R
Ron 'The Hat' Clay AMIMechE (SA) MIFE (SA) (ACA)
Guest
We have all heard of that group of specimen chasers many of us call "The Circus". For those who haven't, they are anglers who appear to be closely connected to a grapevine that "bush telegraphs" news of the capture of very big fish. They also scour the angling press for pictures of big fish in an attempt to find out exactly where they are caught.
I have been told that some of these people will closely analyse such background features, trees, buldings and even rock formations to find the exact swim.
The circus also will go to extraordinary lengths to get on what are known as the "circuit" or going waters for very big fish. A typical example is Bluebell Lakes for "Benson" and Cromwell Weir on the Trent for big barbel. Some of them camp on certain swims prior to the 16th of June.
Some years ago I had an experience of what the circus can do. I made a very large catch of chub from the tiny River Leam in Warwickshire. I didn't bother to report the catch as that little river cannot tolerate large numbers of anglers. I was by myself at the time, yet apparentlty I was seen, and the following weekend the whole angling population of Coventry seemed to be on the water.
Many of you might have had similar experiences.
I've never been a circuitwater angler myself, preferring to get the best I can out of waters that are fairly local.
But let me give you a typical scenario. A few years ago a very big pike was caught in a fenland drain. This fish was reported to the angling press but the water was not named. I learned that the following day the very spot on that drain was invaded with a few top pike angling "names".
It does appear that some sort of circus does exist. Are they good for angling?
I don't think so.
What do you think?
I have been told that some of these people will closely analyse such background features, trees, buldings and even rock formations to find the exact swim.
The circus also will go to extraordinary lengths to get on what are known as the "circuit" or going waters for very big fish. A typical example is Bluebell Lakes for "Benson" and Cromwell Weir on the Trent for big barbel. Some of them camp on certain swims prior to the 16th of June.
Some years ago I had an experience of what the circus can do. I made a very large catch of chub from the tiny River Leam in Warwickshire. I didn't bother to report the catch as that little river cannot tolerate large numbers of anglers. I was by myself at the time, yet apparentlty I was seen, and the following weekend the whole angling population of Coventry seemed to be on the water.
Many of you might have had similar experiences.
I've never been a circuitwater angler myself, preferring to get the best I can out of waters that are fairly local.
But let me give you a typical scenario. A few years ago a very big pike was caught in a fenland drain. This fish was reported to the angling press but the water was not named. I learned that the following day the very spot on that drain was invaded with a few top pike angling "names".
It does appear that some sort of circus does exist. Are they good for angling?
I don't think so.
What do you think?