New Barbel society video

[Paul Boyle]

Have I got the wrong end of the stick or did somebody actually think the Deer was a Hare? Oh deery me...

On a lighter note, brilliant little vid. All this moaning about taking barbel out of the water being a terrible thing, if you'd do it to a fish you thought might be a double then why not do it to a smaller fish? As long as the fish is rested and looked after properly then I can't see a problem, if you care about the fish that much and thought they were that precious then don't stick lumps of metal in their mouths in the first place....

This post is in no way aimed at anyone in particular by the way, but it seems to me that lots of Barbel anglers these days take it all a bit too seriously and enjoy taking a 'holier than thou' attitude, which is partly why I don't really bother with this forum any more, which is a shame. Remember people, it's just a fish.

Well said Nick.

 

[Ash Gould]

Shock Horror!

Members of Single Species Fishing Website hold said Single Species in reverence!

The shock, Im going to have to go and queue up for some petrol just to feel normal again.

Only joking, I do find all this nit-picking over how to make sure a fish goes back safe a bit tedious. Especially the un-hooking mat police.

Pictures/no pictures, in the water/out the water, Un-hooking mat/No un-hooking mat: As long as the fish goes back strong and undamaged then fine. You should seek guidance until you know yourself how to handle fish on the bank and then its just a matter of using your common sense after that.

Barbel are my favourite species though without doubt, I think its the releasing process that has established that for me. How many other species of fish do you sit there for at least 5 mintues nursing it in the water? Thats the magic and when they slip away it makes you want to catch another.

 

[Mark Anderson]

Hi men,

Agreed Ash , I carry a unhooking mat , but have sometimes laid the fish on soft stuff in the swim , they are good , but not the be all and end all of fish welfare . Resting when you get them in the net , rest them until they are strong enough to pull you in when letting them go is the most important . Unhooking mats are borrowed from carp fishing ( or pond pigs ) as some of the nitwits on here call them , I use them , but they survived ok before carp stuff become more readily available .

Hatter

 

[Rhys Perry]

if you care about the fish that much and thought they were that precious then don't stick lumps of metal in their mouths in the first place....

Spot on, smells slightly of double standards this fish welfare stuff, its getting almost as bad as our own health and safety nonsense!
As Mark says, caught fish survived perfectly well before the use of unhooking mats, which are a relatively new thing in barbel fishing. I don't always use mine if the bank is soft enough, or the stones ain't that sharp.
I wonder how many of the barbel police, after getting to the river and realising they've forgot their unhooking mat, would get back in the car and drive home to get it!?

 

[Pete Marshall]

They are good for sitting on......and a lot lighter than a chair.

 

[David Gauntlett]

They are good for sitting on......and a lot lighter than a chair.

I need a back rest these days Pete, but for younger anglers, I agree entirely.

Cheers, Dave.

 

[Nick Franklin]

They are good for sitting on......and a lot lighter than a chair.

Absolutely. These days I sit on my unhooking mat and unhook my fish on my chair

 

[Jim Foxall]

Have I got the wrong end of the stick or did somebody actually think the Deer was a Hare? Oh deery me...

On a lighter note, brilliant little vid. All this moaning about taking barbel out of the water being a terrible thing, if you'd do it to a fish you thought might be a double then why not do it to a smaller fish? As long as the fish is rested and looked after properly then I can't see a problem, if you care about the fish that much and thought they were that precious then don't stick lumps of metal in their mouths in the first place....

This post is in no way aimed at anyone in particular by the way, but it seems to me that lots of Barbel anglers these days take it all a bit too seriously and enjoy taking a 'holier than thou' attitude, which is partly why I don't really bother with this forum any more, which is a shame. Remember people, it's just a fish.

I have to agree that sticking a hook in a fish's mouth and then playing with it doesn't make me feel proud. However, my enjoyment of outwitting my quarry has a fascination and being by the river bank is very attractive. The latter statement outweighs the first sentence. Similarly, slaughtering animals for packs of supermarket meat is not very attractive, but I still eat meat. Hunting, and I include fishing, is a rudimentary instinct. Most of us claim to be civilised, so we try and cause the least amount of distress and suffering to animals. I suspect that, where necessary, we would agree on killing animals as humanely as possible - probably why most of us are opposed to Halal & Kosher means of ritualistic killing of animals. In terms of handling barbel, if we are to catch them, show them the respect that a noble quarry deserves and try and limit their distress as much as possible. These are my views, I don't claim to be Holier than thou, but I do have a conscience.

 

[Graham Elliott]

Good post Jim. Echoes my thoughts.

 

[Nick Tuckey]

The deer is a Roe buck...................................

 

[Neil Smart]

Yes Jim a good reply, much the same as I feel.