Specimen Fishes any species..

[Bo Diddley]

What's a "specimen fish"?
Is it the equivalent of a "trophy" in the deer world?
I've only ever caught fish to eat them, or as by-catch when I was lobster potting commercially, so I'm not familiar with the angling terminology.

I suppose it must be the equivalent VSS.
And just like trophy in the deer world it varies from location to location. All pretty meaningless to some people and important stuff to others.
A Tench like those SikaSeeker has caught in Ireland are much higher up the order than a Tench from a lake in England which has bait lobbed into it every day by anglers to feed the fishes.
Strange old world... you would think folks had better things to do with their time...
I blame all on Mr Crabtree myself...

 

[camodog]

Big salmon that! Managed to fish at Mitton a few times when I worked near Manchester. Lovely stretch of water, especially where the Hodder joins the Ribble. Also used to go for a quick pint in the pub by the bridge if there wasn't much doing!

Yes, that stretch at Mitton was very productive back in the day. It was owned at the time by the CWS. That fish came from the pool known as 'The Clay Hole', just downstream of the weir.
Hodder Foot was prolific too.
Ah, 'The Three Fishes' pub, yup thirst was 'slaked' a time or two there also !

 

[Mungo]

At the other end of the spectrum… caught in a ditch by the side of the A9 not far from Dalwhinnie. Stopped for a break, had the rod in the car, thought ‘why not’…

 

[Rake Aboot]

Bet that made yer day as well.

 

[Bo Diddley]

@Mungo that's just as epic as catching a monster, i reckon you will remember that one for a long time

 

[Mungo]

@Mungo that's just as epic as catching a monster, i reckon you will remember that one for a long time

Oh absolutely!

I tend to have a rod in the car most of the time precisely for this joyful little opportunities.

Nobody seems to mind you fly fishing with a 6’ 2wt, even if you may not strictly have ‘permission’.

 

[camodog]

Oh absolutely!

I tend to have a rod in the car most of the time precisely for this joyful little opportunities.

Nobody seems to mind you fly fishing with a 6’ 2wt, even if you may not strictly have ‘permission’.

Ha ha, I recall many, many years ago being 'intrrogated' by a bailiff. 'Why might I be after grayling,......using a 'Thunder & Lightening', sz 8 ' (with appropriate leader) ?..regardless of my 7' 6", wt 5/6 river-trout rod' This, after the salmon season was closed !

 

[Mungo]

Ha ha, I recall many, many years ago being 'intrrogated' by a bailiff. 'Why might I be after grayling,......using a 'Thunder & Lightening', sz 8 ' (with appropriate leader) ?..regardless of my 7' 6", wt 5/6 river-trout rod' This, after the salmon season was closed !

There’s definitely an art to poaching by looking so innocuous, stupid or incompetent that they’re not bothered enough to tell you to stop

 

[tarponhead]

My favourite type of trout - wild and from a mountain loch - Ireland. Barbless mepps do straight back in, but still, a moment to admire…

 

[Mungo]

Not all of them go back…

 

[Gunner223]

Was that at Gillams Fishery?

Ive fished Gilhams 4 or 5 times had arapaima to 300 Mekong to the same size and siamese carp to 150 ,
but I wouldn't go back , only a few swims produce fish , and the arguing over swims is horrendous, and 300 quid a day ??
never again

 

[Bo Diddley]

Ive fished Gilhams 4 or 5 times had arapaima to 300 Mekong to the same size and siamese carp to 150 ,
but I wouldn't go back , only a few swims produce fish , and the arguing over swims is horrendous, and 300 quid a day ??
never again

You've had a few lumps out of there then .
An ex pal worked over there for a year or so.
He said Stewart and his family are some rum bugger's , what can you expect from an ex scaffolder . That was a good while ago, its probably calmed down a little now...
Did you partake in the "extras" while there

 

[Bo Diddley]

Not all of them go back…

Breakfast a la riva...

 

[Gunner223]

You've had a few lumps out of there then .
An ex pal worked over there for a year or so.
He said Stewart and his family are some rum bugger's , what can you expect from an ex scaffolder . That was a good while ago, its probably calmed down a little now...
Did you partake in the "extras" while there

No , I took the mrs if I think that's what you mean , but I have been to Thailand 20 or so times before with mates , Stuart is cash only now , pay your deposit online, then cash when your there for the rest of the balance, nice place, but people think you cast in and catch, you don't, you have to work hard to catch , many people blank even with 3/4 days on the bank , but if you've never been its worth a few days just to see what its like.

 

[Bo Diddley]

Someone caught "The Big Orange" me and Flynn Green having a giggle, check him out on YouTube... he has a knack for making every American at the gig stand up...

Flynn Green, Star Spangled Banner...

 

[alberta boy]

No , I took the mrs if I think that's what you mean , but I have been to Thailand 20 or so times before with mates , Stuart is cash only now , pay your deposit online, then cash when your there for the rest of the balance, nice place, but people think you cast in and catch, you don't, you have to work hard to catch , many people blank even with 3/4 days on the bank , but if you've never been its worth a few days just to see what its like.

I landed in Bangkok two days ago , crossing over from Cambodia was .......interesting . I might head up their way if time allows , and if the political situation doesn't get any worse . Things are getting a little spicy around here at the moment .
AB

 

[Gunner223]

Head up to North Thailand on the border to Laos, some good fishing available then cross over to Vietnam well worth it,
if I remember flights from Bangkok to Laos were around £ 50 well worth a look .

 

[Bo Diddley]

Rainbow that has overwintered a few seasons in a gravel pit. Tbf I can't remember the weight. I just like the fact that it had survived against the odds in that environment.

 

[alberta boy]

Head up to North Thailand on the border to Laos, some good fishing available then cross over to Vietnam well worth it,
if I remember flights from Bangkok to Laos were around £ 50 well worth a look .

I'm heading back to Cambodia on Jan 1rst , hopefully the ceasefire holds . The Thai government has closed all land borders though , including the Lao and Myanmar ones . They don't want anyone in the border areas , so It's a bit tricky to access a lot of places . I might just go hangout in Vietnam for a while to get away from the latest fighting . You're bang on with the flight prices though , I been bouncing around out here for a while , the most I paid was about 60 quid .

AB

 

[swatty]

40.04 elstow pit two carp