R
Ron 'The Hat' Clay (ACA)
Guest
Barrie Rickards always seems to raise a few interesting points.
Years ago when I was very involved in bass fishing, the Americans introduced a range of crankbaits that rattled.
Now for those of you who are not familiar with what is called a crankbait, it is a floating plug that dives deep when you crank it in - hence the name. When we first got our hands on these baits, they were devastating and caught a great many bass, both large and smallmouth. So effective were these lures that some anglers wanted to ban them. But in time they became just like any other lure.
Maybe the fish had learned to avoid them.
Many years ago in Ireland, I came across a bream in the margins of an Irish lake - Lough Garadice I think it was - laid flat on it's side in the margins. Thinking it was a dead fish I prodded it with a bank stick. It suddenly came to life and high tailed it at speed back into the depths.
How strange.
If there is anything I cannot tolerate it is people who get upset if they catch a species that they are not targetting.
Some years ago in 1994, I went with Eric Hodson to a meeting of the BCSG which was held on a water in Oxfordshire.
The meeting took place after a carp fishing session on the lake. As the anglers packed up and made their way to the lodge where the meeting took place, I could not help but hear a very well known carp angler cursing his luck that all he had caught were tench.
I lost my respect for this person there and then.
Any fish that requires a landing net to put it on the bank is worthwhile catching and people who complain about "nuisance fish" are not real anglers!
Years ago when I was very involved in bass fishing, the Americans introduced a range of crankbaits that rattled.
Now for those of you who are not familiar with what is called a crankbait, it is a floating plug that dives deep when you crank it in - hence the name. When we first got our hands on these baits, they were devastating and caught a great many bass, both large and smallmouth. So effective were these lures that some anglers wanted to ban them. But in time they became just like any other lure.
Maybe the fish had learned to avoid them.
Many years ago in Ireland, I came across a bream in the margins of an Irish lake - Lough Garadice I think it was - laid flat on it's side in the margins. Thinking it was a dead fish I prodded it with a bank stick. It suddenly came to life and high tailed it at speed back into the depths.
How strange.
If there is anything I cannot tolerate it is people who get upset if they catch a species that they are not targetting.
Some years ago in 1994, I went with Eric Hodson to a meeting of the BCSG which was held on a water in Oxfordshire.
The meeting took place after a carp fishing session on the lake. As the anglers packed up and made their way to the lodge where the meeting took place, I could not help but hear a very well known carp angler cursing his luck that all he had caught were tench.
I lost my respect for this person there and then.
Any fish that requires a landing net to put it on the bank is worthwhile catching and people who complain about "nuisance fish" are not real anglers!