are these guys fishing gods or fishing frauds

[barbelboi]

Some cr@p being talked about Bernard Venables, the bloke deserves deification (not defecation) for Mr Crabtree alone.

When are we going to stop venerating professional carp-draggers and celebrate the spirit of angling, which isn't filling 5 keepnets from a JCB-dug hole in the ground!

The original Mr Crabtree was so full of basic errors the the later editions had to be re-written by people who knew a bit about angling:wh..............................

 

[jacksharp]

The original Mr Crabtree was so full of basic errors the the later editions had to be re-written by people who knew a bit about angling:wh..............................

Still rather venerate Bernard Venables than some fat bloke from Ellesmere Port whose claim to fame is skull-dragging a hundredweight of barbel out of a pond! mg:

 

[nicepix]

Some cr@p being talked about Bernard Venables, the bloke deserves deification (not defecation) for Mr Crabtree alone.

When are we going to stop venerating professional carp-draggers and celebrate the spirit of angling, which isn't filling 5 keepnets from a JCB-dug hole in the ground!

In the sense of angling as a sport then I agree that BV as an author and illustrator has had an immeasurable influence on anglers of a certain generation. But to be fair, the OP seems to be talking about anglers as regards their fishing skills and I don't put BV or the likes of John Bailey up there with the best of them.

---------- Post added at 10:58 ---------- Previous post was at 10:57 ----------

The original Mr Crabtree was so full of basic errors the the later editions had to be re-written by people who knew a bit about angling:wh..............................

Rather like our old friend JB in his recent TV portrayal of Mr. Crabtree trotting with the ratchet on mg:

 

[jacksharp]

In the sense of angling as a sport then I agree that BV as an author and illustrator has had an immeasurable influence on anglers of a certain generation. But to be fair, the OP seems to be talking about anglers as regards their fishing skills and I don't put BV or the likes of John Bailey up there with the best of them.

---------- Post added at 10:58 ---------- Previous post was at 10:57 ----------



Rather like our old friend JB in his recent TV portrayal of Mr. Crabtree trotting with the ratchet on mg:

Fair do's on that though Clive, it was a slow flow and he was showing a kid how to trot with a centrepin for the first time and the principle of holding back, etc. and it made it easier for "Peter" to do. I have a lot of time for that series.

 

[clonker]

Oh no, who let John Bailey out?!?!?! I got a book of his for christmas one year.

I considered using it as toilet paper but the pages were already full up with s&%*

As for nick fisher... mg:

Oh, and the chavs on carp crew or whatever it is on sky mg:

 

[nogoodboyo]

John Baileys Fishermans Valley is possibly the best angling book I've ever read.
As for the carp crew "chavs" Kev Green died recently and Jan Porter is battling cancer.

 

[chefster]

Des Shipp just won the Maver Classic Festival at Whiteacres,a 3-day competition.....Personally i think thats point proven,fishing 3 different lakes over 3 days ,against the cream of matchfishing,still i expect people will just say "anyone can catch " on commercials,**** Walker "would of battered him"

 

[Chris Hammond ( RSPB ACA PAC}]

I wouldn't use the term 'god' but for my money our modern top tier match anglers are among the greatest anglers we've ever seen.

Despite at no stage ever having been a match angler myself, I've always held the belief that our top match anglers are simply the best anglers in the country per se.

---------- Post added at 17:28 ---------- Previous post was at 17:24 ----------

The original Mr Crabtree was so full of basic errors the the later editions had to be re-written by people who knew a bit about angling:wh..............................

But that is to completely miss the key role Venables played in the popularization and grounding of specimen angling. He wasn't just part of the angling zeitgeist back in his day, he was the embodiment of it. How skilled he was as an angler is of no relevance.

 

[tonybull]

Des Shipp just won the Maver Classic Festival at Whiteacres,a 3-day competition.....Personally i think thats point proven,fishing 3 different lakes over 3 days ,against the cream of matchfishing,still i expect people will just say "anyone can catch " on commercials,**** Walker "would of battered him"

If its that easy then a few on here should have ago at the UK Champs, Drennan Cup etc there's up to £50,000 to be Won.

Should be easy money dragging Carp from a puddle.

 

[barbelboi]

[/COLOR]

But that is to completely miss the key role Venables played in the popularization and grounding of specimen angling. He wasn't just part of the angling zeitgeist back in his day, he was the embodiment of it. How skilled he was as an angler is of no relevance.

It is relevant to the title of the thread Chris - I've already mentioned the good things he did in an earlier post and IMO being a good writer/editor/illustrator does not make you 'fishing god'.

 

[clonker]

John Baileys Fishermans Valley is possibly the best angling book I've ever read.
As for the carp crew "chavs" Kev Green died recently and Jan Porter is battling cancer.

Maybe I got it wrong with carp crew, I mean the ones on the korda program.

 

[silvers]

John Cadd did still catch an awful lot of very good fish!!

surely we should value and respect all 3 types:
1. anglers who excel through their ability - whether match, specialist or "pleasure"
2. those who inspire and enthuse (through presenting or authoring)
3. those who can educate
You don't have to be a great angler to inspire or educate!

It's obviously easier to compare abilities of match anglers than specialists - as they are competing on a more level playing field.

If I remember the Clegg vs Wilson series, it was even more artificial because the fishing was rubbish - which makes it more down to luck than otherwise.

 

[nogoodboyo]

Maybe I got it wrong with carp crew, I mean the ones on the korda program.

Yes. Thought after I'd replied that that's what you meant.
No offence intended.
As for John Bailey I know he's not everyones cup of tea but his focus on the basics of angling such as watercraft and observation are a welcome alternative to the usual tips and tricks shortcuts offered by others.