Giving back to Angling

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bennygesserit

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Ok I still haven't been fishing yet this year due to a family issue so forgive another angling politics thread.

"Giving back to angling" was the phrase that caught my eye on the Bob James threads what does that mean for people ? The only thing I give back is that I always get rid of other peoples discarded line if I find it and offer help if a fellow angler needs it on the bank like they forgot something or kids run out of hooks etc the usual thing.

I assume people mean working parties or coaching ? so how do you give back to angling ? and do you think it really matters ? Maybe you could inspire others to do the same ?
 
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bennygesserit said:
Ok I still haven't been fishing yet this year due to a family issue so forgive another angling politics thread.

"Giving back to angling" was the phrase that caught my eye on the Bob James threads what does that mean for people ? The only thing I give back is that I always get rid of other peoples discarded line if I find it and offer help if a fellow angler needs it on the bank like they forgot something or kids run out of hooks etc the usual thing.

I assume people mean working parties or coaching ? so how do you give back to angling ? and do you think it really matters ? Maybe you could inspire others to do the same ?
Click to expand...

There are ways and means to give a little back (club committees, work parties etc). However, I'd contend that the vast majority of anglers take very little. I'm also cynical enough to think that some celeb anglers (those that make money from angling) only "give back" in the hope of making a net gain. I don't necessarily blame them for that, I just don't swallow the spin.

Whether giving back to angling matters is entirely down to the individual, but someone needs to. Judging from all I've seen of club and syndicate work parties over the years, it's the same old faces that get involved. Same with committee stuff, it's invariably the same faces year on year. I've always been happy to do the former wherever I'm able. I wouldn't do the latter if you paid me.:eek:;):D
 
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itsfishingnotcatching

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I would think that helping the less able (children or the handicapped) to fish would be the best thing that experienced anglers could put back into the sport, subject to the issue of CRBs etc. A working party is usually for the benefit of a specific club and if membership is closed, of very little use to anyone else. My experience is limited but if I feel I can give useful advice or excess bait to other anglers then I will.
 
The bad one

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bennygesserit said:
Ok I still haven't been fishing yet this year due to a family issue so forgive another angling politics thread.

"Giving back to angling" was the phrase that caught my eye on the Bob James threads what does that mean for people ? The only thing I give back is that I always get rid of other peoples discarded line if I find it and offer help if a fellow angler needs it on the bank like they forgot something or kids run out of hooks etc the usual thing.

I assume people mean working parties or coaching ? so how do you give back to angling ? and do you think it really matters ? Maybe you could inspire others to do the same ?
Click to expand...

Here’s how I see it and I’ve done most of it down the 55 years I’ve been fishing.

As an individual at a very local level
You give away to the local people (new comers into the sport, kids, etc) tackle you no longer need/want. You impart your knowledge, experience, skill, etc to them with no thought of receiving anything in return.

Club level as regular Joe member
You give your time (Free) for the upkeep of the club, it’s waters by doing WPs, supporting its events and may be a few meetings.

Slightly more committed regular Joe member
You might offer your services, skills, etc to the minor roles that the club(s) need to function well. Bailiffing the water(s), Organising WPs, Taking on maintenance jobs for it.

Committed Member
You take on the bigger roles for the club, which can be thankless, Committee member, even the being Sec, Chair, Treasurer, Match Sec, Rep for the Club at Regional/National level on one of the bodies it’s a member of.

At a National Level
You get involved in the Bigger Picture stuff, be that National Angling Politics (lobbying, campaigning, etc) National Match Angling organising, National Specialist Angling or similar.

You might even make it on to one of the National Committees on something. And if you are really ambitious and have a serious masochistic streak you could even make it to the Chair of the Board of the Angling Trust.
You have by this time become a Politico and every decision you make will always be the wrong one according to someone.

To me it doesn’t matter at what level you make a contribution, you are giving back to Angling in my opinion.

Does it matter? Well I’d strongly argue it does if you want Angling to prosper and thrive into the future. Without people coming forward and filling any of the above, and more, angling will decline and wither.
 
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geoffmaynard

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Most of this stuff takes time and that's a rare commodity for an angler as he'd rather be fishing. Many anglers are in this 'time-poor, relatively cash-rich' position. I think just joining the Angling Trust is a great contribution which anyone can make.
 
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tiinker

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I think the best way to give something back is to support the organisations that work for angling. All the jobs that people take on voluntarily within cubs and asociations are because they want to do it for personel reasons whether it be to make sure that the club or society is run in a way that they see fit or to benefit the fishery or fisheries that are under the clubs control. I have been involved with several clubs and societies one for over forty years and I have held post as fishery manager committee member competition serectary bailiff and as a delegate for the club all these post were of a personel benefit to me not just the club. Most people do things that they want to because it has a benefit in it for them so it is not realy giving something back it is trying to make sure things run your way it may not always be the case but I know why I did it and am still doing it.
 
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I'd agree that in this day and age time is a precious commodity but in reality taking a couple of days out from ones fishing year is not a hardship if it's to put something back. Many clubs and groups are always looking for extra help when it comes to getting kids or less able bodied people out on the bank, and it's not just the actual fishing side of things. There's the admin involved, bank running,first aiders, logistics etc so any help you can offer at any level is always very rewarding and gratefully received. Contact your local clubs/groups and see what help they need.

Just giving xyz amounts to join a group if you are physically able bodied is, in my eyes anyway, an easy get out to make oneself feel better.
 
split shot

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Was an angling club committee member for 15 years, a fishery manager for 12. And quite bit of other fishery advisory work for a number of fisheries. All unpaid, other than the odd free ticket. What must be hundreds of working parties.
I've also sat on an angling consultative. I've done a bit of coaching too.

I've got a huge amount out of angling over the years, it would be wrong not to put something back.
 
no-one in particular

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I guess it depends what sort of angler you are. The casual pleasure angler probably does not see that he has to put any thing back into the sport. For those that where it is a way of life do more. Mostly all anglers are fairly good nature and will give help and advice if asked but, don't go out of their way to do so. And all contribute in some way to the financial well being of the industry. Its the same in all sports, the casual tennis player, footballer etc don't see it as a given rule that they have to put something back. However, those that make a living out of it and do well, often do. I don't do anything special but, I don't really take anything out of it and probably give back more without really trying which probably applies to most anglers. Cannot see why they should be castigated for it as they sometimes are. Its there life, leave them alone and let them live and do as they see fit, who has the right to judge!
 
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Paul Boote

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Just try and teach your kids, grandchildren etc and their friends not to use the rivers and any chillin' / hangin' out land beside them as wastegrounds. My little bit for Angling for the past several years has been taking a couple of heavy-duty wastebags on the weekly walks I make along various Southern streams, some of them publicly accessible club water, others up for grabs and free to / for all. On my own or with a girlfriend and her kids. Plastic bottles, cans...

I sometimes think, however, that if I see another discarded pellet / boilie bag, can of frenzied hemp or meat or rig packet, I'll buy a gun and solve the problem at source.
 
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davebike

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Yes take you own rubbish home and at the same time any other that is around would be a great start
My club has continuing litter problems at one lake I almost always come away with a carrier bag full :)

I my self feel that by doing working parties picking litter and helping others I do put a little something back


Dave
 
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Berty

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There's no set answer, it all depends on your situation ..... but it can be anything from heavy involvement to taking out others to introduce them to the pastime.
 
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binka

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I think for me Geoff's earlier comment about the lack of time to do something constructive in return is very true.

I feel I contribute through being a member of the Angling Trust, the work party weekends that I do and the licence fee but if time were not an issue I think that coaching would be a great way of giving back to the sport... except that it would mean that I had to be good at it first :)

I'm sure that there was a question of whether you would be prepared to coach on one of the surveys I responded to but can't remember whether it was the EA or ATr?
 
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