SpenBeck

Hi all, Old guy informed me this year that 'When he came home from the war, there were no fish in the River Calder (W. Yorks) and that it was rainbow coloured from all the dye houses emptying in to it. If you fell in, you would have been poisened before you drowned!' Now days you can catch, trout, grayling, barbel, the lot! Only eels have not come back yet. Regards, SpenBeck

Hi Patch, (no joke itended), You can buy black tipped floats, but there's no need. What I do is use a black permanent marker to black out the top half of an orange tipped float. This way you can shot your float to the black tip when theres glare on the water and take off a shot for the orange to show when the light conditions suit orange. Black topped floats work great when trotting on wide rivers. I get alot of anglers asking about black topped floats when I'm using one. They've thought about using them but never thought it would be better than orange, until they watch mine. regards, SpenBeck P.S. I never use yellow or red topped floats. I can concentrate better on orange or black!

Hi BoozleBear, For some instant pike action in the Dewsbury the Calder & Hebble canal south of the town is probably best. From where the canal leaves the river calder at Ravensthorpe down to the Perseverance Pub the water is currently free. The next section down to where it branches off into Dewsbury is Desbury AC. Day tickets on the bank. The Dewsbury branch arm and the section halfway to horbury is Thornhill Angling AC. After that is Wakefield AC. I don't know if the last two do day tickets. Pleanty of Pike, Perch and Chub to be caught on lures. regards, SpenBeck

I don't think it matters. The bottom line is that you should NOT use WD40 on lures. Its a pollutant. regards, SpenBeck

Thanks Newt, I'm gonna go searching your links and see what I can find! regards, SpenBeck

It seems like it's pretty nasty stuff. A deffinate NO NO for coarse or sea fishing. regards, SpenBeck

I wonder if the water dispersant has a visual affect on the lures, makes them glow or something. Perhaps only the fish can see this. Does anybody in the fishing industry make any fish/oil based sprays (safe to the environment) to coat lures with? I think it might be more a visual thing rather than a scent trail. regards, SpenBeck

Hi All, Just received an email - 'the 43 uses of WD40' and noticed this in at 39! > 39) WD-40 attracts fish. Spray a LITTLE on live bait or lures and you will be catching the big one in no time. Also, it's a lot cheaper than the chemical attractants that are made for just that purpose. Keep in mind though, using some chemical laced baits or lures for fishing are not allowed in some States. > P. S. The basic ingredient is FISH OIL. Is it OK to use in this country or is it a pollutant? If OK, has anybody tried it with success? I remember a few years ago reading that some boat anglers had some success with it using pirks. regards, SpenBeck

Completely agree - come on EA do something about it! SpenBeck

As a kid fishing a local lake. I heard a terrific splash about 30 yards to my right, on my side of the lake. As I looked around a little fluffy moorhen chick pop up about 10 feet away and swam back to it's mother. Pike, I thought! But then the soggiest looking cat dragged it's self out of the lake between some reeds and then splodged off. It must have been stalking it and couldn't resist lunging at it!! Fishing in winter at Cooper Bridge on the Calder while eating an apple. I turned round and dropped the core on the steep bank behind me. 5 mins later I heard a noise, turned around and a little mouse is sat behind it, munching away. After a couple of minutes, he dragged it off and down his hole. Having a tame robin land on my welly-boot end at Raskelf lake (twice). He'd also land on the edge of my bait box next to my elbow. Fishing the river niidd at cowthorpe in early summer. It was very misty and I could hear a wooshing noise. It came in bursts and got louder and louder. I was just starting to panic when the mist vanished down the river, revealing a hotair balloon which had just landed 50 yards away! I find kingfisher are always great to see. I always feel i'm going to catch when I see one - my lucky charm! regards, SpenBeck

Well done. Beats my best from there 8lb 2oz. Where did you finally fish? Dog Kennels? Regards, SpenBeck

I completely agree, a rolling licence. From date of purchase or monthly like the car tax disc. Also no licences for under 16's. It just makes angling mum's and dad's have to pay twice. SpenBack

Hi all, I work in Skipton, but haven't seen a tackle shop. Has one opened recently? Also the canal in Skipton centre has some good fish in it. Huge shoals of bream 2-3-4lber's and pike to over 20lb. regards, SpenBeck

Hi Robisme, My name is Ian Bradley, I used to fish the Spenborough waters in the late 70's and early 80's. In fact, I used to go on their matches by coach. Then I joined the Bradford No.1 (I was on a waiting list for 2 years to get in!). I still live in Liversedge, so fish the calder quite alot. I'm also a member of the Earlsheaton Charity Anglers. They have a stretch down Raventhorpe which is still quite good for coarse fish. I think the calder (llike most rivers) needs a bit of rain and cooler temperatures. Regarding the Nidd at Cowthorpe. It is a little patchy at the moment. But for barbel, I would go down the dog kennel in the mid afternoon and fish till dusk. Remember to take your members book as it gets patrolled daily. Regards SpenBeck P.S. I won't be able to reply for a week now, as I'm going on holiday to Falmouth - to catch mackeral and garfish!

Hi Robisme, I fished it last sunday, about 500 yards below wier (peg 24). I had a good perch 1lb and some bits, no barbel or big chub. My son lost a couple of barbel in peg 26 (over hanging willow peg). I had a barbel and lost 2 off in the last match in peg 24. Peg 30 next to the car park, in the shallows produced the winner in the last match. 32lb of barbel on caster, with about the same lost off!!! For bigger barbel try down at the dog kennels length. Peg 64 is the top peg. I used maggot feeder to catch to 8lb 2oz. regards. Spen Beck P.S. Don't forget to try Thornton Bridge on the Swale (Bfd No.1) for big barbel!!! double figures!!!! P.P.S Don't forget to use strong tackle!!

Talking of old rods. Did any one have a Daiwa Combination Rod. My brother got one for Xmas in 1977? It made in to a 6ft boat rod, 8ft pier rod, 9ft fly rod, 10ft leger rod and a 12ft float rod. It was hollow glass (maroon) and came in about 7 pieces. Is there anything like it now? I got a 12ft Intrepid Deluxe Float rod that christmas. It was smashed by a tench or carp at the top of the second section. Spliced it back together and swapped it for an Abu 506!!!

Perch, about 1oz, Size 16 hook, 9lb line, Under the Viaduct, Mann Dam, Cleckheaton, September 1976.

I caught one off the top using chum mixer on a very hot day. It was about 1lb, the tench not the miixer!! The water was so hot, I think the fish was half stewed! regards, SpenBeck

Hi Andy, I have a Mitchell Match 440A which I retired 2 years ago because the bail arm started playing up. I bought it in 1978 by saving up my school dinner money and paying cash from my mates, mum's Grattan Catalogue. It cost about £19.50 I think. Now days I use a Mitchell 400, same model with a plain bail arm. That cost me £6 off ebay. I also use a 410 for feeder/legering and 3 300's for carping and piking. I also have a 324, 304, 600 and a mint 410 which I never use. My brother gave it to me and Im sure he'll ask for it back someday! regards, SpenBeck

First post, here goes!! My gripe with the Rod Licience is, why is it once a year? April 1st. Why can't they do it like car's tax disc - monthly. Might encourage more people to get one, rather than waiting until the next one is out, then not even bothering then! SpenBeck If all else fails - read the instructions!