Introduction

[ickypimp]

Hi Guys

I am Martin, i live in the South of England, i found this oasis whilst searching the web for the davy knot and thought i would drop in and see what is happening.

I have been fishing for 36 years, but only started flyfishing a year ago but it quickly became my preffered method of fishing, i live on the coast, i fish saltwater for Bass and the Hampshire chalkstreams (the river Test and Itchen) for wild brown trout and Grayling.

Look forward to contributing to your community…

[Zach Matthews]

Hey Martin –

Good to have you.

[ickypimp]

With respect (dont want to upset anyone from the off) I have read your policy an believe i am not doing anything wrong, i use the same username on all the forums i frequent (thats quite alot) i find you bump into familiar faces all over the internet and none of those folks would realise they were talking to me.. i have set up a signature with my first name and initial, which is as much as i am prepare to post (dont see why you need my surname, if i do anything really bad you have my ip address)

If thing are that formal here then thats fine… please delete my account as it isnt the sort of place i want to contribute to, no hard feelings

[Neal Osborn]

Welcome Martin.  I wouldn’t worry too much about the names and all but most of us here do tend to use at least some part of our formal names.  You can always change your account so that your nickname is under your avatar; see mine on the left says nealpod under my picture.  That way people still know you by your nickname.

Great to see more people from across the pond joining in on the ruckus. This is really a great site and the people here are wonderful.  Lots of knowledge and experience floating around this site.  

[Zach Matthews]

Icky –

Most people have preferred to raise this argument (which I have heard many times) with me by private message, but we may as well have this conversation where everyone can see it.

[ickypimp]

Neil, Zach, thank you for the welcome

I will keep my identity as is for the time being , to be honest i dont mind how much kudos my participation recieves, i dont have a massive ego that i need stroking in almost 4 decades with a rod in my hand i have come to realise that in fishing opinions are like a$$holes, everyone has one, why should anyone value mine over anyone elses..

i am here because of one thing and one thing only

ADDICTION

The buzz i get when a fish smashes into my dry, that nanosecond of adrenaline tha makes you jump… you guy know exactally what i mean and if i cant be out there dong it then second best is indoors talking and reading about it ..

MY NAME IS MARTIN ……AND I AM A FLY FISHERMAN….

[david king]

Welcome Martin! I would be curious to know what the fly fishing scene is like in the UK? I have only seen pictures of the beautiful pastoral settings on the Itchen and Test. Is all the water private? If so can gain access for a reasonable fee? Can you fish all year round etc.

[ickypimp]

Hi David, let me start by clearing up one thing… i am as poor as a church mouse :D, i work as a researcher at a university, i am passionate about my work but i will never be rich doing it.

The vast majority of the chalkstreams are private, access is granted to anyone whos wallet bulger sufficiently… During “duffers fortnight” in may when we get the biblical hatches of the upwing e.danica you can easily pay in excess of  £300 (~$560) per day to fish.

There are some little pockets of heaven about if you know where to look, i know of 3 beats on the itchen and 1 on the test that are free to fish, though they are wild and unkept (just the way i like it)  the fish are on the smaller size, brown trout averaging a pound, graying of aboit the same and the most perfect atlantic salmon parr. If you are lucky there are also sea trout which can be taken on occasion.

A salmon parr

grayling

sea trout finnock

Brown trout

We do have lots of great wild fishing in the UK that can cost nothing to a couple of punds a day, just not where i live 🙁

Then there is the still water scene, lake fishing for stocked rainbow trout… leaves me cold to be honest… not what floats my boat…

[anonymous]

Zach writes that this forum is build on princples of respect.

Had to laugh when I read this. What about the poster (forgot his name) who created a thread about his guided trip with Landon Mayer. A bunch of posters began attacking Landon (for what, I have no idea) and when the guy came to Landon’s defense, Zach deleted his thread and picture. Later he got kicked off the board.

These are the principles of respect you’re talking about, Zach?

[Zach Matthews]

Gentlemen –

This board is about fishing, not about personality conflicts.

[Author]

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