The two great passions in my life have been an interest in British Motorcycles, and fishing for trout in the local rivers and streams. I have never caught a really big specimen as one sees in all the glossy angling magazines. Nevertheless I have always enjoyed great sport, and usually managed to give my family a treat of fresh fish. I am by no means a "Sporting" Type of Angler, that would use no other method except a dry-fly in gin-clear water and without a barb on the hook. I enjoy killing fish, and this is the reason that I go fishing. I have no concience about using any bait that I deem suitable for the conditions, be it fly, worm, spinner, grasshopper, wasp-grub, or any bait it is within my power to obtain. If the water is heavy and coloured, that's good, because it means I shall catch more fish. I enjoy the beauty of the riverside scenery, and the feeling of being at one with nature, but the main reason I fish, is to catch fish.

In the years that I have been fishing, I have seen many changes, many of them not for the best. Whilst undoubtably the quality of the equipment has improved beyond all recognition. The modern rods are now so light it takes no effort at all to yield them all day. Years ago, one had to get in a lot of practice in the early stages of the season to be able to carry the old Greenheart rod for very long without developing severe arm-ache.

A difference I have noted over the years, is the fact that my local rivers and streams seem to hold far less water, than they did in years gone by. I had always thought that this was the passage of time playing tricks with my memory. Perhaps a child was more impressed with the river than an adult would be. After discussing this with many learned people, I have formed the conclusion that it is the result of intensive afforestation in the area, that has brought about this change. During the last forty years, the river valleys in my district have been extensively planted with conifers. Whilst this has undoubtedly made the valleys look more picturesque, the planting of these trees has had an adverse effect on the watercourses.

One of the first actions carried out by the Forresters, was to drain the bogs that had existed on the hilltops for thousands of years. These marshy areas used to hold the rainwater like a sponge, releasing it only slowly for many weeks or months after a downpour. Now, when it rains heavily, the rivers rise to frighteningly high levels in a short space of time, and the flood waters run off just as quickly. Added to this, is the amount of water held by the root systems of these millions of trees, and the effect of evaporation from the vast number of pine needles in hundreds of square miles of Forrest. Hopefully the hills and valleys will be left to recover after the present cycle of tree growth is over, and the fishermen of future generations will reap the benefit of this action.

I have been fascinated by the methods shown to me by the older fishermen of West Wales. These rural people had to be good anglers, as they fished, not for sport but to supplement a very meagre living, and provide protein for hungry children. It is the fact that I don't wish the knowledge of these ways of fishing for trout, to die with me, that prompted me to construct this web page. It is my intention to write about this subject in my page entitled "Learn about Drop-Minnow Fishing", the link is just below this page. I have decided to place this on a separate page because I have had to use graphics to illustrate the construction of the tackle. It is not a very large file (36.7kb) and you are cordially invited to visit this page. The same is true about the pages on Tying Hooks to Nylon (38.9kb).

While browsing around the Web recently, I made a great find that I would like to pass on to you. Throughout my life I have frequently seen quotes from that classic of angling books "The Complete Angler" Written in quaint Old World English, by Izaac Walton, (1593-1683) . A book as old as this, is quite rare, and I would never be able to afford a copy. Believe me, this man knew a lot about fish, and fishing. Now you can download the complete text of this work for free, as an e-book from Project Gutenberg (World's Greatest Literature-online, Download a book and search using your word proccesser)