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Dave Gladwell writes...Old and New
My Grandson Chris is into fishing and we catch fish using the simplest of methods, but there is no doubt that before long his natural enthusiasm and curiosity will draw him into the gizmo world of gadgets and angling innovations. Some are really good and can up our catch rates but the most effective answer is to keep things simple and avoid the politics of the sport. Setting out the door, full of hope, we all look to catch something. After that divisions begin, and angling splits into sections. Freshwater and Sea, simple enough, but the deviation expands. Trout and Salmon divide us into Coarse and Game, disputing the difference between an angler and a fisherman, let alone Match, Pleasure and Specimen Hunters! Addicts go in all weathers, the more sane stay at home. Traditionalists prefer the flow of natural rivers with all their beauty, others the challenge of a peaceful undisturbed lake, then some anglers seeking guaranteed sport at Commercial fisheries. As "differing creatures" of the human race in pursuit of our finned friends, put them in a pot, add seasonal complications of the weather, plus licensing with legislation, and it is a wonder our beloved Sport survives at all, for there is a constant penchant to confuse ourselves. Quietly loose feeding a pint of hemp and casters is set against magazine articles in which stars and gurus of the day extol virtues of a five-bag-groundbait, baby-head-sized, ball bombardment. £15 a time for starters eh? At a down the road Commercial fishery, bread is banned because the local Yokel opted to throw in ten loaves, clearly confused with the biblical feeding of the five thousand. Paste even the size of a pea, and pellets are off the list, but a piece of potato shaped and stained to look like one permitted. Confusing stuff for young anglers? We do not help ourselves in consistently resisting the physical impact of barbed hooks - even when we get them stuck in our own clothing and flesh! So, eventually are they likely to be outlawed in the same way as lead shot has been? Objections to livebaiting could be reduced if impaling the luckless bait-fish on a set of trebles, piercing the living flesh, was disposed of. Could a reasonable solution be for the Environment Agency to legislate a live bait shall only be attached with a band? We do it with pellets successfully enough. Perchance the attitude and opinions of a small minority could turn out to be another liability to angling? Our Tackle Trade holds us constant captives to their whims of change, forever seeking to complicate the basic fundamentals too. There was a time when everyone knew how big a size sixteen hook was. Now we have a vast difference between a Mustad method feeder hook and a Preston Barbless, alongside a Kamasan. Mind you the Drennan Crystal floats, illustrated below, are a fine innovation looking like a bubble on the surface from under the water. Then a pole cup for dribbling in small amounts of bait is a great idea too and can be fitted to a rod. That Nicky Larkin Nisa pole feeder for rivers on flooded days is magic. Mind you the size of rod hold-alls beggars belief and almost requires a body-building course to carry one. At the bottom right is one from a set of meat punches, which produce a smashing little pellet shaped piece of meat and a real handy weapon.
Pellets are a great bait and the directions on the bag for Expander Pellets, once followed, gives an amazingly effective bait. Studying the new "High Tech lines we can easily become confused but the Reflo Power above has a little stretch and is a great hook length as well as a pole rig line. Power Gum adds the properties of a shock absorber for feeder and carp fishing, and are another beneficial part of angling developments. So where will we be best off this year to really enjoy ourselves with all this gear? "In a Club" without a doubt is a good answer! The Bungay Cherry Tree has the best tidal River stretches around and Harleston, Wortwell and district the best pits at Weybread which match any Commercial fishery going in East Anglia. Both have active Junior Sections and are great avenues to angling expertise. Above all though we must respect our catches. Handling and returning them with care. Leaving no litter and respecting the environment - so it is another happy year that looks to be under way. Dave Gladwell www.bungay-suffolk.co.uk
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