Vagabond

Maybe not, but a lot of maggot-like creatures must drop into waters from overhanging trees and bushes. BTW In older books, the maggot may be referred to as a gentle ("a little kicking gentleman") and in older books still might be referred to as a "mawk" - from which we get "mawkish" as in "a mawkish sense of humour" "Mawk" might make a good handle for a new poster .....

Maybe not, but a lot of maggot-like creatures must drop into waters from overhanging trees and bushes. BTW In older books, the maggot may be referred to as a gentle ("a little kicking gentleman") and in older books still might be referred to as a "mawk" - from which we get "mawkish" as in "a mawkish sense of humour" "Mawk" might make a good handle for a new poster .....

Have used it with success for sea fish. More unusually, we bought a supply of Portugese tinned razorfish, which made a welcome and delicious change from sardine in my sandwiches. One freezing winter's day on the middle Hants Avon, I was having a hard time with the chub, so in desperation tried a small piece of razor, and got two chub in two successive casts!

Maggots are mentioned in the first printed version of "The Treatyse of Fishing with an Angle", published in 1496. The earlier written version (c 1450) mentions the "flesh fly" which probably means the same thing. There is nothing written in angling literature about maggots - or much else - earlier than that. So sorry, Ferret,can't tell you, as it was (just) before my time!

Maggots are mentioned in the first printed version of "The Treatyse of Fishing with an Angle", published in 1496. The earlier written version (c 1450) mentions the "flesh fly" which probably means the same thing. There is nothing written in angling literature about maggots - or much else - earlier than that. So sorry, Ferret,can't tell you, as it was (just) before my time!

Lee, please do not get discouraged by apathy in others. Forty years ago I spent a lot of time organising fishery management groups for angling clubs within a large federation. A lot of keen young anglers set up fishery management sub-committees within their clubs. A lot of detailed surveying of club waters potential took place. Not surprisingly the most common finding was that small club waters should be stocked with tench, rudd and perch rather than skimmer bream. After the initial enthusiasm (about 9 months) I found that many of the clubs who initially supported the idea had got bored with it (no instant 5 lb tench had appeared in their waters) and the fishery management people were voted off committees in favour of positive stocking action from the matchfishers (I don't mean REAL matchfishers, I mean people anxious to win the club match cup with a 7 lb bag, 45 fish, all bream) Bream were stocked ad nauseam (few carp about then) and many waters ruined. At first I thought I had wasted my time, but.... It is interesting that a very few clubs persisted with an informed fishery management policy and are now, forty years later, thriving. Others have persisted with a stick-in-the mud skimmer bashing philosophy and are struggling - and now, in desperation, stocking with match sized carp, but cannot compete with the commercial set-ups. So, with hindsight, I'm glad I helped pioneer the idea of clubs managing their own fisheries. Having written to Ian yesterday, offering support (and your fourteenth sub) I was a little taken aback to read the first post here, ie that you wanted to take your bat home. However, there seems to be enough support to encourage you to think again. The major snag in the whole idea I have set out in my letter (ie "Open to all" means open to litter louts, and litter-louts lose waters) - if this aspect can be addressed we could be in business - but if, after all, you do not proceed with RSSG, please send my sub on to the ACA. I hope the scheme goes forward, but we must all expect apathy - especially at club level. That does not mean we should give up.

Lee, please do not get discouraged by apathy in others. Forty years ago I spent a lot of time organising fishery management groups for angling clubs within a large federation. A lot of keen young anglers set up fishery management sub-committees within their clubs. A lot of detailed surveying of club waters potential took place. Not surprisingly the most common finding was that small club waters should be stocked with tench, rudd and perch rather than skimmer bream. After the initial enthusiasm (about 9 months) I found that many of the clubs who initially supported the idea had got bored with it (no instant 5 lb tench had appeared in their waters) and the fishery management people were voted off committees in favour of positive stocking action from the matchfishers (I don't mean REAL matchfishers, I mean people anxious to win the club match cup with a 7 lb bag, 45 fish, all bream) Bream were stocked ad nauseam (few carp about then) and many waters ruined. At first I thought I had wasted my time, but.... It is interesting that a very few clubs persisted with an informed fishery management policy and are now, forty years later, thriving. Others have persisted with a stick-in-the mud skimmer bashing philosophy and are struggling - and now, in desperation, stocking with match sized carp, but cannot compete with the commercial set-ups. So, with hindsight, I'm glad I helped pioneer the idea of clubs managing their own fisheries. Having written to Ian yesterday, offering support (and your fourteenth sub) I was a little taken aback to read the first post here, ie that you wanted to take your bat home. However, there seems to be enough support to encourage you to think again. The major snag in the whole idea I have set out in my letter (ie "Open to all" means open to litter louts, and litter-louts lose waters) - if this aspect can be addressed we could be in business - but if, after all, you do not proceed with RSSG, please send my sub on to the ACA. I hope the scheme goes forward, but we must all expect apathy - especially at club level. That does not mean we should give up.

Good job I'm sitting on my ultra-stable five-legged chair, Newt, or I would have fallen off.

Good job I'm sitting on my ultra-stable five-legged chair, Newt, or I would have fallen off.

The only good thing I have found in the Napoleonic (metric) system is the metrication of swivel chairs. Got one chair each for self and wife, to go with our two desks, and the two chairs had ten legs between them ! I'm sitting on one now, typing this. Five legs under my seat (or seven if you count my own) means I now fall off my chair less often, however much whisky I drink, or however funny Newt's jokes are The Aussies went Napoleonic, and have forgotten Imperial - the sheila behind the counter was gob-smacked when in an outback bar I asked for a pint of beer..... They still serve slabs in multiples of twelve though ( a slab is a pack of 48 cans - nothing to do with slimy bream) - and there are still 24 hours in a day......

The only good thing I have found in the Napoleonic (metric) system is the metrication of swivel chairs. Got one chair each for self and wife, to go with our two desks, and the two chairs had ten legs between them ! I'm sitting on one now, typing this. Five legs under my seat (or seven if you count my own) means I now fall off my chair less often, however much whisky I drink, or however funny Newt's jokes are The Aussies went Napoleonic, and have forgotten Imperial - the sheila behind the counter was gob-smacked when in an outback bar I asked for a pint of beer..... They still serve slabs in multiples of twelve though ( a slab is a pack of 48 cans - nothing to do with slimy bream) - and there are still 24 hours in a day......

Soldier in British Railways buffet (those were the days!) to stout lady of a certain age behind the counter. "Two teas, duck" S.L behind c. "Don't you call ME Duck" Soldier "Well, you're no chicken, are you?" [ 18 February 2002, 07:31 PM: Message edited by: Vagabond ]

Soldier in British Railways buffet (those were the days!) to stout lady of a certain age behind the counter. "Two teas, duck" S.L behind c. "Don't you call ME Duck" Soldier "Well, you're no chicken, are you?" [ 18 February 2002, 07:31 PM: Message edited by: Vagabond ]

Woodys, for sure (wrong shape and wrong colour for Mandarins) I've seen plenty of both.

Woodys, for sure (wrong shape and wrong colour for Mandarins) I've seen plenty of both.

Are they meant to be weighted? and/or anchored? - after all, a stick float lies on its side unless shotted I've just looked at my N American Birds handbook, and the size is about right (18.5" length for the real thing) and they are not a bad representation either apart from the colour- probably the paint has discoloured a bit with age.

Are they meant to be weighted? and/or anchored? - after all, a stick float lies on its side unless shotted I've just looked at my N American Birds handbook, and the size is about right (18.5" length for the real thing) and they are not a bad representation either apart from the colour- probably the paint has discoloured a bit with age.

Cheers Ferret - Post again when you make your arrangements, and we'll see what can be done.

Looks like the male American (Carolina) wood duck, ( Aix sponsa) but the colouring is not quite like the real thing. Probably used as decoys Come on Newt - is that right ? [ 17 February 2002, 04:29 PM: Message edited by: Vagabond ]

Looks like the male American (Carolina) wood duck, ( Aix sponsa) but the colouring is not quite like the real thing. Probably used as decoys Come on Newt - is that right ? [ 17 February 2002, 04:29 PM: Message edited by: Vagabond ]

quote: Originally posted by cliffy: [QBs. make sure hooklink is abrasion resistent as cats have a very rough mouth . and most of all--HANG ON-they fight like demons. [/QB] Yes - Quicksilver 45 lb braid is one good material for hooklink - and make sure your mainline is strong enough! Good luck

Ferret - is that shore fishing or boat fishing you are after ? Leicester is a long way from anywhere:) ("anywhere" being the coast) but I suppose it is almost as near the Sussex coast as anywhere else. Do you get down south at all?