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This is a dedicated thread for discussing article: Ruffe fishing by design
Ruffe fishing by design
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Sean Meeghan
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I hesitate to say this (visions of bivvies sprouting like mushrooms along the bank) but I once caught a Ruffe that I had to use a landing net on. It was on a cold winter's day on the river Ure at Boroughbridge and I'm sorry to say I didn't weigh it. Who knows, I could have been the proud holder of the Ruffe record now!
Alan Tyler
Well-known member
...well, holder, anyway!
Alan Tyler
Well-known member
I thought this needed a more measured response, and this came out; more like an article than a forum post. Sorry. I would submit it as an article, but I've no photos of gudgeon-fishing, and really, none seem necessary. Everyone has their own idea of what a relaxed bloke looks like.
Gudgeon Fishing
I don’t quite understand why - at least, I didn’t when I started writing this, though I think I do now - but Ruffe don’t quite cut it for me as a mini-species of choice.
Ruffe are proper predators, and proper perciformes, all flick-knife spines and blades, and as much a pain in the palm as in the, er, neck. So why do they have no appeal to me, when I’ll happily spend an afternoon after gudgeon? What is it about gudgeon that makes them, in the eyes of many, the kings of the little fish?
Matchmen may study the ways of bleak, and perfect ways of catching vast numbers of them, but I suspect the process is no more fun for the angler than the fish.
Bullheads and loach are wonders to behold, the one all points and angles - all pleasantly blunt - while the other is as graspable as an eel's oiled ghost - both are ideal aquarium subjects, though I doubt that's legal now. But not serious subjects of sporting pursuit.
Ditto minnows -they always look so aghast at the imponderable consequences of such a small mistake that I can neither clonk them for chub-bait nor stay fishing the same method in the same swim. “Cute nuisances” sums them up.
As for sticklebacks - if it's that desperate, go home. Read a good book, accumulate brownie points, sink a drink. Whatever. The only possible reasons for fishing for them are: you agreed to fish a series of team matches on a canal - in which case, unless rohypnol was involved, you've only yourself to blame; you are seven - that's a sound reason, enjoy the sticklebacks, and being seven; or you have an aquarium and a young non-angler who's just read - er, oops, I ought to know this, it's either Huxley or Tinbergen - and wants to watch the nest-building, territorial disputes, paternal care and mad attacking of anything red, at first hand. That's the best reason of the lot, and I wish you great success. Only necessary once a year, max, though.
But, somehow, gudgeon fishing is proper, respectable angling! Only just, to be fair, but the little, brown mini-barbel with the lilac sheen is seen as a proper fish, even though bleak and ruffe reach bigger sizes. Perhaps it’s because they are shoal fish -but then, so are bleak - in spades. Perhaps it’s because if you set out to catch bleak, you will. The only likely nuisance fish is a smaller bleak… set out to catch gudgeon, and any thing can happen.
And now I think I’m getting warm.
Gudgeon-fishing is the only form of angling which is truly relaxing. Sat behind a battery of silent buzzers, the angler is acutely aware of his life slipping away while fish observe a solemn fast; nerves fray, nails are nibbled, teeth are ground and hair is torn; legering or float-fishing for the “serious” species, one is constantly willing the indicator up, the float down; trying longer or shorter hook-lengths, moving shot around, changing depths, agonising about whether or not to risk swiping the bait from under Leviathan’s nose to check it, or sitting baitless for hours; in short, winding oneself up into a state of excitement - pleasurable, if it works, but not relaxing - whereas, laying-on a bit of worm while gudgeon try to munch their way up to the hook, the pleasant passing of time becomes the whole point. It simply doesn't matter. The quality of the picnic matters more than the size of the catch. The afternoon drifts by...
Or, and this is what I think I’ve been groping towards, am I kidding myself? Is the whole point of gudgeon-fishing to achieve a zen-like state which almost guarantees the "bonus" roach, chub or carp that comes along at dusk to put an emphatic full stop to the day's paragraph? Am I alone among gudgeoners in making dam' sure to step up my hooklength and check my knots as the last hour approaches?
---------- Post added at 19:25 ---------- Previous post was at 19:23 ----------
Where have all my elegant paragraph indents gone? Harrumph!!!
Gudgeon Fishing
I don’t quite understand why - at least, I didn’t when I started writing this, though I think I do now - but Ruffe don’t quite cut it for me as a mini-species of choice.
Ruffe are proper predators, and proper perciformes, all flick-knife spines and blades, and as much a pain in the palm as in the, er, neck. So why do they have no appeal to me, when I’ll happily spend an afternoon after gudgeon? What is it about gudgeon that makes them, in the eyes of many, the kings of the little fish?
Matchmen may study the ways of bleak, and perfect ways of catching vast numbers of them, but I suspect the process is no more fun for the angler than the fish.
Bullheads and loach are wonders to behold, the one all points and angles - all pleasantly blunt - while the other is as graspable as an eel's oiled ghost - both are ideal aquarium subjects, though I doubt that's legal now. But not serious subjects of sporting pursuit.
Ditto minnows -they always look so aghast at the imponderable consequences of such a small mistake that I can neither clonk them for chub-bait nor stay fishing the same method in the same swim. “Cute nuisances” sums them up.
As for sticklebacks - if it's that desperate, go home. Read a good book, accumulate brownie points, sink a drink. Whatever. The only possible reasons for fishing for them are: you agreed to fish a series of team matches on a canal - in which case, unless rohypnol was involved, you've only yourself to blame; you are seven - that's a sound reason, enjoy the sticklebacks, and being seven; or you have an aquarium and a young non-angler who's just read - er, oops, I ought to know this, it's either Huxley or Tinbergen - and wants to watch the nest-building, territorial disputes, paternal care and mad attacking of anything red, at first hand. That's the best reason of the lot, and I wish you great success. Only necessary once a year, max, though.
But, somehow, gudgeon fishing is proper, respectable angling! Only just, to be fair, but the little, brown mini-barbel with the lilac sheen is seen as a proper fish, even though bleak and ruffe reach bigger sizes. Perhaps it’s because they are shoal fish -but then, so are bleak - in spades. Perhaps it’s because if you set out to catch bleak, you will. The only likely nuisance fish is a smaller bleak… set out to catch gudgeon, and any thing can happen.
And now I think I’m getting warm.
Gudgeon-fishing is the only form of angling which is truly relaxing. Sat behind a battery of silent buzzers, the angler is acutely aware of his life slipping away while fish observe a solemn fast; nerves fray, nails are nibbled, teeth are ground and hair is torn; legering or float-fishing for the “serious” species, one is constantly willing the indicator up, the float down; trying longer or shorter hook-lengths, moving shot around, changing depths, agonising about whether or not to risk swiping the bait from under Leviathan’s nose to check it, or sitting baitless for hours; in short, winding oneself up into a state of excitement - pleasurable, if it works, but not relaxing - whereas, laying-on a bit of worm while gudgeon try to munch their way up to the hook, the pleasant passing of time becomes the whole point. It simply doesn't matter. The quality of the picnic matters more than the size of the catch. The afternoon drifts by...
Or, and this is what I think I’ve been groping towards, am I kidding myself? Is the whole point of gudgeon-fishing to achieve a zen-like state which almost guarantees the "bonus" roach, chub or carp that comes along at dusk to put an emphatic full stop to the day's paragraph? Am I alone among gudgeoners in making dam' sure to step up my hooklength and check my knots as the last hour approaches?
No?...Thought not!
---------- Post added at 19:25 ---------- Previous post was at 19:23 ----------
Where have all my elegant paragraph indents gone? Harrumph!!!
Sorry couldnt resist
The Ruffe (or Ruff) is essentially an indiginous British specie also known as the Pope (a much older name and related to the cloth of course) and more recently, due to its parculiar “habit” (no pun) 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. Vulgaris 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.
The late“Elvis Pete” who was 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).
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,
The Ruffe (or Ruff) is essentially an indiginous British specie also known as the Pope (a much older name and related to the cloth of course) and more recently, due to its parculiar “habit” (no pun) 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. Vulgaris 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.
The late“Elvis Pete” who was 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).
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,
S-Kippy
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Is there one ? There certainly used to be [4 oz 4 dr if memory serves] but that was blown away by my mate Malcolm who had one [weighed] of 6 + ozs. A veritable brute of a thing which he took home & kept in a rainwater tank. This was many,many years ago off the Middlesex Colne which then was a ruffe nest par excellence.
Not caught one for years...where did they all go ?
---------- Post added at 21:31 ---------- Previous post was at 21:30 ----------
I'm getting old....4-4 was the old gudgeon record I think.
Gary Cullum
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Ruffely speaking...
Grown men, discussing the humble Gobio and little Tommy pope. How marvellous. I believe the record gudgeon currently stands at five ounces and the ruffe at five ounces and four drams. Veritable monsters.
Grown men, discussing the humble Gobio and little Tommy pope. How marvellous. I believe the record gudgeon currently stands at five ounces and the ruffe at five ounces and four drams. Veritable monsters.
Gary Cullum
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Roughly speaking
Hi Monk - ruffely speaking, yes... though I did look up the current record list. Found several different lists with record barbel weighing from 19 to 21 plus etc. But it does show that the humble Gobby Guddy record is colossal. Are you the Manchester-based Monk who used to write regularly in The New Specialist Angler Magazine?
regards
Gary
Hi Monk - ruffely speaking, yes... though I did look up the current record list. Found several different lists with record barbel weighing from 19 to 21 plus etc. But it does show that the humble Gobby Guddy record is colossal. Are you the Manchester-based Monk who used to write regularly in The New Specialist Angler Magazine?
regards
Gary
Kevin Perkins
Well-known member
This obsession with small fish is not new..........
The Alternative Angler - Mini Hunters - FishingMagic Online Fishing Magazine.
The Alternative Angler - Mini Hunters - FishingMagic Online Fishing Magazine.
Wobbly Face (As Per Ed)
Well-known member
Ruffe. I remember well the day, I think it was sometime in October (I think it was October, could have been another month) 1983, could have been 1984. 5 of us went to Garstang fishing the Lancaster canal. It was coldish and slightly damp. Typical nothern day.
It was extremely busy on the canal, no boats bothered us, only saw one dog walker and a cycalist. Top bait, red maggot. No ground bait couldn,t afford it. We spent all day there and out of the 5 of us I caught the ruffe. 4 of us were student nurses and the the 5th was a qualitied nurse so no problems dealing with the affliction. How they all laughed. They stopped laughing on the way home though. 1 Ruffe saved the day, and I caught it. I bet they have all forgotton about that day, but ot me.
It was extremely busy on the canal, no boats bothered us, only saw one dog walker and a cycalist. Top bait, red maggot. No ground bait couldn,t afford it. We spent all day there and out of the 5 of us I caught the ruffe. 4 of us were student nurses and the the 5th was a qualitied nurse so no problems dealing with the affliction. How they all laughed. They stopped laughing on the way home though. 1 Ruffe saved the day, and I caught it. I bet they have all forgotton about that day, but ot me.
Gary Cullum
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I remember you well Monk and trust you are still getting your fair share of tight lines.
Wobbly Face - good that such a small fish can evoke such memories when the world today seems carp crazy.
Gary
Wobbly Face - good that such a small fish can evoke such memories when the world today seems carp crazy.
Gary