Fishing at Great Western War

[FrauHirsch]

This year I tried period fishing again and actually caught a small catfish. I threw it back, but it was still cool.

Master Otwell was out with his 3rd c pictish coracle.

[Heath B fraychef]

thats awesome did anyone get pics?

[FrauHirsch]

Yes, it was a baby channel cat, so I threw it back. I'll post the picts tomorrow probably.

[Ieuan Gower]

You have my attention... my squire is an avid fisherman and we have been talking about researching period fishing techniques. Can you offer any suggestions for starting our research?

Ieuan

[FrauHirsch]

http://moas.atlantia.sca.org/wsnlinks/i ... &catid=118

Karen Larsdatter provides a number of good links:
http://www.larsdatter.com/fishing.htm
http://compendium.legiodraconis.com/fishing.html
http://ads.ahds.ac.uk/catalogue/adsdata ... 412001.pdf
http://www.regia.org/fishing.htm
http://www.flyfishinghistory.com/fly_fi ... _times.htm

My husband made me an ash pole and a cane pole. Native European Cane is often found in the US clogging waterways as a nuisance plant. These each have a couple of loops on them so that I can cast. I wind the excess on a hand frame.

I used antique linen fishing line for the main line, but in the past for trout fishing I also used horsehair leaders. Because there are HUGE catfish at the Buena Vista lake (ranger said he'd caught a 43 lber) I went with straight linen fishing line. I caught the one fish and had two other strong hits the next day and a number of nibble.s

My husband made some hooks.

Casting using a handframe is similar to fly fishing. You have to pile the excess line so when it goes out it does not tangle. It takes a bit of practice to cast, but its not that hard to figure out.

Here is an article on how to find antique linen line:
http://modelshipwrights.wikispaces.com/Linen+line

[FrauHirsch]

Here is a guideline if you wanted to make your own linen line, but I'd make a jig/machine for it:

http://www.marlinmag.com/techniques/fis ... 35252.html

Or maybe one of those twisty braid machines would work:
http://www.amazon.com/IGIA-AT6746S-Twis ... B000H391V4


or make your own:
http://www.mkdrafting.com/ropepics.html
http://www.makerope.com/

[Ieuan Gower]

Thanks... I will chew, digest and then probably have a few questions

[randver]

humm who wants too start a fishing guild? lol

[FrauHirsch]

humm who wants too start a fishing guild? lol

While an official "guild" sounds like paperwork, I'd love for a group of us to plan for one night of night catfishing at GWW if enough were interested. It could be quite the party -- pull a firepit right next to the shore, bring chairs and torches/lanterns and ice chests.

I did find I want to bring a bell on the fishing pole for when I want to walk away for awhile....

[FrauHirsch]

I uploaded photos:

http://s995.photobucket.com/albums/af77 ... ern%20War/

[Proxus]

Just an FYI.

Fishing at the park is only allowed with a license. If you did not purchase one you should be aware that for next year you need to encourage everyone to first purchase said license, or be aware that they could be in for state issued citations and fines. It is a state park that is run by Kern County and as such the park sets those rules on fishing. Also with a license you can fish for free, if you fish between Nov-Feb per below you are charged along with needing the license.

There are a few signs at the gate as you come in but as our "front" gate is actually the park's back gate they are not as prevalent as you may think. They are however posted, by the docks at the parking lot / boat launch.

They do welcome fishing actually which is why you are only "supposed" to swim at the lagoon behind where Abbey was camped. They don't want swimmers getting hooks in their feet so no fishing in lagoon, no swimming everywhere else. Not that it stopped people, no one got hurt thankfully. (that I know of)

I just want to make sure that you know so no one gets in trouble next year for something they weren't aware of.

Buena Vista Aquatic Recreation Area. In November through February we stock Lake Evans with trout and charge $6.00 for adults and $1.00 for children to fish. You can fish year-round at Lake Webb, the other lake in the Buena Vista Aquatic Recreation Area.

Edited to add link: http://www.co.kern.ca.us/parks/faq.asp#q6

War takes place on the lake Evans side.

[FrauHirsch]

Yes, of course I have a CA Fishing License. But also of course, there are also always those who come up and try to tell me that fishing isn't allowed or indicate that I should stop because THEY don't know the rules.

But because I know that the SCA always has a plethora of busybodies who love to step in and tell people what they can and cannot do, I checked it all out with the Parks Dept before I ever went fishing and worked with the autocrats so they would know I was going to do so.

BTW, Kern County parks considers our rental of the site coverage for any fishing fees they might charge for a day fishing pass.

[Valstarr Hawkwind]

Treasury of Angling, as I'm going frmo memory on the title, is a period source for parts of European Middle Ages angling, including how to make a pole (very very exacting,) and several ways/types to period color the (horse hair) fishing line.


Val