An informative handbook on the effects of climate change on Scottish fisheries was my latest find, published in August 2006, it discusses the broader issues of climate change for fishermen, not scientists.

Focused on the North Sea and the cod fishery, it still broaches a variety of lesser known effects of climate change on the ocean and neighboring land masses. It’s a mighty good primer if you plan on being assaulted by the topic at your next cocktail party.

The study notes that the North Sea has warmed about half a degree over the last 100 years, and is projected to warm nearly that much every decade thereafter, what’s new is everything else they’ve noticed;

• On average it’s 2 MPH windier in Scotland (and surrounding ocean)
• The waves are 6″ taller
• 20% more rainy days
• 14% more sunshine in Autumn
• 2 degrees warmer in air temperatures
• Longer growing season, both on land and in the ocean
• Migratory/seasonal species (mostly plankton and algae) are showing earlier than normal
• Possible migration of some fish northward toward colder water

It’s a scientific study written for the angling crowd, and is an interesting read. Too often we assume “stuff is getting warmer” – when many of these side issues can be as beneficial or devastating as the original problem.

Technorati Tags: scottish cod fishery, global warming, fisheries research services, scotland, fishing

Singlebarbed has always led the charge on cutting edge technology, willing to suffer the slings and arrows of the path less traveled, allowing readers to giggle at my inevitable pratfall.

“My forecast is that around 2050, the state of Massachusetts will be the first jurisdiction to legalize marriages with robots.“

That gives me 42 years to toast six or seven relationships, due to fishing addiction, and what little cash alimony has spared me may be enough for a down payment on a 2050 Toyota “Galatea” – with the Jessica Alba physique, the Ann Margaret voice, and the Kate Beckensale suspension.

Naturally the MSNBC article dwells a great deal on the mechanics of consummating the relationship, while significant it’s best I avoid that issue entirely..

She’s waterproof and programmed with every David Lee Roth Van Halen album, she can carry a full keg of beer (iced)  and retrieves all snagged flies with a giggle. Real women will be intensely jealous and require her to bunk in the garage, but as I’ll be 90, I’m no longer attracted to anything my age – despite the advances of science. “Grandma” can leave in a huff, while “Galatea” and me do Jello Shooters.

I’m just wondering how much the sonar package runs…

Reclamation of natural streams within the confines of Seattle has been an ongoing project for over a decade, results have been released in a report outlining many of the ills, successes, and cost of the effort.

Entitled “State of the Waters 2007,” the report outlines what you may suspect; treatment of the streams and banks can restore some of the balance of nature, but the original problems remain, runoff from city streets carrying a blend of industrial chemicals, and as the surrounding areas are completely paved, the volume of water entering the recovering waterway can scour it clean of life.

With normal rainfall, and 60% of the watershed covered in pavement, the report estimates that the water volume in the creek channel to be 4 to 5 times that of the same watershed if forested. “Bank armoring” to protect homeowners from erosion, add measurably to the problem.

Bank restoration and instream rip-rap have been part of the “restoration arsenal” for many years. Many angling clubs have yearly outings to assist state agencies in cleanup and restoration efforts. The report suggests that many in-stream issues cannot be addressed by working on the obvious stuff; trash removal, adding gravel for spawning, etc. Many issues have roots hundreds of yards from the actual watercourse.

But the creeks and lakes would never be mistaken for pristine, no matter how much time and money are invested.

It’s a subject dear to me as I fish a similar creek nearby. While it is not confined by the city, it shares many of the same issues. An interesting read, especially if your club is considering “adopting” a creek nearby.

Technorati Tags: stream restoration, state of the waters, seattle, bank armoring

I always had a fantasy about a log cabin with a pristine trout stream chaser, I modified that only slightly in the last decade, adding massive Internet pipe to the mix.

Outside of the money part – which still eludes me, the technology will be available next year. Toshiba will be marketing the “mini nuclear reactor” – a full 200 kilowatt reactor measuring a miserly 20′ x 6′ – small enough to put in the garage.

I figure I can get a package deal of the reactor and a big screen TV. Rustic cabin nestled in the pines, lights ablaze and TV loud enough to listen to the game while fishing. Fully self contained with no messy control rods to change or temperatures to monitor, capable of generating 40 years of power for peanuts. Comes with instructions – in English and Arabic.

The Alaskan wilderness will be tamed overnight.

Technorati Tags: Toshiba nuclear, log cabin, do it yourself fission, adios muchachos

It’s called “the things you can’t Un-See,” an Internet phenomenon where a buddy sends you a non-descriptive link with some bland come-hither line like, “I thought you would like this…”

Clicking it results in an involuntary gag, or a spouse that thinks she’s married a pervert – now you’re obliged to find something equally gross to return the compliment to this erstwhile friend.

The link I clicked was not so innocent, entitled “The 10 Nastiest Fish in the World,” – and the result would send a hardened Brownliner fleeing in terror. A better descriptor would be “The 10 Fish you’d cut the fly line to Avoid” – featuring lots of teeth, slime, and the urge to go vegetarian.

Fly fishing for the above Goliath Tigerfish is billed as “one of the last frontiers” by the folks at North Wales Flyfishing School, 9-11 weight, with 40lb single trace wire leader required. It looks more like suicide to me, I’d be lucky if I could summon the nerve to stick my toe in the river.

I remember seeing my first leader dispenser wondering why was this gadget necessary? Naturally, I was looking at the “dry” version and had no idea that you had to soak a catgut leader to make it supple.

We’re the “monofilament” generation, and it’s possible some small gadget may linger for your kids to ponder. Synthetic filaments are on the rise from many kinds of unrelated science, many have superior qualities over what we currently use, but none are mass produced, and no “heir apparent” exists to replace nylon and its many variations.

From Japan comes the latest entry, genetic manipulation of silkworms to produce “Spider Silk,” actual spider web that can be spun into threads and fabric.

“Researchers at Shinshu University have succeeded in injecting spider genes into silkworms to create a thread that is stronger, softer and more durable than conventional silk. A Japanese manufacturer is already experimenting with the thread, and spider socks, stockings and even fishing lines are expected to appear on the market within a few years.”

At the moment only 10% of the modified silkworms produce spider web rather than silk, but research continues with the goal of 50% production.

“Dragline silk”, which spiders use to raise and lower themselves and to construct the spokes of their webs, has one of the highest tensile strengths of any natural substance – five times that of a thread of steel of the same thickness. In terms of its ability to absorb impact, it is superior to Kevlar, the plastic fibre used for antistab vests and body armour.”

Anyone that’s worked with Kevlar thread knows its inherent danger; the small diameter opposed to breaking strength means you don’t want it wrapped around flesh if you’re trying to break it. The same would be true for a leader with 15X tippet, but rated at 5lb test – it would slice you to ribbons with a flopping fish on the end.

Fly tiers will lust after it due to the fine diameter and bulk reduction, it may require us to rethink some fly tying mechanics as it may simply slice through material rather than bind it to the hook shank. 40,000 yards of 20lb backing on a trout reel would be interesting, until it crushed your large arbor spool from the pressure…

Yep, you guessed it, they’re going to make us buy all new everything again..

Technorati Tags: monofilament, spider silk, genetically engineered silkworms, stronger than steel, kevlar