ANGLING UNITY, IS IT POSSIBLE ?

[Guest Alan Pearce]

Don't forget guys and girls that 50% of anglers are either game or sea fisherman and the majority of these do not return there catch, but instead bosh them on the head for the pot. To a lot of anti's this is exceptable, their problem is with the likes of you and I who fish for sport (pleasure). Personally even with the little game and sea fishing that I do most of my catches are released, just taking the odd fish for my tea. That's my choice and one that I will defend upto the hilt. Angling is a field sport, we are all hunters or trappers, therefore it makes sense to stick together with our fellow sportsmen and women. I too have problems with certain bloodsports and in the past used to sab local fox hunts, didn't get anywhere with this apart from two arrests. Nowadays my method is to mix in with the so called country set and voice my opinions from within. This works and now in my area we only have two hunts a year instead of six, and next year one of these may be replaced with a drag hunt. Look at it this way, I livebait for predatory fish, allways have and always will. If a group of fox hunters tried to persude me from doing what is my right then I would ignore them. But if my fellow anglers tried to persude me then I would certainly listen and depending on the strenghth of what they had to say, may even change my angling practice. Think about it? I would like to read your views.

[Guest Jase]

I absolutely agree with most of what you say Alan, the fact that "fox hunting" is claimed to be a necessary evil to help the countryside, is the downfall to the argument. Game angling, has it's roots in nature, we need and are designed to eat and hunt. There is definately a natural purpose to game angling, which stems from stoneage man, although (s)he didn't use the technology of today. I'd love to have your open views, and is something I strive for on hunting. I certainly understand the reasoning behind the close linkage with blood sports, it's just me on this one, I don't think that I could bring myself around to linking what I do with something like fox hunting. The one big advantages we have in the civilised world is that of choice, and if someone chooses to hunt foxes, that is there choice, this is where my views contradict each other, and there is always a battle of the mind.

 

There was also comments made, that once fox hunting was banned would fishing be the next in line. I can't believe this at all, we have the most popular participation sport in the country/world. I can't seem to make the linkage with fox hunting. May the CA should be separated into seperate alliances ?

[Guest uk_lurcher]

Jase, its not what you think that counts, but what the anti's think. Pisces/CAA (or whatever they are calling themselves this week) already class angling as a bloodsport. Apparently they are now receiving funding from PETA so expect the profile of their campaign to rise. They are actively pushing their views on Joe Public, you are not, who is Joe Public likely to listen to?

 

UKL

[Guest Graham E]

Excuse me! Stags and fox's are warm blooded. Like you and me. They feel fear/pain.

Fish are cold blooded. I proved to myself 10 years ago after catching the same salmon parr on the Avon 6 times in 10 minutes that fish really are pea brains.

There is a significant difference in the two sports and we forget this at our peril.

The fishing fraternity outnumbers hunting greatly. The secret is to mobilse anglers into a cohesive body/group.

Hense the thread question.

[Guest Steve Burke]

Please realise that the Countryside Alliance isn't just about foxhunting or even country sports. This is only a tiny part of it. Rather the CA is about the erosion of the country way of life, about motorway noise, reduced or non-existant rural bus services, the closure of local schools and hospitals..... I could go on but I think you get the point.

[Guest Graham E]

No I don't Steve, and nor do 95pc of the population. That's the point. Judgement is made based on the "spin" or the newsworthy element. Therefore the aspect that catches or loses the vote is the most important.

We all know that if one wanted, a horrific piece could be written about about the damage fishing in the closed season "could" do.

Organisations are judged by their best or worst aspects with the middle areas ignored by all but the informed.

CA = Fox Hunting and killing Bambi's. Ignore at ones peril!

[Guest uk_lurcher]

So Graham E what do you think the Hunt Sabs are going to do if foxhunting is banned? Throw a party and then forget all about animal rights forever? No they will then try to outlaw shooting and after that fishing!

Just because you think a fish is coldblooded and peabrained doesn't mean to say the anti's do....they think you are!

United we stand divided we fall,simple as that. Don't chuck bricks at other fieldsports in the hope that ours will somehow be ignored. At the end of the day you are simply sticking a hook into a living creature for your own enjoyment, in the eyes of an anti this puts you in the same league as murderers and child molesters. Check out LACS and Pisces websites if you don't beleive me.

 

UKL

[Guest Jase]

I have to say, I am more inclined in Grahams direction, although everyone is entitled to an opinion. However, that's the main point, and opinion is something personal and should only be changed by pursuasive argument not threat. If what UK_lurcher says is correct, then I for one, am not going to be pursuaded by threats from activists. There methods and techniques of putting a point across are not correct, which in the eyes of the majority, yes majority, makes them and there argument look non-credible. Steve's point about the CA being linked with more than just field sports is true, and the CA has far more going for it, which I think should be remembered. However, angling is a sport that is totally different from fox hunting, not just in terms of the methods, or warm or cold bloodidness of it, but the popularity of it. Surely the activists can see, that to ban angling, is absolutely impossible, considering it's popularity around the world. Where would it stop, trawler fishing for, burning down fish and chip shops, come on, they ain't got a cat in hells. They may try, and by what UK_lurker says, they will, this will show there methods and rational behind there arguments is wrong. It's these activists that have the problem not anglers. Please remember, that I am totally against fox hunting, but don't agree with threating tactics to stop it.

[Guest Gaffer]

Hi all, I was of the thinking that all country sports should stick together on this.

However, I've changed my mind.

After crossing paths with fox hunters I'm of the opinion that they bring a lot of the anti's on themselves with their pompus attitude.

If they're not going to help themselves then they certainly aren't going to lower themselves to help angling. When I say help themselves I don't mean this last minute, too little, too late, panic!

Remember that the anti's buzz words are 'blood sports', what ever you think, angling will always be a 'blood sport' and under threat.

Unify and go it alone, I say.

Once unified we should make as much noise as possible, become high profile and a 'news worthy spin'.

Gaffer.

[Guest Leon Roskilly]

To talk of 'angling' as a single activity is like talking of 'ball games' (don't you dare Piscary!), as a single activity.

 

Rugby Players and Golfers both play 'ball games'

 

Imagine them trying to play the same 'field', join the same association (Specialist Ball Game Players Group!) and agree on anything!

 

Now try to imagine a group of lure anglers fishing the same water as a group of bivvied up carp anglers, while the local match group is trying to get some practice in!

 

The different disciplines in angling have the same basic aim; getting a fish on the bank, but thats where it ends.

 

Just as ball game players have the same aim; moving a ball to where it's going to score!

 

Our problem is that government and Sport England, though happy to talk to the Lawn Tennis Association, the FA etc as separate groups, insist that they must talk to a single representative body for angling.

 

That's when the fighting starts

 

One specialist angler's meat is another's poison.

 

The needs of pike anglers can be swamped by the needs of matchmen. Tench fishers don't stand a chance against the carp lobby.

 

So each of us feels that we have to fight our particular corner hard, whilst trying hard to co-operate, and share our waters with others.

 

On the whole, all things considered, we do pretty well at it, but there always will be losers and winners, and times when the knives come out

 

Tight Lines - leon