I know this might offend some of you, but I hope it will make you think about how we treat the fish we pursue. Don't you think that fish porn is little more than a penis size competition? I do. Why do these shots always show some wanker cheesing for the camera? After all we don't know who the fish is do we? What his name is or where he or she came from. And did the fish sign a waiver giving us permission to post his mug on the web? Do you guys go around taking pictures of chicks in kinky boots at the mall with your camera phone and posting them on the web? We call that stalking here in the States, and we have laws against it. Shouldn't the angler be as anonymous as the fish? Most of the time when I see a picture of a fish, I'm left with questions. How? Where? What fly? Oh, on a worm how nice, you must be quite an angler.

couple of years ago Ronan lent me a blowfly with a rusty hook, which then broke on the strike with a double figured fish. I still blame Ronan for this by the way. Well there's a new flybox on the market, one that Ronan needs, one in fact that perhaps we all need.

I came across this box in Denver; I was wandering around the show and spied a box I knew well; a solid indestructible box that I'd used for several years until it was pinched out my truck. Not being able to get hold of one of the boxes - and believe me I tried - I was surprised to see them there. But not only that, something had changed, for it now contained a small panel with balls.

There are a number of ways to curve the line when fly casting, and curves can be created during both the cast itself (via adjustments of the stroke prior to loop formation) and mends (via adjustments to line position after loop formation). Due to the nature of fly casting, it is possible to also have curves that start life during the cast and finish their formation as a mend. This category of curved "cast/mends," as such skills have become known, is where the Inverse V- Curve falls.

The Inverse V-Curve, as I use it, is designed to provide a large, deep (even 90-degree) curve that can be used with all manner of flies. As the name suggests, this curve has motions derived from the standard V-Curve, but in this case those motions go from bottom-to-top instead of top-to- bottom. Here's how it works (for a right-handed caster):

Despite all the media coverage recently about the death of "Crocodile Hunter"Steve Irwin, the real danger fishing the Australian shore - or any shore - is not from saltwater crocodiles, sharks and stingrays, but from the waves. Ozzie rock anglers know this, but every year several are washed off the rocks and disappear. The fishing magazines regularly warn readers to never turn your back on the ocean, and it's good advice. The problem is, of course, that we need to get right up to it to be able to fish, and even if we don't scramble out onto risky, exposed shelves and points, there's still a good chance of a wave knocking you down or you slip and really hurt yourself. Ocean rocks are almost always treacherous with algae and weed, so good boots are an essential piece of kit.

We’ve kept you in suspenders all year so here it is, the Sage TCR giveaway!
In order to go in the draw to win this top of the line Sage fly rod you’ll need to answer five questions, email your answers to snapcast@sexyloops.com All correct answers will go in the draw to win the Sage TCR of your choice (excluding two handers)
As usual you’ll need to be a Snapcast subscriber to go in the draw – so if you’re not already, signup using the form on the Sexyloops front page.

First up in order to be in to win one of them, tell us which TCR is the newest in the range. Then answer these questions:

Who founded Sage?
In what year?
What was the original name of the company?
What is the answer to the ultimate question of life, the universe and everything?

Clue: The first three can be answered from the Sage site.

We’ll announce the winner in the new year.
Many thanks to Marc Bale and the team at Sage for their generous support this year. Have a very merry Christmas and a prosperous new year!

And the winner is... October G-Spot Scientific Anglers Line Competion

G-Spot December

I'm trying to google-proofed this one! All you get is this google earth image taken at an elevation of 1000 miles. 3 correct entries will be randomly drawn to win a Sexyloops Sticker. Send your entry to Eric@Sexyloops.com.

Name this Island/Country! to gain an entry.

We'll announce the Sage TCR winner! ....that's about all I know at the moment, but it's bound to be good. Cheers

~ Carl McNeil
Bumcast