White Witch

[flyfishwithme]

The thread is starting to move away from the topic but never the less the comments are important and interesting, There are so many 'mis-deeds' done in the interest of humanity (or animality) with devastating impact and sometimes it is just not the activists. Sometimes is us as anglers, For example:-
Example 1:
2 anglers fishing on the Murray river in 1964 were using live bait to catch the famous Murray Cod (a freshwater species in Australia that grows to 200lbs) when at the end of the day had a few 'fish' left over. In the interests of 'animality' they released them into the river. Result, infestation of the Murray-Darling river systems with European Carp and the decline of native fish and in some instances species becoming extinct. Today, the dominant species is carp. Cost to try and contain their spreading and save the native species - $15b
Example 2:
In the state os Tasmaina there are two lakes that holed extremely large trout. It is not uncommon for fish upto 12lbs to be regularly caught. 'Animality' caused the infestation of one of the lakes with European Carp into a State that only has trout and small galaxias as their freshwater species. result,the entire lake was drained in order to eradicate the European carp which in turn caused agricultural mayhem and sent farmers broke because their water supply was lost. Cost to get rid of them $15m
Example 3 (not specific)
I wonder how many species of insects have been transported from one area to another where they did not exist as 'bait'.
So it is not just the animal liberationists that are at fault. Our brother anglers have also been negligent.

[GlassJet]

So it is not just the animal liberationists that are at fault. Our brother anglers have also been negligent.

Another example might be, the transfer of harmful micro-organisms in the material of felt-soled wading boots....

But surely there is a difference, (if only a moral one rather than effect) between contributing to environmental damage unknowingly and inadvertently, and deliberately going out to commit acts of sabotage, knowing full well the disruption your actions are going to cause?

The test of the angling community will be whether or not there is a wholesale switch over to rubber soled waders. I am feeling very self-righteous as I have just done just that - though I have to admit, the timing was co-incidental - my old boots fell to pieces! These new ones are brilliant by the way - very comfortable. More like wearing a pair of hiking boots, then just being able to walk into the river in them.

Andrew.
ps - I started the thread - i reserve the right to hi-jack it.

[Otter]

An example of how negligent we can be.

In recent years at the World Cup on lough Mask a facility was setup on the weekend of the competition for all boats that had been brought there for the weekend could be hosed down to prevent transportation of zebra mussels to the lough - 2 boats availed of the service.... and that beggars belief.

Freeing Mink is environmental murder, nothing less.

[William Anderson]

I guess the barbs are a bit too long, are they?

Andrew.

I'm always surprised when I see the flies in old books at how long the hackles are. This is probably closer to the original from what I've seen of other flies.

w