When a 'big name' from match or specialist fishing, says nice things about tackle and bait that they use - is it all about money or commercial interests?
When they say using 'brand X' gives me an 'edge' what do they mean? Do they mean an advantage over the fish or another competitor? In my experience a feeding fish can be presented with a whole range of bait and the fish will take it. And in terms of tackle, again in my experience its really all about presenting a bait to the fish, the rod and reel et al. are pretty much a 'side issue'.
So here's an example 'TFG Red Hot Chilli Hemp' is it any better than boiled hemp that the Roach in my local canal adore? Buy this stuff and use it, you'll want it to work and if you catch you'll become a believer in the product. There will never be a time that you can perform and type of meaningful 'test' an A or B comparison so how can they say its 'the undisputed king of particles?'
I watched TV show where the 'name' made a ground bait mix which was more involved than an aerospace alloy - now I'm not prepared to say that what he did was unnecessary but he was saying 'this does this' and 'that does that' but with each ingredient the brand on the packet was clearly displayed to camera - If there was another angler of similar ability in the next peg doing something different we could have compared and contrasted the approach but there wasn't - But even that would mean very little as a test.
I see these unchallenged claims time and time again and as the magazines and TV shows never say 'prove it', or ask why?
Each time that I go fishing is unique, no two days are the same. I spend my time trying to develop my water craft skills to get the best out of the swim and ask myself the question 'where would the fish be' and then I try to put a bait there. The baits that I use are the standard fare - Maggots, Casters, Worms, Hemp, Tares, Sweetcorn, Bread, Pellets, Meat and Pastes. But if I have a good day on any one bait - that's it. Its impossible to deduce that its given me the 'edge' its just what the fish were feeding on, so how are the 'names' so certain?
Am I a deluded blinkered fool who is stuck in his ways and should I be buying more 'funky' baits?
Mark
When they say using 'brand X' gives me an 'edge' what do they mean? Do they mean an advantage over the fish or another competitor? In my experience a feeding fish can be presented with a whole range of bait and the fish will take it. And in terms of tackle, again in my experience its really all about presenting a bait to the fish, the rod and reel et al. are pretty much a 'side issue'.
So here's an example 'TFG Red Hot Chilli Hemp' is it any better than boiled hemp that the Roach in my local canal adore? Buy this stuff and use it, you'll want it to work and if you catch you'll become a believer in the product. There will never be a time that you can perform and type of meaningful 'test' an A or B comparison so how can they say its 'the undisputed king of particles?'
I watched TV show where the 'name' made a ground bait mix which was more involved than an aerospace alloy - now I'm not prepared to say that what he did was unnecessary but he was saying 'this does this' and 'that does that' but with each ingredient the brand on the packet was clearly displayed to camera - If there was another angler of similar ability in the next peg doing something different we could have compared and contrasted the approach but there wasn't - But even that would mean very little as a test.
I see these unchallenged claims time and time again and as the magazines and TV shows never say 'prove it', or ask why?
Each time that I go fishing is unique, no two days are the same. I spend my time trying to develop my water craft skills to get the best out of the swim and ask myself the question 'where would the fish be' and then I try to put a bait there. The baits that I use are the standard fare - Maggots, Casters, Worms, Hemp, Tares, Sweetcorn, Bread, Pellets, Meat and Pastes. But if I have a good day on any one bait - that's it. Its impossible to deduce that its given me the 'edge' its just what the fish were feeding on, so how are the 'names' so certain?
Am I a deluded blinkered fool who is stuck in his ways and should I be buying more 'funky' baits?
Mark
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