Skill vs Time

nocturnus anglius · Mar 30, 2016

Here's a little debate for you, I'm sure you've all heard similar.

Time vs Skill

I've heard so many times
"I'd catch as much as him if I had as much time as him"

To my thinking, yes, by the law of averages you may catch more fish, but would you catch as many, or as many target fish as say Terry Hearn, Kev Hewitt or Julian Cundiff for arguments sake, if you spent as much time on the bank as they do?

To my thinking, unless you had the skill these anglers have, it's a no, like I've mentioned you may catch more by law of averages but skill will always win the day.

What are your thoughts?

Ray Roberts · Mar 31, 2016

I think that the more time you spend on practicing your art, whatever it may be, then the better you will be at it. However you still may not reach the top of the tree without having the determination and natural ability that some of the best seem to have in abundance.

thecrow · Mar 31, 2016

Some anglers will always catch more/bigger than others the reasons are imo varied, as you mention time on the bank is one and ability is another but other things can come into play such as being on the right waters (you cant catch what aint there

) another thing that is not able to be controlled by the angler is luck, its possible for a complete novice to catch a record fish and I cant think of any other sport/ pastime where that would apply.

There are probably more reasons but SWMBO is waiting to go shopping, more time in the shop always means more money spent that's for sure

binka · Mar 31, 2016

thecrow said:
There are probably more reasons but SWMBO is waiting to go shopping, more time in the shop always means more money spent that's for sure

I hope you get on better than me, I've just been escorted out of Asda for refusing not to use my vape!

When I asked why I couldn't use it they said because of fresh produce... It's Asda ffsk, nothing's fresh is it?

Wouldn't have minded if it was a classy establishment, I only went there 'cos Sainsburys was still shut

mg:

Back to the original question...

Agree with what has already been said, I think the luck element is a great thing as you always have that "never know" feeling about things when you go fishing.

steve2 · Mar 31, 2016

All I can say is that when I first retired I had more time to fish and caught more and in some cases bigger fish. (Luck playing a major part in all my big fish captures). This was simply due to the fact that I could pick and choose when and where to go fishing. Have I become a better angler, no, I just have more time on my hands.
Over the past 60 years I could have caught even more and bigger if I wanted to , but there as always been more in my life than just fishing.

flightliner · Mar 31, 2016

NA, it's one of those imponderables, hard to figure out , you give three names, I know one, another I,ve heard of and one I have'nt but I reckon they are all carp anglers who are very often commited to long stay visits to the waterside--- hard to compare against a guy float fishing a river who has to pack up as the light fades away.
Just two scenarios as differant as chalk and cheese and hard to make comparisons with.
Circus waters also act as magnets for some (makes good publicity)not for others who may be content to fish lesser known less productive waters but equally as competant.
Then there are many anglers who make amazing catches of fish who never publicise them for personal reasons.
All grist to a very difficult question.
On a personal level tho, and its only that, I always rate a competant all rounder more highly than any single species angler.
like my 8ld boss used to say--- specialise and know more and more about less and less--- generalise and know less and less about more and more--- so anyone angling from an all round perspective who can achieve good returns on a regular basis is a far better practitioner.

rubio · Mar 31, 2016

If the choices are now extended to include luck with skill/time, I'd probably choose luck.
My skill is limited. I'm an allrounder in the manner flight describes except for the competence bit. But with luck I could catch anything.
Maybe if I had all weekend to devote to fishing I would catch more and better for the reasons already stated. For me the true measure of angling success is enjoyment. I know some who excel in that, happily catching nowt to very little but smiling the whole time. Been getting a few too many opportunities to practice that for myself lately but with luck that will change soon.

john step · Mar 31, 2016

rubio said:
If the choices are now extended to include luck with skill/time, I'd probably choose luck.
My skill is limited. I'm an allrounder in the manner flight describes except for the competence bit. But with luck I could catch anything.
Maybe if I had all weekend to devote to fishing I would catch more and better for the reasons already stated. For me the true measure of angling success is enjoyment. I know some who excel in that, happily catching nowt to very little but smiling the whole time. Been getting a few too many opportunities to practice that for myself lately but with luck that will change soon.

Agreed. I know some whose whole fishing experience seems to be built around "how big was it" and " its a personal best". I just wonder if they actually enjoy fishing or is it a desire to collect things - like train numbers or stamps.

There are others who delight in picking the right conditions and then going out for a couple of quick hours to bag a specimen-bish bong bang- and then get back home for the footy. Don't they enjoy just being out by the waterside?

AS for match fishing( I used to do club matches) it dawned on me that I am just not competitive enough. The fish seemed secondary importance to where you were in the league and who you beat.

Still, there is room for all of us.

sam vimes · Mar 31, 2016

Putting the hours in isn't a substitute for skill. However, once an angler attains a certain level of skill, there's few better ways of improving your catches than putting the time in.

ultim8 · May 31, 2016

I get to see a lot of the full time/sponsored anglers where I currently fish and can say without a doubt that a majority of them fish completely different to 90% of what i'd consider a general angler.

The reason I believe they do so well is they excel at a few things. Those things being water craft and not being lazy. I have watched a very well known angler sit up til 3am and hear a couple of fish bosh on the other side of the lake and pack up and move on them within 30 minutes.

So in short my opinion is they may have more time but they also maximise that time fully where as most anglers dont.

robtherake · May 31, 2016

It takes time to build up the skill level you need to be consistently successful. In addition, it takes constant practice and familiarisation with particular venues and species in order to continue that success.

Back when I was young, free and single I was a 7 days a week angler for most of the year and was well-skilled and clued up. More to the point, because I was well-practiced, it was easy to adapt to the venue's change of mood, plus I was quicker to adapt to the tactics needed on an unfamiliar water.

These days it's more like twice a month and that's not enough practice to keep the skills at a good level: things that were instinctive are now laboured and there's confusion where once there was clarity of purpose. I still enjoy it just as much, but I have to admit to being a pale shadow of the bagger that I once was.

tigger · Jun 1, 2016

Imo you can only can catch what's infront of you so the venue has to contain the fish.You can have (or think you have) all the skill in the world but unless the fish are willing you ain't gonn'a catch 'em!
Also some methods of angling require more work and practice to get right.
Once your competent at the method you use luck is a major factor......oh, and yes time on the bank makes a huge difference on the whole.

thecrow · Jun 1, 2016

I would like to think that what I have learned over many years is still there in my head somewhere, its like an educated instinct, my methods of fishing haven't changed that much so that also must be in there as well. My seasonal catch rates however have fallen and that's because I don't get out as much as I did so yes time on the bank makes a big difference.

Lord Paul of Sheffield · Jun 1, 2016

robtherake said:
It takes time to build up the skill level you need to be consistently successful. In addition, it takes constant practice and familiarisation with particular venues and species in order to continue that success.

Back when I was young, free and single I was a 7 days a week angler for most of the year and was well-skilled and clued up. More to the point, because I was well-practiced, it was easy to adapt to the venue's change of mood, plus I was quicker to adapt to the tactics needed on an unfamiliar water.

These days it's more like twice a month and that's not enough practice to keep the skills at a good level: things that were instinctive are now laboured and there's confusion where once there was clarity of purpose. I still enjoy it just as much, but I have to admit to being a pale shadow of the bagger that I once was.

I find the same applies to my love life

mg:

Skill vs Time

nocturnus anglius

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