Barbel Handling: What's Acceptable?

[Alex Gowney]

The BS probably don't mean to preach but I understand what Chris is saying. I think a lot of it's down to how, as a nation, we are preached at in every single aspect of our daily lives now. Either by "do gooders" or, more often, by officialdom and bureacracray. There is a world of difference between being told what piece of rubbish goes in what bin, what we can and can't eat and how to care for landed fish but it does seem we are bombarded by regulations or "advice" in every single aspect of our daily lives. Eventually it all becomes infuriating irrespective of it's value.

 

[Chris Jones]

The 'Barbel Police', preaching?
I don't know about that being the case here. If however, you feel happy enough in the knowledge that you are doing what you can to ensure the safe return of those fish you catch, then so be it.
The Barbel Society's well thought of handling code is what was devised to offer those new to the sport a way of feeling certain about what they are doing - it is a best practice guide, a recommendation of what to do in the event of catching a barbel - nothing else.
Any association with that and preaching or the 'Barbel Police' is purely of your own making.

Damian,
the most interesting thing there is the presumption that by barbel police I actually meant Barbel Society. As it happens, I didn't. As it stands, I've never been a member of the Barbel Society, never knowingly met a member of the Barbel Society and am pretty well indifferent to it, certainly no axe to grind. Any association is of your own making, not mine. However, I'm slowly but surely seeing why there is such antagonism, it seems that the Society and some of its members are rather touchy and have a bit of a siege mentality that borders on paranoia. Please try to avoid the presumption that you've got another Barbel Society hater on your hands. Treating me as such may just ensure that that's what you'll get. When I said barbel police I meant anyone that was a self appointed paragon of virtue. Those that feel qualified (and compelled) to tell another that "You don't want to do it like that, you want to do it like this". Individuals certainly qualify for that, it doesn't need to be an organization.
As I said in my initial, and pretty well tongue in cheek post, the way some go on, it's a minor miracle that they are prepared to stick a dirty great hook in the gob of a fish in the first place.

 

[Graham Elliott]

I did say "unfortunately" Damian.

Certainly the published BS Handling procedures have no doubt in the past saved a lot of barbel.

Graham

 

[Damian Kimmins]

Damian,
the most interesting thing there is the presumption that by barbel police I actually meant Barbel Society. As it happens, I didn't. As it stands, I've never been a member of the Barbel Society, never knowingly met a member of the Barbel Society and am pretty well indifferent to it, certainly no axe to grind. Any association is of your own making, not mine. However, I'm slowly but surely seeing why there is such antagonism, it seems that the Society and some of its members are rather touchy and have a bit of a siege mentality that borders on paranoia. Please try to avoid the presumption that you've got another Barbel Society hater on your hands. Treating me as such may just ensure that that's what you'll get. When I said barbel police I meant anyone that was a self appointed paragon of virtue. Those that feel qualified (and compelled) to tell another that "You don't want to do it like that, you want to do it like this". Individuals certainly qualify for that, it doesn't need to be an organization.
As I said in my initial, and pretty well tongue in cheek post, the way some go on, it's a minor miracle that they are prepared to stick a dirty great hook in the gob of a fish in the first place.

I am sorry Chris. There is a certain conditioning that takes place having read these boards for so long, that has one jumping to conclusions.
No touchiness on my part I can assure you. Nor on that of the Society I believe.


Regards

Damian

 

[Chris Jones]

I am sorry Chris. There is a certain conditioning that takes place having read these boards for so long, that has one jumping to conclusions.
No touchiness on my part I can assure you. Nor on that of the Society I believe.


Regards

Damian

Damian,
that's ok bud. If it makes you feel any better, I'm quite content that the Barbel Society guidelines on handling are pretty damned good, providing that no one tries to pretend that they are law.