Can anyone tell me -

#1 (**permalink**) 03-05-2007, 18:40

After well over 1/2 a century of angling, I don't think I've ever caught one of these elusive species in my life. Yet it is referred to in many articles these days.

I hope I can get a few logical replies.

Janet (AT) · #2 (**permalink**) 03-05-2007, 18:42

As a newcomer, I'd quite like an answer to that question too!

#3 (**permalink**) 03-05-2007, 18:50

Feeling bored Ron or just fishing for bites ?

#4 (**permalink**) 03-05-2007, 18:51

No, I want a logical answer.

Poshpaul (Angling Trust and PaSC) · #5 (**permalink**) 03-05-2007, 18:51

Some say it is a corruption of the term sylvan meaning wooded. It alludes to the era when lakes and ponds were surrounded by trees and dense vegetation before the times when they were removed to provide easy access carp puddles. So a silver fish, or sylvan fish, is one, of any species, caught from a natural, unspoilt pool or lake. ;-)

Poshpaul (Angling Trust and PaSC) · #6 (**permalink**) 03-05-2007, 18:55

Sorry Ron,

A little tongue in cheek that first one. I assume it refers to those species such as roach, rudd (even if they are frequently a buttery gold), dace, chub, bleak which have that silver quality in their scaling. I am not sure at what point it came to refer to virtually anything that swims other than a carp, eel,tench or barbel.

#7 (**permalink**) 03-05-2007, 18:57

Roach, Perch, Rudd, Skimmers. Carp not included.

Janet (AT) · #8 (**permalink**) 03-05-2007, 19:13

Isn't a roach a roach, a perch a perch etc? Baz also mentioned another that gets me slightly confused. Skimmer. Just what exactly IS a skimmer?

Ok, I'm showing my ignorance as a newcomer now, so please be gentle with me, but this is a question I've been wanting to ask for ages, but didn't want to show my lack of knowledge!

#9 (**permalink**) 03-05-2007, 19:17

A juvenile Bream Janet. Usually under 2lb.
Perch = a pair of eyes.

#10 (**permalink**) 03-05-2007, 19:17

Silverfish - nasty little throwbacks to prehistoric times that inhabit damp corners and nibble yer book binding. Though why they appear to take a squat on a 22s 'ook under't far bank at the eight metre line is beyond me....