(Some) Matchmen and Pike

[Jim Gibbinson]

The killing of pike by match anglers (and some so called, pleasure anglers - what a daft expression that is) is much less commonplace than used to be the case. The improvement is partly the consequence of enlightenment and education, and partly (mainly?) because a lot of matches are now held on overstocked and overly synthetic commercial fisheries. Also, observation suggests that match fishing is less popular than it once was (leastways, such is the case here in the south-east, I can't speak for the midlands and north), with the result that match pressure on most natural (as opposed to commercial) waters is further reduced.

[Peter Waller]

Jim Gibbinson:

overly synthetic commercial fisheries.

A posh way of saying 'carp puddles'.

 

A delightful turn of phrase though, hope you don't have the copyright on it Jim.

[A Worm OOE]

Jim

I think that its the first part of your explanation rather than the last. The switch to managed waters started about ten years ago but really accelerated toward the carp puddle over the last 5 or 6 years. I think the more enlightened attitude to pike (in most areas) pre-dates this. Certainly in my experience.

It is about 13/14 years since I last saw any systematic anti pike feeling generated by matchmen. In that instance the action taken was in conjunction with the water authority and was based on the movement of live fish.

 

As for match fishing on the decline that's my usual moan but in reality it has just changed. 10 years ago If I fished an open match on the Baisingstoke canal there would be 100+ anglers and I would now recognise every one of them even though they would come from Hampshire, Kent, Sussex,Essex, London, Berkshire. It was the same all over good attendences but you recognised the same people. Back then there might be 3 or 4 matches in thes South East each sunday and the same 300-400 would fish them. Now each weakend there are 10-20 matches each with 20 people. In addition lots of the open match anglers have gone back to fishing club events.

The reality is that there are actualy more match anglers now than there were 10 years ago but they are spread much more thinly and a lot of them share thier time with other forms of angling.

[A Worm OOE]

PS

If anyone wants a truly synthetic comercial fishery try Elphics near Tunbridge Wells the swims are carpeted with Astroturf!!

[trent.barbeler]

Dear Leon,

 

Aren't otters apex predators in UK waters? And won't otters kill far more large pike in the future than any group of misguided angler's ever might hope to do?

 

Dear Jim,

 

There is no doubt that match angling is dwindling in the midlands akin to numbers involved in yesteryear. Mostly due to far less young blood's coming into match angling. This also reflects on the general numbers of anglers entering our sport as youngsters. I once said to Fred Crouch that I suspected a major factor in this was the addiction our youngsters now have for Play station and Nintendo type games. Fred was sure I was wrong saying that Play station was merely a "fad" that all kids would grow out of. Fred in my opinion was/is wrong.

 

Pleasure anglers? Daft but accepted term in specialist circles. "Noddy" is another descriptive given to lesser angling mortals by the so called specialist Gods.

 

I am a barbel angler so remain comfortably aloof over all branches of angling.

 

Regards,

 

Lee.

[StuMac]

Brian

 

Did you *have* to mention the river T*** by name??? I fish it too when I'm down south seeing my folks. Whilst a lot of what you say is true, the the river is not totally dominated by match fishing interests and there are some very pleasent b stretches where you can pike fish to your hearts content and never see another angler, let alone a gaggle of pike killing match anglers.

 

However, there are other problems, and one is the growing number of people who hear there are big pike in the river, turn up and fish without joining any of the clubs. Mentioning big fish venues on the web is a good way to attract these types and make sure your fishing is well and truely stuffed for good.

 

What then happens is they leave litter, damage fences, cut down trees for fires, and (most amazing of all) start to dig out the bank so that they can get their bedchairs etc, set up properly!! If you are in the same club as me you will recognise this last point - the banks in question are actually a flood defence which makes this even more unbelievable!

 

When faced with this sort of vandalism many land owners just say stuff it, and stop leasing the rights and put up no fishing signs all over the place. It has happened on several lochs up here.

 

Please think about editing your post!

[Brian Carragher]

StuMac

Yes I did have to mention the Tees by name, there doesnt seem to be any point in highlighting bad practice by anglers or by clubs without mentioning which river its happening on does there.

As someone who is a member of three clubs and another in Scotland I see lots of good and bad practice but never is it so evident as it is on the Tees. Those who practice it need to be shamed into submission and that includes clubs as well. You will have noted from my posts that I do not name any venues because the popular ones already recieve too much pressure and I dont intend to add to that as there are many who now contact the angling weeklies with catch details,venues and tactics etc.,nor do I say that the Tees is dominated by match anglers, you really should read and digest what I say before you misinterpret what I say.

I dont know which clubs you are a member of but 90% of all litter and bankside damage occures on the free stretch's as most of the Tees is club controlled and therefore private and that is where my concerns are directed.

I also happen to be a committee member of a local club as well as being an active member of the PAC so I am more than comfortable about printing my concerns on this forum because they happen to be true

[StuMac]

I don't doubt your concerns are genuine, and that what you say is true, but the last club newsletter that was sent to me said that clearly that there was a growing problem with poaching and bankside damage.

 

It is widely accepted that naming waters on the internet or in the angling press is bad news for the fishing in the long run. This topic has been done to death on just about every message board there is.

 

I don't head down that way too often, but I greatly enjoy the fishing when I do, particularly as the stretches I fish were pretty poor fishing (to put it mildly) when I was a lad.

[Brian Carragher]

I still think you have'nt got it yet.

Thr reason the fishing is so good is because of the work that others as well as myself have done over many years securing access improving bank sides creating fish havens and breeding areas with land purchases via the local authorities and local clubs that enable people like your self to enjoy the river when you visit your parents.

We're obviously in different clubs as my club newsletter has a different content to the one that you describe but there is no widespread poaching problem on club waters as there is plenty of free water available on a river that has over 75 miles of fishable water.

If naming of waters damages it then we must all of us including you be guilty of participating in a waters destruction every time we buy an angling publication. If you do as I do and just name the river then you have to know the river very well to be able to identify venues that dont even get described. As for keeping the Tees under wraps ,too late for that as its potential has been known nationally for years, a fish o mania qualifier was held on it last year and Dave Harroll has been a regular visitor for years. The environment agency is another that is trying to organise a 500 peg match and fish o mania is back this year

 

[ 11. January 2005, 08:38 AM: Message edited by: Brian Carragher ]

[monkeyboy]

Its disgusting!

I know a bloke who runs a fishery. He has taken all the pike which have been there for decades, and put them in a sepereate pond!!!

all you catch now is ounce perch in the main pond.

Stupid! He reckons its doing well. Ive never caught as many perch. Tiny things they are too!

All it needs is a couple of pike and it would be well away.