For myself

  • Thread starter Ron Troversial Clay
  • Start date
R

Ron Troversial Clay

Guest
A very famous American Angler once wrote that keen anglers go thorough several stages in their angling career.

1: Catching the most fish.
2: Catching the biggest fish.
3: Catching the most difficult fish.

I would go one step further and say that catching fish using the method that takes the most skill is the ultimate.

I find myself in this stage now. That's why I love to trot a stick float, or cast a fly, or even now, use a pole. And do you know, **** Walker went through the very same stages in his life.

He knew fully that catching a large carp really did not need all that much skill.

Just time.
 
S

sash

Guest
Especially from a water that had hardly seen an angler before eh Ron?

Not sure if you're on another wind-up but it takes skill to catch any large fish whatever species that may be. Sure, time can tip the balance in your favour but there are plenty of specimen hunters out there that catch very big fish of all species with very limited fishing time.
 
W

Wolfman Woody

Guest
There's only three stages to life:

Tri weekly
Try weekly - &
Try weakly





Oops, that about sex.
 
W

Wolfman Woody

Guest
I wonder what Bummblebee would define as the stage when you see someone catching fish, the only one catching fish on the river in fact, and you muscle in and take over, just to catch fish and have fun. Having experienced it (wink, wink) he should know.

Nice one Prof. Where did you get the Stoney Bream story from? It's one he told me too.
 
B

Baz

Banned
Banned
Joined
Jun 20, 2007
Messages
544
Reaction score
1
Location
Warrington
Dear Mr. Bumblebee,
This season I found myself taking a more liesurely approach to my fishing than usual.
I will carry on doing the same for the rest of this season. And then next season, I will do the same again even more so. I can go out and stand a good chance of bagging up if I so wish, or I can go out and take the chance on sitting it out for a real biggie on lake or river.
What ever I do, I am sure of one thing,and that is that I will enjoy myself to the full, at the most liesurely of paces.
 
B

Bully

Guest
Ron, I'd add one other to your list after that.

Just enjoying it, not matter whether you catch or not. I jumped all the others!!
 
R

Ron Troversial Clay

Guest
Yes that is true Bully.

I terms of catching big fish, I would put the anglers with limited time who do catch big fish regularly as far more skillful and effective anglers than those who resort to time banditry.

I remember reading a report some time ago of a carp angler in AT who took two years to catch one forty pounder. In those two years he only had the one bite.

The other big thing is the ability to get on the going waters and not all of us have the time, the ability to travel, nor the money to do this in many cases.

Let me give you a comparison.

When I fished the little River Leam in Warwickshire I used to travel light with a loaf of bread or a tin of slugs for bait. I could generally always catch a chub or two and on some short sessions would often get as many as 10 fish up to 5 lbs. By fishing several spots along the river.

Many of the other anglers who fished it used to sit for hours, sometimes days in one swim. Their choice, but they only averaged a chub every 4 days or so.

Effective angling?

I wonder.
 
GrahamM

GrahamM

Managing Editor
Joined
Feb 23, 1999
Messages
9,773
Reaction score
1
It's so simple for me. I just go out fishing, sometimes planned, sometimes unplanned. I fish for anything, any species, any size, whatever I decide at the time. I'll match fish, sea fish, fly fish, specialist, predator fish with live or deadbaits, camp out for a few days, rove the river or sit with a bite alarm for hours. I'll hover over the rods, or read a book or listen to the radio and let the rod get on with it. I'll fish on my own, with a mate (most often) or with a gang of mates.

I don't have any self imposed blinkers or inhibitions to stifle my enjoyment.

It's all good.

Maybe that's why you never hear me whinging about how other people fish.

I live it all and love it all.
 
Mark Wintle

Mark Wintle

Well-known member
Joined
Dec 10, 2002
Messages
4,479
Reaction score
841
Location
Azide the Stour
Jeff,

The Peter Stone story is from "Old Father Thames" though I'm sure it was told in other places too. I'm sure "Bumblebee" could have done with his swim selection skills on the Thames that day that you mention!

Like Graham, I'm happy trying all sorts of angling.
 
W

Wolfman Woody

Guest
I think we could have all used some better swim selections that day Mark.

A bit closer to where we parked might have helped. :eek:)

"Like Graham, I'm happy trying all sorts of angling." Ah yes, but Bumblebee says "Others derive pleasure from ........ collecting books as well as actually writing books or articles." What about your collection of books and magazines and writing (brilliant) articles, does this leave you with a foot in both camps?
 
M

Matthew Cooper

New member
Joined
Sep 3, 2004
Messages
0
Reaction score
0
Have to agree with graham, i don't think there is anything better than just going fishing, what ever the species, where ever you are, just to get away from the rat race and do something you enjoy.
what could be better.
 
M

MaNick

Guest
I must agree, i tend to think during the week about what sort of session i fancy at the weekend... that might be based on the weather, time of year, wanting to try a different method.

varying the angling keeps you fresh, and keeps it exciting.And (hopefully) allows you to learn the various skills.
All the time you spend near water counts towards general watercraft, i think, and even if i'm fishing for tench on a float, i'm still learning stuff that might help other areas of my fishing.

I wonder if there are REALLY as many "carp puddle only" anglers as some people asume?

Certainly, some of the conversations on here have turned me on to different methods, floating a stick for example..... whereas maybe a year ago i'd have fished mainly the waggler...
 
D

Darkstar

New member
Joined
Nov 9, 2004
Messages
0
Reaction score
0
Spot on Matthew: I go fishing cos i love it, wether i catch or not and if i catch a giggun it's a bonus. I go on my local river (Pendle water), and there is no one there but me aahhh peace and quiet, bliss.
 
Mark Wintle

Mark Wintle

Well-known member
Joined
Dec 10, 2002
Messages
4,479
Reaction score
841
Location
Azide the Stour
Jeff,

You're right, I derive pleasure from collecting books and magazines, and from writing about angling (like "Bumblebee"). I also get involved in fishery management as well, so my involvement is in several categories. I am well past fanatical specimen hunting or match fishing though I continue to dabble in these fields.
 
S

swordsy

Guest
basically its all about what floats your boat, but i have some serious reservation about the bag at all costs brigade. the implications that has brought with it like the f1 strain of carp and the stocking of "brown goldfish" really bothers me. we have enough species of fish to catch without making "new ones" or endangering "old ones".i dont care if a bloke want to squander two seasons of fishing for a single fish, just dont expect me to join him, time is too precious!!
 
J

jason fisher

Guest
are you lot still moaning about how far you had to walk on the fish in.
 
Mark Wintle

Mark Wintle

Well-known member
Joined
Dec 10, 2002
Messages
4,479
Reaction score
841
Location
Azide the Stour
It wasn't the walk, t'was the most devoidest bit of river ever. Could have caught more from the car park! We was still happy though, tis the company, see.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top