed the second option. Whoever did it was deliberately out to kill fish, not cause to damage to property. A water owned by my own club had a lucky escape when the bailiffs, hearing of someone poaching the water during the close season went to investigate. On their way across the field leading to the water, they came across a can of a highly poisonous agricultural chemical (Lindane - I think), abandoned in the field. If the can had leaked, as it was sure to given time, there would have been one hell of a pollution incident! It had been taken from a nearby farm by someone out to cause damage and mayhem for a bit of fun. I doubt that they knew what they had taken, or how deadly it could have been to themselves, or the environment. I guess that the same sort of stories could be told by most anglers of not so many years. Thankfully, for the environment, and for the rivers, anglers watch over the waterways. These things happen. The presence of anglers on the bank deters many incidents, I’m sure. When the worst does happen, it’s often anglers who first sound the alarm, put the wheels in motion, and prevent more serious damage occurring to the environment, and often to the health of people dependent on safe water to drink, and to work with. And when the clean-up and restocking takes place, it’s often anglers involved, and those financed by anglers who do the work and pay the bills. I don’t always see eye to eye with the ACA, or the SAA, I’ll probably have differences of opinion over some issues with the RSSG in time. But I don’t regret a penny of the money I contribute to any of them, when something like this happens, and anglers have someone to turn to for support in such times. Lee, I am very upset over your report and I feel a little of the distress that those closely involved must be feeling. I also feel great distress over the yearly destruction of the spawning bass shoals, and of the dolphins that have always taken the share that nature intended, suffocating in the nets of the pair trawlers. If it wasn’t for the brotherhood of the angle, working to protect our waters and the ecology on which our pastime depends, I’d be feeling a lot, lot worse. I always keep the EA emergency number on my mobile. You’ll find it on the back of your fishing licence - 0800 80 7060. Tight Lines - leon

Things like this make me so desperately sad A similar thing happened down in Kent not so long ago. The sluice protecting a small river from the sea was deliberately jammed open, so that the sea-water flooded in on the high tide, wiping out so much freshwater life. The EA restocked the water but, to a friend who fished it, it will never be the same. The balance that was the living river that he loved, was gone. Mindless vandalism, or the deliberate act of ‘antis’ determined to spoil the anglers’ fun? Many people believed the second option. Whoever did it was deliberately out to kill fish, not cause to damage to property. A water owned by my own club had a lucky escape when the bailiffs, hearing of someone poaching the water during the close season went to investigate. On their way across the field leading to the water, they came across a can of a highly poisonous agricultural chemical (Lindane - I think), abandoned in the field. If the can had leaked, as it was sure to given time, there would have been one hell of a pollution incident! It had been taken from a nearby farm by someone out to cause damage and mayhem for a bit of fun. I doubt that they knew what they had taken, or how deadly it could have been to themselves, or the environment. I guess that the same sort of stories could be told by most anglers of not so many years. Thankfully, for the environment, and for the rivers, anglers watch over the waterways. These things happen. The presence of anglers on the bank deters many incidents, I’m sure. When the worst does happen, it’s often anglers who first sound the alarm, put the wheels in motion, and prevent more serious damage occurring to the environment, and often to the health of people dependent on safe water to drink, and to work with. And when the clean-up and restocking takes place, it’s often anglers involved, and those financed by anglers who do the work and pay the bills. I don’t always see eye to eye with the ACA, or the SAA, I’ll probably have differences of opinion over some issues with the RSSG in time. But I don’t regret a penny of the money I contribute to any of them, when something like this happens, and anglers have someone to turn to for support in such times. Lee, I am very upset over your report and I feel a little of the distress that those closely involved must be feeling. I also feel great distress over the yearly destruction of the spawning bass shoals, and of the dolphins that have always taken the share that nature intended, suffocating in the nets of the pair trawlers. If it wasn’t for the brotherhood of the angle, working to protect our waters and the ecology on which our pastime depends, I’d be feeling a lot, lot worse. I always keep the EA emergency number on my mobile. You’ll find it on the back of your fishing licence - 0800 80 7060. Tight Lines - leon

Lee, Excellent post! The only bit I'd disagree with is this: 'For this, or any government to be saying to angling, "come together or we have cloth ears" is just no where near good enough. After all, they dont place similar constraints on others so why angling?' As a cyclist, I'm painfully aware of the problems of the Cyclist Tourist Club (CTC), SUSTRANS, British Cycling Federation, The League International etc etc. Some in deadly enmity/competition all being asked to speak with one voice, if they ever expect to be heard by the government. Their inability to come together is one of the principle reasons that so little money is being put into providing safe off road cycling tracks for competitions, and why cycling lags so far behind our European neighbours both as a sport and a means of sustainable transport! At the same time, I'm perplexed at why the government is happy to talk to rugby, soccer, tennis and golf associations seperately. Surely, they are all 'ball-players' and should be encoraged to unify and talk with a single voice? After all, I'm sure that squash players have far more in common with bowls players, than the sea-angler smashing in the head of his hundredth mackerel of the session, has with the pike angler carefully nursing his catch back to recovery before release. Tight Lines - leon

Lee, Excellent post! The only bit I'd disagree with is this: 'For this, or any government to be saying to angling, "come together or we have cloth ears" is just no where near good enough. After all, they dont place similar constraints on others so why angling?' As a cyclist, I'm painfully aware of the problems of the Cyclist Tourist Club (CTC), SUSTRANS, British Cycling Federation, The League International etc etc. Some in deadly enmity/competition all being asked to speak with one voice, if they ever expect to be heard by the government. Their inability to come together is one of the principle reasons that so little money is being put into providing safe off road cycling tracks for competitions, and why cycling lags so far behind our European neighbours both as a sport and a means of sustainable transport! At the same time, I'm perplexed at why the government is happy to talk to rugby, soccer, tennis and golf associations seperately. Surely, they are all 'ball-players' and should be encoraged to unify and talk with a single voice? After all, I'm sure that squash players have far more in common with bowls players, than the sea-angler smashing in the head of his hundredth mackerel of the session, has with the pike angler carefully nursing his catch back to recovery before release. Tight Lines - leon

Peter, I fear that you have been mislead by some of the 'answers' that have appeared on this forum. If you are looking for an 'official' answer from (say) the SAA, you won't find it given on this forum. What you might get is the views of some individuals who are members, maybe officers of the SAA. In this respect whatever (say) Lee says (he is an SAA member), carries the same weight as whatever (say) Chris Burt or Mike Heylin says. Personal opinion, that's all! OK it may give an indication as to what the thinking within the SAA, and particularly within the SAA committee is, but that's all. The comments made in this forum by individuals speaking on their own behalf, are quite likely to be disowned by the rest of the committee/membership. And that is the reason why sometimes 'silence' is all the reply you will get on this public forum. If you expect a statement from the SAA, then your questions need to be directed through the appropriate channels, not thrown to the world at large on one of any number of internet forums (admittedly this one is frequented by more of the SAA committee than most, but isn't that a bit cliquey in itself where AN posters expect to ask questions and get answers, whereas other anglers on other forums won't be so lucky?). It's then up to the SAA to decide whether to respond, and how to respond. It's not up to individual members to take it upon themselves to respond on behalf of the SAA! They could (and often should!)end up with a good kicking from the SAA membership, for speaking out of turn, or through the 'wrong' channels. Giving the impression that their personal thoughts represent the thinking of the SAA, without first having discussed it with the committee or membership. Peter, put your questions through your channel of communication with the SAA and expect an answer via the same medium. If your question is important to all anglers, ask them to issue a press release so that the information can be made available to all anglers. But remember that the SAA doesn't speak for all anglers, it speaks only for those that have chosen to represented by the SAA, either by personal membership, or through contributing via an organisation which has affiliated to the SAA. it is answerable to no one else. Ever heard of death through a thousand arguments? Basically you ask a question. You get a response and ignore some of the response. You pick on the bit that has a weakeness, and ask further questions. The other party repsonds, and ...... well you get the idea! It's an excellent way of tying yoiur 'opponent' up in knots and wasting their time, preventing them from organising themselves on other things. Unfortunately that is the way it sometimes seems to go here, questions answered leads to more questions, leads to ....... Diverting people with very little time from doing other things, which they consider important. Every question they take the time to carefully respond to brings a shower of further questions.... Can you really wonder why they become bored with this, especially when they are trying to do so much of importance with so little time avaialable, and so little support being given? Peter, I'm sure that there are those out there who would love to answer all of your questions, but surely you can see that they can't. Not here! Not if the answers you want are to have any value, and truly represent what you want them to represent, and not simply be some half baked response of some individual stating their own personal views. For my own part, I'm happy, when I want to, to post my personal views here. If you misunderstand, or would like further clarification, then you need to buy me a pint. Working out complex issues through text messages, with all and sundry piling in, mostly leads to greater and greater misunderstanding. I say what I have to say, and I'm generally happy to leave it at that. Tedious clarification and ever decreasing argument is the stuff of life to some. For me, I've better things to do with my time. Tight Lines - leon [ 14 April 2002, 04:51 PM: Message edited by: Leon Roskilly ]

Peter, I fear that you have been mislead by some of the 'answers' that have appeared on this forum. If you are looking for an 'official' answer from (say) the SAA, you won't find it given on this forum. What you might get is the views of some individuals who are members, maybe officers of the SAA. In this respect whatever (say) Lee says (he is an SAA member), carries the same weight as whatever (say) Chris Burt or Mike Heylin says. Personal opinion, that's all! OK it may give an indication as to what the thinking within the SAA, and particularly within the SAA committee is, but that's all. The comments made in this forum by individuals speaking on their own behalf, are quite likely to be disowned by the rest of the committee/membership. And that is the reason why sometimes 'silence' is all the reply you will get on this public forum. If you expect a statement from the SAA, then your questions need to be directed through the appropriate channels, not thrown to the world at large on one of any number of internet forums (admittedly this one is frequented by more of the SAA committee than most, but isn't that a bit cliquey in itself where AN posters expect to ask questions and get answers, whereas other anglers on other forums won't be so lucky?). It's then up to the SAA to decide whether to respond, and how to respond. It's not up to individual members to take it upon themselves to respond on behalf of the SAA! They could (and often should!)end up with a good kicking from the SAA membership, for speaking out of turn, or through the 'wrong' channels. Giving the impression that their personal thoughts represent the thinking of the SAA, without first having discussed it with the committee or membership. Peter, put your questions through your channel of communication with the SAA and expect an answer via the same medium. If your question is important to all anglers, ask them to issue a press release so that the information can be made available to all anglers. But remember that the SAA doesn't speak for all anglers, it speaks only for those that have chosen to represented by the SAA, either by personal membership, or through contributing via an organisation which has affiliated to the SAA. it is answerable to no one else. Ever heard of death through a thousand arguments? Basically you ask a question. You get a response and ignore some of the response. You pick on the bit that has a weakeness, and ask further questions. The other party repsonds, and ...... well you get the idea! It's an excellent way of tying yoiur 'opponent' up in knots and wasting their time, preventing them from organising themselves on other things. Unfortunately that is the way it sometimes seems to go here, questions answered leads to more questions, leads to ....... Diverting people with very little time from doing other things, which they consider important. Every question they take the time to carefully respond to brings a shower of further questions.... Can you really wonder why they become bored with this, especially when they are trying to do so much of importance with so little time avaialable, and so little support being given? Peter, I'm sure that there are those out there who would love to answer all of your questions, but surely you can see that they can't. Not here! Not if the answers you want are to have any value, and truly represent what you want them to represent, and not simply be some half baked response of some individual stating their own personal views. For my own part, I'm happy, when I want to, to post my personal views here. If you misunderstand, or would like further clarification, then you need to buy me a pint. Working out complex issues through text messages, with all and sundry piling in, mostly leads to greater and greater misunderstanding. I say what I have to say, and I'm generally happy to leave it at that. Tedious clarification and ever decreasing argument is the stuff of life to some. For me, I've better things to do with my time. Tight Lines - leon [ 14 April 2002, 04:51 PM: Message edited by: Leon Roskilly ]

Alan, Who can tell which thread will become 'political', or involve an element of politics? True, a lot of people become turned off by boredom when a thread becomes political, unless of course its a subject on which they have strong views, when they then have an opportunity to pile in. On the other hand, some people are transfixed by political debate, watching from the sidelines like those at a road-racing circuit, not admitting even to themselves that it is the prospect of blood which is part of the attraction!! Anglersnet must be a big disappointment to them. The pike forums seem to be the best place to go for that kind of action!! Tony, I thought that it is permissable to fish for eels on rivers in the close season, subject to using hooks over a certain larger size than would be used for roach etc? Tight Lines - leon

Alan, Who can tell which thread will become 'political', or involve an element of politics? True, a lot of people become turned off by boredom when a thread becomes political, unless of course its a subject on which they have strong views, when they then have an opportunity to pile in. On the other hand, some people are transfixed by political debate, watching from the sidelines like those at a road-racing circuit, not admitting even to themselves that it is the prospect of blood which is part of the attraction!! Anglersnet must be a big disappointment to them. The pike forums seem to be the best place to go for that kind of action!! Tony, I thought that it is permissable to fish for eels on rivers in the close season, subject to using hooks over a certain larger size than would be used for roach etc? Tight Lines - leon

If you are catching mackerel, and already have more than your freezer can hold, but don't want to stop because its so much fun, please remember that once a mackerel has been handled by human hands, it's doomed The oils in our skin / heat of our hands cause minute damage to the mackerel's skin. It swims off like lightening when returned, apparently fit and healthy, but it will probably be dead within 24 hours as it's skin continues to break down. Wearing wetted neoprene gloves solves the problem. Any other fish species being returned should always be handled with wetted hands. Tight Lines - leon Sea Anglers' Conservation Network (SACN) http://www.anglersnet.co.uk/sacn/

From the Admiralty Pier, Dover, on feathers. and I really hated catching these things!! (In North Queensland) Tight Lines - leon [ 13 April 2002, 12:18 AM: Message edited by: Leon Roskilly ]

I think that I've said too much already! TL - leon

I think that I've said too much already! TL - leon

In Australia, earth worms grow to around 10 ft long or so. I don't think they are lobs though!! Tight Lines - leon

In Australia, earth worms grow to around 10 ft long or so. I don't think they are lobs though!! Tight Lines - leon

Ah! What you want Chesters is the MMG! Where the whole angling world is put to rights on a monthly basis Tight Lines - leon

Ah! What you want Chesters is the MMG! Where the whole angling world is put to rights on a monthly basis Tight Lines - leon

When I lived in Cairns, fishing tackle consisted of a plastic spool of line (from which you could cast from the side - a Cuban Yo-Yo), a few weights and a few spare hooks, and half a pound of frozen green prawn for bait. Dress was shorts and a light shirt (no shoes or socks!) Boy, did we get a lot of fish, some nice specimens too. I found it hard to get my head around the amount of gear that the match fishermen carried, when I returned to the UK (this was before carp!), all for catching tiny little fishes!! Tight Lines - leon

When I lived in Cairns, fishing tackle consisted of a plastic spool of line (from which you could cast from the side - a Cuban Yo-Yo), a few weights and a few spare hooks, and half a pound of frozen green prawn for bait. Dress was shorts and a light shirt (no shoes or socks!) Boy, did we get a lot of fish, some nice specimens too. I found it hard to get my head around the amount of gear that the match fishermen carried, when I returned to the UK (this was before carp!), all for catching tiny little fishes!! Tight Lines - leon

Fisheries Commissioner Franz Fischler will be holding an internet 'chat' on the Common Fisheries Policy reform on Monday 13 May 2002 from 18:00 to 20:: Central European Time. Questions may be sent in all 11 languages in advance to: Chat-Fischler@cec.eu.int (Not sure about the hyphen. It was at the end of the print line!) Questions should be as short as possible, 256 characters maximum. A rare chance for anglers to have their say! Tight Lines - Leon Roskilly Sea Anglers' Conservation Network (SACN) http://www.anglersnet.co.uk/sacn

Sorry Alan, that is dangerous complacency. One of the things I like about river fishing is the relative isolation. My club has c.1,500 members, a number of stillwaters and some stretches of the Medway and Beault. The stillwaters are packed. Away from the car park, very few people fish the rivers. And those that do! Carp rods, neatly set in pods fished just like a stillwater. (Stillwater carp angelers looking for something different - River Carp (or barbel! or pike!!). Pleasure anglers fishing the current with a waggler, cursing as it sinks time and again, and eventually using a feeder instead! No, we are vastly outnumbered by still water anglers, and they like to fish the rivers from time to time, and why shouldn't they fish them in the spring? (rhetorical question!!) If AT have wind of a story, there will be some basis to it. Someone is starting the first moves. Remember the canals? Tight Lines - leon

Sorry Alan, that is dangerous complacency. One of the things I like about river fishing is the relative isolation. My club has c.1,500 members, a number of stillwaters and some stretches of the Medway and Beault. The stillwaters are packed. Away from the car park, very few people fish the rivers. And those that do! Carp rods, neatly set in pods fished just like a stillwater. (Stillwater carp angelers looking for something different - River Carp (or barbel! or pike!!). Pleasure anglers fishing the current with a waggler, cursing as it sinks time and again, and eventually using a feeder instead! No, we are vastly outnumbered by still water anglers, and they like to fish the rivers from time to time, and why shouldn't they fish them in the spring? (rhetorical question!!) If AT have wind of a story, there will be some basis to it. Someone is starting the first moves. Remember the canals? Tight Lines - leon

Lee, Shoulder to shoulder on this one mate I feel that continued efforts at undertaking PR for the SAA and other governing bodies has been done to death on another thread. Please, lets not go there here but stick to the very important subject of the rivers close season which remains extremely important to river anglers. Yes Lee, but as Steve indicated there is a connection between the discussions on the previous thread, and now this new thread: Bearing in mind all the hooha regarding the CA, I'll put this one to you. The RSSG is a new, and dynamic group that is attempting to establish itself on the angling scene. At present, it has no political leverage (other than a strong moral and ethical stance, and the enthusiasm of it's members - me included). Unfortunately, that doesn't buy influence where it is needed. On the other hand, the SAA (thanks to many years of hard politicking by many in it's ranks) sits at the table where hard recognition has been won for a unified angling voice (sorry if my use of language gives the impression that I'm just doing PR for the SAA - you'll get used to the way I express myself in time!) Though the RSSG will be able to make a lot of noise on this issue, primarily defence of the close season on rivers, as before, will need to be through the SAA. Sorry Lee, in a few years of hard work, much politicking, building of alliances etc, maybe the primary route for the defence of the ideals of river fishing will be through the RSSG, but for now the SAA holds that position. But, if the SAA loses all influence because it withdraws from the NAA in protest over the MOU issue, there will be no effective representation of river anglers at that level. (Nor, for the continunce of live-baiting - precious to pike, eel and other predator groups, etc, etc) So, does the SAA cut ties with the NAA over the MOU issue, leaving no effective avenue of representation for river anglers to defend the close season, or does SAA reluctantly continue to keep the consensus over the MOU, in order to represent specialist anglers on this issue and the many other issues to come in the future? Taking it even further, should the RSSG join the SAA to obtain group representation through the SAA, strengthening the SAA's hand in representing the views of river anglers on this matter, or stay out of the SAA, partly in protest at the MOU issue, and weakening the SAA's claims to represent river anglers at the table? Unfortunately Lee, angling issues cannot that easily be neatly compartmentalised. It's only by sticking together, working together, respecting one another, and being ready to compromise to reach imperfect agreements that we will achieve most of what we all want, and that will always be short of what we each want. Tight Lines - leon

Lee, Shoulder to shoulder on this one mate I feel that continued efforts at undertaking PR for the SAA and other governing bodies has been done to death on another thread. Please, lets not go there here but stick to the very important subject of the rivers close season which remains extremely important to river anglers. Yes Lee, but as Steve indicated there is a connection between the discussions on the previous thread, and now this new thread: Bearing in mind all the hooha regarding the CA, I'll put this one to you. The RSSG is a new, and dynamic group that is attempting to establish itself on the angling scene. At present, it has no political leverage (other than a strong moral and ethical stance, and the enthusiasm of it's members - me included). Unfortunately, that doesn't buy influence where it is needed. On the other hand, the SAA (thanks to many years of hard politicking by many in it's ranks) sits at the table where hard recognition has been won for a unified angling voice (sorry if my use of language gives the impression that I'm just doing PR for the SAA - you'll get used to the way I express myself in time!) Though the RSSG will be able to make a lot of noise on this issue, primarily defence of the close season on rivers, as before, will need to be through the SAA. Sorry Lee, in a few years of hard work, much politicking, building of alliances etc, maybe the primary route for the defence of the ideals of river fishing will be through the RSSG, but for now the SAA holds that position. But, if the SAA loses all influence because it withdraws from the NAA in protest over the MOU issue, there will be no effective representation of river anglers at that level. (Nor, for the continunce of live-baiting - precious to pike, eel and other predator groups, etc, etc) So, does the SAA cut ties with the NAA over the MOU issue, leaving no effective avenue of representation for river anglers to defend the close season, or does SAA reluctantly continue to keep the consensus over the MOU, in order to represent specialist anglers on this issue and the many other issues to come in the future? Taking it even further, should the RSSG join the SAA to obtain group representation through the SAA, strengthening the SAA's hand in representing the views of river anglers on this matter, or stay out of the SAA, partly in protest at the MOU issue, and weakening the SAA's claims to represent river anglers at the table? Unfortunately Lee, angling issues cannot that easily be neatly compartmentalised. It's only by sticking together, working together, respecting one another, and being ready to compromise to reach imperfect agreements that we will achieve most of what we all want, and that will always be short of what we each want. Tight Lines - leon

quote: Originally posted by Dunk Fairley: [QB]I balance the lure again by sticking lead wire to the bottom of the lure, with araldite.[QB] Dunk, I've found wrapping solder wire around the hook shank is good, or else try buying some adhesive lead strip from a glaziers. This is more generally used for giving a 'leaded lights' effect to double glazed windows, but sticks well to the bottom of a lure. The beauty is that you can carry lengths of either material in your tackle box and use them to make adjustments to the action of a lure at the waterside. Tight Lines - leon