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Laguna
I think thats a load of Rubbish !!
There are many commercials and clubs who run thriving Junior Clubs, where general Coarse fishing is taught.
If you add to that the efforts of the likes of Les Webber and his helpers who also teach General Coarse fishing, then sweeping statements about Carp and Carp Fishing holds No Water at all.
Having said that I taught my Grandson to fish from an early age, float fishing, touch legering, Pike and Perch Fishing, he's 19 now and what does he do !!
Carp Fishing.
So rather than knock Carp Fishing and wear Rose Coloured Specticles, lets get Kids into fishing, any type of fishing, be it Carp, Match, Fly or General pleasure fishing.
Cause if you don't fishing as we know will not exist in 50 years.
Just have a look at your local fishing tackle shop to see how Carp fishing has kept angling alive.
And the like of Terry Hearn should be applauded for his efforts of getting kids into fishing ( any type of fishing ),
Bob
Knocking carp fishing? Rose coloured spectacles?
Take a look at the majority of tackle shops up and down the Country possibly even Europe. Judging by the dedicated shelf space you will realise that Carp Fishing accounts for more that 50% of all expenditure - but thats my point! Why not show these kids that there is more (much more) to angling than sitting around a dirty great big hole in the ground fishing for carp?
Popular as it is, Carp fishing alone has not kept angling alive. It has if anything made fishing popular for ... Carp!
Your statement seems to suggest that if it wasn't for carp anglers the industry would be dead?
How popular was fishing before the advent of the hair and boilie?
It was just as popular then as it is now, possibly even more so and for all species too.
The popularity of carp fishing supercedes that of all other forms of fishing today. Because of its influence (the biggest draw being the size of the fish I imagine), the majority of newcomers will be persuaded to join there ranks without ever having experienced anything else. A great many have made a damn good living out of carp fishing over recent years and thats very good news for the tackle industry in general - it shows they are giving customers exactly what they want. Most will then reinvest and go on to make new products - which in turn is especially good for those bricks and mortar businesses that also have an online presence. We all need to make a living and we all need to make a profit but the huge private commercialisation of carp lakes up and down the Country only serves to put money back into the owners pockets. As a consequence everything else has suffered. The switch from rivers to commercials for carp (whatever your definition of coms might be) made possible by the hair and boilie, has encouraged carp fishing to the detriment and neglect of rivers along with the basic skills taught to us when we we're kids. As a result our heritage is dwindling along with the species that were in more abundance when most of our rivers were properly managed, stocked and cared for. Lack of footfall on the banks fewer working parties, no EU checks etc. all adds up to the controversy you see before you today.
How many kids do you know who know or use the terms 'trotting', 'touch ledgering', 'stret-pegging', 'holding back'?
To them mending the line means its broke, tying a loop to loop or straightening the hair whilst sat in a bivvy waiting for a bite! Who's responsible for all that ignorance?
Rather than just leave it to the likes of respected anglers like Terry Hearn to show them (a most fantastic and commendable job he does by the way), and I also include those excellent clubs here too. I would suggest each of us individually also has a personal moral duty to teach what we know, pass down our knowledge and ensure our legacy lives on before its too late. Not only will our skills be lost but the environment will suffer much more rapidly from the ignorance and uncaring attitude. but then thats possibly where my conservation argument breaks down. How many under 20's have the ability, skills and knowledge (and willingness) to do all that? There are some but the vast majority I suspect are carp anglers (judging by the shelf space) and never have or are willing to give river fishing a go let alone teach anybody. My apologies in advance to those that do and can (your own grandson included Bob). You probably have your mentor to thank for that! :w
I've enjoyed all aspects of fishing since I started in 1968 (aged 8) Carp fishing included since my early 20's. You cannot therefore tell me I'm making sweeping statements against carpers! How very dare you!
Teaching a kid only how to carp fish in a hole in the ground and little if anything else is my beef - otherwise the appeal and skills of fishing on rivers will not be of any interest to him/her and it will all be lost for ever.
Only once our kids are properly informed and exposed to other forms of angling can they go on to better choose their preferred discipline. Quite possibly most will still go on to catch carp but at least they will be more knowledgeable and experienced enough to be able to choose properly, switch if necessary and to do it with an open mind.
As the teacher says; "if its all one subject, you will become expert and knowledgeable about just one thing"! Okay I made that bit up but there's no denying its significance. :wh
You say you want a revolution...., But when you talk about destruction,
Don't you know that you can count me out!
