Vagabond

I thought drenchwear was something ladies wore for a wet T-shirt competition Seriously though, I have never, in over 60 years of angling, found a reliable waterproof - of ANY make. Despite the wild claims of sponsored anglers no garment stays waterproof for more than a few months. Of course the "field tester" stays dry for the first few trips, and writes a rave review. Repeated doses of silicone spray to the garment is the best answer I have found. Also, when you have got drenched as often as I have, you find you don't care about getting wet any more - a hip flask of brandy helps :cool: (and soaked)

Glad to know that my SAA copy is on the way, but this is something that should be read by ALL anglers (those who need it most are the least likely to send for a copy) Why not hand copies out whenever a licence is issued ie at the post office? Put the licence fee up 50p to cover costs, and incorporate EA regulations as well. Something for our angling politicians to work on ? Don't tell us it can't be done. They do it in the USA and in Australia - all rules and regulations in one neat booklet handed out at the point of sale of the licence. But thanks from all of us to those that put in the time and effort to get us this far. [ 20. October 2002, 01:41 PM: Message edited by: Vagabond ]

It was, I think, a Chelsea goalkeeper who was nicknamed "The Ancient Mariner" Why? "He stoppeth one of three......"

Well, what you said is quite true. I'm fairly deaf, and before I got my non-NHS all-singing all-dancing £4000 hearing aids (NHS version f..f..f..flippin useless)I couldn't hear my mobile ringing either - but I could feel it vibrate (no ribald remarks Chesters) And by pressing the mobile firmly to my skull just behind the ear, I (and presumably some other deaf people with problems similar to mine) can hear whats being said quite well. Many a true word.......

"Some years ago, a pipe I tried My pocket it was put inside whilst still alight, whilst carp I played Though carp was landed, I, dismayed, found that the unaccustomed heat was caused by flames around my seat. The only way of quenching it, was forthwith in the lake to sit. And afterwards, when homeward bound, I wore a cornsack, tied all round." Dick Walker (part of his only known poem) [ 20. October 2002, 12:59 PM: Message edited by: Vagabond ]

Thats very interesting Matt. Perhaps the fish went for them because they are used to them dropping in. Have the berries started dropping in naturally yet - or (and this is scary) do the fish remember them from last year? I wonder if you would get a similar result if you took some berries to a water with NO rowans overhanging ? I've plenty of rowan trees growing in my garden - will take a handful with me and experiment.

The option surely is (a) because it will NOT be wasted - something, somewhere (perhaps a mature bass) will have it for lunch - after all big predators must eat too! ( is not entirely stupid , as sand hoppers will eat the body and in turn provide food for something else. © you will get found out (Murphy's Law) (d) OK if you can afford £3000 to make a political statement (Chesters solution) a stroke of genius as it combines a,b and elements of d. [ 19. October 2002, 11:06 AM: Message edited by: Vagabond ]

" Does Viagra work ? Listen, Sunshine, I got this by just taking the cap off the bottle!" [ 19. October 2002, 10:45 AM: Message edited by: Vagabond ]

There is a chapter on downriggers in James Holgate's book "Big-water Pike Fishing. Book two: Boat Fishing" which describes the method with clear diagrams. A scaled up version is also used for big game fishing

Not sure about voles Rob, but rats and foxes certainly do.

Yes, this decline is thanks to the "animal lovers" that released large numbers of mink to the wild. BTW Several times I have been told there are "water voles" present at a water - almost always these turn out to be the much smaller bank voles (3" or so long not counting two inches of tail) By comparison water voles are huge (8" body plus 4" tail) - nearly as big as rats. PS - just beat me to it Chris -obviously you can type faster - but glad to know "Ratty" is making a comeback in your area. [ 17. October 2002, 04:00 PM: Message edited by: Vagabond ]

Good idea Spasor However, when the Vagabondess and I head north, we do so in a campervan, and stop a day or so in Lancashire to visit relatives. We also stop to fish places like the Lakes and Loch Lomond. So we take about a fortnight to get almost anywhere Always willing to pick someone up at Glasgow Airport though. Once at Lochaline we are self sufficient for eating and sleeping - so this means minimal pressure on Davy's hospitality should he have a shedfull. Looking forward to more and bigger skate if Davy will put up with us [ 17. October 2002, 01:52 AM: Message edited by: Vagabond ]

Why not take a large water-container in the back of the car and use a Kelly kettle to produce boiling water at a couple of minutes' notice? Fresh tea, piping hot coffee, "instant" packet soups (some are quite good) all available - no need for either/or decisions. A small flask of brandy improves most coffees. You can either buy the Kelly or write an amusing letter to "Waterlog". If its the best letter of the month (*) you get a free Kelly (I've acquired two that way) (*) but of course Waterlog is only published every TWO months - its still six kettles a year up for grabs. [ 17. October 2002, 02:03 AM: Message edited by: Vagabond ]

Newt - when they leave home you may start to put on weight - there's more food in the fridge! Elton - Congratulations - but as Dick Walker once said to me when I was in that same situation "Congratulations - Well I dunno - there's nothing much to congratulate - it's as easy as double haul casting!" Seriously tho', sincere congratulations, and one pleasure you still have to come is the look on their face when catching their first fish.

Glad to hear you had good sport - as you say, a weekend with Davy is rather special - the company - the surrounding Hebridean life - the scenery. On top of that even a humble doggie is a bonus, let alone a skate. Bet you'll be back for a bigger one!! PS for Alan Saw you are looking at exotic sea fishing holidays Gambia/Madeira/Texas - Have done a post on The Gambia thread, and can endorse what Newt says about sea fishing Texas. If you would like more gen re Texas, just mail me via members private mail. Have not visited Madeira yet but we are off to Mauritius (Indo-Pacific Sailfish I hope) in November. Plenty of charters advertised everywhere in the brochures - does anyone have experience of a GOOD skipper in the North part of the island? [ 16. October 2002, 05:02 AM: Message edited by: Vagabond ]

Splendid seafishing there. A five-ounce lead should usually be plenty - you may get away with less. A pulley rig is useful here too. I have made a rod carrier out of telephone cable conduit (cost about two quid and just as effective as one costing £64!) which attracts much attention from security guards. Fortunately the base is made from a clear plastic lemonade bottle, so two guards can look at each other through the tube - this seems to satisfy them. There is a commercial rod carrier available which is labelled "bazooka" which seems a somewhat prattish piece of macho product branding given the current sensitive climate re terrorism. Plenty of good fish off the beach - various sea breams (Dentex etc) Guitar fish (shovel-nosed skate) Atlantic puffer fish, ladyfish (member of drum/croaker family - excellent eating) and many others. Aquire a teenage guide/ghillie, or you will be pestered with small boys trying to "help" by dashing into the surf and handlining (= losing) any decent fish you hook. Explain to your guide that handlining loses fish and that he is on a bonus for each good fish, and he will soon put a stop to them. We were adopted by the local fishing hamlet. When it was too rough to take their dugout canoes to sea, they fished the beach - it was their livelihood. They owned two rods and reels, and these were fished all day by a team of six. One baiter-upper. One tall long-legged caster, who waded until only head and arms were visible and then cast a further 50 yards. Two rod holders. One captain/co-ordinater/supervisor - very knowledgeable re the local fishing One fish gutter and skinner - very important to prepare the Atlantic Puffers correctly - else, like Japanese puffers, they are poisonous. We fished and chatted with this group, and they certainly put us onto fish. As we only required one decent fish for the hotel to cook for us, we donated all other fish to the village. This resulted in an invitation to share in eating the catch at their evening meal. The womenfolk cooked the fish with rice, vegetables and spices - producing a fine-smelling and delicious tasting sort of spiced paella. As the guests of honour, we were issued with the village's two spoons, everyone else ate with their fingers. No problem with that, but we were sat round this communal pot (big enough to boil a missionary in if you joint him first) Norma was on my left, and Mr Baiter-Upper was on my right. All day he had been baiting hooks with Very Old Prawns, detectable by smell for fifteen yards upwind and about a mile-and-a-half downwind. He had come straight off the beach, and hadn't even wiped his hands on his shorts! So there he was, mining away at the paella with his non-too-fragrant fingers. I attacked what was in front of me with the spoon, eating rapidly, and carefully leaving a wall of rice between my portion and my neighbour's. The meal was delicious - Wolof women are superb cooks and this was one of life's Great Feasts. However, once Mr Prawnyfingers broached the rice wall, I put down my spoon and announced I had eaten enough! BTW I said Wolof women were superb cooks - I once praised the cooking of one, and quick as a flash her elder married sister appeared out of the woodwork to start negotiating the bride-price! [ 16. October 2002, 11:01 PM: Message edited by: Vagabond ]

Lucky chap! I've just had yet another wrecking trip (for tomorrow) cancelled at the last minute - not weather this time, but the charter has a rope round the prop and no divers available until tomorrow pm ! :mad: :mad: Anyway, hope you get a good skate or two, and we will keep WWIII simmering until you get back

Me also

Good on ya Tel ! This new emphasis by the NFSA is why I have joined as an individual member. I urge all who can afford it to do likewise.

Nugg, You can never prove ALL cases "without doubt". Society doesn't have to - the wording is "beyond reasonable doubt" Much is made of supposedly innocent parties being wrongly convicted. With modern methods of checking DNA that is now even less likely. There was a lot of fuss raised a month or so back over Hanratty's supposed innocence, but retrospective DNA studies show his conviction was justified.

Nice one Newt. Funny things, airlines - exorbitant charges for wherever you want to go (bargain seats for everywhere else) As a shareholder in one airline I've just been told no dividend is payable this year. Four friends of mine work for airlines (two as pilots), and complain of being underpaid. So if passengers, shareholders and employees are all getting stuffed, where is the money going to ? [ 27. September 2002, 02:13 PM: Message edited by: Vagabond ]

The talking bottle openers I have seen take the tops off beer bottles with their teeth. Celtic and Newcastle football supporters are particularly good at it. (and that's respect, not having a pop)

Brilliant, Newt. But where do Texans come in this scenario ? You don't mention them. Are they like Floridians and "not really" Southerners? I have seen the Confederacy flag flying in Texas, alongside the "Lone Star State" flag - so at least some of them regard themselves as "Johnny Rebs". [ 26. September 2002, 06:10 PM: Message edited by: Vagabond ]

No Jim, not even with hindsight! The Squidder has a reinforced end plate (plastic sandwiched between two metal plates) and ball bearings. Much sturdier than the Surfmaster. The fact that you, I and Davy Holt are still using our Squidders shows what reliable reels they are. My own has had over 42 years use and is still going strong. In fact, my Squidder is three Squidders in one. I bought a 140, plus the crossbars and reel saddles for both the 145 and the 146, and a selection of spools in a special deal. So five minutes work with a screwdriver and I can have the size Squidder I want - copes with most medium to heavy beachcasting. My only regret is that I could only afford one set at the time! When I bought my triple Squidder in about 1959/1960 long casting with the new powerful glass rods was still developing in the UK. Lots of people were getting lots of over-runs! It seemed sensible to start with the airbrakes, and file them down a bit at a time as one got more proficient. That's what I did - first removed about a third, then a bit more, and finally filed the fins down flush with the spools. Davy - not really "scary" - just great minds thinking alike [ 26. September 2002, 05:37 PM: Message edited by: Vagabond ]

Its worth checking that out - I get more than that, and I was contracted out of Serps from about 1980 As I said before, all three of my pension providers (State, occupational and private AVC) tried to diddle me out of part of my pension, and if I hadn't kept careful records and done the arithmetic they might have succeeded. Ya gotta watch 'em