We've been over this ground before, I know, but it's not surprising it comes back as the topic is the character of mass/popular fishing culture, and the model of fishing available to most.
I'm not arguing with Sam Vimes' description of the situation where he lives, but just adding an example that shows things can move in a positive direction as demand changes in response to developments.
One of my local clubs had stocked its chain of smallish ponds with the inevitable - but certain other inevitabilities followed. The carp grew, disrupting fishing for the other species and proving impossible to get out of the weed, lillies and snags with anything bar tackle absurdly unsuited to the other species. Members got fed up, the committee underwent upheaval, the match scene fell apart, the wisdom of stocking carp was re-assessed, and eventually precious funds were allocated to having the ponds electro-fished and most of the carp removed, with crucians tench and bream replacing them. By popular assent the ponds are better without the dominant carp, peace reigns amongst members and committee, and the ponds are producing better all-round sport more consistently and decent mixed match weights of say 10lb-25lb. Of course, this is no more than the recent fortunes of one small club, but it shows that the decisions that give us widespread uniformity and dysfunctional waters can be reversed when they don't work out.
I'm not arguing with Sam Vimes' description of the situation where he lives, but just adding an example that shows things can move in a positive direction as demand changes in response to developments.
One of my local clubs had stocked its chain of smallish ponds with the inevitable - but certain other inevitabilities followed. The carp grew, disrupting fishing for the other species and proving impossible to get out of the weed, lillies and snags with anything bar tackle absurdly unsuited to the other species. Members got fed up, the committee underwent upheaval, the match scene fell apart, the wisdom of stocking carp was re-assessed, and eventually precious funds were allocated to having the ponds electro-fished and most of the carp removed, with crucians tench and bream replacing them. By popular assent the ponds are better without the dominant carp, peace reigns amongst members and committee, and the ponds are producing better all-round sport more consistently and decent mixed match weights of say 10lb-25lb. Of course, this is no more than the recent fortunes of one small club, but it shows that the decisions that give us widespread uniformity and dysfunctional waters can be reversed when they don't work out.