Derek Gibson
Well-known member
A time to be brutally honest fella's.
Speaking personally, as a younger guy back in the late fifties ''I did''. Looking at the catches made by anglers of my acquaintance and press reports, followed by a lot of soul searching.
All this changed dramatically in the early sixties with an introduction to specimen groups. By 1963 I was a member of several of these, and began to rub shoulders with a number of highly successful anglers. Some of who became close friends, and lifted the veil of mystery that I perceived as their secret. Surprise, surprise there really is no secret, other than the waters they chose to fish. Invariably their council was, if you find a water that contains the fish you're looking for, keep your cards close to your chest. And learn as much about the water as you can.
I believe this to be as valid today as it was back then, with the exception that waters today are far more heavily pressured by legitimate methods or otherwise, and there's the rub.
I have often claimed with hand on heart that the only competition that exists in my angling world is between me and the fish. Not other anglers, though this now seems to be a given.
Speaking personally, as a younger guy back in the late fifties ''I did''. Looking at the catches made by anglers of my acquaintance and press reports, followed by a lot of soul searching.
All this changed dramatically in the early sixties with an introduction to specimen groups. By 1963 I was a member of several of these, and began to rub shoulders with a number of highly successful anglers. Some of who became close friends, and lifted the veil of mystery that I perceived as their secret. Surprise, surprise there really is no secret, other than the waters they chose to fish. Invariably their council was, if you find a water that contains the fish you're looking for, keep your cards close to your chest. And learn as much about the water as you can.
I believe this to be as valid today as it was back then, with the exception that waters today are far more heavily pressured by legitimate methods or otherwise, and there's the rub.
I have often claimed with hand on heart that the only competition that exists in my angling world is between me and the fish. Not other anglers, though this now seems to be a given.