ITV4 tomorrow night.

[gozzer]

I've seen reviews on a few forums, and many do seem favourable, but it's usually from the younger anglers, or those with a liking for commercials. Many have said that any angling on TV is a good thing, and that this kind of thing will encourage youngsters into angling. At the risk of sounding snobbish, elitist, or similar, in my opinion, anyone who would watch this programme and think, 'That's for me', i wouldn't want fishing near me.

I used to be pretty competitive in my match days, as were many of my friends, never in all those years did any of us high five each other, whoop, scream, or shout 'loser, loser', when we won a match. We took the pee out of each other, offered the occasional 'sarcastic' advice, but all in a less 'intrusive' way.

I know it's a sign of the times, and is rampant on TV, and has infiltrated every day life, but I can turn the TV off or over, I can ignore, and walk away from it on the street. It's almost impossible to ignore or escape when you're on the bank. I'm lucky in that I'm from a different time, and those of us that are, can at least look back on a time of more freedom, space, and a simpler approach to angling. The fish weren't as big, and their weren't as many of them, and sometimes the fishing was pretty hard, but I enjoyed it more. Like Rusty said when he reviewed 'Casting at the Sun', " It's sad in some ways because what I got from the book was a real sense of lost angling", lost indeed, and sadly, never to return.

 

 

John

[Peter Waller]

John, spot on, especially 'anyone who would watch this programme and think, 'That's for me', i wouldn't want fishing near me.

[BobH]

I've seen reviews on a few forums, and many do seem favourable, but it's usually from the younger anglers, or those with a liking for commercials. Many have said that any angling on TV is a good thing, and that this kind of thing will encourage youngsters into angling. At the risk of sounding snobbish, elitist, or similar, in my opinion, anyone who would watch this programme and think, 'That's for me', i wouldn't want fishing near me.

I used to be pretty competitive in my match days, as were many of my friends, never in all those years did any of us high five each other, whoop, scream, or shout 'loser, loser', when we won a match. We took the pee out of each other, offered the occasional 'sarcastic' advice, but all in a less 'intrusive' way.

I know it's a sign of the times, and is rampant on TV, and has infiltrated every day life, but I can turn the TV off or over, I can ignore, and walk away from it on the street. It's almost impossible to ignore or escape when you're on the bank. I'm lucky in that I'm from a different time, and those of us that are, can at least look back on a time of more freedom, space, and a simpler approach to angling. The fish weren't as big, and their weren't as many of them, and sometimes the fishing was pretty hard, but I enjoyed it more. Like Rusty said when he reviewed 'Casting at the Sun', " It's sad in some ways because what I got from the book was a real sense of lost angling", lost indeed, and sadly, never to return.

 

 

John

John,

 

I'm afraid you like me are from a completely different generation and the way we behave is totally different from todays generation.

 

Like you I would not want to fish near any of them, but and it's a big BUT, would you rather see angling as we know it die ?

 

And that's is exactly what is happening to angling in this country, if these type of anglers are not encouraged, coarse angling will die out in Britain in the next 50 years.

 

There are virtually no young anglers coming through in the clubs I belong to and they are some of the best run and well known clubs in the south of England, I have been to many club meeting where committee's are pulling out their limited hair wondering how they can encourage Young anglers into the sport.

 

I have no answers, but if this type of program helps a few youngster try the sport I'm all for it, who knows it might get anglers into fishing and then onto different types of angling and species ?

 

Bob

[gozzer]

This is going to sound really selfish of me Bob, to be honest, I'm not that bothered about the state of angling in 50yrs time, I wont be here. I've had a large part of my angling spoiled over the last 20 or 30 yrs, so it will be those who helped spoil it for me, who will have to face the consequences.

We talk of it being a "different time", but my time was a different one to that of my father and uncles, but although tackle, methods, materials changed, the basics, the 'essence' of angling didn't. It was only when angling became classed as 'an industry', that things really changed. On many 'modern', so called fisheries, you don't pay to fish, as you once did. You now pay to catch, and if you don't, then you're not getting value for money, and don't go again, the place gets a reputation, and loses money. This 'easier' type of fishing, seems to appeal to some, but from experience, I've found that many don't stick at it, it gets boring, and expectations are too high for them to try another style, so they pack in, or treat it like a trip to the cinema, or bowling alley, and only go occasionally. I know a few who do this, and they make a day of it, a crowd of them go, have a few beers, a laugh, a bit of clowning around on the bank, and sometimes in the water.

I read somewhere that "we get the future we deserve", if that's the case then judging by what I see now, I'm glad I won't be here to witness it.

 

 

John.

[Tony U]

I wouldn't be so despondent about the future of Angling in the UK, its no use thinking that young anglers are going to mirror traditional methods that we used or still use. For example the fastest growing sector in Sea Angling at the moment is Light Rock Fishing (LRF) and this is largely led by anglers under the age of thirty, Similarly the growth area in coarse angling is lure fishing for Pike and Perch etc. and that is even outstripping the sales of carp gear, the previous sector leader. Again this is largely youth led, so I am very optimistic about the future of angling, it will be different that's all.

 

Tony

[Vagabond]

.......the fastest growing sector in Sea Angling at the moment is Light Rock Fishing (LRF) and this is largely led by anglers under the age of thirty, Similarly the growth area in coarse angling is lure fishing for Pike and Perch etc. and that is even outstripping the sales of carp gear, the previous sector leader. Again this is largely youth led, so I am very optimistic about the future of angling, it will be different that's all.

 

Tony

Yes, angling will certainly last me out. Drop-shotting is another technique that is growing in popularity.

[BobH]

This is going to sound really selfish of me Bob, to be honest, I'm not that bothered about the state of angling in 50yrs time, I wont be here. I've had a large part of my angling spoiled over the last 20 or 30 yrs, so it will be those who helped spoil it for me, who will have to face the consequences.

We talk of it being a "different time", but my time was a different one to that of my father and uncles, but although tackle, methods, materials changed, the basics, the 'essence' of angling didn't. It was only when angling became classed as 'an industry', that things really changed. On many 'modern', so called fisheries, you don't pay to fish, as you once did. You now pay to catch, and if you don't, then you're not getting value for money, and don't go again, the place gets a reputation, and loses money. This 'easier' type of fishing, seems to appeal to some, but from experience, I've found that many don't stick at it, it gets boring, and expectations are too high for them to try another style, so they pack in, or treat it like a trip to the cinema, or bowling alley, and only go occasionally. I know a few who do this, and they make a day of it, a crowd of them go, have a few beers, a laugh, a bit of clowning around on the bank, and sometimes in the water.

I read somewhere that "we get the future we deserve", if that's the case then judging by what I see now, I'm glad I won't be here to witness it.

 

 

John.

 

Sorry John,

 

But I do care about angling in this country and I would like to see it carry on, the me, me, me society foisted on us by a certain female Prime Minister, has led this country to the state we find ourselves in today and that includes fishing.

 

I care that my grandchildren are growing up in a country that does not give a dam about other people or the environment we live in and it's reflected by the attitude of many people with the I'm alright jack position, because I will not be here !!

 

Bob

[gozzer]

Sorry John,

 

But I do care about angling in this country and I would like to see it carry on, the me, me, me society foisted on us by a certain female Prime Minister, has led this country to the state we find ourselves in today and that includes fishing.

 

I care that my grandchildren are growing up in a country that does not give a dam about other people or the environment we live in and it's reflected by the attitude of many people with the I'm alright jack position, because I will not be here !!

 

Bob

 

 

What has my post got to do with post Thatcher selfishness, Bob? I'm talking about angling, and only angling. I don't really care if in 50 yrs time, there are only a few indigenous species of fish left in our waters. As I keep getting told, it's what the majority want, and I'm a great believer in democracy. For 30 odd years I was very proactive in angling, on committees, in constant contact with the EA, fishery owners, clubs, farmers, anyone who had a fishery or wanted to buy/build one. I researched, tried to advise/warn of the consequences of over stocking, and single species stocking in particular. As many on here will testify, I was often a bit quick to get my soap box out, especially on those subjects. I started to slow down when I saw the results of the EA 'survey' into 'taking fish for the pot'. Most of the replies from anglers were so selfish and self serving, that it disgusted me, and I thought 'why bother'.

A couple of years ago, I posted that I was soon to be an ex angler, but the lure was too great, and I struggled on only having 3 or 4 sessions a year, well I don't think I will be buying a licence this year, because I can't see me even having those 3 or 4 sessions this year. That's why my post count has dropped dramatically recently. I'll leave the caring and protection of the future of angling in the capable hands of those who still care, such as yourself Bob. Good Luck.

 

John.

[Dales]

I watched last nights show and thought it was rather good, fishing on the Wye and not a Carp in sight. They joked around and maybe where to laddish for most who have posted on this thread, but I thought it was a good advert for what most would term "real fishing".

 

3 tasks as usual

 

Trotting maggots and feeder fishing for Grayling, most Grayling wins which turned in to Trooot fishing.

 

Dead baiting and then lure fishing for Pike

 

Ledgering for Barbel and Chub

 

In most of the bash the Carper threads we tend to hear how there is no choice left and any one entering the sport is herded down the Carp route. I have only seen 3 shows so far and missed the first one and I have to admit those few minutes of credits at the start does the show no favours, but I think the show is doing a good job of showing any one interested in taking up fishing that there is a whole lot more to angling then just commercials and Carp. They even done a bit of Roach fishing on the Thames along with a species hunt on a commercial last week. Others have posted about lure fishing taking off in a big way in the last few years and out of the 3 shows I have seen they have twice used the tactic.

 

I had expected the show to be all about just Carp fishing and commercials and yes they have been in 3 of the 9 challenges I have seen as listed below.

 

24 hour Carp fishing with most weight wins (I know most of you will hate that)

 

Carp fishing on the Ebro from boat and bank (Thought that was interesting, who does not love fishing out of a boat)

 

Species hunt on a commercial (I do this at least once a year with my partner and we have great fun, do we think we are clever, great anglers, experiencing "real fishing" No. However we do have a nice day out in the sun, a nice bacon sandwich and stop off for a meal on the way home. Fishing should be fun , it does not always have to be hard work or involve pain and sacrifice.

 

I can take a lot of pleasure from doing "catching" on stocked waters and to me it does not take away or effect the other fishing I do. In my mind anyone watching this show who only fishes stocked Carp waters are likely to be inspired to get out and try something different and that has to be a good thing.

 

For those willing to push through the credits, you may find something of interest but hoo ha why bother despite what I hear so often there is plenty of variety and choice in angling. So why waste time with something you might not like when you can go and do or watch something you will like.

[BobH]

Well said Dales !!

 

I'm happy to see any fishing show on main line television, sure we have some major purist on this site who are Anti Everything, but getting youngsters into angling has to be a good thing.

 

And to be honest if some of the knockers aren't fishing, what's the problem ?

 

Bob