gozzer

A curious non-archer asks: What do you call it then?

Thanks jerry, some great fish there, but why must they pose with with fish at arms length, it looks unnatural and detracts from the photo. BTW whats with the flamingo? I thought they lived in warmer climes.

Does anyone remember those closed face reels of the 70s, Crack I think they were called, made in France. They had a slide at the side of the spool, which was supposed to come into play when a fish was hooked, you slid it up and down to increase or decrease the drag. Sounded good in theory, but never worked that well in practise. I never owned one but used a mates a few times.

Try "Listerine" it might take away the bad taste, but will do nothing for the bad smell coming from the party at the moment.

Hi elton, just been on the site for the first time. The articles do move a bit fast but you just see something interesting and jump in. I was a little disappointed that the "Doubles" article didn't follow the line I thought it would, but I'll save that for a thread when I,m in need of a good rant. The article about perch and avoiding crayfish, reminded me of a method I haven't used in years. It works well in the warmer months, on waters where there are plenty of small fry. Take a crust, about 3-4 dia' fix it to your line trapped between 2 pieces of match stick( held by small float rubbers), about 4-6in under this have a hook with a small live bait ( rudd, roach, minnow) all have worked for me. Cast in and you soon have a crowd of fry round the crust which attracts the perch, the rest scatter leaving your bait the slowest to move. I used this on a lake near me with good results for the water, perch to 1.75 lb. I have also had chub on this method from slacks on rivers, especially when there's extra water in. Back to the site,I found it good reading, your getting there, keep up the good work. P.S. The waters I fished held few or no carp, hard to find now I know, but watch out for them using this method.

I agree Dave, water conditions ie, temperature, flood and spawning urges etc, must have an effect on their movements, but as with any creature the main instinct is to survive, and the two main factors in this is to feed and reproduce. Thus ensuring the continuation of the species.

Great site, but, world record bleak 4lb 1oz from Colwick Notts? Think someone got mixed up with roach.

I quite agree, and all that extra duck crap must have an effect on the quality of the water.

Mais oui!....................... but only in attitude.

I agree the papers have to have adverts to exist, and that they appeal to a younger or less experience reader.That is part of the problem with todays angling scene, they show a picture of "instant" success, where you have to have caught a big fish,or catch a netfull to be able to enjoy a day out. What happened to serving an "apprenticeship" where each catch was measure on its merits. I can still remember feeling great about catching my first decent chub, about 1.5 lb, and then aiming for a 2lb'er , then a 3 and so on over a number of years. I am convinced it made me a better angler, with more varied skills ,and I got more enjoyment out of angling, because my expectations weren't so high. But then again, maybe I'm "old fashioned" and just trying to swim against the stream.

Do you spend a lot of time looking at them then?

Sorry but thats definitley worms in s**t. How does he go to the toilet? Maybe thats the problem, give him a laxatve and stand well back....

I stopped buying the Angling papers a few years ago too, for much the same reasons, but mainly because all they seem to do is plug some commercial carp pond or another. Then I found The Angling Star a sheffield paper, they have a much wider range of articles, and I always find something of interest.

I read somewhere that squirrels were getting high on drugs. Pushers hide their stash by burying it in the hedgerows, the squirrels dig it up and eat it. Maybe it accounts for some of their behaviour.

They reckon its insides were crushed by its own weight, duh, how surprising a sea creature on dry land. Thought they would have used a large container of some kind, with enough water to help it support itself.

Sorry guys but a decent modern reel like the Daiwa Capricorn or Shimano Stradic is far superior in every way to the old abu and mitchell's Horses for courses, I may be a Ludite but Iv'e never found a better trotting reel than my old 501. Used it on still, slow moving and fast flowing water, cast a waggler 20-30 yards, caught fish up to 10lbs on 1.5 hook links, no probs.

. Children don't you just love them to bitts. Anyone else had good questions from their children, just in case Jack comes up with another one When he was about 7, we were having dinner when my son said "dad, whats a vibrator" , my wife nearly choked on her food, and looked at me. I replied that I had used them, (wife chokes again). I explained that I'd used them for getting air out of concrete after laying it. My son thought for a while then said "ben said ladies use them", I dont know then, I said I've never seen a lady laying concrete. My son looked at me as if to say I,ll get you next time!

The movement of any predater must be governed by the movement of its food. So when the shoal fish move the pike will move with them.

Try looking in your local paper in the "for sale" columns, you still see complete sets of tackle for sale. when I was younger and cash was tight a few of us used to club together and then draw lots for who got first pick.Make sure you have a good look at the tackle before you buy.

I'm not against hunting, just irresponable hunting which we used to have as the norm. But shooting something just because it's pretty and you fancy wearing it's skin, when you have other choices seems a bit dumb, not to mention a terrible waste. We used to live in caves, send kids down the pits, we dont do it now it's called progress!

Bet he said his drink had been spiked!

Hope so, there are loads on the wharfe, or maybe cormorants. I'll drink to that!

Yes I was just thinking of them but I can't remember what they tasted of ...hedgehog I suppose but never had any to compare them with.