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Beware The Rat! - This article may just save your life!

I had a teacher in college die of Weils. Here's the freaky bit, she got it from a coke can bought from a vending machine. Some of the cans got contaminated while in storage.

I think the other water users are much more aware of the threat, you always here warnings being given to canoeists and bathers in the rivers during the summer.

I got bitten by one last summer on Ballinafid. It was a real balmy night and i had one leg draped out over the side of the bedchair. I was fast asleep when i was awoken by what I thought was, well, I dont know what I thought it was, looked down to discover a hugh rat was feasting on my foot. To say I screamed like a little girl is the understatement of this or any other centuary. Had to kick the mother f****r off while he was still holding on by his teeth. Had to pack up the following morning and head for casualty. Not very pleasant. Speaking of which, has anyone ever read ''the lair'' by James Herbert? Great book, just dont read it while ur our fishing with rats running around.

be aware lads its out there, a friend of mine son died from it he got it while fishing in the liffy at island bridge

it seems that everyone nowadays knows someone
whose been affected by this,is this due to an increase in the
number of rats or better education don't know,mabey someone
with better computer skills than mine may be able to put the message
up on this site.cheers

very true Budc,lots of people know someone thats been affected it,i think some of the problem is down 2 the amount of rubbish that gets dumped,theres not 2 many lakes that dont have cr@p thrown around it,it is more noticeable in aut/winter when all the weeds have died down.its a disgrace 2 see our lovely country in such a state.

its not only the rubbish thier feeding on its what were throwin in to,if the fish and the birdlife dont get it they gladly will,boilie and partical fed rats no wonder thier as big as cats:)

Ken Townley was very ill for nearly two years with this, his advise is to tell the doctor/hospital that you are an angler at the earliest stage, his started with a series of flu like symtoms and got progressivly worse.
Maynooth put down tube and poison on a regular basis, its crimanl when anglers kick them into the river and they are there for there own well being!

One word..Dog!!

Dogs are not allowed, and thats why they are in waven tubes......shoot again big boy......

One word...........Mink!

No Mink - Rats, Mink - No Rats!

mink-no fish.......

Mink are from countries with very cold winters,to make it through the winter they kill loads of fish and store them.The cold helps to keep the fish fresh enough to eat.
The problem here is they kill loads of fish before the winter comes thinking it will get that cold.Here the fish go off so they go kill more and do it all over again.

I'm Not promoting the introduction of mink, I was merely pointing out where there are mink there are very few rats to be seen.

I carry a bottle of milton hand gel, it contains isopropyl alcohol, for cleaning the paws.

old thread lads i know,but one i think worth bumping up every now and again especially for newer/younger members,if anyone knows anywhere in Ireland that stocks the daiwa anglers disinfectant they might put up a post/link.