Huck Finn

[phonebush]

By far the most wide spread angler in the US is what we call "Huck Finn" anglers. They have $20.00 worth of gear, a dozen nightcrawlers, a wife and 4 or 5 kids, always meat fish and certainly no angling code of respect.

 

They represent well over 2/3 of government angling revenue and are encouraged to "bring out the family for a day of fishing and fun".

 

In the US, as yet, there is still plenty of shore line to accomodate both the serious angler and the "Huck Finns"

 

My question, where do the Huck Finns fit into the UK angling equation? From experience, what can we expect?

 

Phone

[Cranfield]

There are a number of basic differences between the UK and US scene.

 

We do not normally eat our freshwater fish, except salmon and trout.

These are a bit too expensive for Huck to fish for.

 

Off to the sea shore then (because Huck certainly can,t afford our charter boat prices).

With the current state of our sea fishing (especially from most beaches), poor old Huck and family would have a very lean time.

 

Fortunately, the burger bars, kebab and pizza places stay open late, so all is not lost.

 

Sorry I couldn,t make it more romantic.

 

[ 08. January 2003, 11:13 PM: Message edited by: Cranfield ]

[davidP]

Families going fishing is an extremely unusual occurance, mainly because clubs and the like discourage it (they want peace & quiet). It does happen a bit now with the rise of the commercial fishery with cafes & toilets on-site but even so it's not exactly common. The one thing I've noticed in summer on these vanues is that you see more fibreglass rods and whicker baskets that anywhere else. It's the guys who go twice a year using the tackle they've had for years, or more often that their dad had! Having said that, if they have a good time and catch fish then more power to them - it's what fishing is about after all, something it's often easy to overlook

[John Ellison]

When I did the Disney fortnight in Florida, we took in one of those airboat rides on the St. Johns river and I saw a couple of negroes with the old bib and brace overalls, straw hat, no shoes, fishing with a pole and I;d have loved to have got out and had a chat with them.

Further down the river I saw two blokes foraging in weed, obviously trying to catch some kind of bait. All this with alligaters in the same water . I'll stick wi't canal

[phonebush]

I thought it was perhaps a picture of days long past in the UK.

Hard for us in the US to get a mental image of fishing without our Huck Finns. All the more reason we should try to protect our bountiful and valuable resources, Huck certainly can't do it for himself.

Phone

[phonebush]

John E.,

The old gentlemen were a stereotype of our everyday carp anglers.

The guys collecting bait are an example of our "good ole boys" and every alligator has to watch out for itself against them.

Phone