Watercraft or Technique?

A very interesting article from Mark and a question to make us think.

Watercraft? In spite of writing about it so many times I often wonder just what it really is. Is it experience or instinct? Or a mixture of the two?

Got to be the latter I reckon.

With a little sixth sense thrown in for good measure.

Then you need the technique to put what you know about fish behaviour and watercraft into practise.

The best anglers have a good measure of both.

What do you think?

It is more often than not - instinct.

It was also Richard Walker who wrote about it around the time that 'Star Wars' was released (1978?) He said that there are times when your knowledge of watercraft (including the behaviour of fish) will tell you that swim A is the perfect place for fish to be. However, you walk along a little further and find another swim (B) devoid of any characteristics whatsoever and "the Force" will tell you that this is the place to fish. "Trust the Force" is what he was telling you.

The greatest problem with writing the rule book of fishing is that the fish never read it.

Watercraft and the "sixth sense" are angling qualities that are increasingly diminishing in todays age. This I blame on the instant success culture of angling today where kids can make a 20+ carp their first angling capture. I realise that this is great for angling itself but will vital angling skills be lost in generations to come?I realise the instant success thing will attract many to the sport but will they stay?

I'm still quite young in age (30 this year) but the difference between my angling apprenticeship and the kids of today it dramatic. As I spent the school holidays scratching about on the Birmingham Parks Pools and the Inner city rivers and cuts(little more than open sewers 15 to 20 years ago,todays kids have got commercial pools with carp and other quality fish climbing the banks.I then got into match fishing and fished for the junior Starlets for 6 years before finding specimen angling when I started colledge (it fitted in well with my heavy drinking schedule.)

All in all I learnt to catch my fish, and by catch I mean locate, feed and play, and from my matchfishing days I learnt the importance of presentation, feeding and how to get the best from a swim. This apprenticeship through your youth is how young gain your watercraft and sixth sense skills, by fishing a variety of waters for a variety of fish.
Watercraft, technique and sixth sense are all just as important in equal parts but in todays age when the new angler is obsessed with tackle and bait instead of angling skill (watercraft, technique and sixth sense rolled into one)i fear these skills will be lost to all but the lucky few who have a mentor such as their father, grandad etc to show them how to be a true angler.

Sorry to go on but this subject really gets me going !!

Instinct every time, I reckon. We talk about born anglers but what we mean is anglers who have a better developed instinct than us ordinary mortals. They seem to pick up and develop technique easier and more naturally as well. They catch fish in places where most anglers would struggle. They are different. If you asked them what they did differently to other anglers, they probably wouldn't be able to tell you.

In every walk of life there are a some people who rise above the norm and I suppose these instinctive anglers are an example of that.

This is also a subject very close to my heart.

Throughout the angling press you will read articles and letters saying that the rivers are finished.

Absolute cobblers!!

The rivers have never been better, it's just that a lot of anglers these days will not go to the trouble of learning a little watercraft, or of studying the correct technique to use on the rivers. Many anglers who spend virtually all their time on commercials, are often tempted to try a river. What happens is that they spend some time fishing in the wrong place at the wrong time with unsuitable tackle and the wrong bait.

They end up catching nothing of course and are soon back on a noddy puddle, moaning about the state of the rivers. I've heard them. Yet when you come back from a day on a river telling these unfortunates about the good fish you have taken they don't believe you. They don't even believe the photos you show them and shake their heads and carry on moaning.

I used to spend a great deal of time on the River Leam in Warks. In the 4 years I fished there I had chub to 51/4 lbs, roach to 1lb 14oz, pike to 18 lbs, dace to 12 oz, perch to 2lb 12 oz and lost count of the catches of roach I had over 20 lbs. Most of the time I never saw a soul.

There was only ever Tony Miles who believed me. He also has had some tremendous catches out of this tiny river.

The writings of Walker are classic and timeless. I would make any young angler of today, sit down and read all his articles in the books mentioned in Mark's piece.

Also spend time just watching water and the fish in it.

Peter Jacobs will remember the time we walked up a stretch of the Hants Avon last year.

I spotted some good chub under a bridge. Didn't spook them of course because people walk over that bridge all the time.

Early next morning we arrived at the river. I walked to the middle of the bridge and deposited a good few handfulls of mashed bread so that they would come to rest just donwstream of the bridge. Then I went and sat down, about 15 yards downstream of the bridge, set up my tackle, a simple swan shot link ledger and had a cup of tea and a sandwich.

Onto the hook went a wadge of flake, a cast was made to where the bread had come to rest, and I watched the line carefully.

Within seconds, the line jerked salck, I would in, struck and hooked a good chub just short of 5 lbs.

I repeated the exercise a few minutes later, only this time the chub was a bit smaller at 41/2 lbs. Didn't get any others of course, but there was an example of using a little bit of watercraft and observation.

And it's not that difficult you know.

Walker wrote in "Stillwater Angling" that succesful angling has 5 steps.

1: Locate your fish.
2: Don't scare them.
3: Fish at the right time.
4: Use a suitable method and tackle.
5: Use the right bait.

An anology can be made in golf, or in life for that matter.

If you are using the right bait and that is the final putt and you have made a mess of all the approach shots, you have lost the hole, no matter how good the final putt might be.

Sixth sense? I think that comes from knowing you have done everything right and you know you are going to catch.

I get that feeling oh so many times and many times this is true.

Often I get the feeling that this is going to be a blank day unless I do something different, and that might mean changing the bait or method, or just moving. But then you get those times where you develop a sense of total satifaction, and sure enough bang, you are in.

Walker wrote about the sixth sense many angler possess in that they can look at a piece of river and instinctively know where to cast. Try that sometime, even if you can't see the fish.

Suddenly, you get the feeling that you are staring at one particular spot more than others. Let your instincts be your guide.

This happened to me when I caught my two best barbel out of a flooded Swale. I spent some time in one spot and soon got the feeling that I would not catch.

So I walked downstream and looked at the water. In no time I was looking at a particular spot that ran next to some tree roots. I went downstreat for a look at the rest of the river but something drew me back to that spot beneath the tree roots.

In 3 casts I took a big eel, a 81/4 and a 91/2 pound barbel. My best ever from the Swale.

Ron is absolutely right in what he says about those Avon Chub.
In fact, locally they are considered as "uncatchable" now, whether that reputation is by dint of myth or simply poor angling skills I would not want to comment on.

The fact of the matter is that Ron caught them!

Instinct, born of experience but tempered with that indefinable 6th sense!

in my case it's probably not watercraft but sheer unadulterated blind luck that i manage to catch anything at all, but no matter how good your technique is if you're fishing in the wrong place you won't catch, it's water craft that puts you into that place so watercraft has to be the over riding factor.
good technique just lets you make the most of the place when you have found it.

some one with good technique but bad water craft would have lots of blanks with the odd bumper session thrown in.

someone with good water craft but bad technique will find fish virtually every time out and winkle the odd fish every session.

There was another time on the Avon at the LAA stretch near Salibury that I located some chub. The river was low and crystal clear. I ran both a stick float and a loafer baited with bread down to those fish and the float caused them to scarper ever time.

This is where you have got to start thinking laterally.

I grabbed my can of maggots and a caterpult, took the float off the line, pinched on a BB shot above a 2 foot hook length of 4 lb fluorocarbon. A 18 eyed super specialist completed the rig.

I sat for over an hour hiding behind the marginal rushes spraying maggots little and often until I had a group of chub intercepting maggots not much more than 12 inches from the bank.

Now came the tricky bit. I put a single maggot on the hook and carefully poked it out and lowered the maggot upstream of the chub. The maggot sank, but too quickly and the chub never looked at it.

I sprayed another pouchfull of maggots and the chub grabbed the lot. But this time I let my maggot sink at the sam speed as the others.

A chub came along and took it like a baby.

Although it only weighed 4 pounds or so. catching a fish like this becomes totally mmeorable.

I went back some time later and repeated my capture with a slightly bigger fish.

If you are not catching, take a break, have a look around and think laterally. Don't be hidebound by so called standard techniques.

You here anglers today talk about standard techniques such as "the feeder", "the stick", "the pole at 10 meters" or "the waggler".

This sort of think might work on noddy puddles, but not often on rivers full of wild fish.

The secret Jason is putting together good watercraft and good technique.

I a lot of anglers would catch a hell of a lot more fish is they spent less time fishing and more time looking.

that's what i was saying ron, but water craft has the greater influence i think.
how many people truly go out every time and fish as well as they can, i certainly don't, i have to be in the mood to apply myself.

some times i just want to be out doors and sitting on my chair enjoying the surroundings a fish is a bonus.

other times i'll walk miles crawl through bushes and nettles and not even notice a bird if it sat on my head.

ANglers need to stop and think, not just rush in and get set up so they can catch fish on these occasions. If you are fishing a match, you really need to know what the bottom is like and the feature your peg holds. It helps if you know what species are likely to be found for example.

With this information and the knowledge of fish habits, you will catch more fish. How many anglers turn up, match or otherwise, set a float at a couple or so feet and chuck in. They are the first to complain usually that the water is useless.

By doing some homework first, then when you arrive at you chosen or given swim, check it out. Believe me it will pay dividends. When I fish, I don't want the first fish to beat my mates. I want lots of fish.

You will find youngsters and even some adults who will cast as far as they can to catch fish. Often fish are under their feet in their natural habitat in the margins. Why cast to the other side to try to catch them. Just set up quietly and plumb the water around you including the margins.

When you are fishing look for signs like bubbles rising or fish breaking the surface. There is a real reason for this activity. It is up to the angler to decide what it is and make the most of it.

Once you have found the fish, keep them in your swim by careful but continual feeding of the right amount of bait.

Set up a regular pattern and don't get lazy, you must carry on to keep the fish interested. In winter conditions, fish won't expend more energy than the bait will provide. Keep it concentrated in a small area. with just a wide scattering to tempt the fish in.

I remember one youngster who was casting every couple of seconds. Her father asked if I could give her a lesson or two, as I seemed to be catching more fish than anyone. I agreed and called the lass over, told her to stand beside me. I left her there for at least ten minutes then asked her what she had learnt in that lesson. She didn't know, so I told her that her first lesson was about patience. I won't embarass her here by naming her, but she now fishes for the England Ladies.

I have always understood watercraft to be a single word that describes the way in which an angler utilises their skill, knowledge and intuition in combination. It is developed by research, discussion observation and contemplation.

The opposite of using watercraft is often referred to as going through the motions. this is where the angler relies on a technique crudely applied.

The invention of the boillie sadly has led to a great deal more of the latter. To be really successful there is no doubt that you have to be pretty good at the former.

Andy, we do at times go through the motions. Occasionally we succeed. Most times we fail, especially if we are confronted with a water we have never fished before.

The other alternative to watercraft is the utilisation of time. Chuck out and wait. The law of averages means that sooner or later something will pick up your bait if you have lots of time. This is the way many carp fishers, and sad to say, barbel fishers go about trying to catch. In fact the notion that time will compensate for any other sort of skill became part of the "Ultra-Cult" philosophy of the 70s, that has prevailed to this day.

I remember reading the story not so long ago of a carp angler who had spent 2 years on a Colne Valley pit and finally caught a 40, the only run he had had in two years. Some carp anglers thought him a hero. I though he was sad.

He was no more than a time bandit. What he should have been considering was why all those thousands of rod hours produced nothing.

Then you get anglers who really know how to catch carp, people like Terry Hearn for example, who I admire. Terry obviously knw what he is doing, but does the average carp angler ever listen to what he has to say or read his articles. Obviously not. They are happy to sit in their bivvies for weeks on end in drunken stupors catching nowt. I get the feeling that if many of these time bandits did get a run they would be pissed off.

You are right Andy, the invention of the boilie has had a negative influence on all sorts of angling, not only carp fishing.

Modern Carp Fishing,

bolies, bolt rigs and bivvy`s

In no other sport does time substitute skill

I thought you would turn up sooner or later.

Tell us all about time banditry then, how to organise the boilie giros and the ruffe slappers in your bivvy.... )

A good article by MW. I think Graham has summed it up perfectly. My view of watercraft is all the books and articles that you've ever read, all the people you've watched or gleaned info out of, all the sessions you've caught well and all the sessions you've blanked. It's the weather you've sat in good and bad. It's confidence in your ability and a willingness to think differently sometimes.

And, as in any sport we all need a little bit of luck, A good golfer can read a golf course, good mountaineers can read a mountain, both can read the weather and then they use the techniques they've learned to be succesful.

You can't buy watercraft and technique off a shelf, because it's all the experiences you've had, but learning from them and putting them to use. As Andy said the opposite is going through the motions.

Even Time Bandits have to apply some measure of watercraft mate, the little things are so important

Things like, creeping off to the dole office, not letting the lager rattle on the way back to the bivvy, keeping the music down when partying in the feeding periods and hacving all the ruffe slappers leave quietly by the back door, oh and no urinating in the margins (especially if you are fishing close in), its surprising how little tips like this can help and significantly improve ones watercraft skills!

As The Monk says its the little things that are vitally important to success in angling.

Technique is nothing without application and application is vastly improved by good watercraft.

Simply spending loads of time on the bank will catch you fish but it is never a guarantee of success.

Anglers are always looking for excuses for their own failings and one of the easiest ways to do this is to put down the success of others to luck or time.

By contrast the angler who understands the value of watercraft sees the success of others as an opportunity to learn and improve his own skills.

One little tip I learned many years ago from Trefor West, who I think today is one of the most outstanding river anglers of our time.

If you are fishing a clear river such as the Avon, and you can't find fish, look for a spot where the rivers deepens and you can't quite see the bottom with polariods on. And at the same time a spot where there is less turbulence on the surface.

That has worked for me on more occasions than I can name.

Locating fish by sight also takes some measure of skill. How many times have you looked at a stretch of clear water and seen nothing?

I was on the Dudley AC stretch of the Severn one morning and the river was low and clear. I sat on my chair watching the and an angler walked up complaining about the lack of fish. I told him that there was plenty of fish out there. "Where" he asked. I point to a section of gravelly bottom and told hom to keep looking. He told me he saw nothing. Then I lent him my polariods.

He must have sat for ten minutes gazing and suddenly in his Black Country accent blurted out "F....ng h..l f..r!!! Tha's some reet bostin fish darn theer.

There was too, a shoal of barbel, maybe 20 fish working on the gravel botton.

It often takes time to see fish.