PBs

[AddictedToScopex]

I will take pictures of fish quite often but not as a method to show off or either to record weights in an anal way but simply because I enjoy looking over them every now and then as I am sure a lot of people do. It is nice to look through pictures of your fish and bring back memories of days when you caught them. In particular I want to be able to look over them years in the future when my memory will most likely struggle to recall captures and sessions as a way to jog my memory. Also other people enjoy seeing them in things such as blog posts etc and I dont think there is anything at all wrong with that.

 

With regard to weighing fish I will weigh them if I believe they are worth weighing whether they are a pb or not just as a personal thing. I just find it interesting to know what size of fish I have caught from certain venues. For example a recent 3lb chub I caught from a really small river gave me a great deal of satisfaction as the fish arent of a great average size and when I saw it I was interested to see how heavy it really was.

 

I don't understand the attitudes of some on here at times where people think that just because someone likes to look at photos of captures or likes to record their best weights etc means they cannot possibly enjoy the capture in its purest form. I see the enjoyment of the surroundings and the capture itself as the most important part of my fishing but can enjoy pictures and weights at the same time without feeling like I am obsessed with numbers etc. Too many people see angling as black and white when there are a great many grey areas. It is perfectly possible to enjoy many different aspects of the sport without being labelled as a number cruncher etc and assuming that someone doesnt care about the hows, wheres and whys because they have an interest in the numbers or pictures.

[Anderoo]

I will take pictures of fish quite often but not as a method to show off or either to record weights in an anal way but simply because I enjoy looking over them every now and then as I am sure a lot of people do. It is nice to look through pictures of your fish and bring back memories of days when you caught them. In particular I want to be able to look over them years in the future when my memory will most likely struggle to recall captures and sessions as a way to jog my memory. Also other people enjoy seeing them in things such as blog posts etc and I dont think there is anything at all wrong with that.

 

With regard to weighing fish I will weigh them if I believe they are worth weighing whether they are a pb or not just as a personal thing. I just find it interesting to know what size of fish I have caught from certain venues. For example a recent 3lb chub I caught from a really small river gave me a great deal of satisfaction as the fish arent of a great average size and when I saw it I was interested to see how heavy it really was.

 

I don't understand the attitudes of some on here at times where people think that just because someone likes to look at photos of captures or likes to record their best weights etc means they cannot possibly enjoy the capture in its purest form. I see the enjoyment of the surroundings and the capture itself as the most important part of my fishing but can enjoy pictures and weights at the same time without feeling like I am obsessed with numbers etc. Too many people see angling as black and white when there are a great many grey areas. It is perfectly possible to enjoy many different aspects of the sport without being labelled as a number cruncher etc and assuming that someone doesnt care about the hows, wheres and whys because they have an interest in the numbers or pictures.

 

Well said ATS!

[Phone]

ATS,

 

Ohh, I forgot to say this. While I don't photo and weigh, I would probably not frequent the internet or read fish wraps without people who do. Not just the fish either. Some really cool frogs and butterflys show up. Without photos and weights I doubt there would be much to C&R angling.

 

Also, let me say for the record. No one enjoys "showing off" any more than I do. I'm always happy if you have your camera and scales handy for me. It is a "form" of showing off although I think it is quite healthy to ask for the respect of your peers. A picture tells a thousand words.

 

Nothing wrong with the "pros" making a few bucks with a camera and scales either.

 

Phone

[Dales]

Also, let me say for the record. No one enjoys "showing off" any more than I do. I'm always happy if you have your camera and scales handy for me. It is a "form" of showing off although I think it is quite healthy to ask for the respect of your peers. A picture tells a thousand words.

 

Phone

 

I don't think many take pictures or weigh fish to show off and ATS sums up nicely why most do and when reading some ones review a few pictures of the fish (what ever the size) or the venue brings the post alive.

 

What I am a little unsure about is the effect of posting big fish and discussing them have on new people to angling. Does it give the impression that these are the sort of fish they should be catching.

 

Are forums no different then the fishing mags in pushing big is better. On a thread with a few people listing there PB's, the one thing they all had in common was that all the posters had caught big fish. Those new to angling with more modest catch's did not post. Was this because even though the idea of a Personnel Best is just that, we can't help but compare even if the posters do not actualy mean it in a one upmanship kind of way.

 

Forums can be scary places to post, every one has caught bigger fish then you. There fish are more "worthy" and harder to catch. Plus God forbid you went to a commercial and even worse if you were fishing for Carp

 

Say the wrong thing and its like the Glorious 12th

 

It makes no difference if you weigh or photograph every fish you catch or none of them. If it makes you happy and does not inconvience the fish to much what harm can it do? But by publicising your big fish do you help create unrealistic assumptions or aspirations in other anglers? Or does that just happen with the Carp Machine

[AddictedToScopex]

But by publicising your big fish do you help create unrealistic assumptions or aspirations in other anglers? Or does that just happen with the Carp Machine

I think it almost certainly does to some degree but I would also suggest that it may be down to the personality of the angler viewing the pictures or reading the posts as to how they feel upon seeing them. I often see fish caught on here that are bigger than mine but rather than be downheartened or think 'i must beat that' I simply congratulate the captor and enjoy seeing a nice specimen of a fish whereas others may get a touch of the green eyed monster and feel competitive about it.

 

As for the carp machine I believe that as it seems in my opinion to get more publicity than most other disciplines of angling these days and seems to be very much geared towards biggest is best then it must in a way push this ideal as you say. However saying that it would surely be fair to say that the now popular carp scene was once incorporated into the coarse scene and in that it must have taken some of its influences from there.

 

I think either way the media will always play to its strengths and its audiences weaknesses in order to make more sales so whatever the opinion of the majority audience it will always be pandered to exposing the reader(s) to more of the same.

Edited September 14, 2011 by AddictedToScopex

[Sportsman]

Can I just say that I didn't suggest you shouldn't weigh or photograph your catch, you can do bronze etchings if you like. I just said that I couldn't understand the preoccupation that some seem to have.

I don't understand lots of things, it doesn't make them wrong

[Phone]

Dales,

 

As a class of anglers, I'd say offhand without to much thought, AN is a group who targets "specimen" fish for C&R when possible. Specimen fish are the outside 2% of the largest fish of choice in the venue. They, AN use sophistticated tactics, gear and stewardship that warrant pride in these accomplishments. I could never understand the British desire to "understate" the goal.

 

I, on the other hand, fish for carp in the commercials.

 

It took me several years to 'develop' an understated persona when fishing with my new found Brit ex-Pats here in the US. You simply cannot "outfancy" a British tart. Can't be done!!!!

 

Phone

 

Phone

[AddictedToScopex]

AN is a group who targets "specimen" fish for C&R when possible.

 

While there are many specimen anglers on here phone I certainly wouldnt like to think that we come across in that kind of way. I see AN members as a broad mixed bag of anglers, each enjoying a differing taste of angling, who tend to be quite passionate about their hobby and like to share tips, advice or even just funny stories with each other. If we as a whole came across as just specimen hunters I think that would alienate us slightly from potential new members and may discourage them from joining as there are also many members for whom size doesnt matter and they just enjoy the sport at its most pure levels and enjoy a jolly good chinwag about it.

[Anderoo]

Most photos I take are of wildlife, scenery, nature, that sort of stuff. Most fish look the same anyway. The fish I do photograph are special to me in one way or another and I like to look back at them, plus the related photos of the venue taken at the same time, and remember the event. Likewise, when I go on holiday I like to capture my memories for the same reason.

 

The anti-snobbery about weighing and photographing - suggesting that it somehow devalues the purity angling experience - is strange to me. I like these little records and memory-joggers.

 

When people post up photos of fish bigger than I've caught on AN, I congratulate them with no envy or one-upmanship. When people post up photos of smaller fish than I've caught, I do exactly the same thing. The fish I personally post up mean something to me, usually the culmination of a fair amount of thought, planning and effort, and are sometimes quite big, other times quite small (by other people's standards). I also don't think of that as 'publicising' them (although I suppose it is in a sense), rather sharing an experience with a group of friends.

Edited September 14, 2011 by Anderoo

[Phone]

ATS,

 

Lightheartedly, We only have a few "Euro" tackle shops in the US. The best way to "sell" something to a Brit is to send him fishing with a Frog who has a new outfit.

 

Most of the guys I've (carp) fished with in England and certainly over here take half a day to get to their swim and then casually offer they've just brought a few "bits and bobs" since we are in for a short session.

 

BY FAR the most passionate anglers in the world are the British!!

 

Phone

(and that's a good thing)

Afterthought: with that in mind, I have no problem finding a way to 'pull your chain a bit') I love you to death.

Edited September 14, 2011 by Phone