If you had to specialise...

Very hypothetical question but if you had to specialise and concentrate on one species of fish what would it be and why?

Pike would be a close one for me along with zander… Despite occasionally targeting ‘em barbel, carp, chub and roach etc don’t really float my boat as far as an ongoing fascination is concerned and bream are a no no.

All hold their own appreciation though.

No, despite their uncanny knack for turning up as accidental by catches when you’re least expecting them the big perch would be my target especially as, for the exception of one fish some years ago of around 3 1/2lbs whilst barbel fishing, I find them extremely difficult to catch by design.

Let’s not forget the mini species either such as gudgeon, ruffe etc.

Over to you…

Easy for me, definitely pike.

But having said that I would miss targeting tench, carp, perch, chub barbell, eels blah blah blah........

Trees



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I did for a while from 2002- 07 on Catfish , usually involving a round trip of at least 150 miles...some of my most memorable fishing sessions though.

neil1970 said:

Trees..

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Spent decades after them. Fight quite well once you get the roots out.

Paul Boote said:

Spent decades after them. Fight quite well once you get the roots out.

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Does a chap good to branch out......

Probably grayling, something that I could realistically catch, to a reasonable size, for the bulk of the year. I'd also end up with enough bye catch to keep things varied. I know that if I were restricted to one species and restricted tactics/gear/baits/venues, I'd give up fishing in fairly short order. Variation is what I find keeps me interested.

I think i would get very very bored just going after one species all the time.

But as the question is, If You Had To,

Then for me it would be Roach, fewer Big roach around now, well on rivers any way.

Trying to find them has become harder as there are fewer about, and catching them is still the same, Bloody hard.

Roach.Roach, roach.

Roach............

Yes. I have long loved their double or treble bob of the float. But can you find big ones these days ... or afford to fish or know the right people to get you onto the bits of river where they swim...? Still, I have had some fun.

Would be tench for me, but that would leave about half the year where i might as well be deadbaiting for them. I suppose Roach could fill the months from Sept-March easily, if only i knew a water where they ran larger than about 12oz.

Yes, chub, but with none of the perma-camped Boys on the Bank, out of season, Bleep-Bleep stuff.

"Look at the little red eye, Peter, and that's just the people who will be after them before too long...."

It would only be long trotted roach for me, and from the Thames if possible, although going back in time, the Hants Avon in the 60's would take some beating, as would the Regents Park canal with hemp.........Sorry, I digress..

Mind you, I do like good tench as well......

That Crabtree chap of yesteryear has a lot to answer for !!

For too long I suffered from 'carp fever' (now returned to square one) I love fishing for big roach (a lot of fishing for 'em, not much catching 'em!) - because they are difficult to find and difficult to catch. Favourite method river fishing, laying on with a long rod.

Has to be Chub. My first fishing experience was on the coast... I begged my Dad to take me fishing. Eventually caught a boot lace eel that fought off the iron hook and Nylon as if it were a python. It kind of set the scene, my Dad spent an inordinate amount of time either sorting out tangles, casting out as I kept reeling in (never quite happy where the bait was probably)... But the mess the eel made of itself and the trace? that was memorable - constricting coils of nylon cut away with a filleting knife. The other memorable part of the trip was retiring to the car early - the cold was crippling - I must have been a soft lad in those days.

I later learnt to catch residents in our local river - mostly trial and error. I also remember with frustration that some of the really good stuff Bernard Venables recommended in 'Crabtree' were absent from the local tackle shop! Obsolete didn't register in 'them' days. mind you, my garden 'cane' rod would have been considered primitive by anyone's standards. Did catch though!

I flitted between coast and river bank for many years... Competed on a small scale on open and club matches for a local sea fishing Club. (I couldn't -and still can't - see the point in competitive fresh water angling).

It could have been Pike.. me and my brother loved Pike fishing. Walking the bank with maggots catching whatever came along..... had a dalliance with the 'modern' scene... Monkey climbers... couldn't afford the alarms to go with them.

Read a Matt Hayes article on catching Chub from small rivers on bread flake.
I could do that! Had all the ingredients... small river... chub... and some bread! A bit of Tony Miles later (loved his books and articles in Coarse Fisherman). The fish I caught were getting bigger and catches more frequent.

I actually got my Mum and Dad to come down the river and photograph my first 'five'...

Some time later I was shocked to be accepted as a member of the Chub Study Group.... (I was banking on be accepted on the grounds of 'enthusiasm' rather than my repertoire of monster Chevins).

Why Chub??? They just seem to 'fit'. I love that you can catch them all season through and there isn't just the 'right' way to do it. I do fish for other species and still sea fish from time to time.. but Chub fishing still feels fresh and as motivating as ever.... Still learning and refining ideas and methods... Different styles of rivers to fish. Still feel like a novice at times....

Being a member of a single species group is highly motivational. Got to meet some mighty fine fellows... and makes some very valued and treasured friendships...

Mullet! Inland creeks if possible or harbours, estuaries & open sea. Summers on the west coast of France and winters in the Med' around Cyprus.

nicepix said:

Mullet! Inland creeks if possible or harbours, estuaries & open sea. Summers on the west coast of France and winters in the Med' around Cyprus.

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One of my friends is going through 'Mullet madness' - quite a fish by all accounts

Crucians. Since catching the first one from an over-sized puddle I've been bewitched. A big crucian pulls like a good 'un, kidding you that you've caught one of his bigger cousins, until he does that unmistakable "spiral dance" before popping up for netting. Triffic!

nicepix said:

Mullet! Inland creeks if possible or harbours, estuaries & open sea. Summers on the west coast of France and winters in the Med' around Cyprus.

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Spooky, I was going to say exactly the same thing. For variety of location and an ongoing challenge it would have to be these enigmatic ghosts.