Murder?

Monte Burke recently completed a "Rocky Mountain Grand Slam", afterwards he discussed the experience with wildlife biologist, Cristina Eisenberg, and animal rights pioneers, Tom Regan and Dr. Elliot Katz. His blog post over at Forbes is well worth a read »

Sea lice science

When does science become advocacy? That is the question I continue to ask the authors of the latest paper that claims fish farms are generating large amounts of sea lice.

Robert Wager, The Daily News

I'm guessing the kind of paper Wager reports on does nothing to build a case against fish farming, in fact, sadly, it probably has the opposite effect.

Help Sea Lions

Funny that. Ban fishing to protect the sea lion, not the fish.

Seriously though, I understand the reasoning, in this case the way the ecology works, but I can't help notice the significant role a nice fluffy animal can play when it comes to getting the powers that be to make a big decision...

Sustainable

Conflicting interests are reconciled by proposals for balanced solutions serving all parties - obviously!! In one case, proposals for the restoration of forest ecosystems in Oregon suit both logging interests and wildlife, including threatened salmon stocks. Read more »

Frankenfish

When consumer behaviour is lead by price, can local protests really make a difference? Fear of genetic and chemically altered food is probably enough to put a lot of people off consuming Frankenfish, but in markets where food source information is either not given or otherwise difficult to access, consumers will probably continue to accept what's in front of them - if the price is right!?

School of Fish

This is great!! Students from Plymouth's Marine Academy were given the first underwater lesson by the education co-ordinator of the National Marine Aquarium (NMA) in Plymouth, UK. Caroline Johnson gave the lesson in the ocean tank surrounded by traditional schoolroom furniture.

She was also joined by three large sand tiger sharks.

Pupils were taught shark anatomy during a lesson designed to showcase the new £500,000 Just Add H2O learning facilities at the attraction on Plymouth's Barbican, which are due to open at Easter 2011.

Dysfunction

Yet again the E.A. manage to undo their own good work...

Bored housewives

I read with interest Matt Labash's article on Oprah and flyfishing. Here in the UK, 'followers' of Oprah are perhaps a little less extreme in their behaviour so I'm less alarmed by her recent appearance on the Merced River - I dare say I'd feel different if I were a U.S. resident. If as Matt suggests there was a sudden influx of bored housewives to our sport here in the UK, it would probably be a good thing (In the UK women make up only a tiny proportion of anglers.). However, a sudden increase in numbers on properly crowded waters may be a bad thing and while it's not gonna happen here in Blighty, I have to wish you all luck in the Land of the Free... it might actually happen?

Popper dropper

Just wondering if this might be effective for the Autumn fry feeding trout on our Midlands reservoirs, especially for the big browns... Have a read of this article over at Louisiana Sportsman »

Helping Veterans

"Every Thursday, a different group of veterans wander down to the banks of the Green River. Some are hindered by prosthetic limbs, some struggle to see, a few have limited hearing. Yet others are plagued with bodies altered by intense stress...

When they climb from a fishing boat two days later, their eyes seem to crinkle a little more often in laughter. Even though they started the excursion as strangers, they now hug one another as friends."

Vernal Express

Though a number of group activities may have a similar capacity certainly this is the therapeutic power of fishing. Of course there are loads of articles like this but all the same I thought this was worth the post.

Go take a look »

Wet Olives

For a touch of tradition the Waterhen Bloa and a spot of dubbing...

Mounted

Sad end to fantastic saga

Ivan Keeney spent an hour battling a 29.74-pound, 47-inch-long pike, keeping up with it in his canoe so he didn't run out of line. He caught it on fly which is quite something. Now he'll be getting the fish mounted... Read the story...

Back in time?

Not by visiting as the article header suggests, but just by reading this piece, I was taken back in time. The images and details of the article reminded me of all the places in Ireland I've visited over the years, where everything from the best Guinness to postal and pension services, ham sarnies, toothpaste, and the essential flies for the day are all on offer in no particular order of importance. And at the right time you might even be greated by some top local live music.

From Wicklow to Kilkee, Cork to Killybegs establishments like that are, or at least were, common.

Fantastic!