To Flying Tench

[Comus]

With all due reverence to the advice given, have I understood this right?

 

If you are specifically hunting perch or fishing a water which has a good head of perch, should one always use barbed hooks? And if, like so many commercial waters these days, there is a ban on barbed hooks, should one look elsewhere?

 

I seem to have read on this and the 'other' thread, that a barbless hook moving around within a hook hold can cause more problems than the lack of a barb in the first place.

[Bob Bradford]

OI OI you are not in possession of all the facts Merlino bill, all this is not about the death of a perch, it is about the FACT that an experienced angler of some years (according to some on here) deep hooked a large Perch and did not know how to deal with it, it seems very peculiar to me most of you on here are accepting that as the norm! frankly I am shocked!

 

How can this be? it begs the question how many other fish have ended up being killed needlessly? and not at all very expertly (by his own admission he "Karate Chopped" it with the back of his hand and put it into a plastic bag where it died from being out of the water, he could hear it flapping about but did not have a clue how to dispatch it properly!

 

Now if he were a novice , I could kinda understand it, but according to the regulars on here he is not, I have however suggested he take some proper angling tuition, but that got a massive rebuke! it seems to me that the majority on here feel this is acceptable angling practice ,almost inevitable it would seem! I shudder to think just how many fish are being so badly treated up and down the Country by so called "experienced anglers" like our Mr Hong Kong Fuey"!

 

My strong views on this have made me un-popular to say the very least, but I console myself with the knowledge I am very much in the right to question actions such as these, it really should not be going on in this day and age of communication and available reading matter.

[stan4massey]

Mr. Bradford, just a minor point that intrigues me, (having begun my fishing in the days of good old Mr. Crabtree). These angling " coaches" you talk about, are you one????? Only other thing I wonder about in my humble way is, who exactly taught the angling coaches

[Bob Bradford]

Just for you Kleinboet, this taken from an earlier post by me, more to follow;

 

Nurse Judy, I am a humble match angler but we use a small slamo disgorger, it is made of plastic and has a small loop at one end ,there is a slot in the loop halfway up, slide the line onto this and gently slide the disgorger into the fishes mouth, a small push and hey presto! if you cannot see the hook cut the line as near as you dare to the hook and leave the hook in the fish, usually it will come to no harm whatsoever, and if you are using a barbless hook the chances are quite high it will drop out in time, sometimes the flesh will grow over an old hook, I hope this helps,regards Bob

 

i would add Judy ,if you do have to kill the fish (in your judgment of course) the best way is to use a blunt ,robust object and crack it over the head sharply, you can buy a small fishing Priest for under a tenner and they are easily transportable in your pocket.

[Comus]

Just in case folks think I was being sarcastic.... I really would like some advice on the barbed hook question!

 

I take it we can still ask advice in these forums!?!

[chesters1]

strange i can always tell a match has been held in any water by the amoungnt of dead and dieing fish in the fringes and the amount of scales in places along the banks ,they may look ok when their put back but i bet most deep hooked small fish turn turtle within a short time so killing them is a blessing however its done

[Bob Bradford]

I hope that explains the first part of your question;

 

As to some-one coming up to me while I am fishing and telling me I am doing it wrong, and how would I react, I can honestly tell you this Kleinboet, over the years I have fished with and against some of the best match anglers in the country, and i have had ,on numerous occasions other match anglers help me to catch more fish, this is the accepted norm in match fishing circles, when I was skipper of a very successful team , I used to walk along the line of squad members , with a view to picking the best 12 for that particular venue, and if I had any helpful suggestions I would impart those , likewise if one particular angler had something useful and constructive to offer i would listen and in turn pass that on to his team mates, that is how it works, I am still open to constructive advice from ANYBODY ,I hope that helps you to understand my outlook.

[sam-cox]

Chester Im not saying deep hooking fish is a good thing but fish do often servive having a hook left in them. I have caught many fish with hooks and line in them.

[Bob Bradford]

stan4massey, no ,I am not a qualified angling coach, but I am in regular contact with at least two, the nearest one to me is Mr Daniel Brydon, he is the manager of the Barford lakes complex ,just outside Norwich, he is a match angler but is willing and quite able to teach anyone the basics, I hope this helps. They attened special courses run by the NFA or the PAA, they have to sit several exams and also have to be cleared by the police (sex offenders and the like).

Edited February 15, 2006 by Bob Bradford

[Bob Bradford]

Comus, In my opinion a barbless hook is the best option to take for a number of reason's;

 

1, A barbless hook will get better penetration into a boney mouth like a Perch.

 

2, It does not cause as much damage and is far easier to disgorge than a barbed hook.

 

3,A barbless hook is more likely to dislodge over time if left in the fish due to deep hooking.