The Tamers' have some friends who are carp anglers. We love taking the 'p' when they spend nights together supping beer, eating curries (delivered) in the name of fishing. So we've arranged a match! The Lion Tamers versus The Bivvy Boys.
The deal is:
A four man team fish a day carp fishing and then a day on a trout pond.
To be honest, we are letting them off lightly as we could have taken them to a river!
We have to get into practice. We've been twice and lost a couple of carp but I am satisfied with my tench and roach.
Line up:
The Tamers: Me, Bone, and depending on availability..Dino, Jon and Glen Pointon
The Bivvy Boys: Polly, Binzy, Daz and Martin.
This will take place during the summer and by then we will have the carp sorted!
LOBSTER!
Look at this crayfish claw:
After seeing this, 'Bone' has given up wading above his knees.
We found this on the bank of the river Dove at Rocester. This thing must have been massive!
Some sort of animal must have caught it and enjoyed a midnight feast. Probably a mink or otter.
Unfortunately these crayfish don't belong in the UK and are American Red Signal Crayfish, imported for food about 30 years ago. Some escaped!
They destroy habitats, pass on a disease to our native crayfish, eat fish eggs, eat anything, are delicious on a bbq, and burrow under river banks until they collapse. The silt from the banks covers mating areas for our wild fish (trout, grayling, chub etc).
The authorities forbid the general public to do anything about it unless we apply for a licence.
Now that might have been a good move a few years ago to stop live specimens being accidently transfered to a different river system. BUT: These creatures are not spread by humans anymore, but by riverside fauna.
They are great parents and hundreds of tiny offspring cling to the belly of the mother until ready to fend for themselves. So, for example, a heron fancies a meal and the little critters get a free lift to somewhere else.
However, we have a problem. These creatures have adapted so well, we are now fighting a losing battle to control them. They have spread throughout the UK and I think it is about time we were allowed to catch them and eat them when we want to...without the licence. Some of our Eastern European friends have cottoned on to this (licence?) and who can blame them?
It is not a fault of the crayfish that this has happened so if you catch one, treat them with respect and kill them humanely.
The Trent catchment area is full of them. For some reason the Churnet is stuffed with them.
Make sure that you don't kill any native white clawed crayfish. Difficult to tell the difference sometimes but google 'Crayfish' and you can read up. You will also find some good recipes.
The Tamers are investing in some equipment to catch as many as we can. If I am caught, it will be my first criminal offence. Am I bothered?
We are also planning to collect some from the Trent at Bucknall (Stoke) and the Caldon canal to see what species they are. Obviously, we will put the native ones back.
Bone on fire!
More material for Bone's 'Gay Nymphs'
