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No passion for angling?

Carl Massey

Carl Massey

Active Member
This morning I couldn’t sleep and was up having my first coffee at 04:15 watching the sun come up and see the world go by in the conservatory. While watching a small house spider carefully weave its web across the corner of the room I was think why do we go fishing. The modern trend seems to be for a strategic, almost militarized approach. Certainly for those carp guys (and I do fish for carp) the point of going fishing seems more of a camping trip, but are we moving that way with some our fishing for barbel.
I like to think that my fishing trips are my means to unwind and get outside away from the hustle and bustle of our busy lives. Yes, I want to catch a fish or two but I also enjoy where I am and feel very fortunate to be there. I’ll take as much pleasure seeing the occasional kingfisher fly by, or maybe land on the rod if you’re very lucky. There’s always the robin who finds a liking to whatever bait I’ve got close by, and who’s not smiled when they take a few maggots or other delicious offerings. The point I’m trying to make here is we go fishing to catch fish, but are we losing our love of being on the riverbank and not embracing the fact of what nature has to offer.
There’s certainly more to fishing than catching fish so are we losing our passion for angling?
 
Carl Massey said:
This morning I couldn’t sleep and was up having my first coffee at 04:15 watching the sun come up and see the world go by in the conservatory. While watching a small house spider carefully weave its web across the corner of the room I was think why do we go fishing. The modern trend seems to be for a strategic, almost militarized approach. Certainly for those carp guys (and I do fish for carp) the point of going fishing seems more of a camping trip, but are we moving that way with some our fishing for barbel.
I like to think that my fishing trips are my means to unwind and get outside away from the hustle and bustle of our busy lives. Yes, I want to catch a fish or two but I also enjoy where I am and feel very fortunate to be there. I’ll take as much pleasure seeing the occasional kingfisher fly by, or maybe land on the rod if you’re very lucky. There’s always the robin who finds a liking to whatever bait I’ve got close by, and who’s not smiled when they take a few maggots or other delicious offerings. The point I’m trying to make here is we go fishing to catch fish, but are we losing our love of being on the riverbank and not embracing the fact of what nature has to offer.
There’s certainly more to fishing than catching fish so are we losing our passion for angling?
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I had a lie in this morning Carl,I was up at 05:15 for my first coffee.Love/hate these light mornings in equal amounts.Love being up and about early,hate the sleep deprivation.I agree with your views on why some people fish,you've certainly covered it for me and I think the majority of anglers on here.
Regarding the "militarized approach" ,I think that the money that can be made being sponsored big tackle,bait companies can make fishing a career choice but to keep being sponsored you have to stay in the public eye with videos,publicity of large fish captured etc.This only used to apply to a handfull of people but now with the advent of u tube"influencers", anyone who fishes can now hope to be picked up by a company through their social media posts.I recently had a go pro camera bought for my birthday by my daughter and my grandaughter is encouraging me to film a trip and she will put it on line for me.I think there is a good chance of hell freezing over before that happens.
 
Think you can do both tbh? I burned myself out back in the early 2000’s in my pursuit of big fish and promised myself it wouldn’t happen again. It’s all about catching of course but i dont nightfish, travel (reasonably) light and still enjoy my surroundings whilst fishing. I also love going in between fishing trips on recce’s just to research & watch which i enjoy almost as much as the fishing (it’s sometimes better! 🤣). This is when you can reconnect with nature, take it all in and learn loads while your doing it!
 
I have read articles and watched videos produced by Fennell Hudson for his Fennel's Priory web page. I realise he can come across as a young foggy with his tatterstall shirts, waistcoats and flat cap but he talk a lot of sense about traditional angling being more a mind set rather than just the use cane rods, vintage centrepins and tweed jackets. He points out the irony of claiming the superiority of traditional tackle whilst using high tech lines and chemically sharpened hooks. We all want to catch but being beside a beautiful river at dawn is all part of the magical experience of fishing.
 
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Michael Brough said:
I have read articles and watched videos produced by Fennell Hudson for his Fennel's Priory web page. I realise he can come across as a young foggy with his tatterstall shirts, waistcoats and flat cap but he talk a lot of sense about traditional angling being more a mind set rather than just the use cane rods, vintage centrepins and tweed jackets. He points out the irony of claiming the superiority of traditional tackle whilst using high tech lines and chemically sharped hooks. We all want to catch but being beside a beautiful river at dawn is all part of the magical experience of fishing.
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There is a good interview with him on The Creel podcast.
 
Fishing means different things to different people. It can even mean different things to an individual at different stages of their angling life. Our aims for our angling can be quite different but perfectly valid nonetheless.

I don't care what others do, or don't do, provided it's within the law and whatever further rules a riparian owner might apply. Not surprisingly, I don't enjoy being in close proximity to some angling, and anglers. I just keep away from them (and certain venues) and let them do their thing.

At this point in time, I'm not interested in just one species of fish and all I do is floatfish. I'm interested in the bird life around me and the aircraft above me. I don't expect everyone else to conform to my likes and ideals. How and where someone else might get their angling kicks is as irrelevant to me as whatever their food preferences, marital status and religion might be.
 
I was going to write a comment that pretty much aligns with exactly what Chris has written above as it hits the nail square on the head.

A passion for angling hasn’t gone anywhere. It’s just everyone has their own versions of what that passion is and quite frankly I say good luck to them however they spend their time on the bank.

Me personally I’m a solid alround specimen hunter with some exceptions.
I don’t get much pleasure from fishing still waters.
I much prefer the last 5 months of the season to the first 4 months.
While I do really enjoy my surroundings and can appreciate all forms of wildlife I am there to catch fish and my success is definitely measured by doing so.

Trotting floats is my no 1 favorite method to catch fish and while I do occasionally throw out a lead, Ideally I want to float fish at every opportunity I can regardless of the species or whether it’s governed as the most productive method at the time or not.

Pike, chub, barbel, grayling make up the bulk of my float caught captures throughout the year and I like to mix things up where possible and swap about regularly between 4-5 different rivers sometimes.
 
I can see a lot of passion from the responses here and hope that the next generation of anglers who take the bank do remember what fishing is all about. People certainly can choose their own method, style and what they get out of fishing is definitely their choice. I just hope the future of fishing isn't built-in mini Go-Pros for fishing reels to capture every moment of your session, which on the press of a button is posted to your online internet page for all to see. We live in hope and we'll not be here to worry about it.
Should someone in 100 years time look back at these Forum postings and say, 'Old farts with their floats and nonsense'. I hope not. Maybe they'll still be trotting a float down the river not knowing what might take a fancy to their bait. Guys, you'll be missing out if you don't. ;)
 
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