Single Species Organisations

[Guest STEVE POPE]

Hi everyone,

I want to pick your brains.

I have read with interest and some concern the postings on this and other sites expressing criticism of both the PAC and the Carp Society.

Two of the largest single species groups around today.

I am beginning to wonder if this is more than a hiccup and the beginning of a trend.

I have spent most of the day involved with fishing matters, many phonecalls trying to put certain things together for the benefit of anglers.

I enjoy it and do it for all sorts of reasons, but in the end it is just a way of life.

We like to believe we have our finger on the pulse and I am prepared and often do travel many miles to ensure we do not lose touch.

We always look at the other organisations to learn from their many good points and hopefully try not to make similar mistakes.

I would be interested to hear peoples views on their expectations when joining this type of group.

 

Steve Pope.

[Guest thecarpangler]

I joined the CS out of a sense of duty, as most of my fishing is for carp.

I felt I needed to belong to a group that promoted and supported my way of fishing.

 

I then realised that the CS and I are poles apart in the way we want to promote carping.

 

Yes they do alot for kids, but the people they set up for admiration and accolades are the people who's attitude towards carp and carping that I find so repugnent.

 

They offer their magazine in the subscription price but this is an advert heavy and very average magazine that just regugitates articles and opinions from the same tired old faces.

 

As you might have guessed, I'm no longer a member and do not feel the need to join any group other than the ACA.

What do I expect from them?

I want them to be in the corner for every angler or organisation that needs them, which they can only do through memberships and donations.

 

 

 

------------------

Average general angler

aka BIG RIK

 

mailto:carp.angler@talk21.comcarp.angler@talk21.com

[Guest Graham E]

A very tough question this Steve.

I want an organisation that recognises me as an individual that has decided to spend money on joining a specialist branch.

I want to be educated in a sublimical way

(of course I wont realise this)

I want to meet likeminded souls to waffle/lie and brag to.

I want to exchange information on tackle and rigs and debate the differences.

I want the society/club to be at the leading edge of innovative ideas to help me catch my biggest fish.

I want the organisation and it's leaders to be approachable and human.

I want the organisation to promote fish welfare and safety before catching.

I want the organisation to be at the leading edge of IT and the communicative loop.

The BS achieves most of these with the exception of the last one listed.

[Guest BUDGIE]

Elitist as it sounds the only single species groups I have ever found to be any good are the limited/vetted membership types.If open to all you not only get a wide range of knowledge(this is no bad thing for those just starting out and to a certain degree it is the responsibility of the experienced to pass on their knowledge)but unfortunately a wide range of attitudes and morals.It is these type of people who cause the down side of any organisation.A shame but a fact.Maybe a tiered system of organisations would work better.At least it would stop the idiots being in a position to affect everyone.

[Guest Paul Williams]

Is it possible that one or two of the single species are victims of there own succsess? it seems as though it is the "fashion" species groups (pike, carp, barbel) that attract most of the comments whilst the smaller groups (perch, eel, chub, etc) just poodle along, mind you some of them are selective in whom they let in so it may be that Budgie has a point, it's a shame really but bieng small and selective can pay dividends.

Graham E spells it out for me, he basically wants to chat to like minded anglers and if you are an angler who goes about your fishing in a quiet manner it can be a little cliqey at some of the meetings of the larger clubs, personally i feel that a small local group such as the old specimen groups could well make a comeback.

[Guest BUDGIE]

Originally posted by Paul Williams:

personally i feel that a small local group such as the old specimen groups could well make a comeback.[/b]

 

Yes in reflection I think you are right Paul.Sharing knowledge with like minded people who are known to you or have been selected on merit is my preference too.To look after the bigger issues the old NASG system worked well.For those who dont remember the National Assosciation of Specimen Groups they later became NASA which allowed individuals to join.

[Guest Pete Waller]

There is one club that does work, and it works remarkably well. That's the Lure Angling Society. It works well, I believe, because it refuses to become politically active. I am not so sure about the present PAC committee but the previous two were not only politically very active but also, I think, rather full of their own importance as a result of those activities. I think that critiscism is also very true of the SACG, whose activities to-date, have failed to impress me.

[Guest lyn]

I am sitting back and listening with interest as I've said I have been out of touch for a couple of years due to personnel reasons. My brother has always had a lot to do with NSSA, ie taking thier stand to all the shows, getting new members etc he tends to 'try' & keep me up to date ( I think he feels like giving up on me at times! )

 

Anyway I have read all debates with interest & concern as they all tend to get into a slanging match. We all want to keep are fishing, I do because I love it.

 

I find nothing wrong with single species groups as long as they don't try 'lording' it over everyone else then there is no problem. A friend of mine has told me to join the BS. I have had some mixed feelings on this as I have with joining NSSA,( thats only because of Bob,) I will join BS if only to get the next mag with Gordon in it! no, not only for that reason, simply because I love barbel & fishing for them and could talk about them forever with like minded people.

 

As long as you get what you want from a club/group then there is nothing wrong with them, as long as they keep themselves to themselves.

 

Hope that makes sense

 

lyn

[Guest Alan Pearce]

To Pete Waller:

 

Pete what problems do you have with the work of the SACG? Where do you think specialist angling would be now if the SACG hadn't been around this past 10 years. Several times in the past you have sniped but never offered anything constructive, so how about it, why not post your views here so they can be read by all and commented on? If not then please keep your thoughts to yourself.

 

Alan Pearce SACG Chairman.

[Guest Paul Williams]

Alan, i'm sorry but that is just the sort of reply that hacks off the majority! you may be right i don't know but he does have the right to air his views! just as you have the right to answer them! but telling him to shut up? no wonder the majority of anglers don't want anything to do with "organizations!!!!!