Poaching is an art as old as the sport itself. It ranges from simple "guesting" on other club's waters to hard-nosed poaching on waters where no fishing is allowed.
I challenge any angler to say he hasn't done it.
Some times I remember, mainly in my younger years:
Fishing the Thames at Henley in the mid nineties when I lived there. I was wandering up the river and I came across a lovely pond. There were no signs, nothing, but I just knew it was private, belonging to one of the mansions backing on to the river. There was lovely shoal of Golden Orfe basking right in front of me. I coudln't resist it. I bagged one straght away then a geezer came shooting round on a quad bike and started rollocking me. Pleading ignorance in my best Northern oik accent got me off.
Another one - aged about 14, we went trout fishing in the closed season on a reservoir that was open for trout fishing only. We couldn't resist sticking a livebait out.The bailiff turned up and we cut the line of the pike rod. He knew what we were up to and used another rod to snare the pike bung. In came a 1lb perch with trebles all over it and we claimed it must have taken a worm!!!! The police rang my Mum and Dad about that one.
Another time, I had come home from University for a bit and couldn't resist a dabble in my old club's water next to my house. I got thrown off for that one.
I haven't done it in years and years - i must be getting too old and sensible.
Can anyone really tell me they have never poached? Honestly?
I challenge any angler to say he hasn't done it.
Some times I remember, mainly in my younger years:
Fishing the Thames at Henley in the mid nineties when I lived there. I was wandering up the river and I came across a lovely pond. There were no signs, nothing, but I just knew it was private, belonging to one of the mansions backing on to the river. There was lovely shoal of Golden Orfe basking right in front of me. I coudln't resist it. I bagged one straght away then a geezer came shooting round on a quad bike and started rollocking me. Pleading ignorance in my best Northern oik accent got me off.
Another one - aged about 14, we went trout fishing in the closed season on a reservoir that was open for trout fishing only. We couldn't resist sticking a livebait out.The bailiff turned up and we cut the line of the pike rod. He knew what we were up to and used another rod to snare the pike bung. In came a 1lb perch with trebles all over it and we claimed it must have taken a worm!!!! The police rang my Mum and Dad about that one.
Another time, I had come home from University for a bit and couldn't resist a dabble in my old club's water next to my house. I got thrown off for that one.
I haven't done it in years and years - i must be getting too old and sensible.
Can anyone really tell me they have never poached? Honestly?