TESTIMONIES - The human side of things....
I thought it would be good for the public and other non-carp anglers to read about us and why we do what we do. Yes, a growing number of Australian born anglers are starting to adopt Carp angling as a sport but many if not most, are immigrants who now call Australia home. We are like any other angler, many of us enjoy saltwater, fly and artificial lure fishing as much as we do freshwater. We love native fish and would like to see many more in our waters. We also understand that there are many other factors that have over decades had an extremely detrimental effect on predatory native species and that by addressing them we are already seeing exceptional results. The more people we reach with the balanced approach of C.A.R.P the less people want to be stuck with the wasteful and irreversible herpes virus in our waterways.
We encourage past, present as well as hopeful future anglers to reflect on a personal level how you got to be a carp / coarse angler and what the sport means for you and or your family. We would also love to hear from anglers born in Australia who have seen and heard it all when it comes to carp and our waterways but still decided to take up the sport. Your reflection or article can be an all-in-one or a series discussing different topics. It can be as short or long as you want it to be and can include photos and videos to help get your message or story across. Remember, the page with your article(s) may also be a handy reference point when discussing topics on other forums (save you the time of repeating things over and over on different occasions.) Some of you may not even live in Australia but are welcome give an indication why Australia should not release the virus a well as how and why Australia will benefit from the sport and tourism opportunities. I'm sure a lot of the stuff I write is not magazine quality but it does not stop me from speaking out for something I am passionate about. I'm sure many of you have a great story to tell, let's hear it!
Please send it to [email protected] OR [email protected]
We encourage past, present as well as hopeful future anglers to reflect on a personal level how you got to be a carp / coarse angler and what the sport means for you and or your family. We would also love to hear from anglers born in Australia who have seen and heard it all when it comes to carp and our waterways but still decided to take up the sport. Your reflection or article can be an all-in-one or a series discussing different topics. It can be as short or long as you want it to be and can include photos and videos to help get your message or story across. Remember, the page with your article(s) may also be a handy reference point when discussing topics on other forums (save you the time of repeating things over and over on different occasions.) Some of you may not even live in Australia but are welcome give an indication why Australia should not release the virus a well as how and why Australia will benefit from the sport and tourism opportunities. I'm sure a lot of the stuff I write is not magazine quality but it does not stop me from speaking out for something I am passionate about. I'm sure many of you have a great story to tell, let's hear it!
Please send it to [email protected] OR [email protected]
Fishing memories – By Doug Anderson
Part One:
Wednesday, 1 November 2017, 1:46 PM
To some people this missive will seem long and boring, I hope you get some insight into both my fishing life and my mind set.
I cannot remember when fishing has not been part of my life. I was born a long time ago part of an extended family in Scotland. My grandfather was Head Gamekeeper on a large estate. With a salmon river running through it. So from an early age when on holiday (we lived in South East London) we were taught to cast a fly in the garden onto a sheet of newspaper this was my introduction to fishing. We were not allowed to fish as we were too young, but we would go down to the river with Grandad when he fished one would carry the bag and the eldest would carry the Gaff. Many great salmon were taken but often nothing.
Living in London in my early years were always looking forward to the holidays as a consolation. Dad would take us to Hoo on drives always with handlines not much caught but just sometimes, yes a Dab or Flounder not much but enough to wet the taste buds of the budding Angler. They were hard days catching sticklebacks in the River Quaggy not far from home. Then the change of schools a new Comprehensive new classmates one of whom was an Angler and he asked if I would like to go fishing with him one day, and of course the answer was yes. So off we went by train 12 years old the first excursion on my own, we went to Horton Kirby there were people fishing everywhere. I felt rather ashamed when my friend got his rod out and all I had was a handline. No problem he helped me to set up and we fished he never said anything or laughed at my gear just helped and helped.
That time so long ago imprinted in my mind. Where I expected derision I got help it really meant a lot to me and it does even now.
Money was tight so a paper round before school saving for a rod and reel. I got a creel for Christmas still no rod or reel but then the day down to the tackle shop a cane rod and greenheart tip ( for those who don't know what a creel is and a greenheart tip, google it ). The next problem was where to fish, by this time a boyhood friend who I shall call John who lived not far from me had also started to fish so it was on. We only had pushbikes so we were limited to the range but Keston Ponds were close enough to go and get back in time for tea.
Learning everything from scratch trail and many errors, a few fish but Keston lost its stream so what now.
We lived not far from the Maidstone road and watched people hitch hiking at the side of the road and getting lifts to wherever. We had heard that there was a river at Farningham and decided to give it a go so we walked up the road a bi and started hitching sure enough a lift to Farningam but where was the river we looked around and over a huge bridge there it was the river Darenth. We climbed down and were amazed we had not till then fished a river learning again glorious days all these fish we did not know the name of. John had a book which was to become our bible. MR Crabtree goes fishing.
End of part one
Fishing memories – Part Two
Wednesday, 1 November 2017, 1:46 PM
Well Mr Crabtree was an eye opener we now knew the names of the fish that we were catching and were to catch for many years to come. What is it about fishing that keeps you coming back a question all of us ask ourselves every time we blank (no fish ).
Then we look around us and realise that others have caught well but, we were not hard done by we were outside and had seen lovely countryside and had enjoyed the time fishing for a foe that is in its natural environment. And that we as anglers had to try and outwit them in their own environment. We had failed but this is part of angling, we always are pitting ourselves against a very willy opponent and on that day it won.
There are few sports that give you a release of mental tensions. The surrounding area has a calming influence and I do not ever remember leaving in a worse place mentally than when I arrived. This takes me back to my early days. With our courage increasing (Mum and Dad did not know we hitch hiked around Kent) we found great places to fish. One of the things that amazed us that if we were struggling with an area there was always others there who were only too happy to help and give you tips about how to fish on a new section of river or lake. It never seemed a problem for them to help, something I have always tried to continue as I am sure most of you do. The youngsters of today also need the knowledge that we as adults have learned over the years.
Back to my story. One of my school friends asked if I would like to go fishing as a guest of a fishing club he and his father belonged to, I eagerly said yes. So there I was with a mass of anglers on a bus going to a river I had never heard of before the River Stour at Plucks Gutter. A day I was never to forget for I caught a Roach of 1lb 12 oz and to this day it is still my biggest Roach, what a red letter day. At the time I was a member of the KINGFISHER guild run by the Angling Times (still going today) so I applied for a certificate and was so proud of that. It was on my bedroom wall for many years alas I lost it at some time but it was at that time my finest hour. I have continued fishing in one form or another ever since. I was even a founder member of an Angling Club that is still going today and John was the very first club champion. Great days off in the bus all over the South of England the fishing world had become our oyster.
I pause for a moment to say that I have often thought that if all the World’s Leaders were put on a river bank far enough away from each other so they can't talk, Many of the World’s problems might be solved, because the serenity of the position they would find themselves in, would calm their thought processes down and reset their minds. A forlorn hope I think. BUT?
Don't think that I have finished fishing, in the last six years I have been back to the UK six times for my carp and coarse fishing fix. Yes it is an addiction and I KNOW YOU KNOW that I am right. But that is another story yet to be written!
So my story must come to an end. Not my fishing though that will continue till I am no longer able to cast a rod and outwit my foe.
To finish though I would like to invite all of you to ask one friend who does not fish to a day’s fishing, young or old, it is always nice to pass on our knowledge to someone else. For we are here for but a short time, but Angling is here forever.
Part One:
Wednesday, 1 November 2017, 1:46 PM
To some people this missive will seem long and boring, I hope you get some insight into both my fishing life and my mind set.
I cannot remember when fishing has not been part of my life. I was born a long time ago part of an extended family in Scotland. My grandfather was Head Gamekeeper on a large estate. With a salmon river running through it. So from an early age when on holiday (we lived in South East London) we were taught to cast a fly in the garden onto a sheet of newspaper this was my introduction to fishing. We were not allowed to fish as we were too young, but we would go down to the river with Grandad when he fished one would carry the bag and the eldest would carry the Gaff. Many great salmon were taken but often nothing.
Living in London in my early years were always looking forward to the holidays as a consolation. Dad would take us to Hoo on drives always with handlines not much caught but just sometimes, yes a Dab or Flounder not much but enough to wet the taste buds of the budding Angler. They were hard days catching sticklebacks in the River Quaggy not far from home. Then the change of schools a new Comprehensive new classmates one of whom was an Angler and he asked if I would like to go fishing with him one day, and of course the answer was yes. So off we went by train 12 years old the first excursion on my own, we went to Horton Kirby there were people fishing everywhere. I felt rather ashamed when my friend got his rod out and all I had was a handline. No problem he helped me to set up and we fished he never said anything or laughed at my gear just helped and helped.
That time so long ago imprinted in my mind. Where I expected derision I got help it really meant a lot to me and it does even now.
Money was tight so a paper round before school saving for a rod and reel. I got a creel for Christmas still no rod or reel but then the day down to the tackle shop a cane rod and greenheart tip ( for those who don't know what a creel is and a greenheart tip, google it ). The next problem was where to fish, by this time a boyhood friend who I shall call John who lived not far from me had also started to fish so it was on. We only had pushbikes so we were limited to the range but Keston Ponds were close enough to go and get back in time for tea.
Learning everything from scratch trail and many errors, a few fish but Keston lost its stream so what now.
We lived not far from the Maidstone road and watched people hitch hiking at the side of the road and getting lifts to wherever. We had heard that there was a river at Farningham and decided to give it a go so we walked up the road a bi and started hitching sure enough a lift to Farningam but where was the river we looked around and over a huge bridge there it was the river Darenth. We climbed down and were amazed we had not till then fished a river learning again glorious days all these fish we did not know the name of. John had a book which was to become our bible. MR Crabtree goes fishing.
End of part one
Fishing memories – Part Two
Wednesday, 1 November 2017, 1:46 PM
Well Mr Crabtree was an eye opener we now knew the names of the fish that we were catching and were to catch for many years to come. What is it about fishing that keeps you coming back a question all of us ask ourselves every time we blank (no fish ).
Then we look around us and realise that others have caught well but, we were not hard done by we were outside and had seen lovely countryside and had enjoyed the time fishing for a foe that is in its natural environment. And that we as anglers had to try and outwit them in their own environment. We had failed but this is part of angling, we always are pitting ourselves against a very willy opponent and on that day it won.
There are few sports that give you a release of mental tensions. The surrounding area has a calming influence and I do not ever remember leaving in a worse place mentally than when I arrived. This takes me back to my early days. With our courage increasing (Mum and Dad did not know we hitch hiked around Kent) we found great places to fish. One of the things that amazed us that if we were struggling with an area there was always others there who were only too happy to help and give you tips about how to fish on a new section of river or lake. It never seemed a problem for them to help, something I have always tried to continue as I am sure most of you do. The youngsters of today also need the knowledge that we as adults have learned over the years.
Back to my story. One of my school friends asked if I would like to go fishing as a guest of a fishing club he and his father belonged to, I eagerly said yes. So there I was with a mass of anglers on a bus going to a river I had never heard of before the River Stour at Plucks Gutter. A day I was never to forget for I caught a Roach of 1lb 12 oz and to this day it is still my biggest Roach, what a red letter day. At the time I was a member of the KINGFISHER guild run by the Angling Times (still going today) so I applied for a certificate and was so proud of that. It was on my bedroom wall for many years alas I lost it at some time but it was at that time my finest hour. I have continued fishing in one form or another ever since. I was even a founder member of an Angling Club that is still going today and John was the very first club champion. Great days off in the bus all over the South of England the fishing world had become our oyster.
I pause for a moment to say that I have often thought that if all the World’s Leaders were put on a river bank far enough away from each other so they can't talk, Many of the World’s problems might be solved, because the serenity of the position they would find themselves in, would calm their thought processes down and reset their minds. A forlorn hope I think. BUT?
Don't think that I have finished fishing, in the last six years I have been back to the UK six times for my carp and coarse fishing fix. Yes it is an addiction and I KNOW YOU KNOW that I am right. But that is another story yet to be written!
So my story must come to an end. Not my fishing though that will continue till I am no longer able to cast a rod and outwit my foe.
To finish though I would like to invite all of you to ask one friend who does not fish to a day’s fishing, young or old, it is always nice to pass on our knowledge to someone else. For we are here for but a short time, but Angling is here forever.