Hi my name is Clive Branson, you may remember me winning the World Coarse Fishing championship in 1987 and runner-up 1986. Since those days I have came a long way, being billed as the Worlds first professional angler, bringing new concepts to the UK from abroad, stick float and waggler's on winders, new ground bait secrets and methods, pole float innovations, and a batch of teaching Video films, just to mention a few.

With Hi-Tech now dominating the future in our lives, the natural coarse of events in passing on information is now the Super Information Highway or as some may say The Internet via email and Web pages. It gives me great delight to pass on up-todate News Views, Reports and angling information, not on a weekly basis but on a day to day or in some case's up-to the minute information as it happens. This amazing vehicle to pass on and receive information, will, be the future, way into the new millennium.

Being part of this revolution must benefit anglers no end, that said I hope you enjoy my Web pages and gleam as much information as you want and please feel free to email me with any views you may have. Or perhaps you would like to leave a message on the chat board.

Tight Lines Clive Branson

Dear Angling News,

We have Just Started a Free Information Website for Gloucestershire called Specimen Anglers! We have added a link to your Great News Pages as we do Not have a news Page on Our Free Information Site! We hope this will help Bring Readers to you Great News Site and help our Readers Get the Best Up to date Angling News on the Web! We hope this will help You & Us get more Readers! Thanks for giving Anglers every were the most up to date News Ever!!!!!! Regards The Cast UK Team! Web Address http://move.to/castuk

PIGFISH!

willows kissing the lake,dawn breaking across the mighty expanse of water,darting fish skim the surface of the water and bubbles float to the surface of the life source like a hot tub - the perfect anglers dream, then - PIGFISH !!!! you hit into wot you believe to be a cracker when you lift him over the net you find you got PIGFISH!!!!! .. unhooking the pig maybe a problem, would you like to touch him? you place him on your unhooking mat and tug away gripping his slimy pink body with one foot and tugging madley at the line forcing out that implement of tortue.At last you break free , now silence your breathing gets heavier and your heart feels like it's about to explode through your rib cage. Take a step back and gather your senses your on your own no other anglers around and you caught PIGFISH!!!!! he's only inches from you tossing his tail and trotters going ten to the dozen.Right, now composed you take a large branch from the once impressive willow which now looks like hells shelter. Prodding PIGFISH!!!! back to the edge of the watery serpents pit,sweat dripping from all over your helpless and now lifeless body.he's ready to go back to his slimy sty with one last drawn out breath you topple him over the edge , falling to the cold damp grass and gazing at his dorsal fin sailing out into the clouds of childrens blood you know you've had a geat days fishing. john adams

Dear sir or madam,

We are a SHANGHAI-based exporter of all kinds of spinning reels(in metal and/or graphite in various kinds and specifications),fishing bags,rod bags,lures, fishing jackets, nets,tents, etc. For more information, just see images on our website: http://sg.keytochina.net/fishing_tackle.htm. All of our products are very competitive in price, quality and designs. take the fishing bags as a point,the prices range is from usd1.86 to usd29.60, you can select as you like. Also some big lures in cheaper prices. We accept production on your requested own brand,We also welcome you to send your pictures or more details about the products you are needed, We shall offer the items you exactly want and give your the most competitive price.We also can organize all kinds of the scources for you so as to save your precious time and cost in purchasing from China for our mutual benifit. Please do not hestitate to email back, so that we are able to send pictures of the products and quote you the best price. Your kind attention and reply are always welcome, and our first attention will be guaranteed. best regardsBrighsun Int'l Trading Co., Ltd Add: 27G,Jinsui Mansion 379 South Pudong Rd,Shanghai,200120 China Tel: 86-21-58401768-804 Fax: 86-21-58769500 E-mail: product7@keytochina.net WEBSITE: http://sg.keytochina.net/fishing_tackle.htm

Dear Website manager

I am a postgraduate student at the University of Bath researching rivers and angling in England. Part of my research involves asking anglers to fill in a short questionnaire stating where they have fished in the past year and what has influenced their choice of site - it takes approx. 5 - 10 minutes to fill out.

I am contacting you to ask if you would be prepared to have a link to my website/questionnaire on your website. The address is: http://www.bath.ac.uk/~ecpcaj/Home.html. As you will see on my website, the information will only be used for the purpose of this research & will be kept strictly confidential. Anglers do not need to give their names.

I would be most grateful for your help in gathering this information, which will hopefully be used in future policy making for the protection /enhancement of rivers in England. The information will also be of use to organisations involved in the promotion of angling and river quality. I look forward to hearing from you

YoursClaire

Subject: A Link Request!

I found your website today and tried to add a link to it , for some reason I was unable to do it! Please can you therefore add a link for me? My website address is: homepage.eircom.net/~lakelandfishery Regards Derek Rowley Lakeland Fishery Roosky Co Roscommon Southern Ireland Tel (00353)78 38463/(00353)87 6178190

Hi. Your website is urgently needed for the general election fishstocks issue. As discussed in the Cardiff sea angling conference, the coming general election is a golden oppertunity to raise the issue of depleted fishstocks. MP's and their reps who are usually difficult to contact will actually be knocking on the doors of sea anglers. This is a time when sea anglers won't even have to put pen to paper to complain about the depletion of fishstocks and the governments (and other parties) refusal to recognise sea anglers rights to a say in the issue of fishstocks. To make things easy for anglers, Malcolm Gilbert of the NFSA has kindly written a brief so that anglers can simply hand the paper to politicians who knock on their door and say 'What is your party going to do about this?' I have put the brief on the web so that anglers can simply download it. Only 17 days for sea anglers to exploit the oppertunity of the general election. PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE can you use your website to aid this issue by doing one of the following;

Hi. Your website is looking as great as always :) Going to the Cardiff conference? I've put a link from my website to yours and wondered if you could be so kind as to put a link from yours to mine. My website is Paddys Bait & Tackle Llandudno Pier at http://www.trace.i12.com/paddys.htm

CAN YOU HELP

Dear Angling news, I have just stumbled upon you web site and i am impressed ! I will pass on your web address to my colleagues at Gloucestershire Disabled Angling Club (GDAC).I have just one question do you know of any other Disabled angling clubs in the uk? If so can you please pass on my Email address ray.mckinnon@cableinet.co.uk as we are holding a disabled open competition again this year and we are trying tom contact other clubs (we already have wey valley but that's about it!) Please can you help. Kind regards Ray

PRESS RELEASE

Dear Sir

A while ago the NFSA and Sea Angling News launched a Sport Not Profit campaign, to try and educate recreational anglers not to sell their catches. As Webmasters at Southern Sea Angling UK, Simon McGowan and myself (Sean Taylor), decided that we would design a Logo to put on our site, to promote this worthy cause. If you as a Webmaster or site owner, and would be interested in this campian, please visit our Site at http://www.southern-sea-angling-uk.co.uk , and have a look at our Sport Not Profit Page. As keen Anglers ourselves, we are keen to give this campain as wide a coverage and promotion as possible, and hopefully educate other recreational anglers in the process. This campaign is not aimed at the commercial sector (commercial fishermen, tackle shops and charter boats etc.), as we understand they have to make a living. Yours Sincerly Simon McGowan & Sean Taylor Editors Southern Sea Angling UK Web Site

CAN YOU HELP

I have just received this quest from one of our readers, unfortunately we at angling-news cant help, can you:

Hope you don't mind me E mailing you, but I thought you might be in a position to help me with some information to help me flush out some details of my family history. Trevor Housby was a prolific angling writer and journalist some 20/30 years ago and I gather that some of his books are still considered as essential reading. I think he might have been my father's cousin, but since my grandfather refused to discuss his family (there was some big falling out), I can't be sure. What I would like to find is a biography about Trevor, which may be on the flyleaf of one of his books. Better still you might have printed an obituary for him when he died. I gather his widow still lives in Hampshire, but I want try to make sure that Trevor was a relation before I make contact. Any help would be greatly appreciated. markhousby@yahoo.com

PIKE FISHING NEWS FLASH

Hi, there! Michelham Priory, a beautiful historic house set in the heart of the Sussex Countryside, is surrounded by England's longest water-filled medieval moat. Although fishing used to be allowed here in the past, it has not taken place for four years. One reason for the cessation of fishing was a provision of fringe lily and other invasive weeds - whilst we still have these, much work has taken place to reduce the problem. We will therefore be reintroducing fishing from the 2000 season. As a celebration of this fact, we are holding our first-ever (as far as we know) Pike Fishing Competition over the weekend of 4th and 5th March 2000. I hope you will find space on your pages to mention this to your readers. If you would like further info. on the event or on fishing during the season, please let me know. Simon Turner gmanmich@sussexpast.co.uk

Ian Rowlings <ian.rowlings@MailAndNews.com>

To: admin@angling-news.co.uk Hi Sorry to use your email address for the purpose, but I'm stuck. I need to find out what the course & game fishing seasons are in Brittany, France, and I havn't a clue where to find out. Perhaps you can help or at least put me in touch with someone who would know? Many thanks.

Ian

An OPEN LETTER from Jaybee

Hi again, and as this may be the last mailshot of 99 a very merry xmas and happy millenium to you all.

A lot of UK anglers who are online know of the "Fishin's" (mucks for any US member still reading) that are sometimes held within regions of the UK. I have organised 2 in the NE for example. At the moment I am formulating plans and ideas for a UK Fishin in the form of a "UK Internet Open Competition". My initial thoughts are to donate a possible 10% of the entry moneys to a charity such as Second Chance. The competition (venue, date in 2000, rules, prizes and the other million things involved are yet to be decided) will be open to all anglers who are online and entry will be via some type of online application which will require a valid email address.

The internet is growing at an alarming rate in the UK amongst the angling fraternity and i am sure dealers and manufacturers etc can be persuaded to participate. I was also considering a casting competition run alongside and on the same day as the fishing comp.There are many "celebrities" online such as Neil Mackellow, Liam Dale etc that I am also sure one or two would be interested. It could be much more than a competition - rather a large gathering of online anglers getting to gether to enjoy the day. It is not a one man (or even 20 man) task as far as organisation goes - we would need a fishing club to provide weigh in facilities for example and the venue would have to be equally reachable to most. If my plan was to begin to take shape I would also need the help / co operation from others who run angling sites - to publicise , display "sponsors" banners etc etc (free advertising is always a tempter). Its a massive task I know, but having spent a lot of time on angling club committees and aso parent/teacher committees while teaching, it is a task I think could work. I would love to have feedback from people as to their own views etc.

Thanks for taking the time to read. Jaybee

A OPEN LETTER FROM BENNI

Hi all!

Due to rumours on the Cyber Match fishing message board the venue for the European is still not decided. One entry says "So far the venue trials that Dick Clegg has ran, have not been what he had expected, he seems to be looking for a small fish venue that can handle a weeks practice and more than likely a pole venue. There is talk of him using some of the "drain" venues in East Anglia as they have the already have the perfect bank and access required. Time will tell!!"

Another entry says " They don't know where the European Champs venue in England, yet! They had some trials on some places but they have not fished well enough. I hope they make up there minds soon. They had trials on Holme Peirpoint, Ten mile bank on the ouse and they are trying one on the Hunspill."

This is still not confirmed by the NFA or FIPS. Does anybody knows anything about the event? If so, please let me know.

The CMF will not be updated for a couple of weeks. If you have any urgent news, please leave them at the message board.

Cheers, -- file://Benni Stefanutti The Cyber Matchfishing Mag. www.matchfishing.com

To: clive@angling-news.co.uk

greetings from tuscany I'm sorry but I speak (and write) little english. bye giovanni. mediamb@etr.it

Dear Sirs I have just returned from a delightful week at Gareth Watkins 3 lakes in France. Etangs de la Croix Blanche not a lot of fish at the moment,as he is not open until after a restocking in November,and the offical opening in January 2000. but I did get a new lake record of a 43Ib 8oz Mirror Carp plus a small 28Ib mirror but the facilties on offer were second to none in France clean toilets/showers/kitchen and the help of Gareth he is an Englishman who is a carp man and knows what the carp fisherman wants good luck for the future Gareth and see you again soon.

Barry Teague ICQ 37369143 barry@teaball.screaming.net barry@go-fishing.co.uk anita@go-fishing.co.uk

HEARING DIFFICULTY

Coarse anglers with hearing difficulties in the NorthWest now have their very own match group. The Lancaster Deaf F/C is on the lookout for new members. Details; Gary Quinn 2 Connaught Road, Bowerham, Lancaster. LA1 4BQ

EEL MEMBERS WANTED

Mark Handley Wood is now the new membership secretary for the National Anguilla Club. Britain's oldest single species organisation. If you're interested in joining email; mark@handleywood.freeserve.co.uk

COMPUTER VIRUS ATTACK

Unfortunitly angling-news.co.uk has been the target of computer virus attack, just recently. In view of this please find enclosed message;

In case you receive an e-mail titled "How to Give a Cat a Colonic" DO NOT open it. It will erase everything on your hard drive. Forward this message to as many people as you can. This is a new, very malicious virus and not many people know about it. This information was announced yesterday morning by IBM; please share it with everyone in your address book so that the spreading of the virus may be stopped. This is a very dangerous virus and there is no remedy for it at this time. Please practice cautionary measures and forward this to all your online friends

ANGLING NEWS ONE YEAR OLD THIS WEEK 1st MAY 1999

A milestone in angling Journalism History, with the proliferation of angling web site's now evident, we at angling-news.co.uk are proud of the fact that "we were the first to bring anglers the professionalism of INTERNET web pages for every Angler at Home and WorldWide. We thank you for your support.

Tight Elastic and bent rods Clive Branson

VISITORS THIS YEAR SO FAR

United Kingdom 1104 Network/ISP 643 USA Commercial 612 Australia 61 New Zealand 55 Sweden 49 Italy 27 Belgium 26 Finland 25 Canada 25 Denmark 24 USA Educational 17 Portugal 16 Ireland 13 Netherlands 13 USA Military 13 United States 13 Hungary 10 Norway 9 Japan 9 France 9 Non-Profit Organizations 7 Singapore 7 South Africa 7 Germany 6 Slovenia 5 Switzerland 4 Russian Federation 4 Cyprus 4 Great Britain 4 Slovak Republic 3 Lithuania 3 USA Government 3 Austria 3 Poland 2 Czech Republic 2 Greece 2 Brunei Darussalam 2 Spain 2 Brazil 1 Niue 1 India 1 Estonia 1 Turkey 1 Luxembourg 1 Romania 1 Old style Arpanet 1

As you may be aware, the Minister of Agriculture Fisheries and Food recently announced that the grant-in-aid paid to the Environment Agency to find its work on salmon and freshwater fisheries would be reduced by £1.5m in 2001/2002 in That year pant-in-aid in England (Wales will not be affected) will fall from £4.8m to £3.3m. This cut is necessary to meet pressures on MAFF's budget during the current Comprehensive Spending Review period, which covers the three financial years from 1999/ 2000 to 2001/ 2002. The Review Group had previously assumed that grant-in-aid for fisheries would remain stable over this period, and believe that many of the views put to them will have been based on the same assumption. The Group therefore wishes to give everyone who has made their views known to it the opportunity to revise their evidence to take account of this new development if you wish to do so, I would be grateful if you could send your revised evidence to Mike Barbier Room 327, Nobel House, 17 Smith Square, London SW1P 3JR by l6 July.

From: "Joe Garza" <baltazar@netnitco.net> To: <admin@angling-news.co.uk>

I am an American rod builder looking to get ahold of fuji SiC match guides and perhaps some of your European long rod blanks. If you offer these or know of someone who does, please let me know. I own a rodbuilding business, so I am only interested in buying wholesale so that i can give my customers the best price possible. Thanks for any help you can offer, Eric Garza

LETTER FROM READER

Hi Clive Visited your pages and found them very interesting. As Chairman of The Junior Angling Committee of Warwick and District, I was interested to read your disabled pages - in particular the piece on Billy Makin's efforts to create disabled access. I think the piece gives a slant to the piece which is not warranted. Whilst Kingfisher Pool does provide facilities for the disabled( the best in the country perhaps), the JAC's bid for a Lottery grant was based on providing a facility specifically for the young and also the disabled and supported by the nature of the JAC's volunteer make up ( all angling interests in the area ), its seven year record of instruction courses and the endorsement of the N.F.A. Billy Makin gave me valuable advice as we prepared our application and it is a pity that your piece does not rejoice in our success. We have always wished Billy well (and others trying to provide fishing for minority groups) and hope that Kingfisher Pool is something for others to aim for. It certainly did not fall in our lap! Perhaps you would like to ask Terry Mosely or the members of Birmingham D'Anglers A.C., Stoke on Trent Disabled A.C., Telford Disabled A.C. or Gloucester Disabled A.C. whether the pool is matching up to the promises as a facility for the disabled? They enjoyed a recent match which was oversubscribed within 24 hours.You are more than welcome to visit us at any time. I know of, and understand Billy's frustration - especially with the N.F.A., but I don't think Kingfisher Pool forms any part of that argument. Perhaps this reference could be removed?

GREAT WEB SITE

Clive, Right after I responded to you I realized that we indeed already had a link. Thank You for the kind words concerning my site. I would like to commend you on yours also. I have visited yours on occasion as I am interested in what is happening in other parts of the angling world. Your audio greeting is rather unique and a nice touch.

Our fishing season is getting into full swing with several tournaments just days away. On our great lakes we have a low water problem but dredging machines are working hard to correct problems at our launch facilities. We need rain and lots of it.

Stop by and visit anytime! Ron Morris

BOUNCING BOMB WAGGLER METHOD

I read your reply to Wayne regarding how to stop a waggler float from dragging under in a strong tow but could not understand what you meant. Is there any chance of sending me an E-mail with a diagram of the set up to combat this problem. Nearly every venue I fish, especially the larger resivoirs and lakes can have a pretty fierce tow at times especially on windy days and the waggler ends up dragging the hookbait all over the place even when fished several feet overdepth with the bulk closer to the hook. I so much prefer the waggler to the feeder that I would be most gratful if you could describe to me how this rig works in more detail.

Incidentally I am Australian and live in Sydney. I follow the developments in the coarse angling chat board and it seems that there ias a real international flavour coming through. Good to see.

SEE HOME PAGE

"Pike Anglers Club of Great Britain & Ireland" <PACOFGB&I@kirky6.freeserve.co.uk> To: <admin@angling-news.co.uk>

Have just found your page..........beats AT/AM hands down...........lots of tasty tit-bits............a wealth of angling related information. Do you have a mailing list. Yours in sport Ralston Mcpherson Web Manager Pike Anglers Club of Gt Britain & Ireland Web address http:// www.kirky6.freeserve.co.uk

PRESS RELEASE

Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott has flow out to Washington for top level talks on the environment with Vice President Al Gore. Both men are key players in the continuing negotiations over ways of achieving cuts in greenhouse gases. the subject is almost certain to be on the agend is a keynote speach on the treat of the Worlds fish stocks. Talks are expected to issue a tough warning about the threats to World fish supplies.

A LETTER FROM BRAZIL

Dear Angling News, I am very interested in expanding my business here in Peru.I am an ex B,ham angler who takes anglers on fishing trips on the River Amazon. Please take a look at my website and lety me know if or how you can help me. http://www.geocities.com/Area51/Starship/6989/amazon.html

I look forward to hearing from you soon Regards, Mike Collis.

To: comments@angling-news.co.uk

I fish in Germany where there is no close season, even though the Germans have some bizzare conservation rules they do not seem at all concerned about fish being caught during their breeding season. In addition I beleive some species breed outside the confines of the close season.

from MRMOPS@aol.com

END OF SEASON

The end of 1999 season has seen some spectacular weather, almost tropical conditions, with catches generally up all over the country. The debate on the close season will go on, however I will be taking a few weeks off, to recharge my batteries. I suspect it wont be long before Im back on the bank perhaps on one of those hole in the ground venue's. What ever you are doing this coming close season I wish you the best and keep those emails coming in REGARDS Clive Branson

ANGLING99

Anglers kept away this year with only 15,000 going through the turnstiles compared to 25,000 last year. "The lack of support from the major companies were to blame" said an official. Another major factor was the £8.50 entry and £4 car park fee. The wisper is that next year the exhibition may not go on, unless a major rethink about how to attract the missing anglers back.

Raquel Aranha@GAZETAMERCANTIL 01/15/99 18:12

In our country we have lots of bighead carps in the nature and we use to create them.We are always developing technics and baits to arrest them, and the record one is a fish with 54 Kgr.; and my personal record, as you can see in the picture affixed is 24 Kgr.We had already know that they are distribuited all over the world, being Asia primitives; however, althought for us it is a routine to fish them, we have no informations about the culture of fishing " bighead carp " in any other place outside Brasil.We are absolutely opened to change any kind of informations about these fishes . Please, contact us as soon as possible, we are expecting for some answers .

Thank you very much

A LETTER FROM ZIMBABWE

Dear Sir Angling (and other water sports) is about to become an extinct sport and recreation in this country. This is due to the soon to be imposed fees by the Department of National Parks and Wildlife. When one considers earning power any where in the world on a one to one basis, the fees are so high that not even other countries would consider them as being fair. To hold an angling competition will cost you 10 000 per 50 competitors for absolutely no service rendered in any way during the year or previous or in the future. Our dams are poached badly and they (National Parks0 only do anything when you provide the funds for the resources they need. Boat fees are set at 2 500 per year so you can put your boat (motorised)on the water but a motor vehicle is only 550 per year. The poor subsistence fisherman now has to pay 20 per day to catch his food, and he cannot even sell it to pay for the permit. Whilst a subscriber to one of the UK magazines I did not pick up any such fees levied for holding an event. Does this in fact happen that the water authority asks for large sums to hold the event and still ask you to pay for the permits required ? I pity the poor youngster that decides to go fishing in his sailboat as he will have to pay 600 per day to put his little sailboat on the water. If he decides to enter a competition then he (or his club) will also be required to pay 10 000 per 50 competitors. Maybe we will all come fishing over there, it willl probably end up cheaper including the air fare and exchange rates Yours in fishing Alan Holt PS Should you require any furhter information regarding this topic feel free to email to me and a full set of fees can be provided etc.

Letter from a New Zealand angler

Just got back from australia where I was fishing for the NZ team.I did fairly well with 2nd each day.The carp there are just animals.One guy lost his feeder rod when he reached for something and a carp hit.I was fishing the method most of the time on 9lb spiderwire and still had problems!Tried the pole at practice and just could not hold them.the biggest I landed was 14lb10oz but some that Igot close were much bigger.Total weight for 2days with 48 anglers was 1.6tonnes!NZ won the transtasman plate again.

WARNING OF VIRUS

Dear all,

Some virus information that just been forwarded to me. Please pass around as you see fit.Rod -----Original Message----- From: Casey O'Hare Sent: Tuesday, January 12, 1999 12:45 PM To: PFTC Staff Subject: Just in caseSomeone is sending out a very desirable screen-saver, the Budweiser Frogs - "BUDDYLST.ZIP". If you download it, you will lose everything!!!Your hard drive will crash and someone from the Internet will get your screen name and password! DO NOT DOWNLOAD THIS UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES!!! IT JUST WENT INTO circulation yesterday, as far as we know. Please distribute/inform this message. This is a new, very malicious virus and not many people know about it. This information was announced yesterday morning from Microsoft. Please share it with everyone that might access the Internet.Once again, pass this along to EVERYONE in your address book so that this may be stopped. Also do not open or even look at any mail that says "RETURNED OR UNABLE TO DELIVER". This virus will attach itself to your computer components and render them useless. Immediately delete mail items that say this. AOL has said that this is a very dangerous virus and that there is NO remedy for it at this time. Please practice cautionary measures and forward this to all your on-line friends

ANGLERS MUST BEWARE OF THE SMEAR CAMPAIGN LED BY PISCES ON THE INTERNET SEE http://www.enviroweb.org/pisces/news1.html SEND YOUR EMAIL OF CONTEMPT TO THIS WEB SITE

NEW FOR 1999

The Milltown Angling Festival will be a welcome addition to many festival regulars this year as it will fill a vacancy in the festival diary the week before the Arva Festival.This event will be co.organised by Festival regulars John 'Lasher' Linford & The Irrepressible Madcap Tommy Bocking.. Both of them have spent the new years break in Co.Cavan on a fact finding mission!!!!! 60 pegs are planned for the first year with the event being fished around Innishmuck and Arden Louch...both noted for their big Bream shoals. Anyone interested should contact Pete May at Arden Grange Guest House.Pete will be handling all Bookings and Accommodation.Tel 00 353 49 952 2639 for an info sheet.Or Email me and I will forward details.

Regards Kevin Webster

1999 PIKE FISH IN DATE: MARCH 6th & 7th VENUE: THE RIVER GREAT OUSE, Cambridgeshire. This is a large lagoon off of and part of the river Ouse in Cambridgeshire. The venue has 40 pegs(we can fit a few extra in if we are oversubscribed) There are full facilities including Hotel, showers, toilets, bars and restaurants. Accommodation is available, B&B locally can be arranged for anyone requiring it . (if you require the hotel or B&B accommodation please let me know at least 3 weeks in advance) There is loads of room for Bivvy's and caravans. OUR GUESTS: Dr Paul Garner. Eric Edwards.Neil Deplage and the boy's from the Walton on Thames region of the PAC. Pete Henton (The Bivvy hospital) Pete Henton will have a range of terminal tackle,floats line etc for sale. You will also be able to hire a Bivvy by the night from Pete (contact me @ j.hickey@ukonline.co.uk if you would like to book one) SPONSORSHIP: This is not a fully sponsored event but if you would like to raise some extra funds a sponsorship form can be obtained by e-mail from: second.chance@ukonline.co.uk DETAILS: Fishing: Pike, Zander, Perch, Roach, Chub and some very big river Carp. OUR GUESTS will be on hand to offer help and advice to any one requiring it. Please be sure to have a valid fishing licence. (it is more than likely you will be asked to show it as the NRA are fairly hot in this area) I can arrange for hot food to be available, Jim's butty bar ;-) even a hot meal in the evening Jim's swim delivery restaurant :-{) Contact: If you want any further details please feel free to contact me. j.hickey@ukonline.co.uk or telephone 0181 707 5734 DIRECTIONS: Take Junction 19 off the A1at the first roundabout you come to you will need to go back towards the A1 (southbound) and take the first exit left just follow this road and you will end up at the lake.The main feature is a golf course and driving range, there is a small hotel/motel at the end of the drive and almost on the small roundabout where you would turn off to Eaton Socon & St Neots. Maps and full details will be on the web site soon.

NEW VENUE RELEASE

I am currently working on a database of venues, there are approximately 100 venue details online at the moment, there will be around 800+ when complete. I am updating almost every day. There are details of target species, methods, baits, contact numbers, day/season ticket details and directions to each venue included in this database. Perhaps this would be of interest to visitors to Angling-news? It can be found at:- http://come.to/POHAS and clicking on the "Nationwide Venues" button in the list of contents.

Sincerely Rick Spencer Penketh & Old Hall Angling Society

A Letter From Terry Moseley

Clive, I visited your up dated web pages, there are some very interesting additions to the site.The one thing that is a posotive remark is that it is good to see news articles that are up dated on a regular basis.Any angler on this message board should take the time to visit this well presented and informative site.Not just news, but features, articles, results the whole package.Pay a visit you may be pleased.

Terry Moseley Angling Link England International Disabled Anglinng Team,

A NEWS LETTER FROM USA (STURGEON)

The National Marine Fisheries Service and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service will not propose Endangered Species Act protection for the U.S. population of the Atlantic sturgeon. The decision, based on an extensive review of the species' status, was announced today by regional managers for the two agencies in the Northeast.

"There is no doubt that Atlantic sturgeon have been severely overfished," said Jon Rittgers, acting Northeast regional administrator of the National Marine Fisheries Service. "But the range-wide prohibition on harvest and possession in all the coastal states, recently formalized as a long-term moratorium by the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission, has removed that threat to the species." Ron Lambertson, northeast regional director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, agreed, saying, "With the complete closure of the fishery, we are confident that populations will be increasing. Restoration of this slow-maturing fish will be a lengthy process and firm commitments to the necessary long-term protections are already in place."

Although the agencies decided ESA listing is not warranted, NMFS will retain the Atlantic sturgeon on its candidate species list to facilitate voluntary conservation. Consideration of the species for protection under the Endangered Species Act was initiated by a 1997 petition from the Biodiversity Legal Foundation of Boulder, Colo., which requested protection for Atlantic sturgeon where it continues to exist in the United States. The agencies published a preliminary decision in October 1997 that they would consider whether the species met the criteria for listing as threatened or endangered. An endangered species is in danger of extinction throughout all or a significant portion of its range; a threatened species is likely to become endangered within the foreseeable future throughout all or a significant portion of its range. A status review team, comprised of biologists from the National Marine Fisheries Service, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and three state agencies, conducted an in- depth review of the species' status, concluding that the species is neither threatened nor endangered. A river-by-river assessment of habitat conditions found that, while some specific problems exist and further improvements would accelerate the species' restoration, current overall habitat conditions for Atlantic sturgeon are better than those under which the species rebounded from overfishing and persisted during the first half of this century. Atlantic sturgeon are currently protected by state laws under the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission fisheries management plan for the species. The plan bans the harvest and possession of Atlantic sturgeon along the entire Atlantic coast from Maine to Florida. The commission is working with the National Marine Fisheries Service to develop compatible regulations that would provide the same protections in federal waters out to 200 miles.

Historic Atlantic sturgeon populations in the United States ranged from the Penobscot River in Maine to the St. Johns River in Florida. The presence of Atlantic sturgeon was recorded in 34 rivers, although the number of historic spawning populations is unknown.

The fish's range in the United States has contracted slightly, and now extends from the Kennebec River in Maine to the Satilla River in Georgia. Presence is currently documented in 32 rivers, and 14 spawning populations are confirmed, while five others are suspected. Confirmed spawning populations are found in the Kennebec, Hudson, Delaware, James, Roanoke, Neuse, Tar-Pamlico, Cape Fear, Santee, Combahee, Edisto, Savannah, Ogeechee, and Altamah rivers, and spawning is suspected in the Waccamaw, PeeDee, Cooper, Ashepoo and Satilla rivers.

Atlantic sturgeon may live as long as 60 years, reach lengths up to 14 feet and weigh more than 800 pounds. They are distinguished by armor-like plates and a long, protruding snout. Sturgeon eat a wide variety of bottom-dwelling organisms such as mollusks, filtering quantities of mud along with their food. They spawn in flowing fresh or estuarine waters with hard bottoms. After hatching, juveniles may remain in the fresh or estuarine waters for several years before they swim seaward to grow to maturity and join the adult migration, which can reach many miles away from their home rivers.

Lough Muckno, Castleblayney to host 1999 European Coarse Angling Championships

It has been announced that Lough Muckno and the town of Castleblayney, Co. Monaghan will play host to the 1999 European Angling Championships. The decision was made following discussions between the National Coarse Fishing Federation of Ireland and Monaghan County Council, Castleblayney UDC, Monaghan County Enterprise Board, Coillte, North West Tourism, Board Failte, the Fisheries boards and various other interest groups.

The decision to pick Lough Muckno has come mainly from its past record in hosting many National events which Lough Muckno has played host to over the years including the last 6 All Ireland Championships, The Angler of the year finals, Interprovincial / Teams of Five Championships and numerous other major events.

The European Championships is going to bring 300 competitors and officials from the 25 European Nations along with up 5,000 spectators over the week and a huge contingent of press and TV from all over Europe.

Now a definite venue has been selected work must start straight away on the venue to make sure it can handle such a championship and the onerous task of getting sponsorship to cover the cost of hosting the event. Preliminary costings show a figure of between £75,000 and £100,000 that includes waterside development.

For further Details on the European Championships or for sponsorship details, please contact:

Mark O'Donoghue PRO National Coarse Fishing Federation of Ireland, Tel: (086) 8337260 (M) (0405) 41911 (H) Email: markodon@iol.ie

A SHORT or LONG STORY FROM DOWN UNDER

Australian Federation Of Coarse Anglers.

News from Australia this week.

After the re-showing of an early episode of the Rex Hunt Fishing Show ( re-run number36:) on T.V. recently that showed a coarse angler using a catapult, the proverbial has hit the fan. Here in Victoria the use of catapults (better known as a slingshot in Australia) is banned under the fire arms act. A viewer complained to the police that the show promoted the use of a banned weapon. Calls were made the next day by the Police to a number of organisations including the federation, that the police were bound by law to act on the complaint. Tackle retailers were also approached and warned of the possible consequences of having them on the shelf. The federation responded quickly on behalf of the Victorian anglers and started exploring the options open to securing a permit. It seems that with a lot of laws in Australia there is always a way of side stepping confrontation, permits can and are issued for some bizarre reasons. As luck would have it a permit does exist and is in the throes of being issued. Can you imagine going to a Match without a catapult, neither could the members and as we pointed out to the people issuing the permit ' You can only throw a maggot so far'. Bob Waldock. http://www.ozemail.com.au/~waldock/main.htm

A letter From the USA

My name is Gary Gillis and I am a rare American Carp fisherman. I Belong to CAG Carp Anglers Group in the united states, maybe you have heard of our small but growing group! I am thinking about taking a weeks vacation to Ogdensburg and was curious as to what month Mr Bailey was there. I spend my energy searching for waters that contain really big carp. If I was to fish every day in my home state of Michigan it would take me 27 years of continous fishing one lake a day to fish them all, some task I have in front of me, joy. I use maps and satelite images to help me in my search. Tomorrow I will be fishing a local lake the smallest carp taken so far has been 16lb and the biggest was 25lb. I believe there is a really big one in there I am guessing maybe a 40lb'er and if I'm lucky a 62lb? the lake has my full attention! Wish me luck....And the temperature will be in the mid 60's great fishing weather. The carp will be very active this winter and should be able to put more weight than usual. THE St. Lawrence River flowing through America and Canada is one of the greatest big carp venues in the world, throwing up dozens of pristine commons in arm aching sport. British angler Cohn Bailey hasjust banked a staggering 4,137 lb haul of fish from the mile wide watercourse near Ogdensburg, just below Lake Ontario, in possibly the greatest carp catch ever. Thanks in advance! Gary G. Carp-on carp@ismi.net

A letter from a young Angler

I have noticed when i am fishing i dont get much respect of older people i am 13 they all seem to think i am here just to mess about once when i caught a 15lb pike and i forgot my forceps this man gave me a long lecture about not having the wright stuff also people always treat you like you are not a proper fisherman and think when you get a big catch you have just being lucky but when they catch one they go on about there skill please could you put this article out? and tell why if you can? Mark Harrison Nottinghamshire

Any Comments, Pleasae send to admin@angling-news.co.uk

Comment from Gary (One of our over sea readers)

Hi Mr Mark Harrison, Here is how you handle adults or any one for that matter who give you a hard time: (1) Set a goal for your self, in your case to be the best fisherman in the world. (2) With a goal you know you will always be reaching for the ultimate skills in the world and because of that you will be on a much higher path than most any one you meet fishing. (3) I have found that all people who make fun or talk down to me are really scared that I might know something they don't and because they are less sensitive than I they are willing to make the first attack on me. You see I am a nice guy and I don't like to make fun of people. Making people mad is not fun for me. I much rather have happy thoughts and be confident in knowing that if I failed at some thing I will at least know one way that dosen't work. Most people are scared to fail. But experience is built aupon failure and wisdom is your collection of failures and success. And with wisdom people will ask you for the answers and that is a good feeling to have. So if we look at forgetfullness and decide next time to double check to make sure our forceps are there you will have created a good habit of being prepared. You can now use this new habit in any thing you do and have confidence in your self that you are prepared for what ever you decide to do. Because you will know you have the tools at hand to get the job done. Mr Harrison could you tell me more about the fishing method you use to catch Pike. I just bought my self a book on pike fishing a few months ago. The last chapter talks about Pike fishing using floats i.e. european methods. I have never fished for Pike before and since you have please tell me your favorite method. Don't worry about me fishing at your local swim because I am across the pond from you in America, Michigan actually. Good luck at your fishing hole! PS. "this man gave me a long lecture" he wasn't your dad was he. If so I take it all back... : ) Gary G. Carp-on carp@ismi.net

LETTER FROM ANGLERS MAIL

Hi Clive, I'm pleased you wrote to the Anglers Mail, because even though i spend a lot of time on the internet i had never come across your site before. Very informative, and I'm pleased to see that you cater for juniors also, after all they are our future for our sport. I hope like me you get great pleasure from teaching the youngsters, and hearing from them after they have put everything tought to good use to end up having the catch of a lifetime. I spend nearly every weekend teaching youngsters and haven't come across a bad one yet, well maybe the odd one, the pleasure i recieve is tremendous and the look on their faces makes me even happier. well done clive. Jason Callaghan ( The hauling smurf) Anglers Mail columnist.

KEITH ARTHER (COMMENTS ABOUT ANGLING-NEWS)

Hi Clive Looks good! Didn't have time to go through it all but it looks on the right lines (if you'll excuse the pun!).Well Done Keith