Time to get out the gear
Spring is in the air! Time for all the ‘fair weather’ anglers (the ones that disappear when the Swallows go south) to get their gear out from the shed for inspection.
Providing everything was placed away in good order in your tackle/seat box, there should be no mass overhaul of equipment needed for that first outing.
Do check Nylon mono on your reels and spools as a priority, it will be OK if it has been stored in a dry dark place, otherwise it can deteriorate very quickly unlike Fluorocarbon.
Rod rings need to be looked at for wear and tear. They need replacing if there are any signs of damage – take your rod to your nearest tackle shop and they will help. Snake rings, on fly rods, may also need consideration and, in particular, the tip rings are ones to inspect. Fly lines will be OK – just a quick wipe with a cloth and a stretch before fishing will suffice.
Pole elastic should not be overlooked, neither should pole rigs. One thing for sure, though, is that I bet the mice will have got to the keep nets and landing nets of many anglers! They always do, eh?
Copyright?
This
morning I received a circular angling catalogue with a mass selection
of trout flies that I developed several years ago. In fact, I had an article
published as a contributor in a well-known magazine of these patterns
and how to use them. The name of the fly is even advertised as the original.
This has happened quite a few times to me and someone (not me) is making
money on my ideas. I know others (coarse and game) who have similar moans.
Rest assured, whoever buys these flies will catch plenty of fish despite
being sold quite cheaply!
To add insult to injury, it’s the ‘cheap’ bit that really
hurts!
Story of the mysterious goldfish
I’ve
had a positive response over the ‘Anglers take care of your catch’
piece the other week, but in a lighter vein, here is a little humorous
anecdote for my readers. It looks at a species of fish that can last a
considerable time out of water, as has been found. Please note, I do not
recommend nor condone such actions, but do read on…
A group of local young boys, during school holidays, all around nine years
old and doing what most kids do, by getting into mischief, decided to
play football on the campus playing fields in and around Hartland School.
After an hour or two of kicking the ball (and each other) about, one of
the boys said he knew where a pond was in the vicinity and they made their
way to it (kids and water, you know the stuff).
There they found loads and loads of goldfish and spent a good half hour
or so trying to catch them with their hands. A couple of the boys were
pretty successful too. But soon, they became bored and hungry and decided
to make their way home down Sparken Hill and Newgate Street towards Lowtown.
Suddenly, halfway down Newgate Street, one of the boys said, “What
shall I do with this?” and produced a large goldfish from his pocket!
Incredibly, it was still alive. No one knew what to do and thoughts of
helping this poor fish to survive became paramount. They needed to find
water, and fast. One of the boys ran up an alleyway to ask a resident
for some water or a bucket, something to help this fish survive.
To one of the boys’ amazement, there, on the low wall, at the back
of one of these terraced houses, was a small, pet goldfish in its own
proper goldfish bowl put outside by its owner (like some do with their
budgies I suppose?)
A blessing in disguise! So now, this bowl was quickly (and quietly) inhabited
by two goldfish (one considerably larger than the other), both happily
swimming away with the echoes of giggling kids filling the alleyway.
As the lads made their exit, they heard a shriek coming from this house,
“Albert! What the heck are two goldfish doing in our bowl?”
To this day, they will never know what had happened and how this mysterious
goldfish found its way into their own pet goldfish’s bowl!
Believe me, it’s a true story, but how do I know? Well, because a
certain angling correspondent was one of them. No letters please!
Notice Board
Joint
Angling Governing Bodies (JAGB) Child Protection and First Aid Workshops
are to be held at Sandhill Lake Adventure Base, Worksop, on Sunday 7th
March.
Further information or application forms from Glyn Williams on 01909 501030.
Ken
Stevenson’s popular angling course is continuing at the Gateford,
Worksop on Wednesday from 7pm to 9pm.
Students are reminded that a day’s fishing get-together is arranged
for Sunday 7th March at Sandhill Lake. Meeting time is 9am where everyone
has the opportunity to display their new skills under Ken’s watchful
eye.
Chesterfield Canal Trust are running Norwood Packet Canal cruise dates during Easter 2004. They are from 9th to 12th April (Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday), starting and finishing at the Chequers Inn, Ranby. Starting times are 11am and 2.30pm. The cruise duration is between two and three hours. The fare is £5 adult and £3.50 for children. Contact Ken Clark on 01909 472791 for more information.
Worksop
Piscatorials are holding their annual general meeting on Tuesday 16th
March at the Innings, starting 7.30pm. Anyone requiring more details,
or to join the club, should call Denise 
Payne
on 01909 733886.
Prospects
Looking for some decent sport this weekend?
All these venues are crammed full of fish, so there’s no excuses,
eh? Sherwood Forest Farm (01623 842617 or 07721 316334). Riverside Fishery,
Bawtry (01777 705748) after 5pm. Bank End Fishery, Finningley (01302 770224).
Woodlands Farm Fishery, Barlborough (0114 2653541). W&DAA water at
Torksey Arm.
If you want to get in contact with Martin to give him any results, stories or information, you can e-mail him at martintrona@aol.com