LITTER LOUTS
The problem of left litter by anglers on rock marks, judging by my experiences this past summer, is getting far worse. I fish the rocks pretty much weekly in North Wales and fairly frequently in west Wales. It's obvious though, that the problem is far worse in the north.

On a recent rock trip regular fishing buddy Clive Griffiths and I walked on to the mark to be greeted by two discarded Safeway portable tinfoil barbecue packs, sausage and meat wrappings, pot noodle containers, two throwaway paper plates, plus coils of loose line, newspaper that had obviously had bait in, plus four boxes used for selling ragworm. I cleared up the mess and bagged it, and we took it back and discarded it in a lay-by bin on the way home. Not pleasant, and even less so when it's not your own mess.

Litter louts on our beaches

Judging by the name of the newspaper and the price sticker on the barbecue pack these litterlouts were obviously from the Liverpool area. It's obvious too, because of the remote and difficult access to this particular mark that these so called anglers were knowledgeable of the area and probably fish it fairly often. I know the farmer pretty well who owns this land and he's less than impressed with some of the anglers that use his paths to access the rocks. He's seen the mess left too, plus had gates left open and walls knocked down when people can't be bothered to walk to a stile 50-yards away. If he decides to stop the cars parking, then there is no other access to these rocks.

Problem is how do you educate these mindless people who couldn't give a monkey's once they've had their day out? There's an excellent conservation code for anglers leaflet backed by the Countryside Council for Wales, English Nature, Marine Conservation Society and others. It carries all the information to be a good and caring angler, but how do you get the main culprits to read it? Even if you give them a code booklet when they buy tackle or bait, the bet is they'll litter the floor with it.

We're stuck with these guys, like it or not, and sooner than later they'll be responsible for some of the best fishing marks in Wales and the UK being put out of bounds to anglers. If you're one of those that in the past has littered and left, then think on, because your fishing will suffer to.

TIPS AND TRICKS
A variation on the quick-change hook trace for double patting is to use a link swivel attached to the end of each hook trace. The link is quick to attach and release from the main rig swivels saving time allowing fished out baited traces to be removed and freshly baited traces to be added quickly before each cast.

It's also a useful way of double patting when walking to long distance marks when you want to limit the number of rigs you need to carry.

WINTER BOAT TACTICS FOR HERRING
Many parts of the UK still see inshore herring shoals during the autumn and through to Christmas in some areas, but anglers rarely if ever fish for them and consequently miss out on a fresh bait source, hot action and a tasty supper.

Herring favour deepish water close in off rocks and are often found in deep water sounds between the mainland and offshore islands. They also build in to large shoals over submerged rock pinnacles and even wrecks.

They usually feed on plankton, but they are predatory and will feed on small fry when it's abundant. Herring are occasionally caught by anglers using feathers for late season mackerel, but you'll generally miss them often only feeling light repeated taps as the herring attack the feathers but can't get the big hooks in to their small mouths.

The best bought lures for herring are the small luminous Mustad shrimp rigs and similar copies. These are tied on small size 6 and 8 hooks. Herring also favour small red feather lures on size 8 to 10 hooks. If need be use size 10 Bloody Butcher trout flies and make your own four hook rigs with short 6-inch snoods from 15lb line. Use the light mono for hook traces, as herring can be shy and leave heavier hook snoods alone.

Use much slower upward lifts of the rod and a slower motion when lowering the rod tip down again than you would for mackerel. Herring are slower feeders and need more time to take the lure due to their small mouth.

Experiment with depth too. Herring are usually deeper on bright days and nearer the surface on darker overcast days. Herring often appear as a narrow tower or column shape when viewed on a fish finder.