No such thing as "A Sacred Cow"

My post title comes from within an industrial context, and is no way meant to be an insult to any religious group who hold these creatures in such high esteem! The phrase is used to encourage individuals to challenge established work practice and methods - only by doing so will things improve? Within my own experiences at Fujifilm Speciality Ink Systems and Unilever, previously, the culture of "continuous improvement" is nurtured in order to assist the business to remain competitive in today's marketplace.
Standing still isn't an option - Kodak did that and are now consigned to the scrap heap as a result! I've always been a firm believer in the "do nothing - nothing changes! Do something, and things will change but, not always as you had foreseen?"
It becomes complicated when I use this industrial thinking in my approach to my outdoor activities - if I'm not catching fish, doing nothing won't improve the situation. So I find myself constantly thinking about silly little tweaks, or even more dramatically, new venues or species, in order to put a bend in the rod. It doesn't always work, but I feel I am doing something proactive which will aid my cause. My recent run of success with carp being a great illustration of what I mean - I'd gone tench fishing, but things didn't work out quite as I had planned, but in a very positive way (on this occasion!).
I suppose it is my own acceptance of the concept of continuous improvement that keeps me asking questions of myself and my beliefs. My opinions are not set in stone but, instead, are easily adapted to incorporate new experiences or information that I encounter. Out in "blogland", well the bit with which I am familiar, there are many contributors whose ideas and experiences have caused me to question what I had previously never considered. My questions, I imagine, are sometimes seen as criticism, by those on the receiving end, and I have gotten into plenty of grief because of the manner in which my questions are posed. I'm still here - no-one's died because of anything I've asked and, in reality, it's of no great consequence quite what I think or say!
My open dislike for entomological requirements which entail the killing of specimens is simply my opinion, nothing more. To my way of thinking (the only one that matters to me - I have to live with it!) there has to be a better way. In 2015 bird identification and our willing use of available technology has transformed the understanding of, and the way we go about, a hugely complex subject and revealed massive new areas of discovery. Sonograms, DNA analysis, moult patterns, feather tracts - it goes on and on and with this comes learning. The camera technology has assisted this advancement hugely, we no longer require museum specimens to be taken. So why are the guys, who are so obviously committed to the study of our insect communities still stuck in some form of Victorian time capsule? Their study techniques entrenched in an era which didn't have access to electron microscopes, DNA data banks and digital imagery. Wake up guys - it's the 21st Century - there's an awful lot of technology out there to help you - so bloody embrace it and stop clinging to the same methodology that was practiced when Britannia ruled the waves and Neanderthal game-keepers, employed and instructed by powerful landowners, were persecuting our native raptors in order to provide sport for well-shod punters, who flaunted their wealth and status with complete disregard for the wishes of the masses. What date is it ? Is it destined that some things will never change?

Hypocrisy abounds

UKIP's Nigel Farage lost the South Thanet, 2015, General Election to Craig Mackinlay (Conservative) by a very narrow margin. I fully understand that it's our democratic process but, also realise that the voice of the populous is not represented by this, first past the post, system. Less than half of those of us, who took the trouble to vote, selected Mr Mackinlay - so he's not representative of the majority of the South Thanet electorate but, instead, the largest chunk in this pie chart democrasy. Electoral reform is not my purpose - although I wouldn't argue against it!
Fox hunting has once again entered the political spotlight - our elected MP is supporting the cause, quoting, if you please, the plight of highland sheep farmers! You what? He was elected to fight the cause for reinstating Manston Airport and promote Thanet throughout the UK - highland farmers and hunting with dogs didn't enter into it when those shiny, pre-election, leaflets were regularly thrust into my letterbox! I shouldn't be in the least bit surprised, after all he's a politician and lying/cheating/mis-leading is what they do as a profession! Farage would have been no different? Fox hunting is not about vermin control, let's get this very clear! It is about an elitist bunch of horsey people (Conservative voters at a guess?) who like blood sports - chasing around the countryside in their hunting pink, shouting "view halloo", whilst aboard some very highly strung equine transport. Strangely, I haven't got a problem with this if the politicians came straight out with their stance on such subjects. Country (Field) sports are always going to be a very emotive subject, which will divide opinions, however they are presented.
If a guy is hungry, I have no objection to him shooting a bird/animal or taking a fish, if the purpose is to feed himself and/or his family. It's called the food chain - not Tesco's sanitized version of pre-packaged wholesale slaughter. My issue is, and always has been, with industrial scale massacre, conducted under the banner of "country pursuits" and the multi national businesses that purport to support tradition, whilst deliberately flaunting their power, by the complete disregard of UK and EU statutes! Hen Harrier persecution is totally unacceptable in 2015, yet it is more prevalent today than ever? Why? Because our political system is rotten to the core - fuelled by greed and self aggrandisement. The multi - million pound industry, that is Grouse shooting, seems to be bomb proof, having surrounded itself with such corrupt and self-serving political allies (Very much like Mr Blatter within a totally screwed up FIFA?)
What the fuck has highland fox control got to do with Craig Mackinlay's election to the position of MP for South Thanet?  Correct - absolutely nothing! But before we all get too animated let's think about our own opinions and how we have adapted them to suit our own interests? As far as I can gather, the whole of the UK is unanimous in its' opposition to the hunting of whales, pretty similar to the reaction against the Canadian fishermen clubbing seal pups, out on the Arctic ice flows. I'm no different - it is abhorrent to my way of thinking. But let's take this a stage further.
How do we feel about the use of "Larson Traps" to remove troublesome corvids from game shooting estates - we don't like it because we're anti-shooting! So what is your stance when the RSPB use the same methods to protect ground nesting waders in some of their reserves - well that's OK?
The debate surrounding Hare coursing is, to say the least, heated - I don't support the practice but, having witnessed the spectacle (Jan 2013 - so it was definitely illegal) on an RSPB controlled area, think that interaction between dog (single) and hare is fantastic to behold - no less wondrous than a Peregrine stooping on Wood Pigeons or Lapwings. The wholesale slaughter of Badgers, by DEFRA supported science, is ludicrous - it's the bloody cows infecting the Badgers, that's why it's called "Bovine TB" I would like to think that, so far, the majority of visitors to this blog are still on-board. Nothing I have written is too contentious?
We've already established that re-instating Fox hunting is a no no! We simply don't like it. I don't personally think that there is an issue with farmers protecting their livestock, but hunting with dogs isn't acceptable in 2015. If the Fox is a problem - shoot it; very much in line with my approach to a Brown Rat in my aviary! Red Squirrels are cute, Grey ones ain't, but the removal of squirrels from any situation will arouse protest. What about pigeons? I don't mean Wood Pigeons and Stock Doves, I'm thinking about those feral street urchins which shit on our buildings and are seen as a general nuisance in the majority of our urban habitats. On Thanet, Herring Gulls would also fit a very similar profile, despite the fact that we live on "The Isle" - the clue should be in the title, one would have thought?
Now we are, as individuals, starting to play God - we like whales (we've never seen one!), but we don't like messy street pigeons (we've seen loads of those). What makes one creature more worthy than another? I'll continue my thoughts with these observations (purely from a personal perspective) It is Hen Harrier Day (9th August 2015) when a great many folk, fully committed to the cause will make their thoughts known to the politicians, and businesses involved, that Hen Harrier persecution is unacceptable in this day and age. It will make the news headlines, fill a few column inches in the National Dailies, no doubt? But will it change anything?
My own thoughts are directed towards that group of protesters who claim to be "naturalists", appalled by this slaughter, this abuse of power, utter contempt for laws and statutes, yet within their own little worlds happily continue to take token samples of insects because, if they don't get genitalia details, they won't be able to add another sad number to their list?
We don't like killing whales, dolphins, foxes, badgers, hen harriers and squirrels - but, I'm OK it's only a moth, fly, bee, wasp and I'm adding valuable (?) data to our records! Bollocks - what makes one creature more important than another and who do you think you are to make that call?  Before you dive for the comment facility - I'm as guilty as charged! I stick hooks in live fish, and call it sport, as I said at the very start - "Hypocrisy abounds"

Making hay

I managed to grab another session, on Sunday evening, as Bev was busy sorting out her crafting stuff - so it seemed foolish not to seize the opportunity. I had bait and munger already waiting, all my gear was as it had been left from Saturday night; so just stuck it back in the car and off I went. I know that in the back of my mind was a hope to get a photo of a beaver! However, I also knew that I'd put a lot of bait in this particular swim and, if I've got my thinking correct, the fish will be drawn into the area purely due to my regular bait introductions. The fact that I am also introducing bait, even when I can't actually fish, should encourage confident feeding amongst the wily denizens of this watery domain. The weather was fair and conditions, on my arrival, looked spot on!

I had the camera poised, ready focused, just in case I got another sighting of that beaver.

I went through the ritual of laying down two beds of particles, before scattering a couple of handfuls of loose offerings, of my hook baits, over the top. Almost immediately there were signs of fish activity in my chosen spots; patches of fizzing bubbles and, twice, carp rolled on the surface - it was looking good. Within an hour my left hand rod was away and I found myself attached to a rather angry Common of 12/14 lbs - I'll never know the exact weight as the hook pulled after a couple of minutes while I was struggling to keep it moving amidst a rather dense lily-pad. There was a time when such an occurrence would have ruined my day - not anymore. Shit happens; move on! I'm not the only angler to have ever lost a fish, it's not the end of the world.
I checked the hook, everything seemed OK - it stuck in my finger nail as I dragged it across - the hook-link wasn't tangled, nor anything else untoward - so, just one of those things, I guess? My confidence remained high, despite of this set back, and little more than an hour later, my right hand alarm signalled a bite and over went the rod. Quite an interesting scrap, considering the carp was less than 8lbs, enjoyable none the less. I carried on for another 90 minutes, or so, without further action (and no beaver sighting!)

This little chap is a bit of a puzzle! Certainly not of the same strain as my earlier carp, it's almost bream-like.
 Fin and scale perfect - where has it come from?

I'm now on a week of late-shifts, so my angling time will be very restricted, but I feel that there is still plenty of scope to refine my approach to these intimate venues. There is something very satisfying when a fish is taken on bait that you have prepared yourself, particle fishing is, to me, the very essence of my methodology. It suits my tackle choice and these un-complicated fish populations in such a way that I'm back at the beginning; embarked on a journey of discovery and thrills as each individual fish is encountered. Even if I do say it myself, I'm fishing rather well at present - the whole confidence thing is building as I make ideas become reality and regularly put fish on the bank. It is very true that my tench ambitions have yet to be realised but only a fool would be unhappy, with my results, of late?
In Rod Hutchinson's 1983 book "The Carp Strikes Back" (ISBN 0-9508865-2-1) he invited Dick Caldwell to write a piece on his approach to particle fishing - called "The Kent Angle" It remains a great source of advice and inspiration, despite being written over thirty years ago. Rod was no slouch with his own use of particle baits - he gave the Redmire carp some hammer during his time in that elite syndicate; hemp and tares being highly effective, as I recall. Thankfully the boillie revolution took place and today's carp anglers are so convinced by the slick marketing as to be unable/un-willing to deviate from this angling template. My slant on this situation is that the anglers, and not the fish, are the ones being caught? There can be absolutely no room for compromise with bait presentation and terminal tackle, you have to present the most effective that you are able? Rods, reels, bivvies, rod-pods, and myriad other sundry items are all gimmick driven in these modern times and it would seem to me that the carp angling crowd have an insatiable appetite for this hype.
It's very easy for me to sit here, smug in the knowledge that only experience brings. It might even be directly proportionate to age, there are a number of other bloggers, of similar vintage, who hold these same opinions about other aspects of outdoor hobbies - birding, dare I say "twitching", and camera wielding newbies being a particularly sore point.
Was it really that much better in "our day"? Or will this current crop also be able to look back with fondness on their own formative period and frown upon the antics of the next generation - I'm guessing that the answer to this will be yes, as John Hollyer once said to me, "Every generation feels the need to reinvent the wheel!" - with the speed at which technology is advancing someone probably will! In the mean time, I will continue to go it my way - a bucket of black-eyed suzies, a bent rod, spinning centre-pin and a wet landing net - angling paradise for this grumpy old git.

Still haven't found what I'm looking for!

It seems to me that my, decidedly limited, ability, to see the obvious, is getting worse with the aging process? My efforts to identify some of the "micro-moths" that have been discovered, within the confines of my MV, are proving more than a little testing! I'll be the first to admit that I'm not fully committed to the venture - at the moment - there are so many other thing going on in my little world.
I can't be doing with the scientific nomenclature - get an English name and I'm far more likely to connect two and two?

Emily chose this Dot Moth, over a Privet Hawk!
 

I cannot deny the fascination that this group are providing - diversity beyond anything I've previously bothered to explore. Fascinating, frustrating and totally enjoyable - just how all natural history encounters should be and that's the key for me! A journey of discovery, pushing myself beyond my current limitations, but not to the extent that I loose track of why I'm looking in the first place. The purchase of Micro Moths of Great Britain and Ireland has created more questions than answers - bloody brilliant!

I have the option to acquire a set of four volumes of Moths of Britain & Western Europe - good old Dad! I'll have trouble finding space on the shelves of my over-stocked library - hey-ho! There are far bigger problems in the world? Will they make moth id any easier? I have no idea, but everything that might assist my efforts is more than welcomed. Franny dropped off a bunch of egg boxes this morning - he didn't knock the door (why?) cheers mate, many thanks, just what the doctor ordered!

Paraswammerdamia nebulella - common

Argyresthia retinella - a common species apparently?
I bet there aren't too many Thanet residents that have ever seen one!

Lead-core leaders & a live beaver!

I don't do chemistry - couldn't give a monkey's about the metals involved in the sinking core of any of the commercially available leader materials. I've been using the Taska 800 mm  lead-core leader, because, at the time, that is what I could readily purchase. Absolutely no doubts as to the effectiveness of the product, in conjunction with my terminal rig. After all it is the presentation of my hook bait that is of paramount concern, and this material does nothing but assist my efforts.
I know that Simon stongly disagrees with my methods, but I have to go with my heart and will continue to pursue my dreams, using methods in which I have 100% confidence. I have absolutely no problems with the lead-core concept, although fully understand that in some circumstances it can potentially become a "death rig". This, however, is not the fault of the material but, as is usual, individual anglers using it incorrectly.

I should get commission for these product endorsements?
For the money, I couldn't fault it and it does everything I require

I called into Ramsgate Dragon Carp, during the week, and came out £9.99 lighter but with a 25m spool of lead-free sinking core leader material. It came with a "free" splicing tool, but this gift is next to bloody useless, so don't expect miracles! Pay proper money for a decent splicing needle and away you go! With so many fisheries now banning the use of lead-core, Dragon Carp are to be commended in their marketing/development of a "lead free" alternative.  All very well until you realise that it is not the lead, in the lead-core, that is the issue here. It is the incorrect use/application of this sinking leader technology and the banning of lead-core is extended to encompass any other form, or derivative, of this material. But that's another issue; this leader material is pretty good and I'm now using it in preference to the Taska leaders. The fact that I'm able to custom produce a leader, in excess of 1m is why I'm so complimentary - I'd have been just the same if I'd encountered a similar product, with a different brand label, elsewhere. This has now given me the ability to create leaders that are specific to my angling situation, providing me with the option to cease with back-leading; at these short ranges I am currently exploring; especially if I can also incorporate the additional benefits of a sinking Flouro-carbon/ Korda Sub-line on my spools.



An eccentric tackle tart's definition of "cool"? There isn't a bait-runner system that
offers less resistance than a centre-pin. When viewed by the carp angling ultra-cult? -
everything points towards "Noddy" - result!

My deliberate flaunting of "Dragon Carp" products has the desired effect - the "fashionistas" give me a wide berth and everything, in my world, is good. Apart from the rods, swing-arm indicators (home made) and the Spider Wire braid - everything you can see has been purchased from the carp angler version of "Hell" Stainless steel rod rests (£1.49 each), buzzer bars, by Diem, £29.98/pair, Redmire bite alarms 3/£5 - so unbelievably good that I've got four!, Taska "snag ears" and the two, of my three, Matt Hayes "Limited Edition" centre-pins  (three cost me £165!) It is not my mission to expose the crazy deceit that exists within the angling market place, just to make other, working guys, aware of the alternatives. Dragon Carp is way off the perfect antidote, some of their products are absolutely useless - but it does offer a very realistic alternative to ordinary anglers, those of us to whom brand labels are simply that and not a badge of honour, a statement of angling ability or spending power.
My terminal tackle is as good as I know how to make it, some of the components unavailable in Dragon Carp (especially hooks!) - the two Duncan Kay's would cost somewhere in the region of £500/700 in todays market - if there is anyone out there to build them? Based on a Bruce & Walker "high modular carbon" blank with twin-legged Seymo rings and a Fuji reel fitting - they remain an enduring link back to my crazy past. Benno constantly takes the piss, even Bev pours scorn on these angling relics -  but they keep bending and I enjoy myself whenever I use them.

Look how far I've come in a very short while.
Mis-matched centre-pins and "hangers" and decidedly shabby Gardner buzzer bars.
I've smartened myself up and now present a far more professional approach to my angling!
Funny thing is that the terminal tackle hasn't changed - it has to be, and always will, the best I can acquire.

I had a four hour, evening, session during the week and I got "done over" twice. I can't be sure as to the species involved, but I did get indication of aborted takes! I obviously need to look at the rig effectiveness but I am also thinking that the particle mix might have some part to play? Both my munger and my hook baits had been thawed and refrozen, three times. I am in no doubt that it was still capable of attracting feeding fish, but think it might have been too soft, thus unable to withstand the attentions of the smaller species? I'm getting some more prepared, in readiness for another session, tonight. I really don't know what I'm fishing for - these East Kent drains are a wonderful conundrum. What I am fairly sure of is the fact that I haven't had the best of it yet - there is a whacker, somewhere out there, awaiting my acquaintance! My diary is a great source of information - I will write something down as an idea, or situation, arises and only remember my thinking when looking back at a later date. This particular project is a fantastic experience and, I'm sure, will be up there with my 2011/12 pike fishing exploits when I look back on it at the end of the season.
I'm due a date with a barbel, very shortly, so my efforts tonight might be the last, for while, out there in the wilderness. The Stour barbel remain as enigmatic as ever - it will, however, only take one bite to see me back out on the drains, mission accomplished - a barbel photo in 2015; my main objective remains the capture a tench from these waters.

Back again for another try - matching hangers, instead of swingers, for visual bite indication

I'm just back home after another session, I did manage to winkle out a small common, around 8lbs, but this trip will remain forever in my mind for the crazy encounter with a European Beaver. It swam straight through my swim, I had to do a double take in the half light of dusk. I was thinking Coypu, but knew something was amiss! Only when I stood up did the creature dive and, in the process, smash the surface with that wonderful flattened tail. I know that there are/were captive European Beavers at Ham Fen KWT Reserve and that Mark Chidwick had photographed one on the River Stour at Westbere a couple of years ago - so they are not quite as securely enclosed as the Kent Wildlife Trust would have us believe. I don't care as to where this animal originates; it was a "lifer" for me and I enjoyed every second of the experience.

A rather strange looking little Common that fell to the, old faithful, chick peas.

Carp and Eels

I feel that there are very few anglers who can connect carp and eels with the common denominator of nuisance fish! My latest project has been shaped, and dominated, by the capture of both these species. Tench fishing out on the East Kent marshes is a situation where both species are "nuisance fish". Strangely, however, I am perfectly happy to accept the interference from carp, yet not eels?
So here's the plan - I'm going to go eel fishing! I'm deliberately going out to catch a decent specimen. I'm not going to start until October, but it might provide a focus between the end of my barbel/carp/tench challenges and the start of another pike campaign.
I am incredibly privileged to have spent some, a very little, time in the company of, the late, John Sidley. He was the most obsessive eel angler of his generation, his enthusiasm infectious, a heart attack taking him from us prematurely  - we'd meet, occasionally, at various conferences and tackle shows - he was a 100% great character and a true angling legend. The strange thing that connected us was the fact that we both shared an eel PB of 7lbs 1oz! John's caught by design, after many years of hard work, mine by pure fluke, and I still take no credit for it to this day.

My current PB carp - taken in February 1984, thus before Benno was born!
If a nuisance fish, of these dimensions, turns up - I'll find it in my soul
to cope with the situation.

Darren Roberts' comment about my recent 3 lbs 6 oz eel, was catalyst to this decision making process, further assisted by the Youtube "My Life in Angling" contribution of Martyn Bowler. If eels really are this numerous, within The Stour catchment, then it should be "fill your boots time"?  So I now have a project "D", to pursue, before the pike fishing, once again, takes centre stage. I think it will be a journey of exploration, rather than a target driven challenge. I have a number of ideas, stemming back to my lunatic past, John Sidley and Micky Bowles (a Gillingham lad and one of the funniest speakers I've ever seen at an angling conference!) providing much thought provoking advice, at that time, which I feel might still be relevant in 2015?
Benno's up for it, after first enquiring if I'd been taking drugs? I've already got an idea of the starting venue, we should have a crack at, and I'm sure that we'll come up with a few others before the end of September? Catching an eel by design, rather than accident, will be a novelty and just might provide an alternative to pike angling until after the first frosts of the late-autumn. Watch this space! However, between now and then, eels remain as slimy, nuisance, scum-bags; very unfairly judged against the carp that have, and will continue to be, encountered during my quest for a specimen tench (or barbel?) - such is life!
Other recent news revolves around the birdlife that I've encountered on my travels. A female-type (it could have been an eclipse male or a juvvy, I didn't have my bins to hand) Red-crested Pochard was seen, in the company of Tufted Ducks on a drain within the SBBOT recording area, and I've also, recently, seen an imm Red Kite in the same vicinity! On Sunday afternoon, Emily, Harry and myself were at the playground, in Staple, when another, this time adult, Red Kite flew over, giving magnificent views. Today, my early morning walk, to work, was enlivened by the fly over of a flock of nine adult Mediterranean Gulls - pure patch-watching gold. Garden mothing is mundane, if not boring? It would seem that, for the time being, my tench quest dominates the useable brain cells between my ears? I would also like to point out that anyone, considering an eel quest, won't have too many of these left functioning!

All in the detail

I must first acknowledge the role that Benno and Luke have played in my recent successes. If it wasn't for the conversation with Benno, last Sunday, and the news of upstream weed cutting, I wouldn't have gone off "tench fishing" in the first place! My new "anti-eel" munger is based upon an idea, that Luke came up with; a, previously untried, cereal mix which was central to him capturing his "thirty" in early June. As I've stated, many times previously, we don't have secrets, nor is there any jealousy, between us. If one of us is successful, we all know why, how and where - there is a shared pleasure from the landing of any decent fish; no matter by whom. Sadly this is a situation, which is, not replicated by the majority of others and why I am always rather vague about the location of the venues I fish, away from the commercials; obviously!

How close to disaster? The lower rig is the one on which I landed the twenty!
The hook has opened out, slightly, under the pressure of the extended battle. The experiment ends
there - no more Barbel Maxx for me, I'm afraid. It's back to Korda Wide Gapes
 

My little flirtation with Kamasan Barbel Maxx hooks has come to an abrupt end. As you can see from the photo, above, the hook had started to open out, although not causing me to lose the fish on this occasion. There is no way that I could remain confident that my tackle wouldn't let me down at some point in the future if I stubbornly persisted with these hooks.
Benno, Chris ( a newbie to the gang ) and myself were out yesterday evening. A quick word in the ear of the local landowner allowed us to drive an isolated farm track and park within a reasonable distance, a few hundred yards, of our chosen venue, one that I'd baited on Friday morning. Benno and Chris went fishless, my run of luck continues as, just as we were counting down to our leaving time, my right hand rod rattled away and I found myself playing a feisty 16 lbs 12 oz Common Carp, on the centre-pin - absolute joy! Benno doing the gillie work and subsequent photos. This might have been the only fish on the bank but, Chris and I saw a large tench in the water, so my quest will continue along this new drain.

Another lovely dark carp - the reddening on the lower belly and vent almost certainly due to recent spawning activity.

I'm having fun with my bait preparation, maples and black-eyed suzies have been added to the equation and I've been introducing them in my munger. They take the same sort of preparation as chick peas, but I'm using another flavour and adding colour for this part of my experiment. I'm on earlies next week, so should get a chance to get out to bait up a couple of times before actually casting a line? These really are exciting times and I'm loving it!