This is a hard one for me. I love my fishing, I can't imagine not being able to go, but , I dont want to be associated with certain elements of the angling public.
Far to many times I have walked the banks of the Tay and seen Grayling thrown up on the bank...or fished Lochs and seen Pike cut in two in the margins, or even worse, a dead otter, skinned and nailed to a tree, and a seal that had been shot several times by a gillie in the mouth of the Don.
If i walk into a tackle shop in Aberdeen, and ask about Pike, I get the usual, *Vermin, should all be killed* attitude. After all, they eat all the trout..don't they?
I have spoken to many trout and salmon anglers, especially at some of the Game Fairs up here, and there is a strong following for the Countryside Alliance. I really cannot support a group that has *anglers* like this amongst its ranks.
I know I am tarring many game anglers with the same brush, but having been involved with the Grampian branch of the PAC (No longer operating) and given talks on coarse fishing to several clubs, I can honestly say that there is a strong leaning towards kill for killing sake. My local Loch has a kill all pike rule, and its not even a fishery. They eat all the ducks...so the owner has nothing to shoot in the winter!!! Do you really want to be associated with this?
Btw, I do not have a grudge against game anglers, just the ones who cannot see the damage they are doing.
(I am now hiding under the table waiting for the abuse)