New Elite Specimen Angling Group

NEW ELITE SPECIALIST ANGLING GROUP

For many years the specialist study of the Ruffe and its followers have moved
behind closed doors, in what many have considered secret societies. This has
mainly been brought about by the very nature of this superb specie and its
hidden fighting qualities. I have always been a confirmed Ruffe specialist
and have over the last 30 years studied this often-elusive specie, searching
out many Ruffe waters, in the guise of a carp angler. While sat behind a
battery of carp rods with all the very latest electronic wizardry, I would
often have a secret, snide Ruffe rod close to hand.

The Ruffe (or Ruff) is essentially a British specie also known as the Pope
(much older name) and more recently, due to its parculiar "habit" of rising
to the surface and slapping the upper water levels with its huge dorsal fin,
it has also become known as the "Slapper" fish (Acerina Cerua or A. Vuglaris
Slappus). Back in the early 1990's I had the great privilege to be invited
into the Ruffe Study Group (RSG), and through my membership of this rather
notable specialist organisation, my interest in the specie grew
astonishingly, so much so, that after many more years research and much
European travel to a variety of Ruffe waters, I decided to get together with
a number of experienced Ruffe anglers and form the Ruffe Slappers Study Group
Internationale (RSSGI), membership at present is by invitation only although
a number of new publications are shortly to appear in the UK aimed
specifically on our findings with the specie, the RSSGI's in house
publication "Big Ruffe Slapper" will become available to the general angling
public later in the year. Leading features in the current edition include
"Ruffe Slappers of Eastern Europe" by Elvis Pete, "A Knight with some Ruffe
Slappers" by Gary Leigh, A Layman's Guide to Ruffe Bivvies", a special
feature by Ron Clay, who for many years has owned a Ruffe Bivvy (and is quite
partial to the odd slapper), along with a plethora of other wildly
interesting scripts.

"Elvis Pete" who is the undisputed Northwest leading authority on Ruffe
Slappers, said at a Ruffe Conference in Oldham recently, "It is indeed good
news that Ruffe Slappers are finally gaining the recognition they deserve,
I've hunted down Ruffe Slappers over most of Europe and in Port Talbot and it
gives me a great pride to be elected Honorary President of this new Ruffe
International Organisation", Elvis has probably had more Ruffe Slappers than
any man alive. Gary Leigh is another specialist angler noted for his past
endevours with Ruffe Slappers, Gary over the years has taken a number of good
Ruffe Slappers (where to, no-one knows). Leading scientific angling bod,
Phil Hackett (AKA "Phillip the Antagonist") is an enthusiastic Ruffe writer,
indeed Phil has written a number of Ruffe articles over the years.

For further updates of this new and exciting International Organisation, the
RSSGI, please contact The Monk direct at 221b The Darkest Deep Cavern, Oldham
Peat Bogs, The Shire. Membership is open to all extremely good and famous
anglers who The Monk likes, Some Ruffe Slapper experience is desirable on
application and a list of current telephone numbers is also an advantage.
The group realise that a number of Ruffe carp anglers have existed for many
years south of Watford gap, it is however regrettable that it is unlikely,
due to the high standard the new group aims to portray, that any of this lot
will obtain membership (ever). Watch this space for further news of Ruffe
Slappers, .
Tight Slappers The Monk.

I know where there's loads if anyone wants a sesh. I believe this was the one mini-species record Dennis Flack never managed to crack.

Sounds like a interesting study group this Phil and one to which I feel sure I could make some contribution. I spent several years hunting Ruffe Slappers around Germany and Holland when on leave from the forces, with great success. In fact, when I first read the thread it brought warm memories flooding back. Summer evenings lost in some little known spot, the Ruffe Slappers just begining to break surface, a gentle grip on your rod as you get the first indications of the Ruffe Slapper mouthing your bait, teasing at the end of your worm for the meerest hint of resistance. And then the take, as your line goes taught under your finger and your pulse rate increases, the fight that ensues and the final reconcilliation with the inevitable as you know you have a firm hold on the Ruffe Slapper.
At home, too, we had some success. Observing and noting the patrol routes, feeding area's and laying up spots of several shoals of Ruffe Slapper and getting our bait out there without snagged up; caught some beauties too. Ah! fond memories indeed.
And I must mention the fortnight around Shangai, but then again. Ok, ok. While it's true to tell we caught some lovely specimens of Ruffe Slapper, throughout the day and well into the early hours, we were also plagued by another species, a not particular nice species catch at that and one I do not care to remember.
However, Phil, you have rekindled my interest in hunting the Ruffe Slapper and I am already planning a 48 hour session on some local known spots.

What about the name of this specimen group, how about the 'Advanced Ruffe Slappers and Enthusiasts'.

Look forward to perusing the mag.

Ducks on the carp forum, slappers on here.....i can only conclude there is a lot of blanking going on!!!.....in my opinion bringing an "elite" group to the fore such as you guy's are doing is the beginning of a down ward spiral......previously "secret" hotspots will now be moved upon by the circus and syndicates will take over previously free waters....books and films will be made and current serving slapper hunters will be wide open to the bounty hunters........i hope you know what you are doing fellas!!!!.........now i must get to the river and sanity!!!

What has not been said is that the wild Ruffe Slapper is very elusive and difficult to tempt, and practice should first be sought on the 'domestic' variety.

Although common, domestic Ruffe Slapper are very expensive to keep. If anyone wants to hire one, my domestic, common Ruffe Slapper is available at reasonable rates. If at the end of the practice session you wish to keep her then I'm sure we can come to some arrangement.

The Monk has asked me, after reading these posts, to point out that there seems to be a little confusion about what a ruffe slapper is. Being a man devoted to the cloth and partaking in abstinence of most things worldly. He feels some on this site have confused his lordable and worthy aim, of heighten the profile of the Ruffe too mystical and ultra-cult status, with another earthly life form, that it must be said, may or may not be unfathomable by the male of that species.

Any reference other than to the Ruffe fish (ruffe slappers) he feels he must disassociate himself from.
However, being an ‘Old Man’ of the cloth, he can see how this confusion may have arisen. Notwithstanding this point, he feels that it is you, and not him who has misconstrued his comments into the area of carnal affairs.

Phillip the Antagonist

So how come Sedge doesn't fish for them then..?

Before my quest of ducking for ducks, I too participated in ruffe slappers. The smell of these fish is awesome and the sticky fingers you'd end up with after handling them was amazing. The only downside I found when fishing for this specimen was that I always ended up getting my worm stuck right down the throat of a ruffe slapper, this would cause me many issues in retrieving my end tackle.

Come in Laurie Harper , this is your specialist subject !!!

MORE RUFFE NEWS

Ruffe publishing, the leading multinational is current paginating two brand
new weekly papers, Ruffe Times and Ruffe Mail. My mate Elvis Pete, the New
General Editor of both publications said recently, this is indeed a very
exciting time for Ruffe anglers everywhere and I am indebted to the RSSGI for
all the interest created both nationally and internationally on this new
ultra cult specie, "The Ruffe Slapper", Elvis will launch his new column in
the periodicals late September "Lets Talk Ruffe".

Watch this space for more exicting updates.

STOP PRESS FROM WESTMINSTER

The RSSGI has recently applied for a royal charter, more news to follow!!!!!

The Monk (Press Officer, RSSGI)

And to think it was I who christened 'Elvis Pete'....

Just what kind of monster have I unleashed. My only hope is that a suitable man of the cloth (such as the noble monk of the shires) can exorcise the demons that lay within the mumbling, slightly disheveled figure of the artist (p*ss) known as 'Elvis Pete'...

Ah but Barney thou knowest not the great skills of the noble Monk of the Shire.

Like disposing his Macdonalds rubbish in an off licence in the middle of Warwick town.

And loop de looping a roundabout to avoid a long line of queuing traffic in Leamington Spa.....

ah but Ron, didst thous forget the Manchester driving tution, given freely, to the simple folk of the Shire of Warwick, and indeed the privillaged
Off License owner as I bestoed my McDonalds packaging (signed of course)in her humble abode. A full account of which is due for release in New Specialist Angler (Confessions of a Long Distance Carp Angler, Part 1)

Does Kath know about your obsession wth Ruff slaparse?

After my sucsess with that lesser predator the pike in the Baltic Sea I thought I would try to catch a huge Ruffe Slapper from tidal waters...alas all I caught was crabs.....