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John Wilson, how could you?


Guest Peter Waller

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Guest David Johnson

Ooooooops, I’ve offended the Gods, sorry frown.gif Well that’s my angling career down the drain anyway... it's lucky I just fish for fun.

 

I’m a relative newcomer, and I agree with all your defences of good angling practise. I wasn’t attempting to “sweep bad angling practise under the carpet”, merely put things into perspective.

 

I’ve several relatives/friends (yes I’m friends with the enemy as well) who are anti-angling. I’ve had many an argument with them, using the defence of minimal harm to fish by good angling practise. I’m afraid it cuts no mustard at all. Most antis would prefer that we bash the fish we catch over the head and take it home to eat when caught; defensive talk of unhooking mats, barbless hooks, safe rigs etc. has NO IMPACT. They see fishing for coarse fish as sadistic i.e. we catch and inflict pain on the fish only to return them to torture them more. Paradoxically Salmon and Trout fishermen are fine because they kill and eat the catch (it’s hardly as if they are starving, but logic doesn’t come into the antis’ arguments). So, if our sport is to survive for another hundred years I think it needs to improve it’s media image. I’m afraid in modern Britain a superficial media friendly image is far more important than the actual detailed content (if you don’t believe me see the last election results). How do we improve angling media profile? With media friendly presenters and programs that the non-angling public can enjoy. In twenty years time if the Ban Coarse Fishing bill is going through parliament, it won’t be the 4 million anglers that save us but the non-angling public who’ve seen programs like Go Fishing. Look at the fate of hunting and the lack public support for what is perceived by most of the public to be a bloodthirsty sport for the Upper Classes (media image).

 

I certainly don’t idolise John Wilson (I much prefer A Passion for Angling..oh but they didn’t use unhooking mats, dam… maybe I should just stick to the Playstation like more and more kids these days) but far more non-fisherfolk watch Go Fishing, as it’s the only fishing program on terrestrial TV. If John Wilson makes mistakes, as we all do, perhaps we should contact him directly and not attack him public forum where's he's unlikely to be able to defend himself? If I was John Wilson and had just read the criticisms on here I would very much feel like quitting TV presentation altogether.

 

What I fear most in fishing is that we will become a smaller and smaller band of dedicated specialists, each with thousands of pounds of equipment and years of experience. The danger in this, is that as newcomers like myself feel priced out/pushed out of fishing by the more experienced names, who are often the most abusive. Coarse fishing will then be perceived as obsessive sport for trainspotter types by the general public.

 

As an example, I caught my 1st Barbel this time last year and was so pleased I put a note on here thanking all for the advice I’d received. Many of the responses were positive, but one of the biggest names in Barbel fishing abused me for leaving my friend to nurse the fish back to full health in the shallows whilst I got my camera (which I'd been led to believe was good practise). I guess these guys are defending their livelihood, so have to appear to be made of Teflon.

 

Sorry, huge rant. I am on the same side though smile.gif

 

Dave Johnson

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Guest Peter Waller

You'r forgiven Dave, points taken both ways. JW has made his last series, so I understand, so is quitting anyway I suppose. Who knows, he might read AN, quite a few big names do.

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Guest davidP
Originally posted by Peter Waller:

Who knows, he might read AN, quite a few big names do.

 

Fat chance I'm afraid - John is a positive Luddite when it comes to the Net. I spent a considerable time trying to persuade him that he should get set up on it but he does not approve of it, understand it or use it!

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Guest Graham E

Well Done David for sticken up for your principals and beliefs. I am not a JW lover but as I said earlier in this post, he has done a lot of good for angling in converting non anglers into watching his programs and style of a simple pastime. Such as the treatment of swans etc. and caring for the environment in general.

 

We often see people use every opportunity to score points (myself included sometimes)from some actual or perceived malpractice on postings. When you point, you may find you have a couple of fingers pointing backwards.

 

To me, a far greater sin is the blatent lies and plugs that go on in TV progs and Angling Mags.

For example, an article in the AT a few months ago featured catching barbel on bread, this by a very well known "Name" and showed the result. A Barbel, except it was caught on meat, as no bites on bread.

 

My earlier posting, Royalty comment refers to fish caught by a "name" they were not caught by him, just held for the pics!

 

 

 

[This message has been edited by Graham E (edited 21 June 2001).]

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David J, I would just like to point out that I am a single, working parent & have to fish on a very tight budget. No expensive gear for me. Both my boys fish as all the regulars here know. 1 is 5 & the other 18 the first thing they have both been taught is about fish care.

 

As I said earlier I have known Bob James for years & throughly enjoyed P for A & felt it protrayed angling in a very good light. I personnaly felt as an angler thats first thought is for fish care, that an unhooking mat would have been nice to see.

 

As they say "I never leave home without one!" I trust you being new to the sport never do either!

 

I try to encouage kids that they can go fishing without it costing a fortune & they don't have to set their sights on 50lb carp!!

 

As they say everyone has a right to an opinion, on here, most of us except & repect that and others views. OK sometimes we may not agree with them but we try to cinduct ourselves in a 'gentlemanly' manner. (that is not always the case either eek.gif )

 

lyn

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Guest ALAN FAWCETT

Shuddup woman!!!!

Elton that womans in ere again rolleyes.gif

 

(now ducking while getting hat n coat) tongue.gif

 

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

TROGG (Alan)

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Guest pete falloon

Well done Dave for sticking to what you thought. I was witness (and subject to) the slating which we both received from another 'name' regarding that barbel, and the absurd thing is the slating came without the 'name' even knowing the facts properly frown.gif

 

I, therefore, fully understand what you were saying about 'self righteousness' - and this is NOT pointed at any one individual, but if we are to help others learn, and improve, we MUST consider the way in which we do it.

 

Many of us only learn by mistakes or by example, but not by getting bashed over the head with a rolling pin every time we do something wrong. In addition, unless you use the smilies biggrin.gifbiggrin.gif it is sometimes hard to tell the 'tone' of a posting. Steve Pope has said several times that we should all think BEFORE posting, and I fully agree.

 

It is fine to discuss these matters here, but I have to agree with others on this, if you wish to criticise John Wilson, you'd better deal with him - how else can he be aware of what he has done, change his ways, or explain himself.

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