The
downside of modern angling
A recent
phone call from Bill Bartles made me realise that I am not alone in being
irritated by the behaviour of so many people today even when I am on the
bankside fishing.
Bill is probably the most skilled angler that I have ever known, and in
the past we have fished together many times.
He is a very good fly fisher for trout, and an efficient coarse angler
including at international level.
Now he only goes to places where he does not have to carry the tackle
far, being 76 years old and had a recent operation for cancer.
I was so sad to learn that even Bill no longer gets the same pleasure
from angling that he did for so many years previously.
He agreed with me that one cannot fish anywhere where you cannot keep
an eye on your car for a start.
And there is litter almost everywhere including things that anglers have
obviously discarded.
Even worse, since sounds carry over water very well, you often fish among
other anglers who pollute the countryside with a non-stop barrage of shouted
swearing and obscenities.
I can swear at times but never, I hope, in a loud voice, and never with
nasty words in almost every sentence.
Of course, lots of my angler pals are not like that but over the years
the anti social behaviour has got a lot worse.
Fish stealing is becoming a problem, and young anglers feel unsafe when
knife crime and even gun carrying is increasing in places.
I am sure myself that politicians are to blame, because they have, due
to ignorance of the real world, brought about a situation where there
is no adequate punishment for any offence. Only innocent people get punished
in fact.
Angling is still probably the most marvellously satisfying hobby of all,
and we try to get away from unruly people to get some peace and quiet
by the waterside, but sadly such peace and quiet is becoming very hard
to find.