watchinufish

I saw what I think was an authentic Otter Board in a display box of old fishing equipment on a wall in a pub. It was a wooden board about 12 inches long and about 8inches deep and about 1/2 inch thick. It was weighted at the bottom with a lead strip to make it sit upright. There were three or four holes drilled through to top of the board. From what i've read it would be used to take out a team of lures or flies. The upright board acts like a sail and you control it with a line a bit like a kite. All strictly illegal over here now and I've never seen one working so I don't know how effective

Sorry I jumped to the wrong conclusion. Don't need chapter and verse just assumed it must be a net of some sort and wondered how you worked it. I've asked but it seems the environment lot won't issue licences to fish for elvers up here? Oh by the way, our lass hasn't even got my card details so I'm sure you'll understand if I give that one a miss

No offence taken like you I've experimented but keep it legal now.

55 a scorpio married for 27 years with two grown up boys. I've shot, worked ferrets, and dogs since a lad, been around a bit and at the risk of offending you anything else is my business.

I fully understand your concern. I'm not much for computer stuff but interested in lots of country stuff not just fishing. I won't post just for the sake of it, I enjoy the chat between those who obviously know each other and am still feeling my way. But I won't let that stop me from asking a question if I want to know more about a particular pursuit or offering my own opinion when I think I've got something to add. I've only been fishing for a couple of years so i'm still learning at that the funny name comes from an in joke. Not long after I started I was fishing on a stillwater with my mat

Dog on . There used to be an eel man on my local river in the North East but he took the big eels with what I think is called a Fyke net. He said he exported his to Holland but that was a good few years back. I don't think we have an elver run to speak of but am interested in how you catch them. Do you use a fine mesh Fyke net? or is it something different?

Dear Dartmoorman and Dogon please don't misunderstand my posting I said spawning tributaries as an indicator they would be shallow! I am not advocating taking fish off the redds, and just because fish have entered the tribs does not always mean they are about to spawn. IMHO it is irrespective if the fish are on the spawning redds or not if you take them with a snare/gaff/cast net, in UK and Wales, at anytime it is illegal. I was just pointing out a method some people who were very close friends of mine used. I didn't say I agreed with it, I prefer to catch mine with a rod. That may be rega

Some of the guys i know would use a length of cord formed in to a noose and tied to the wrist. The noose is worked over the tail of the fish and can be pulled tight to retain the fish. (A more productive act than just tickling I suppose). A long boot lace was often used as it was easy to conceal as a fairly innocent piece of kit. However this was done mainly during the day with a couple of good look-outs not at night. At night the fish are in the open and easily scared by this activity and I would agree with previous comments are better taken with a gaff. During the day they get into the ba

There are few colonies of Signals, mainly in the stillwaters, but beacuse there are still some of our naturals, in the Wansbeck I think, the EA lot won't grant a licence to anyone to trap them up here. I've already asked!

For North East rivers 22 March to 30th Sept for Brownies. Sea Trout 3 April to 31 Oct Salmon 1Feb to 31Oct. There should be info on the Environment Agency's web site for all the Regions I think. Their bailiff's won't have the same opinion about near enough though! so make sure if you go fishing.

If you are going to lug it about and have a few pennies spare get a carbon fibre one they are much lighter than the steel ones.

Doh Yes I was thinking I wonder if they had already spawned off while I was typing and mixed the two phrases up but you knew what I meant or you wouldn't have bothered correcting me. To continue in that vein IMO they look too fat to have been early spawners although the sea trout taking bread suggests otherwise. I have heard that they will re-absorb roe/milt if for whatever reason they don't find a mate but would have thought there would have been some evidence when you cleaned them any thoughts?. Ah well possibly another of life's mysteries that will remain unsolved . I'm not a John or eve

bit of a cheek making yer first post and calling a member a liar! still clearly you know sod all about the subject. I'm not going to call you a liar but I was thinking along the same lines about the colour, especially regarding the brownies and even hen migratory fish will show signs of a small Kype when sexually mature. I'm basing my opinion on my observations of the fish I've had and seen from my rivers in the North East and have no experience on rivers further South.I accept that on our rivers migratory fish will run and spawn off as late as January( I say late to differentiate b