More questions than really necessary??

[Paul Thomas]

Good morning all,

Can I start by saying that this thread is in no way a "dig" at anybody who posts on BFW....more a refelction on whether the Internet has possibly dulled the pioneering spirit that I so fondly remember from early Carp fishing days. Back in the early 80's there was a lot more secrecy around fishing success and for me that was frustrating as I struggled along trying to emulate the "names" and failing in spectacular fashion !! But this only made me try harder and work at my fishing until I found/discovered something that helped put a fish on the bank....an ethos that remains with me today.

It seems that almost every time that I log onto BFW there is yet another question titled: "Which (insert almost any item of tackle) ??"

I have had a very quick read through the first 6 pages and found that there are people asking:

Which rod for droppering?
Which brolly?
Which line?
Which small river rod?
which pair of roving boots?
Which hook?
Which portable radio?
Which centrepin (x2)?
Which chest wader?
Which chair?
Which hayfever relief?
Which isotope adaptor?
Which hooklength in clear conditions?
Which hooklength strength?
Which rod?
Which gravel coloured braid?
Which suntan cream?
Which boilie?

Now, whilst I'm not adverse to asking advise from people with more knowledge, I'm fairly sure that most, if not all of the above Internet questions could have been answered by an informed local tackle shop owner or could have been sorted out "in the field" actually fishing and trying things out to see if they work or not....?

Maybe there could be a "What's good and what's not" section on the site for all these questions to live so that anybody who actually tries something out and finds it works for them - or perhaps more importantly doesn't, can put up a recomendation or a beware post?

I re-iterrate that this is not intended as a criticism at all, just an observation on how drastically things seem to have changed in the modern era with apparently more "Instant anglers - Just add water"


Paul

 

[Stuart Bradley]

Is it not part of the "comeraderie" to ask fellow anglers questions on a forum such as BFW? After all if people do not wish to add their replies, they don't have to...
Not everyone has access to a tackle shop during the working week, and answers on the forum are not restricted to whatever products the shop may be selling, or wishing to promote at that time.
The depth of experience and experiences of the forum members far outweigh that of a single tackle shop owner .
Personally, whenever I have posted a question , I have really enjoyed the anticipation of getting answers to my questions ...and let's face it, you don't have to take anyone's advice at the end of the day !!!
No matter what advice I have been given, I still tend to bumble my way through things with a sort of half ar$ed trial and error attitude!!!Happy days!!!!!

 

[Chris Jones]

Now, whilst I'm not adverse to asking advise from people with more knowledge, I'm fairly sure that most, if not all of the above Internet questions could have been answered by an informed local tackle shop owner or could have been sorted out "in the field" actually fishing and trying things out to see if they work or not....?

That depends greatly upon you actually having an informed or local tackle shop, many don't. Even when you do it's rare for them to stock every single item of gear that you might be interested. If I'm not at home there isn't what I consider to be a decent tackle shop within 30-40 miles of me. Even when I am at home the tackle shops I frequent just don't have all the stuff I'd like to see. They certainly won't order in just for me to have a look!

Sorting through stuff "in the field" is fair enough but who in their right mind is prepared to waste cash on stuff that many may already know to be all but useless? That doesn't necessarily make the person asking the question an "instant angler". In fact, if you look at some of the questions you've picked up on, there seems to be some very experienced anglers asking questions. If all it takes to find out is a simple question on a forum then where's the harm?

I tend to agree that a separate section may be appropriate though. Rather than a "what's good and what's not" section, we all have different ideas on that, a simple "tackle talk" section would be my preference. It would also be good if more folk put reviews forward. The amount and variety of gear that the combined membership of the forum must have will be incredible. Sadly, only a tiny fraction gets reviewed.

 

[Colin Gordon]

Paul, I'll start by saying didn't Beany get banned for posing same said question,







Oh no he asked it using about twenty threads.


Couple of points here; there is always the option of not contributing an answer and just simply ignoring the question posed.
Or
maybe the world of internet angling forums is a reflection of todays society and the I want it now culture, be it info, results, whatever and can this be changed,,,,,,,, errrr, I very much doubt.
Or
perhaps its about anglers doing what anglers have always done when not actually fishing, that being, talking about fishing.
But
where ever the problem is stemming from, I fully understand where you're coming from regards the constant flow of basically insipid threads.
Like I have said before; what is there new to talk about in angling, really, politics or odd new fangled gizmos, hence continually treading over the same old ground.
This is IMO definitely the main reason for most angling forums experiencing waning membership numbers, well at least numbers of active posters.
Cos when all said and done reality fishing chat ain't the same as bumping into a fellow angler on the bank, or in a pub.

Always a plus should be found from a negative, it gives certain people plenty fodder material to be getting on with.







Last night I stood on my seemingly unbreakable landing net handle, yes you've guessed, it snapped.....
Any ideas on a replacement??????

 

[Colin Gordon]

I tend to agree that a separate section may be appropriate though. Rather than a "what's good and what's not" section, we all have different ideas on that, a simple "tackle talk" section would be my preference. It would also be good if more folk put reviews forward. The amount and variety of gear that the combined membership of the forum must have will be incredible. Sadly, only a tiny fraction gets reviewed.

Chris, Chris, Chris (big sigh) will you never learn...... If its a rod, it has to have a Harrison blank, if its a reel ideally it should be one of those hampster wheel contraptions or if you have to buck the purist trend, a Shimamo is vaguely acceptable......

Pay attention, bl**dy pay attention!

 

[Chris Jones]

Chris, Chris, Chris (big sigh) will you never learn...... If its a rod, it has to have a Harrison blank, if its a reel ideally it should be one of those hampster wheel contraptions or if you have to buck the purist trend, a Shimamo is vaguely acceptable......

Pay attention, bl**dy pay attention!

Forgive me, I've recently joined the Harrison fraternity, lovely it is too, but not strictly speaking a barbel rod. My pockets aren't quite deep enough to go the whole hog and replace every non-Harrison rod I have. Give me twenty years, if I manage to get a decent job in a couple of years, and I may try. I've always been a Shimano reel devotee, tempted by the hamster wheel malarky but with grave reservations. I can see it being a costly world of hurt for me.

 

[Colin Bridger]

Paul,
Can't agree with you, because most of the threads on here asking questions such as what rod, hook, line, or sinker will have many replies and all of them will give different advice. This will lead to confusion, and anyway most have all been answered in angling magasines. I can't see why the internet forums will affect the pioneering spirit as you can still detect a certain amount of secrecy in some posts regarding bait, and venues etc.(you get very few posts about the dorset stour).
I would suggest that forums like this actually stimulate initiative, and pioneering, and are not just a short cut to success.
All the best
Colin

 

[Paul Hayes]

Local tackle shops certainly those near me stock very little little gear for the river angler and have little or virtually no interest in them whatsoever. O.K. if your a carp or match angler, lot's of stuff. But river anglers may as well wee into the wind.

Paul

 

[Steve Holt]

I think some folk just love to post

What's the term now..love the sound of their own voice, or should that be love the sound of their own keyboard

 

[Simon Haggis]

Hmm, more questions than really necessary eh??

Good question.

 

[Paul Thomas]

Well, I'm happy that I've started a discussion that has provoked some thought....but somewhat saddened that it appears that a fair proportion of the tackle shops around and about seemingly aren't run by folks who can dispense advice over a wide range of angling skills. My local tackle shop is match fishing oriented but I have had many a good discussion with the owner about specimen fishing tackle and tactics - maybe I'm just lucky or maybe the other owners simply haven't been engaged in conversation??

I still buy most of my terminal tackle from this shop as it's local and if there is something that I specifically require, it can usually be obtained but if not I'm willing to travel further afield to speak to other tackle shops in order to find out for myself....

"Some folks just love to post" and "love the sound of their own voice, or should that be love the sound of their own keyboard" would seem to suggest that my thread has upset some folks somehow and I'm not sure why it should do. As I said from the outset, this is not intended as a dig at anybody - more a discussion point as to whether the Internet has dulled the pioneering spirit of yesteryear??

Yet another question !! - your answer made me chuckle Mr Haggis as I'd never thought of it that way

Paul

 

[Mark de Lancey]

I guess we should just shut the site down now then!

I learnt 50% of what i know now through advice/help and tips from the kind folk on this site. Reading up and learning from literature is just as important as "being out there" in my opinion.

 

[Steve M Brown]

Paul Hayes - if the Broughton Astley you live in is the one in Leicestershire I suggest you visit Roger Cramers tackle shop "Gone Fishing" in Hinckley its less than 5miles from where you live!

Roger is an active member of BFW and i'm sure he won't mind me saying is a barbel nut.....

 

[Ian Crook]

I think one point with all the tackle questions is that where people share good and bad experiences with the miriads of stuff available these days it helps people toi buy the best/most suitable gear.

That is if the posts are helpful, the problem is so many people will post xxxx is absolutely brilliant and they have only owned it 5 minutes, the following year they are writing about how bad that product turned out to be...........

 

[Darryl Davis]

I think I am going to agree with Ian Crook on this. Yes there are lot of them at times and possibly a Tackle and Bait Sub-Forum might be good idea. However apart from the instantaneous "I bought Product X used it once - it is brilliant", you tend to get a feel for what is reliable over time (and what is not) . The mags rarely do a negative review. And there are those posts that give insights into how products are used or modified to suit specfic angling situations.

 

[John Walker]

Paul Thomas, if i was going to spend say £4 or 5 hundred quid on a couple of rods and maybe reels i would try to get as much info and feedback on my selections as possible before parting with hard earned cash, comeradie is part of the reason guys post their opinions on gear, come on tell me how many anglers, especially specialist anglers dont take pride in owning good gear thats up to the task? ask the tackleshop bloke, most will eye you up figure out what price range and go for the dearest he figures you,ll stand, how the stuff stands up to task in hand hardly comes into it, answer come on bfw and ask opinions yes to guys who have been on here a few years it may seem repetitious as they probably have their chosen gear, remember the newer guys who aint, most of us ended up with their feet in the air when learning to roller skate until someone showed us the way.
present day BFW is certainly a lot friendlier than some members were a few years back,
mind you every time i look at the boards i do see a few posts along a somewhat far but similar tract. if someone gets banned for breaking his agreement to keep to the rules then as far as i am concerned its his fault, no more to say on the last comment,
yes some of us post more than others, maybe its because we have fished alone for lots of years and enjoy the chance of communicating with others
who enjoy our branch of angling.

 

[David Hall]

if someone posts a thread and you don't like it, don't reply!
simple!!!!!!

 

[Chris Jones]

Well, I'm happy that I've started a discussion that has provoked some thought....but somewhat saddened that it appears that a fair proportion of the tackle shops around and about seemingly aren't run by folks who can dispense advice over a wide range of angling skills. My local tackle shop is match fishing oriented but I have had many a good discussion with the owner about specimen fishing tackle and tactics - maybe I'm just lucky or maybe the other owners simply haven't been engaged in conversation??
I still buy most of my terminal tackle from this shop as it's local and if there is something that I specifically require, it can usually be obtained but if not I'm willing to travel further afield to speak to other tackle shops in order to find out for myself....

My regular home tackle shop is fine. The owner is a fairly regular fishing buddy of mine that I've known for over twenty years. Despite his match background, he knows the score with other disciplines. However, he knows his customer base and stocks accordingly. He'll happily acknowledge that I tend to buy stuff (rods, reels and other major items) that he simply couldn't afford to keep in stock and would struggle to sell unless I, or a tiny handful of other regular customers, bought it. Many of the items I'd like to see in the flesh before buying he simply doesn't stock and I don't expect him to. He'll get whatever I want, though not just for a look. He's ended up stocking a few bits and bobs that I've asked for after seeing the merits of that particular item. Most recently this has happened with the Drennan Super Specialist net handle. Normally, he'd not contemplate stocking such an expensive net handle

Around my other (work)place of residence I think the local tackle shops are pretty poor, owners that aren't even anglers in some cases.:confused:
Any advice on local waters that they dispense is based purely on what customers are telling them. In a similar vein to my local, they appear to have a similar market for cheap stuff that I'm not particularly interested in. As I am looking to buy a few small items that very few places seem to stock I suspect that I'll be driving 40-50 miles this weekend, safe in the knowledge that I'll end up spending a wedge on stuff I don't really need. Ohhhhh shiny!

 

[Vincent Coulson]

I must admit that in the past I have asked such questions on here. Now I dont pretend to be an expert at this barbel fishing. In fact its my first real season after them. I have been fishing for getting on 20 years now. I think sometimes, certainly in the questions I have asked, that you're not looking for specific answers. Just a rough ball park idea of what more experienced people use or whatever.

Its at this point, certainly from my point of view, that once you have two or three suggestion that you feel comfortable with or whatever, that you can mould them and shape them to suit you. Essentially this is when you put the effort in on the bank that someone mentioned. Those seemingly non descript question I think are invaluable and save time and in some cases money.

Anyway thats how I feel. Unless I havent got the feel of the thread!

 

[Paul Hayes]

Paul Hayes - if the Broughton Astley you live in is the one in Leicestershire I suggest you visit Roger Cramers tackle shop "Gone Fishing" in Hinckley its less than 5miles from where you live!

Roger is an active member of BFW and i'm sure he won't mind me saying is a barbel nut.....

Hi Steve, I do visit Roger occassionally he's one of the very few where I can get exactly what I need. I tend to stock up with the essentials like feeders etc. from Roger. He's never there though it's always Bronc.
Are you the Steve Brown who used to fish occassionally with Dave Colkin?