Yes, trout slapping is a mIRC feature. As a matter of fact you can customize the actions and add your own. It helps if you have some programming experience but even without it you can probably make some changes. For example, I have set up my version of mIRC so that I can give other chatters my Mudcat info (full name, instruments played, geographical location) with just 2 clicks of the mouse.

For those who would like to use mIRC to chat in the Mudcat room do the following:

1) Go to the mIRC web site and download and install the latest version of the program.

2) When you start mIRC you will get an Options dialog box. It should have the Connect category selected already. If it doesn't then select it.

3) Click the Add button. This will pop up the Add Server box. Put Mudcat in the Description field and www.mudcat.org in the IRC Server field. The Port field should already read 6667. If it doesn't change it. Press the Add button.

4)Fill in your name and emial address where required and press the Connect to IRC Server button.

5) This is from memory as my customization here at work no longer reflects the original setup. You will be presented a mIRC Channels Folder. In the field at the top enter #mudcat (There is a pound sign in front of the name and it must be there.) Press the Join button and if all goes well you will be in the chat room.

That's it. The next time you start mIRC you will just have to press the Connect button and select #mudcat and press join in the Channels Folder. (You can delete all those other channels if you are only going to use Mudcat).

Happy chatting and trout slapping. (I hope I got all my html right)