Guesting...and other rule bending

[Andy Doughty]

I have just finished Dave Hortons book, Ultimate Pike. If you read this Dave, well done, its a great book. Any way, the one thing that seems aparent to me is that in most of the chapters of the book, most of the contributers make at least a passing refference to 'guesting' or other such rule bending. I know that I can hardly hold my hands up as being an angel, but where do you draw the line? I realise that to fish a water that you know is off limits takes a lot of front, but is it acceptable to the piking majority when angling seems to be under the moral spot light of todays bunny hugging society?

 

[David Preston]

Far too many pike (and more so carp) specialists take a cavalier approach to trespass, poaching and rule-breaking.

Fish not caught fairly and within the rules simply don't count for a bean.

It's not really an issue of outside scrutiny of the sport, more that we all need to operate within a moral framework for each of us to maintain some kind of personal integrity.

 

[Chris Bishop]

There are some very silly rules in some parts of the country, so it's hardly surprising.

We're lucky in our part of the world Andy, believe you me mate.

 

[Rob Brownfield]

I believe many of the big Norfolk pike were caught whilst fishing in nature reserves where fishing was banned. I also believe ET was fishing "The Chalk Pit" illegally.

I am not too impressed by this behaviour really, especially from "stars", but i reckon u could take the top 10 carp anglers in this country, and a good 50% would have "poached"!

 

[John Tait]

"Far too many pike (and more so carp) specialists take a cavalier approach to trespass, poaching and rule-breaking."

Agreed - but is it ONLY the pike and carp guys who are guilty of this ?? Does it not happen with other species ?? What about barbel, big roach, bream, tench, etc??

Or is `stroke-pulling` looked upon in a different light where those species are concerned ??


Jonty

 

[Rob Brownfield]

I seem to recall several large Bream being caught from a certain pit called Queensford, long before night fishing was allowed there...and what about the Cassien carpers, they have been illegally night fishing for more than a decade!!
And Tench comming from Sywell on leger gear!!..The list, unfortuantly, is endless!

 

[David Preston]

Chris Bishop said "There are some very silly rules in some parts of the country, so it's hardly surprising."

If you don't like the rules, don't fish the water.

 

[Chris Bishop]

Which water?

 

[David Preston]

Any water.

 

[Chris Bishop]

I think this is an issue where it's all too easy to let self righteousness cloud common sense.

 

[Peter Waller]

I believe we should be able to fish where we have a 'right' to fish. This refers the Nature reserves of the Norfolk Broads. There are some that it is 'illegal' to fish because, alegedly, they are NON tidal. This is blatent codswollop! It is tidal one side of Potter Bridge and non tidal the other! So, in a situation like that whats the answer? Fish it! There are times when the law is based on unsound 'fact'. There are times when 'rights' have to be upheld. The actions of the Ramblers Association are testiment to this. However, I do accept that one shouldn't fish non tidal waters without consent and if a record is caught from such a place then it should not be recognised.

 

[Rob Brownfield]

Peter, are u basing your arguement on the issue of it being legal to fish a tidal water?

There are many by-laws etc set up to protect SSSI's, nature reserves etc in tidal areas, and because of this, not all tidal water is fishable, or indeed, navigable.

Certainly, up by me, I cannot fish the tidal Dee or Don without being done for poaching. It is totally illegal due to bye-laws that are heavily enforced.

 

[Peter Waller]

Yes & no. In this instance there is a right of navigation, albeit limited. But also it isn't a question of bye-laws but of claimed ownership and a claim that was upheld in law during the 1890's that a tidal water was infact non tidal. It was a court judgement by which a number of Broadland waters have been claimed as private. Legal minds of today have suggested that the 1890 judgement as being unsafe. Trouble is that the claimed owners have always backed down when we have tried to force a court case by poaching, or not, as the case might be!

 

[Rob Brownfield]

Peter, I see. I know the Broads are a strange law unto there own.

I travel to Norfolk for a few weeks every year and i always pack my Carp and Tench gear, I think next time I will bring my lure rods.