Trout v Bass

Anyone got any more fishing-meets-art sendups? I was just reading a post at Steelhead Diaries and the illustration there set me off.

Several years ago art parodies were brought to my attention during a lecture given by an Art History professor at Eastern Illinois University. Prof McRoberts had a curious sense of humour and a preoccupation with red Mustangs, but most of all he had a fascination with Design of the early and mid 1900s, and the art of the Social Realist movement. He especially liked artists Grant Wood and Edward Hopper. At one point in the lecture either he or a student brought into conversation the matter of the 1980s version of American Gothic with Kermit and Miss Piggy. Years later The Muppet American Gothic came to mind during a forum discussion, something about 'Trout v Bass' ("As if it that was something to contest - I'll fish for anything with a fly!") I came up with my own version of Wood's great picture. Not so much a parody, but more of a satire I guess.

Carrots Are For Real

Well, thanks to Alistair over at Urban Fly Fisher I found the answer to the mystery of carrot technology. It's REAL! And you can read about it here », or you could visit the manufacturer's site. CelluComp say, "Rods made using CURRAN damp twice as rapidly as an equivalent carbon rod, while retaining the same rapid recovery speed as the carbon rod." Could CelluComp be the next challenger the Sage's crown!? I guess that depends on who's responsible for product testing and development...

Dangling the Carrot

I heard an interesting thing the other morning. At least I think I did!?

The thing is, I’m something of an insomniac and find myself listening to radio shows at all kinds of unsociable hours. As a consequence I often hear broadcasts while I’m half asleep, and I’m convinced sometimes the stories I hear merge with my dreams – this can feel somewhere between disturbing and bizarre, sometimes plain funny.

A couple of mornings ago I was listening to Radio 5 Live, when something came on a spot called Morning Reports. Now this may sound dumb, but I swear the presenter had someone on air talking about alternatives to carbon fibre for laminate production. The researchers, of whom he was one, were extracting fibre from carrots! And you guessed it, the first application for their new fibre and resin system was in the construction of a new fly rod.

On reflections this seems like one of those bizarre 'fact merges with fiction' scenarios, but if I heard right and it’s not just a strange piece of the twilight zone, it gives new meaning to dangling the carrot!

Climate Change

This year has seen lots of news articles here in the UK, covering early blooms of flowers and other out of season events. Climate change it seems is going to affect all kinds of organisms in the natural world and in all kinds of ways: Many species of birds and butterflies are appearing on UK soil as they're carried by warmer air masses, and the arrival of many beautiful creatures is in some ways a joy, but perhaps we should in fact be concerned, even alarmed, by these visitors. They're the signifiers after all of something rather less welcome.

When your daffodils die back because of frost damage, that's hardly a disaster. When young salmon start running to sea too early that's another matter entirely. Well, that's just what happening in Ireland according to an article I just read on the BBC's website. As the winters get progressively warmer juvenile salmon are running early:

"Irish salmon stocks are being hit by the effects of climate change with scientists on the river Bush in north Antrim discovering warmer winters are triggering a false start to the annual migration with disastrous consequences....Usually around a third of the young fish which leave the river Bush survive to return here the following year to spawn. But now with warmer winters triggering a false start to the migration, only six in every 100 salmon make it back here to breed. And that's not the only problem facing the river Bush. Climate change is also hitting the salmon in another way... Read more »"

Wild salmon stocks already have to struggle with over fishing, pollution, and predation by birds, seals, fish, lice, and people, but now they have to bear this new demon. Maybe recycling my van will help, and maybe using public transport will help - in the long run, but what of the here and now? Is it too late?

CLA at Harewood

This year the CLA Game Fair is to be hosted by the stunning Harewood House, near Leeds, Yorkshire, UK. Last years event was held at Broadlands Estate in Hampshire, on the banks of the Test. This is an impressive event with wonderful facilities - the thing to remember is to take a picnic because while food stalls have some great fare, their prices will leave you wincing! If you're going to visit they have full information on their website. I guess no one is going to trek half way round the world just to visit this show, but if you're visiting the UK and in the Midlands around late July this year, there are worst things you could do with your time than peruse the fishing gear, watch various canine and equestrian demonstrations, browse art and craft exhibits. There are open competitions to enter in several disciplines. If any member of your party isn't interested in the Game Fair, they can always visit the house and grounds which are a wonderful spectacle in their own right.

A press release reads:

"Harewood House, Leeds provides the spectacular setting for The CLA Game Fair now in its 49th year. The event was first held at Harewood House in 1986, and then again in 1995, 1999, and 2003 during which time it has grown to become internationally recognised as the world’s leading country sports event and showcase for all aspects of rural life.

Harewood House is an architectural masterpiece set within a sweeping Capability Brown landscape making a glorious setting for the exhibitions, features, displays and competitions that make up The CLA Game Fair. Whilst Fishing, Shooting and Gundogs are central to The Game Fair, all other popular country pursuits are represented from Falconry, Ferrets and Field Archery to Hunting, Carriage Driving and 4x4 Driving. International championships and competitions attract leading sports personalities, professionals and enthusiasts from across the world.

Each year The Game Fair organisers review the show to ensure that all aspects of the countryside are included in this three day celebration. This year the organisers are introducing The Rural Diversification Exhibition, which will highlight the wide selection of firms who provide products, services, ideas and advise that will enable landowners to successfully diversify. New for 2007 will also be Pugs and Drummers, a realistic view of the tradition of ferreting, and the Moorlands Experience, popular when The Game Fair was last held at Harewood House. This will again be providing an enjoyable and informative feature, laid out this time to demonstrate how the Moorlands were managed in the past and present day."

Last year I was hoping AAPGAI casting and fishing instructor, writer and product reviewer for Fly Fishers' Republic, Sue Macniven, would pull off a victory in the Women's Spey-Casting competition but alas it wasn't to be. This is her indulging in a little spey-line magic on the banks of the River Test last July. I should remind everyone that last year it wasn't sunny the whole time, so if you do go this time round take a rain coat! I was hoping to go this year, especially as it's much closer to home i.e. less than 5 hrs. drive, but I have a few prior commitments that'll keep me away.