What are we doing to our young?

[Neil G]

I only 'tiddler' fish when I have to get livebaits.

 

Have to say it's often harder than the pike fishing itself!

[JV44]

I only 'tiddler' fish when I have to get livebaits.

 

Have to say it's often harder than the pike fishing itself!

 

Often?? ALWAYS! harder than the pike fishing glad i am not the only one Neil .

[Andy Macfarlane]

I've been reading this thread and on reflection, I don't think we're taking notice of many youngsters on AnglersNet. I don't mean we ignore them. What I mean is we have a very large number of youngsters or newcomers that ask questions about roach, casting, equipment, floats etc. but not as many asking about carp. Are things really as bad as we're suggesting? I don't know that it is. Thoughts please.

[gozzer]

I've been reading this thread and on reflection, I don't think we're taking notice of many youngsters on AnglersNet. I don't mean we ignore them. What I mean is we have a very large number of youngsters or newcomers that ask questions about roach, casting, equipment, floats etc. but not as many asking about carp. Are things really as bad as we're suggesting? I don't know that it is. Thoughts please.

 

I think it depends on when you look Andy.

The other week before I lost my Internet, I counted 3 out of every 5 posts on the coarse fishing forum were carp related, and, there has been a definite increase in such posts over the last couple of years.

We have the seasonal species posts, like the early season tench, and winter chub and pike, but over all I think more posts are carp related than any other single type of fish.

I put it purely down to the hype and marketing from the angling press and tackle manufacturers.

It saddens me to see and hear so many anglers of 1 or 2 years experience (young or not so young), with a fixation for just big fish. And with carp being now the most prolific and easiest to catch of the bigger species, they seem to have an obsession with them.

 

There is one member of AN that many newcomers could take a lesson from, and that's Janet.

Although a more mature (sorry Janet I didn't know how to put it ) newcomer, she enjoys every fish she catches, big or small. She's fortunate in that she has the ability to pass on this obvious enjoyment in her posts. Her last post where she caught a carp of 5-6lb from the local club lake, (a size of fish that is the norm on some waters), and the obvious delight in it's capture, made me slightly envious for that feeling I used to have. It's capture,(although welcomed and enjoyed), didn't take away any of the pleasure she got from the other fish she caught.

That's how I believe angling should be, especially in the early years. Pure enjoyment.

 

John.

[Andy Macfarlane]

I suppose I don't really 'see' carp posts or carp for that matter, living in Glasgow. There are a few here and there. In the Forth & Clyde and a few other venues but it's never occurred to me to go after them and therefore, I tend to skim over any posts relating to them. I also read IYCF (Improve Your CARP Fishing ) for about 18 months and cancelled my subscription because I was bored looking at fat commercial pigs so I really can't be bothered with the things.

You're right about fishing in the early years though. My reply in the 'first time fishing' thread will tell you that.

[Neil G]

Often?? ALWAYS! harder than the pike fishing glad i am not the only one Neil .

 

lol

 

Catching tiddlers is definately a skill I need to master