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A Discussion point

Ian Crook said:
To be honest, this whole trend makes a total mockery of specimen angling. How can the "records" be based upon fish from waters which are only accessible to certain individuals who are generally sponsored by bait or tackle companies, are they real records or even achievements if the element of general competition has been taken away, Adams Mill and Cemex Burghfield being prime examples..........

Also, if I caught a potential record fish, what would be the point in telling anyone, knowing that as soon as it becomes public knowledge, some short snide faced tackle consultant from a company whos name begins with K comes along and arranges a syndicate on it, effectively closing it to the likes of us normos who do not have angling companies paying their expenses.............

So, what is the point in me hunting specimens??
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Ah, but having caught a record, you are then invited to be become a "Sponsored" Tackle God and are lost to Normo-dom forever. :D

Burghfield doesn't hold any (potential records), though?

And A.M. was accessable to all, as long as you don't (didn't) mind waiting?

Can't really see it happenning on rivers now, as the transient nature of the fish themselves, able to move in and out of any particular stretch (unlike a lake) cannot guarantee the goods in "catchability" terms. Also we seem to be nearing the end of the "Golden" age of river specimen fishing, with so many having problems of varying natures, the Big (river) Fish scene is already withering on the vine imho. Especially since the "Lesser" species, i.e. Perch, Chub, Roach ermm, anything but barbel really, don't have the same Glamour.
 
So, someone needs to form a website called Perch Fishing World............................;)
 
Hi Graham..What is your opinion and others on BFW of bait companies and tackle companies that sponsor and support Stillwater Barbel Fishing, Stillwater Barbel Fisheries and Stocking barbel into stillwaters?
 
Ray,

Not very high mate! Would you care to name these tackle and bait companies Ray?
 
Graham...I thought is was relevant for your thread as my question is more directly barbel orientated.
I think your suggestion of starting a new thread on this subject is ok, and it will go up shortly, if you don't wish to give your views and opinion on your own thread for some reason..:rolleyes:
Regards...Ray
 
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Ian, you asked, "So, what is the point in me hunting specimens??"

Well for me and undoubtedly many others I chase after specimen fish for personal gratification.
As IMO big fish offer a greater challenge than bagging up on smaller ones and coupled with the fact that my reactions etc aren't what they once were so match style fishing no longer suits me...
That said specimens are all relative to the water they're coming out from. Personally I gain as much pleasure from catching a 5lb chub froma brook 12 - 15 feet wide as I do getting a six from say the D. Stour. Though to gain the most sense of accomplishment I'd love to hook up with an 'eight' but if waters that contain such fish are unobtainable then so be it!!

Ray, I'm guessing you'll have to try a more stealthy approach to get a take from Graham...:eek:. Perhaps try rolling a lump of Teme7 Lamprey Shape a Bait...:rolleyes:. Always worth a go?!?:D:D:D:D:D
 
Ray
Quite simply it was a very different subject to what I had opened as a discussion point.
That was.

Is there a possiblilty of Tackle companies buying up BIG fish yielding stretches of river to enable their consultants to advertise their wares and by doing so losing those waters to Mr. Long time fishing that water, angler.

Colin. Is it any good? Never used it.:rolleyes:

Graham
 
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Dear Graham,

I think you will find that the tackle trades and their names have been using stretches on rivers for the purposes of advertising their wares for donkies years? And that in all that time have not swallowed up stretches for themselves? Most clubs are happy to have articles based around or upon the stretches under their control. In many cases this is an accepted way of promoting their clubs and stretches under their control whilst at the same time doing the angling press, the tackle trades and those names endorsing their products a bit of good at the same time. Very much a case of you scratch our backs and we'll scratch yours.

Regards,

Lee.
 
Certainly an element of that Lee, although many Clubs don't know it until they appear in the Press.:)

No, I'm talking about purchasing "special" river sections and excluding others apart from those promoting the brand.

Think it's ever going to happen?

Graham
 
I think we are lucky in the fact that the vast majority of modern anglers are too lazy to fish rivers, ie having to possibly walk a distance, not being able to park behind their pegs, pegs that aren`t flat etc, and this combined with the more unpredictability of rivers , keeps the great unwashed away.
I`ve found this firsthand amongst my own angling mates as I`m sure most of you have, and part of my enjoyment on the river is the effort involved to do it . I just wish the effin Barbel appreciated it !
 
Just pray that your stretches of river don't suddenly find themselves with a substantial run of salmon or big sea-trout, Dave. Pray, pray regularly, pray hard.
 
Couldn't agree more Paul. Before you know it your local £4 day ticket stretch of river will turn into a £50 a day salmon beat or be lost to a closed membership salmon orientated club with a waiting list you'll be on for years . . .
 
Interesting thread this, good to see people talking. When I lived 'down-south', and fished the Hampshire Avon and the Dorset Stour as my local rivers, the return of the salmon was a cause for concern. Some coarse anglers were of the opinion that as salmon became more prolific - the club water i.e. Ringwood and Christchurch books, would be reduced. Has not happened yet, in fact the return of the salmon reveals a healthy increase in habitat quality for the whole river. However returning to the point, look at the economics. The most consumable item of any fisherman is bait - fortunately for most river fisherman this is minimal i.e. a tin of meat. pint of maggots or scoop (from the 20kg sack) of trout pellets. River fisherman - especially 'speci's' are not good business in the bait department.

Stillwaters - especially carp waters are on the other hand are another league. Anglers can use £50 on bait per 48 hour session, plus the cost of the boat. Carp fishing has come a long way in terms of science and technique - some of that research has naturally filtered out into other areas of angling - I am thinking of paste/boilie baits, baitrunners, bolt rigs, etc etc. There is no value in river fishermen to the tackle companies - we are not such a 'fashionable' crowd as the stillwater guys regarding tackle. Nor do we need such an armoury of equipment especially rods/reels/alarms + the suchlike. Matchmen are probably the most lucrative customers of the tackle companies, but once bought - most matchmen I know do not change gear so often.

The availabilty of top-quality river water has, in my opinion never been so good as now. Vast stretches of the Hampshire Avon, Dorset Stour, non-tidal + tidal Trent, Yorkshire Ouse, Yorkshire Derwent Swale are available on excellently priced club books run by clubs with a anglers best interest at heart. The only piece of coarse river fishing that I, in my limited experience, have seen 'go-private' was the Black Bull stretch below Topcliffe. I am sure that there are other examples, however they are only a fraction of the water on any river. As we all know barbel will travel, so perhaps that is the saving grace of most river fish in that they cannot be contained, therefore it makes no sense to spend 'carp-sized-prices' on buying moving water.
 
Hi All, My first post on the New Look Website and I'm quite impressed. Interesting thread with no idiot postings (well other than me).

Graham me old mate it could happen but I would say it's highly unlikely. When we talk rivers we aren't talking landlocked waters even a stretch with lock's or weirs the fish will still move. More especially in the last few years with the number of floods we have had. We all know that fish, especially barbel can turn up miles from where they were first caught. If we know this so will those who research the waters.

In my neck of the woods the trend is the opposite way. Clubs who had restricted membership have now opened up their books. Stretches of the Trent, Derwent and Dove where you had to reside within a certain area and other clubs who had previously restricted membership have found they are struggling for members as more anglers turn towards easier to fish easy access waters.
I spend hours on the banks of the Upper Trent and quite often don't see another angler. Those days I do see others you can count them on one hand.

As I stated it could happen but it's highly unlikely.

Paul
 
Hi Paul. Hope the fishings going well. (better than the rugby!!)I think you fairly reflect what's happening. I know some clubs are struggling to get enough members to pay for the Fishing waters they do have currently.

I guess if a certain section gave up a near record barbel for example, was publicised, a few things at least might happen.

The Clubs members who river fish would be attracted to that area. ( In my experience the same big fish generally stick around their home turf)

The "value" of the stretch might go up and be desirable to aquire for those that have the finance and get the owners ear.

A third thing (and one that has happened a few times. Cemex, Adams Mill etc. ) that the stretch might become an extra premium to those Club anglers that want to fish it.

Graham
 
Hi Graham, having just read the cemex carp and coursefishing magazine this morning I think you're spot on and know exactly what you're thinking..unfortunately

cheers, Simon
 
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