Hello! I am new to fishing, and I’m trying to get my head around the different UK disciplines. Some help would be much appreciated, and please correct me if I am wrong in my assumptions.
I understand that fly fishing is very complex, and can only really be done in certain areas of the UK- namely the Scottish highlands and certain parts of the South (Dorset, Hampshire etc). I believe it is the ‘king’ of fishing sports- very regal, expensive and traditionally only enjoyed by the upper classes.
Coarse river fishing is your everyman angling.
Coarse lake fishing involves big, stupid carp that only survive because they are fed by the anglers, get caught at least once a day, and just swim aimlessly around. It’s very easy to catch fish in a lake and is a sport for the ‘common’ man.
Sea fishing is a bit ‘rough around the edges’, and is much more a game of chance than fly- or- coarse fishing. Lots of big kit and not much physical skill needed, only an obsession with casting as far as possible.
This information is only my own conclusions from the magazines I have read. I am eager to get in to fishing and want to try all the different types, however at the moment I only have basic sea fishing gear and have been to the beach twice, as I live on the coast.
Please comment, and put me right if need be. Thanks.
Fishing is about having fun and hopefully catching some dinner or just taking pics and releasing. All that crap is hogwash !! Don’t fall in to the stereotyping. If you like, do it, no matter what you are fishing for or whatever methods you use. I do understand about the fly fisherman. They think they are all that and seem to be purists. I’m a purist in a sense also. I go out and catch my own bait and use what’s natural to the water system. How more purist is that and how can they be purists if they use stuff that is FAKE, ROFL.
By john k on Jul 31, 2009 | Reply
The species of fish pursued by anglers vary with geography. Among the many species of salt water fish that are caught for sport are swordfish, marlin, tuna, salmon and halibut. In North America, the most popular fresh water sport species include bass, pike, walleye, muskellunge, yellow perch, trout, salmon, catfish, crappie, bluegill and sunfish. In Europe, a large number of anglers fish for species such as carp, pike, tench, rudd, roach, European perch and barbel (especially in stillwaters). Although some fish are sought for their value as food, others are pursued for their fighting abilities or for the difficulty of pursuit.
[edit] Hooks
A fish hook.The use of the hook in angling is descended, historically, from what would today be called a "gorge." The word "gorge", in this context, comes from an archaic word meaning "throat." Gorges were used by ancient peoples to capture fish. A gorge was a long, thin piece of bone or stone attached by its midpoint to a thin line. The gorge would be fixed with a bait so that it would rest parallel to the lay of the line. When a fish would swallow the bait, a tug on the line would cause the gorge to orient itself at right angles to the line, thereby sticking in the fish’s gullet.
[edit] Baits
Which of the various techniques an angler may choose is dictated mainly by the target species and by its habitat. Angling can be separated into two main categories: using either artificial or natural baits.
Green Highlander, an artificial fly used for salmon fishing.
[edit] Artificial baits
Many people prefer to fish solely with lures, which are artificial baits designed to entice fish to strike. The artificial bait angler uses a man-made lure that may or may not represent prey. The lure may require a specialised presentation to impart an enticing action as, for example, in fly fishing. A common way to fish a soft plastic worm is the Texas Rig.
[edit] Natural baits
The natural bait angler, with few exceptions, will use a common prey species of the fish as an attractant. The natural bait used may be alive or dead. Common natural baits include worms, leeches, minnows, frogs, salamanders, and insects. Natural baits are effective due to the lifelike texture, odour and colour of the bait presented.
Maggots. Dalius Baranauskas used for fishing.The common earthworm is a universal bait for fresh water angling. Grubs and maggots are also considered excellent bait when trout fishing. Grasshoppers, bees and even ants are also used as bait for trout in their season, although many anglers believe that trout or salmon roe is superior to any other bait. In lakes in southern climates such as Florida, USA, fish such as bream will take bread bait. Bread bait is a small amount of bread, often moistened by saliva, balled up to a small size that is bite size to small fish.
Roe is considered an excellent bait for trout, salmon and many other fresh water fish.
Fathead minnow — a common bait fish.
[edit] Spreading disease
The capture, transportation and culture of bait fish can spread damaging organisms between ecosystems, endangering them. In 2007, several American states, including Michigan, enacted regulations designed to slow the spread of fish diseases, including viral hemorrhagic septicemia, by bait fish.[1]
Anglers may increase the possibility of contamination by emptying bait buckets into fishing venues and collecting or using bait improperly. The transportation of fish from one location to another can break the law and cause the introduction of fish alien to the ecosystem.
[edit] Fishing seasons
Fishing seasons are set by countries or localities to indicate what kinds of fish may be caught during sport fishing (also known as angling) for a certain period of time. Fishing seasons are enforced to maintain ecological balance and to protect species of fish during their spawning period during which they are easier to catch.
[edit] Tournaments and derbies
Sometimes considered within the broad category of angling is where contestants compete for prizes based on the total length or weight of a fish, usually of a pre-determined species, caught within a specified time (fishing tournaments). Such contests have evolved from local fishing contests into large competitive circuits, where professional anglers are supported by commercial endorsements. Professional anglers are not engaged in commercial fishing, even though they gain an economic reward. Similar competitive fishing exists at the amateur level with fishing derbies. In general, derbies are distinguished from tournaments; derbies normally require fish to be killed. Tournaments normally deduct points if fish can not be released alive
see wikipedia for more info
References :
Wikipedia
By raprunr on Jul 31, 2009 | Reply
Fishing is about having fun and hopefully catching some dinner or just taking pics and releasing. All that crap is hogwash !! Don’t fall in to the stereotyping. If you like, do it, no matter what you are fishing for or whatever methods you use. I do understand about the fly fisherman. They think they are all that and seem to be purists. I’m a purist in a sense also. I go out and catch my own bait and use what’s natural to the water system. How more purist is that and how can they be purists if they use stuff that is FAKE, ROFL.
References :