I have been away for a short fishing break and come back to find that I have caused much controversy, I did not intend this at all, but it seems that I have a knack for causing it!
I have read all the posts and I am truly sorry to have caused so much grief, I was never keen to publicise my catches in the papers, but was convinced that it was the thing to do, perhaps I should have realised that such publicity is a double edged sword, the first edge dulls quickly whereas the other side remains sharp forever!
I suspect that most, if not all, of the posters on this thread have so much in common that had they met before this kicked off, they would “get on†fairly well, after all, aside from:- health, wealth and family we ALL have very similar interests and pursuits, we may do it differently, but the end game is the same for all.
Much has been said about the pro’s and con’s of fishing the float but I can state that given the conditions on the river that I have fished, the tackle and tactics that I have used mean that I have been fortunate enough to get a few fish, not all the time (I blank like everyone else) but this winter has been a particularly good one for me, using a method that I have used for years, it is not the “be all and end all†of tactics and I certainly would not use it every where and at the end of the day surely it is a matter of the anglers own choice, after all we all like to do what we like to do!
In the summer when there is more weed I might still fish the float, but I would use tackle appropriate to the swim, I probably would not use 20-30lb braid as I have seen some use as I don’t think it appropriate, but I have often used 10lb hook length or heavier in swims that I feel need such lines and of course I use rods that match the line strength when necessary, as I have stated on other threads, balanced tackle is the key, I would not consider using tackle as light as I have used of late in a swim where I could not be sure of landing the fish in a safe and responsible way.
As for fish handling once caught, that almost never changes, the fish stays in the landing net for a considerable length of time having never left the water, I could not hold my breath for any amount of time having run a hundred yards and I would not expect the fish to, if that means they are a bit lively for weighing and photo’s then that is something I put up with, time is irrelevant once I have caught a Barbel, the fish gets as much as is needed for the safety of the fish, my dad taught me that 40 years ago, it was one of many “life lessons†that he gave me and I am too old a dog to change now!
Another was “gentlemanly conduct†if I arrive to find an angler either up or downstream of the swim I want to fish I nearly always approach them and ask if it is all right to fish in the swim I have chosen and I would never “trot past†a downstream angler, for me this is unacceptable in every way.
The angler on the day Simon speaks of may or may not have trotted past his friend, he did not while I stood and watched him but I was only there for a moment or so when I went for a short walk to ease my back (it starts to ache when I sit and trot for long periods), I did think his float was too light for his chosen swim, I did not mention this as I do not give advice un-bidden (another lesson from the old man).
When trotting you often need a substantial amount of water, I don’t like being restricted and I would not intentionally restrict others either!
As a last point I was quite amused by the comment about sponsorship, I have been sponsored in the past, unless things have changed a very great deal, it is very similar to “publicity†except for the fact that the “double edged sword†is accompanied by a dagger that can be thrust in just below the ribs and I would not be tempted unless accompanied by a casket full of green drinking vouchers and a bevy of dancing girls!!
Tight Lines.
, with nothing caught when we left . 
