Scottish Rock Garden Club Forum
General Subjects => General Forum => Topic started by: admin on August 29, 2008, 09:39:05 PM
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OK I’ve fixed the forum so that entitles me to at least one moaning post! ;D
My other great interest outside of plants is fly fishing; a 40 year old passion that takes me to lots of different wild places. The number of non-native plant species that infest some of our river banks really is beyond belief. Impenetrable and often dangerous stands of giant hogweed, Himalayan balsam, Japanese knotweed make the trek along some parts of our rivers hazardous and often impossible. Skunk cabbages, mimulus of various species, lupins and other exotics are attractive but really should not be there.
The detrimental environmental effects of these invaders on native flora and fauna are hard to quantify, but this mess, out of sight and out of mind as it is, should be publicised to serve as a warning to us all that we have to be careful how we dispose of unwanted exotic plant material.
And don’t get me started on non-native fish……………….. ;)
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Good to see the forum back running again - Many thanks.
Couldn't agree more re plants. Impatiens balsamica, fallopia japonica and the giant hogweed are our local pests.
Paddy
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I'm interested in hearing what the non native fish are
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There are several non native trout in our rivers and lakes now (Rainbow trout, Brook trout, Steel head, Blue trout etc) and there are Pike Perch more commonly known as Zander, Catfish and various others that I can't remember.
Rainbow trout can be found in many rivers in the South which are stocked. Leave the brown trout alone!
Dave
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And over here we have lots and lots of carp infesting our local waterways. ::)
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No to mention all the live fish that are brought up to be used as bait and now infest our lochs!
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No to mention all the live fish that are brought up to be used as bait and now infest our lochs!
Yes, roach, dace, ruff, gudgeon etc etc. All non-natives in Scotland. The vile practice of live baiting has been illegal here for a good few years now, but I have little doubt it still goes on. Roach were recently discovered in the Loch Of Lorriston in Aberdeen. They just “mysteriously” appeared. Pike are still being moved around by selfish idiots too I'm afraid and in uniformly shallow lochs they reek havoc on populations of native salmonids
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Fred
If you are ever out down this way, look me up and we can go fly fishing together.
Of course the Brown and Rainbow are introduced ,however they grow like Trilliums here ...rather large.
Cheers dave.
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The River Don near my home in Aberdeenshire. Giant hogweed is a beautiful and statuesque plant and one can understand its attractions to large gardens, but my goodness it’s a real problem once it gets into the riparian environment. Japanese knotweed is not as dangerous but in many ways it’s worse as it smothers everything else out and as a result allows serious bank erosion when it dies down in winter due to the loss of stabilizing native plants.
Best to grow alpines I think.
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Fred
If you are ever out down this way, look me up and we can go fly fishing together.
Of course the Brown and Rainbow are introduced ,however they grow like Trilliums here ...rather large.
Cheers dave.
Dave,
Oddly enough I’m heading for the South Island with Alex, a pal of mine, for 4 weeks next February. Alex has been there 5 times already, this will be my first trip. Yes, the trout there are huge and no one’s mugs I’m told.
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That's terrific Fred.
I'll PM you to see if we can meet up.
Cheers Dave.
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Oddly enough I’m heading for the South Island with Alex, a pal of mine, for 4 weeks next February.
WHAT!!??!! FRED...... ABROAD FOR 4 WEEKS ??? But how will I cope??? :'( :( :o :P :-\ :-X ???
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This topic relates to another...see here:
http://www.srgc.org.uk/smf/index.php?topic=2081.0
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Oddly enough I’m heading for the South Island with Alex, a pal of mine, for 4 weeks next February.
WHAT!!??!! FRED...... ABROAD FOR 4 WEEKS ??? But how will I cope??? :'( :( :o :P :-\ :-X ???
..."have a cup of tea".
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And chocolate, LOTS of chocolate. The better the quality the better you'll cope Maggi! ;) ;D
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While I am grateful for your helpful suggestions, Friends, it is beyond doubt that Fred's contribution to the site is so important that an absence for such a length of time is far too serious for even these tried and tested remedies to work....... :o..........ooohhhh, dear me...... :'(
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Quite simple Maggi ... either:-
a) Fred will have to take a SRGC laptop to New Zealand with him and be paid £350 a day consultancy fees (plus expenses, of course)...
b) The Forum will have to be suspended for the duration of his trip...
c) We put our trust in the powers of chocolate...! ;)
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I'll just have to go round to Dave's (t00lie ) place and handle things from there.
After we get back from the river of course, and have had a beer or two................ :)
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I was always under the impression that Dave didn't drink......!!! :D
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I was always under the impression that Dave didn't drink......!!! :D
He's very good at giving that impression ;D
cheers
fermi
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Actually I have been known to have a beer or two just to settle the nerves BEFORE a fishing trip and although it's still another month before the season opens here ,i've had to reach into the fridge for an early ale because of this pic i came across recently on a NZ tramping website.........
Cheers dave.
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Did I miss something Dave, just looks like water to me. However I grant you it could be a good excuse for a beer ;).
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I remember discovering what a pest Himalayan Balsam had become about 5-6 years ago when I went into a supermarket in Edinburgh and saw a poster on the wall inviting me to take part in a "Balsam Bashing" weekend (20 years before that I had done my bit of rhodi-bashing on the west coast). The following week I was on a train between Bath and Southampton and I saw how far it had come - it was almost everywhere along the river banks. I really can't believe that these bashing weekends can have any real impact...
Incidentally, the seed of Himalayan Balsam are edible and have a good nutty taste - if you can catch one that is! Apparently it is also grown in its home range for an edible oil extracted from the seed. Would be interested to take part in a "Balsam Catching" weekend...
While on the subject of edible invasives, I made Knotweed crumble for the first time this spring!! It really was excellent, similar to rhubarb (same family) but with its own special taste - can also be used in savoury dishes. It's also reputedly full of antioxidants....Eat your weeds (but NOT the Giant Hogweed!)
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That's a lot of fish in one area Dave. Must be very easy to catch over there as all you need to do is drag a hook through them :D. Shelagh, if you really can't see anything but water, the black mass and shapes are all fish.
Dave
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Actually I have been known to have a beer or two just to settle the nerves BEFORE a fishing trip and although it's still another month before the season opens here ,i've had to reach into the fridge for an early ale because of this pic i came across recently on a NZ tramping website.........
Cheers dave.
Right Dave, looks like we know where we are going now.......................... ;D
I needed a beer after catching this toothy critter on a local river in May this year. It should still be swimming about eating it's smaller brothers and sisters as I fish catch and release on rivers
[attach=1]
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Lovely markings and perfectly hooked ;D
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Earlier Quote----"Must be very easy to catch over there as all you need to do is drag a hook through them".
That would be the only way i'd probably be able to catch any of those Dave as i'm not that skilled --too busy looking around at nature /scenery.
In fact a successful day is one where i've managed to see ,not necessarily caught fish.Smile.
We also have introduced riverside weeds here including the wild Lupin .A lovely sight when in bloom but a rapid colonizer.
Cheers dave.
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Dave, are you sure that picture is not computer generated? Or is that in some unaccessible place.
If you are coming through Dunedin Fred - there will always be a welcome here. Not so many fish but the beer is good - several boutique breweries and of course we are right next door to brilliant wine country and more fishing.
Susan
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Hello Loyal Friend
Nope the pic hasn't been altered.
Here's one final closer shot.
They both appear on the Otago Tramping and Mountain Clubs website under a trip report --Timaru river-Moonlight hut 2005.
I don't know that part of Central Otago well Susan, however some of the other pics of the trip showed it to be a pretty rugged area.
Cheers dave.
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I totally agree Dave, does not look like a walk in the park as they say. Fish are smart though, I bet they have realised that no-one would carry a fishing rod all that way.
Does it run into Lake Hawea? Looks like stunning country. How fit is Fred????
Susan
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Wish we had brown trout like the picture on this link. Another beauty from NZ. One day I will fish there, its on my list.
http://www.intoafish.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=360
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there are now some pretty strict controls on NZ waterways to control the spread of pest species like Didymosphenia geminata, a real pest of a water weed that chokes rivers and smothers out insect life
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My pal Alex still catches plenty of biggies though like this 6 1/2 pound brown trout :o
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To whet your appetite Fred for your upcoming trip to NZ ,i went out with my brother fly fishing last night to Waituna Lagoon about 30 mins travelling time southeast to the coast from here.
The area was one of the first in the world to be recognized as a Wetland Of International Significance and besides a great habitat for wading birds and of course fishing ,there are cushion plants such as Donatia which are normally found in subalpine environments.
I have shown pics of these ,as well as Sun Orchids,(ie Thelymitras), in past postings).
The first pic is looking east earlier in the evening ---The sea is very close ,just over the gravel ridge to the right and although the mouth is now closed i presume there is some fluctuation of water level through seepage as sea tides come and go.
The second pic is my contribution to the nights activities --quickly photographed and released.
Followed by a view back to the west.
My brother and his black sidekick --to the right is our 4 wheeled mode of transport--(it's about 6 ks travel back along the beach to our vehicles).
Finally just as the sun was going down at 10.30 pm John hooked into a nice 5lb+ jack ---Excuse the pun but my sibling looks as 'stunned as a mullet').LOL.
Cheers dave
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This is a fascinating thread about fishing.
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Not too sure what relevance it is to a garden forum, but however........
A new hobby coming on Mark ?.
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No, I cant swim :(
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Thanks as a keen trout fisherman myself it is really nice to be reminded of the spectacular wild trout fishing of New Zealand- it's also on my list of things to do. 8) Interesting though how well they have adapted particularly as trout are not native but as I gather they have no predators in NZ that's part of the reason the fishing is so good.
But now with all the regs over entry of new plants animals etc the question is could this species be introduced today :-\ perhaps you had better send em back ;D
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No, I cant swim :(
Yet he can do the butterfly.
johnw
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No, I cant swim :(
You need to get that corrected Mark. My kids went to swimming lessons as soon as they could walk.
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No, I cant swim :(
You need to get that corrected Mark. My kids went to swimming lessons as soon as they could walk.
Bit harsh that, Anthony, couldn't you have given the poor little souls a lift,? ::)
Seems very popular now to take tiny babies to swim with parents... means the children become real little water babies who make great progress and get an early love for this good exercise/fun. Can't be bad.
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Thirty five years ago Vivienne's parents' neighbour's son drowned aged 7 in the River Allan, which runs past the football pitches in Bridge of Allan, and also through the centre of Dunblane. There are too many children drowned for want of lessons. We have a 'toast rack' over our pond to prevent the possibility, but you can't cover or drain every pond, river or canal, nor would I want it to happen.
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I don't swim, either. Sure, we went to the baths every week when I was at school but I never got the hang of it. In my teens/20's I was an angler and for the last 25 years I have been working alongside the River Spey etc!
No, I don't say that children (of all ages) shouldn't swim, I think that they should. It's just that I never have although I love being alongside and in the water.
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One of my first swimming memories is from when I was about ten years old. We, a group of friends of my own age, were playing ball on a local beach. When the ball went into the water I was sent to get it as I was the swimmer. All went fine but I was taken by the current, which very fortunately was an incoming tide, and was carried about two miles into the harbour. My friends had grabbed the clothes and cycled round to meet me at the harbour wall where I dressed up and we went home. Needless to say, our parents never heard of this.
When much older I was manning a crash boat for a regata. All went well until the engine caught fire, huge flames and my friend and I had to jump for it. Fortunately the boat wasn't badly damaged and we climbed back on board but had to paddle back to the marina.
It was a peculiarity of fishing folk in parts of Ireland to deliberately not learn to swim. The thought was, I think, that the end would be better coming quickly. As part of swimming lessons for fishermen I have donned the full gear worn on trawlers and jumped into the sea. It is a frightening feeling getting waterlogged, especially the wellingtons which suddenly weigh a tonne.
Still love swimming and have a 16 year old who does also. We go for a swim each day in the summer and this year he did a one mile swim with me on several occasions. He does wear a wetsuit though which I look on as completely sissy.
Paddy
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It does come in handy. James and I did a scuba course and two dives (I did the SSAC diving tests many years ago) in Mexico 2007. We have also, as a family, done the 'undersea trek' and swimming with dolphins there. We went white water rafting in Bali too, in 2004. That was fantastic, especially as there were tiny swiftlets flying up and down the river. Lucy was 5 then and a capable swimmer. I didn't learn to swim until I was 9, one day a week at Ramsden Street Baths in Huddersfield. In six months I had passed the 'half mile' badge (with no cheating or touching the ends!).