Sewinman

I thought it was the BCU who were running the access campaign? Looking at the website it seems so. I would have thought the BCU was the representative body of canoeists. Rather contradictory that they have set a precedent of buying access (with large government hand-out) yet are now fighting for free access. Perhaps have not got the money to buy more (not enough subs?) and have made a political decision to go for a free for all instead of continuing the precedent set.

If rivers are 'natural' then they would not require maintenance - as you acknowledge they do. Canoeists have set a precedent of buying the 'right' to canoe through the above purchase. Why can this not be extended...or is it that they just won't put their money where their mouth is?

Re the bowling analogy...would it not be more like bowlers demanding access to every paid for and owned football pitch in the country. The argument that anglers have 'an exclusive right' to 99% of rovers is totally false. Anglers have no right to fish any river that they have not paid for. Canoeists could do exactly the same and buy up some rights. They have done so already apparently in Symmonds Yat with a generous grant from the EA! The organisation that anglers subsidise and canoeists are generally not willing to contribute to. Why can they not do this elsewhere!!!??? Here is the Symonds Yat story that has strangley been deleted from the BCU website...but can still be seen through using google 'cached'. They have also deleted (their own) advice to canoeists to avoid spawning ground due to the damage it can cause...interesting given their campaign don't you think. Canoeists secure rapids at Symonds Yat On Friday March 14th the British Canoe Union helped by a generous grant from the Environment Agency have exercised their option to purchase this nationally significant River Wye canoeing site. For around 60 years paddlers have been using the 304 meters of rapids at Symonds Yat for competition, training and recreation. 4 years ago an option to purchase was negotiated by the BCU and fund raising began. This week the Environment Agency made a grant of £50,000 towards the purchase and the canoeing related “Maurice Rothwell Trust” donated a further £25,000 to enable the option to be exercised. Further information is available from:- www.yatrapids.co.uk

Lets stop the canoeists taking over our (paid for) waters. Vote here (see right handside) - http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio2/shows/vine/

I wonder where they will be fishing. I will be tempted to watch it though! Re - the Falklands. I looked at there for sea trout but was put off by the 2k flight cost on an RAF Hercules - the only direct flight. Were you in the army?

Good first post Paul but you lost me on the second one. I have fished in Montana, Idaho and Wyoming (Yellowstone) and had a great time. The fishing is almost always public and simply involves the purchase of a state licence. A lot of the rivers are in national park areas or forestry commission land so there are free campsites right next to the water. The scenery is magnificant and the fishing equally good - not as good as NZ but then again its not a 24 hour flight. Fishing there or NZ avoids the expoitative element of destination fishing that Paul describes. I remember fishing on the Fire Hole next to Old faithful - snow, Elk, volcanic springs bubbling away and very spooky fish rising to blue winged olives.

Thank you for your kind advice oh great sage of forum etiquette and behaviour.

A sea trout will be more silver and generally less spotty. They tend to lack the golden colour on their stomach and have no red spots. They are also generally bigger. To confuse matters some of them stay in the river and revert to normal markings. Sea Trout Brown trout

The Snowbee Prestige line is a casting tool not a fishing line. It sinks at the tip on rivers and cracks after reasonable use - cr*p. Cortland 444 peach floater is a great line, if too pricey then go for the Worcestershire by Shakespeare.

Its about 500-600 a year i think. You can try but I know someone who has been on the waiting list for 12 years. You have to live in the area to qualify and I think Aber. is too far away.

Re Nymph fishing see the following article - http://www.flyanglersonline.com/begin/101/part31.html There are lots of other good articles. The New Zealnd style method involves a strike indicator (some fluff, bright putty or big bushy dry fly) attached to the 'leader', below that you tie one nymph to the end of the leader. You then tie some more nylon (leader) to the hook of the nymph, and attach another nymph to the end of that lengh. Floating line-----strike indicator-----nymph------another nymph. The lengh of the leader depends on the depth of the water. If you are constantly catching the bottom shorten it. If you are not catching or getting bites make it longer. You wade in and cast this upstream trying to get the nymphs to 'dead drift' directly towards you i.e. the river sweeps them down to you naturally at the same speed as any other debri. You watch the strike indicator and if it stops, changed direction or pops under the water you strike (lift the rod quickly). You may well have a fish on. Its very effective and fun method of fishing. p.s. it is best to you use the big bushy dry as the strike indicator as it can rise the odd fish. Again the leader should be tied to the shank of the hook.

Whatever floats your boat but you will learn a lot more about fishing if you stick to rivers, especially containing wild stock. Tactics for Syon - fast sinking line and an orange sparkly blob or booby - figure of eight retrieve. You should have your limit in an hour.

Practical advice eh...well try the river Wandle flowing through South London and into the Thames. It is free with an environment agency licence and hold trout as well as various course fish that take a fly. You could even come and help clean it up as a few of us do through the Jet-Set Group - pulling shopping trolleys out of the river etc. It was where Halford fished and is now alive again after years of pollution. Further afield yet still close to London is the White Water through the Farnborough angling association - 90 quid for 3 days a week. During the close season I fish for grayling on many of the chalk-streams - 25-30 quid for some of the finest chalk streams - Test, Itchen, Kennet all available...some of them are not stocked but you will need to find that info. out for yourself. Happy now?

I don't think you are being niave - there are few better rivers. You may have trouble getting on the river as the club is pretty 'sewn up'. Best bet is to try the Ystwyth first. I suggest reading Sea trout Fishing By Hugh Falkus - you will get everything you need from that book to cacth sea trout. If you are just fishing for brown trout then try a floating line, some gold head nympths and a small strike indicator or bushy dry - it is like float fishing - search the web for 'New Zealand style' nymph fishing to learn more about it. You will need a 9-10 foot rod 'aftm' 6-7.

The Dovey is one of the finest rivers in Wales. It has a huge run of sea trout and decent salmon numbers. It is difficult to get on but the New Dovey Association do a weekly ticket. There is also a Hotel called the Brigands I think who have a stretch (not so good). No day tickets. Those fish were most liekly a mixture of slamon and sea trout...the location? The Ystwyth is a lesser river but apparantly has good sea trout runs. You would be fishing at night mostly - not everyones cup of tea.