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Why oh why, the usual suspects

Thank you Keith for an excellent piece of informative writing, the 'balance' of the tackle lies with the ability of the angler.
 
By the time i came accross the marvellous 17lber the thread had been spoiled by people with psychological problems.

Congratulations, Keith, on your captures and for that excellent post about balanced tackle. Inspiring stuff.
 
Cheers Keith. The article was just what we needed and the photo's of the fish, particularly the second shot, are stunning. I fear the problem for most anglers is that they don't catch enough fish to practice playing them properly and as such, use heavy tackle to ensure those they do hook are landed.
 
Tongue in Cheek...........

I really hope those who chose to post some quite inadequate comments on the 'Congratulations' thread have read, digested and further consider Keith's (and latterly Pons) wise words, above.

Here you have the essence of how and why some anglers can achieve what most cannot, through tried and rigorously tested tactics throughout their angling experiences, whilst learning and putting into practice metods and procedures recommended and demonstrated to them by others.

Keith's dissertation deserves wide promotion and understanding, it's so informative and thought provoking....... just apart from the quote in the last paragraph.. "I would not like to have to hold my breath for any length of time having just run a 100yds and I don’t expect the fish I am lucky enough to catch to do that either" ....................... where the bold/italic word should read "fortunate", for 'fortune' is the bedfellow of parctice-makes-perfect'.

If you look really hard enough, you can just see Keith's slight bulge in the left cheek in the lower photohraph, put there whilst he possibly considered what he would say to us all in his revealing post,

Keep 'em coming, Keith, the barbel & the words of wisdom,

Mike
 
Well said Mike, couldn't agree more. It just really winds me up when people seek to trash a congratulations thread, and have the cheek to suggest it's gone far enough. Thankfully the overwhelming majority have spoken.

Thanks for sharing the capture with us Keith, a stunning fish at any time of the year, made more so now, and by your methods.... Brilliant.

Ian.
 
Must admit thats what annoyed me also people saying it had gone too far congratulating Keith..Keiths obviously very good at what he does espeially at this time of year and the methods used..Fantastic!!!:)
 
Keith,

Although I've already said "WOW" earlier in this thread....Can I just say "WOW" again?:eek:

All those who've caught a 13+ Barbel on float tackle, form a queue...





...anyone??


Paul
 
Some spot on posts above and ones which present very well my opinions on balanced tackle. Anyone who has trotted for Roach and Dace on the stick will know that the rogue Chub who invade the party can generally be subdued on lines as light as 1.1lb/1.7lb Bayer or similar. I have had Chub to 5lbs on 1lb bottoms when Roach fishing and have rarely lost fish to snapped hooklinks. With a good float rod and a good 'Touch' you can soon get the hang of things. The problem today is that most anglers have never used a float rod or been 'Brought up' on traditional tactics ! This is not their fault, or a criticism, just a sad fact of modern 'Instant Angling'
How many of todays 'Modern Barbel Anglers' have known the delight of catching bags of small fish as a child ? How many can remember using 6lb Maxima and a John Wilson Avon Rod for their Barbel fishing and not really losing that many ? Very few I'd wager !
So lets appaud a great angling feat(s) from Keith and a brilliantly articulate written piece on the subject ! I've never studied the ananlogy behind it all like that, just know that it is possible given the correct circumstances and conditions !
No one here is suggesting using 4lb line in 'Snag Pits' for double figure fish......

Regards Paul M.
 
Fabulous fishing Keith and so interesting to read your thoughts and overall approach. It makes complete sense.

Every one of the slight digs and knocks I have read on here (much to my dismay I might add) about 'too much praise' or 'too light tackle' - all of it smacks of sour grapes. Some folk really do have exceptionally fragile egos and a meanness of spirit I find hard to comprehend.

Well done again to you though, I am enthused to read about your exploits on the float and long may your great form continue. Inspirational stuff.

All the best
 
Agree with Chris Ponsford. Over the 50 odd years I've been fishing there are a great many instances where using 'strong' tackle has ment a blank. By reducing line strengths and hook sizes the presentation has been so much better and fish caught. The difference between 4lb. and 3lb line or 16 to 18 hook can, at times, be that subtle. Even using lines down to 2lbs in a snag free winter venue should not mean excessive playing times if the angler has 'cool hands'.
I've just timed a piece of video that a mutual friend of ours took of me hooking a chub of 7lbs.10ozs from a flooded water last season. Line was 2lbs Trilene XL hook Drennan Super Specialist 18, Rod Graham Phillips 1.4 Barbel Quiver, time to land 1minute 45 seconds. I doubt I could land it in less time with 6lb.
Over the years Keith and I have had hundreds of barbel from the Thames nearly every fish has been on 6lb line mind you we are not daft enought to use lightweight tackle to extricate good fish from snaggy areas. Its all down to experience.

Mike
 
Graham Hunt said:
By the time i came accross the marvellous 17lber the thread had been spoiled by people with psychological problems.

Congratulations, Keith, on your captures and for that excellent post about balanced tackle. Inspiring stuff.
Click to expand...

Yes, I couldn't agree more, fishing is a simple pursuit and the moment we take ourselves too seriously and accuse others that don't always concour with another as having 'psychological' problems is then perhaps we need to have a look at ourselves.

It's still only fishing.
 
A very sound BFW member from somewhere in the far-off North wrote to me in a PM in the white heat of Internut nonsense the other day


The Church of Boote - sounds interesting.

River worship, hot eastern european girls in camo bikinis, tight shorts...

Where do I join?

X


getting this reply

You have already joined, X. Free, too, to fully paid-up human beings with a sense of fun. Lovely, ain't it?

Best,

Paul


and me a solitary "Amen!" back from him.

Which led me to conclude that there are sane and sentient lifeforms out there.
 
Church of Boote..... yeah right :eek: we have another name for establishments like yours where i come from, and if i wanted to catch crabs as small as that, i'd go to Kimmeridge Bay with a handline and a bag of prawns.

fully paid-up human beings with a sense of fun. Lovely, ain't it?

So where is this heavenly place then ?? come on, come on, ... see you can't tell us can you.... Just dreaming again Paul :D
 
David Parker said:
Fabulous fishing Keith and so interesting to read your thoughts and overall approach. It makes complete sense.

Every one of the slight digs and knocks I have read on here (much to my dismay I might add) about 'too much praise' or 'too light tackle' - all of it smacks of sour grapes. Some folk really do have exceptionally fragile egos and a meanness of spirit I find hard to comprehend.

Well done again to you though, I am enthused to read about your exploits on the float and long may your great form continue. Inspirational stuff.

All the best
Click to expand...


David,

I can only answer for my own comments (which were on tackle, not praise), but I happen to think (as I said in the post) that the question of tackle was an entirely appropriate and relevant one to be aired.

In response it has brought forth a reasoned and empirical explanation by Keith (and Mike Wilson) which has put the answer to the question.

In regards Mike W's post no.32 I think the point is made. Experience will dictate which type of tackle is required for any particular swim. Of course, it's the years spent getting that experience which make the difference. Keith is currently fishing a clear, straight, snag-free stretch which he knows well.

I think it belittles the integrity of other users to say that you cannot raise a question (or that such is "sour grapes").
In so doing, it does not always follow that the question is critical when it may be merely of an enquiring nature. In this case it has brought forth something worthwhile for all of us.

I can say that I now bow my head to Keith and Mike's experience (and thank them for sharing) and am pleased to have learned something, that I now have the opportunity to put into practice, should I so desire.

Fair enough? :)
 
I think it depends on how the question is asked. Often they are not really questions more accusations and criticisms. I'm certain that a well worded question would receive a sensible and constructive response, which is how it should be. I guess that's how we all learn things.
 
Nathan Walter said:
I think it depends on how the question is asked. Often they are not really questions more accusations and criticisms. I'm certain that a well worded question would receive a sensible and constructive response, which is how it should be. I guess that's how we all learn things.
Click to expand...

To a certain extent I agree with that, however some people are just bloody-minded, cynical and can't see the good in anything. What I mean is that everyone will interpret things differently. I guess it's the nature of public forums, they just reflect society, and its spectrum of attitutes.

For myself, I've thoroughly enjoyed hearing of Keith's and Mike's exploits and I hope I've learned from them.
 
It is also a fact that some folk will ALWAYS disagree with popular views, just for the sake of it. In all the forums I have ever been on, you can soon pick out the guys who LOVE playing devils advocate, who habitually take the opposite stance to whatever is the common consensus on any subject, even if they actually have no strong views either way :confused:

It would seem that some people gain a feeling or sense of importance by being the centre of a controversy, and so seek ways of interrupting flows of general agreement by inserting opposing views, and frequently sarcastic comments, into otherwise happy threads.

We are all guilty at times of making silly comments, or of saying things intended as part of the general banter, but which come out horribly wrong....or of reacting too strongly to others comments (sorry:eek:).....but I am talking about the types who are continually sniping away, constantly making things miserable for others.

My new years resolution is to try NOT to react to these guys....do the 'Three Monkeys' bit :D:D:D.

Cheers, Dave.
 
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