Janet

Pure genius John! Nylon? NYLON? As if...have you seen what the static electricity does to your pinkies? Janet

Real stalkers also don't use handwarmers... Jeez...he's such a wuss! Janet

This thread is worthless without pictures....!!! :o Janet

I suppose all good things have to come to an end sometime...today I had the sad task of bidding farewell to an old and faithful friend, one who has been my constant companion since I took up angling a few short years ago. There were many tears shed today, lots of memories and fond recollections of good times shared, but in the end there was nothing that could be done... I am absolutely gutted...my trips to the lake will never be the same without my stalwart friend who was always there for me through thin and thick... I really don't know how I can carry on without the constant help and support... I blame myself...if only I'd been more careful, more attentive...more receptive... Yes, I accidentally put my pair of lucky fishing knickers through a boil wash.... The fetching lace trim and pastel pink rosebuds were already faded beyond recognition, but still I was given support and comfort when I was in need...now that help is no more.... If anyone needs a marquee for a special event, please PM me! Janet

Rusty, so far as I know, my lake is still under threat from developers who want to build a racecourse/hotel/shopping complex in the area. However, given the recent financial downturn, it seems to have been put on hold and we haven't heard anything for months...let's hope that "silence is golden" with this one, and they decide to invest elsewhere...if not, I will be lying down in front of the diggers as I'm not about to see this rather special little place obliterated for the sake of commerce. Luckily I work for the local Council, so I keep a close eye on planning applications. My current worry is a huge Tesco superstore being built just a couple of hundred yards from my home, on the banks of my local River Calder, which is much overlooked, but stuffed full of wild brownies. Currently I have a rather nice walk to work for a few hundred yards along the riverbank...I can even get in a few hours fishing before I go to work, but now that they've appealed and being granted planning permission, I expect that will all change. They failed in their first planning application after a lot of objections from local residents and retailers, but hey, they're the big boys and they bully their way in....what Tesco wants, Tesco gets... I will have cars thundering up and down the road outside my house as they discover the local "rabbit run" that bypasses the town and the traffic lights...the lovely old stone built mill walls and buildings that remain on the riverside walk will be replaced by the trolley bays and the car park...what remains of our heritage will be bulldozed and turned into yet another consumer delight....for whom? The local residents who vetoed the plan? We didn't want it...both local businesses and local residents gave it a definite no...they have a huge superstore just a few minutes drive away...it's pure avarice on their part. However, they have the money and influence to ride roughshod over anyone that gets in their way... It makes me feel sick to the stomach just to think about it... Janet

Cheers for the maggots Steve, but you hadn't trained them well enough! My swim died shortly after you left, despite my best efforts. Bites were very few and far between for the rest of the day for all of us, hence why I went wandering round with my camera. I had two good and exciting runs from very decent fish during the day. The first, which felt absolutely massive, I lost because I hadn't got the clutch on my reel set correctly...a huge beginner's mistake, and one that I came to regret as I played it for about five minutes before it shook the hook in the reeds. I haven't been fishing much this year with one thing and another, and I turned the knob the wrong way, giving the fish the opportunity it needed to strip line off my reel and make me look like a total numpty! As you know, I'm pretty good at that! The second I was managing OK...it went over to my right, under the overhanging elderberry and hawthorns and I thought I'd lost it, but I managed to tease it back out into the open water. It then skited off towards your peg, before coming back towards me and breaking the surface...looked like a pretty decent common! Woo hoo! Then, just as I was playing it into the net it spooked and shot off like a chuffing steam train straight into the middle of the lake towards the island...I did get my hook/float back, but the hook didn't have quite the bend in it that it had when I started! It was a Cillit Bang moment...."Ping, and the hook is gone....." I was guttted...did it show? I tried to be brave and not cry like a wuss... Oh well...that's fishing! It wouldn't be any fun without the story of the one that got away, would it? Paul had a decent mirror...he's a tad p*ssed off that I still managed to beat him 3-1 though! OK, I only had three tiddlers, but our friendly (?) challenge is for quantity, not quality! I caught three, he caught one...WINNER!!!! It was a good day, made even better by watching Paul in his balaclava looking like a terrorist/bank robber whilst we basked in the sunshine...! Look forward to seeing you on the lake again soon. Janet

I went fishing today for the first time for several weeks...just what I needed after a stressful week at work with redundancies in prospect....it's amazing how chilled out you can get just sitting on the bank and watching a little orange float bobbing up and down...or not, as it turned out! My float was brilliant...it did exactly as it said on the tin...it floated! From nine o'clock this morning until four o'clock this afternoon it performed admirably! Still, no matter...I was in my favourite place with some of my favourite people and that was good enough for me. I did actually manage to catch three fish, and beat my fishing buddy 3-1, but it really was an appallingly bad day on the lake, despite all my best efforts. My first cast produced a fabulous run from something big, but after taking me all over the lake it finally bettered me and shook the hook in the reed bed next to my peg. I was gutted! It was totally my fault, as I hadn't got the clutch set right on my reel...clutch? I haven't been fishing in so long that I'd forgotten it was there! So, in between the very rare bites, I decided to make the best of it and take Oly for a walk to try and capture some of the atmosphere... Lee arrived not long before we were packing up to leave and proceeded to whoop us soundly! Somebody ought to tell him that it's not the done thing to smile when you've caught a fish...you never see a smiling angler in the fishing magazines.... How do you make pole fishing interesting? I fished the peg on the far right of this picture and spent most of the day fending off falling elderberries and hawthorn berries...very disconcerting the first time it happened...then I got wise, put an elderberry on the hook and caught my first fish. Only a gudgeon, but as I haven't caught one since last summer, I was delighted with it. I'm easily pleased, can you tell? Whilst heading back to our fishing cabin to make a fresh cuppa, I spotted these...why are they always past their best when I come across them? Meanwhile, Lee was bagging up... Ray was on the back pond...he did OK, with a couple of decent carp and some nice orfe.. Paul had brought his grandson with him...he had a go at fishing for a while but there was nothing doing so he headed off up to the nearby Leeds & Liverpool canal with Ashley to try a bit of spinning....they blanked there too! Although it stayed dry and calm all day, the fish simply weren't having it. Ashley resorted to a bit of live baiting... The last couple of hours were spectacularly quiet on the fishing front, so Jamie decided to skim pebbles across the lake...I must have taken about fifty shots, but not once would he look into the camera! Such a shame, as he's a lovely looking lad...however, I'll get him one day! Not the best of days for fishing, but the company and the craic has been excellent as always. Janet

Well done! It's currently after three in the morning and what am I doing? Getting my worms ready for a fishing trip tomorrow in the hope of a decent perch. Quick trip to the tackle shop for some maggots then I'm on my way. Don't expect to get anything as good as that though! Janet

You lot have too much time on your hands... Janet PS. I luuurve Anderoo's camo...so subtle...so classy...he's the main man when it comes to CAMO! Respect....

That's an awful lot of noise for a shot taken at ISO 200... Even my Oly can do better than that! Nice shot though! Janet

Fabulous rescue story, and I don't want to take anything away from the rescuers who did a fantastic job but... I have to agree with AddictedToScopex... A three year old? Left with only a nine year old to supervise whilst near water, and tidal water at that? Beggars belief, really it does... Janet

It's absolutely fabulous news and footage, and I too had tears this morning when I watched the news. However, isn't it a bit ironic? It's Margaret Thatcher's birthday, and the whole world is focused on a mine... Janet

Oh yes you can! You have access to the internet, obviously...go onto their web page and there will be a "Contact Us" tab somewhere...send your enquiry and it will be passed to the relevant department. All Councils have an obligation to respond within a certain time frame, so you should get your answer within a reasonably short space of time. I have to concur with Errrm...I also hope they say no...taking specimen coarse fish for the table is just not acceptable in this country. You say you've seen perch on restaurant menus? Well, so have I, when I was in Egypt and in Lanzarote, but not in this country. These species of perch are completely different to the ones we have here.. Janet No more comments from me...I was taught never to feed the trolls...

Camo?

Plenty of layers...thermal leggings are good, but don't discard women's tights! A couple of pairs of these cost next to nothing and do the job beautifully...not quite so bulky as leggings, but provide good insulation. You may look a right tit if you need any emergency treatment on the bank though, so I'd suggest steering clear of "American Tan"....it's so last year....! Ditch the wellies and get some decent walking/hiking boots with good insulation, and allow room for a couple of pairs of wool/cotton socks...natural fibres are best...and try and keep your feet off the cold ground...even if it's only standing or placing your feet on your unhoooking mat, it's still giving you a bit of insulation. Wellies are good in the wet, but don't provide much protection against the cold. Hands? I wear pure wool fingerless mittens inside fishing gloves with flip top fingers...I also carry some reusable handwarmers...good for about 6 hours...don't exactly keep you toasty, but they do keep the chill off and they're available very cheaply from various sources. You do have to remember to charge them up in the microwave before you go, but they provide enough warmth for most fishing sessions. The one-trip ones that you just "click" to activate are neither use nor ornament in my experience...last for about 30 mins then you're left to shiver... Don't forget food and hot drinks. Take a flask with hot water, teabags and some cup-a-soups or (heaven forfend....) pot noodles...if you're warm on the inside you stand a better chance of staying warm on the outside. When it gets so that you can't feel your fingers/toes. that's a sure sign that it's time to give it up and go home! It's supposed to be fun, not an endurance survival test! Janet

Camo at its finest.... Janet

I just spotted it...please tell me that's a wind-up! Janet

...particularly applicable to bream...nasty, slimy critters that seem to love me and my net! Janet

I may have to purchase some of those to replace my lucky fishing knickers! Janet

Sod Pot Noodles...I like to feed my fellow anglers with a proper beef stew! When winter fishing, I usually make a huge batch to take up to my local lake and then reheat it in the cabin and serve as required. I even provide a bankside delivery service...I do have to neglect my fishing to give the stew a stir, but I like to think of it as time for them to catch up... If they ask nicely, they also get to sample my dumplings... Make of that what you will! Janet

I was totally beaten into submission on my very first fishing match. I was told that anything under 1/2 lb wouldn't be weighed, so I put all my fish back before the weigh in... I WILL get my revenge! Janet

I shall refrain from commenting, but it's soooooo tempting! Janet

I'm not quite sure if my lucky fishing knickers fall into any particular category... However, one thing's for certain, I only beat the men when I'm wearing 'em! Janet

23....mostly lucky guesses! Janet

Very clever! However they don't seem to understand custard... Janet