The Traditional Fisherman's Forum

I must admit to having used boilies both for carp and barbel. However, I have rejected them in favour of other baits, on the grounds that, in my opinion, they were less effective on the waters I fish.

To continue the debate about tradition and traditional angling. I think this is very subjective. Much of your point of view will depend on when you grew up and when you started fishing.
1940s - 1960s then you will look back on cane rods, centrepins and quill floats
1960s - 1980s you probably think more about fibreglass and fixed spools
1980s - onwards then early carbon, boron etc will be your thing.

In 30 years time will boilies, rod pods, bivvys, spods and hair rigs be considered traditional? What is traditional is constantly changing and evolving as angling changes. We look back at anglers like Richard Walker and Maurice Ingham with veneration. However, they were innovators and constantly exploring the boundaries of our sport, in the search for better more efficient ways of catching fish. They would probably have used boilies and spods if they had thought of them. Today's modern anglers are attempting to do the same as these pioneers.

To my mind, "traditional" is more about how you approach your fishing and the mental attitude you have towards the water you fish and the species you catch. I like to catch fish but over the years this has become a less important aspect of my angling. I was obsessed with catching fish, catching the biggest fish I could and catching as many fish as I could.
I am still obsessed with trying to catch a 2lb roach. However, I am no longer disappointed when this doesn't happen. I am also less upset with blanking, which luckily doesn't happen often.
Because of our hectic modern lives, my fishing has over recent years been limited (last season I didn't have one session). I therefore take great pleasure in just having the opportunity to fish and be beside the water. I treat every session as a chance to relax and unwind rather than a fanatical quest. Therefore to me "traditional angling" is about enjoyment rather than the weight of fish on the bank. I have had some great days fishing where I have caught little or nothing because the weather was fantastic, I saw some rare wildlife I had the chance to catch up with an old fishing buddy etc.

End of sermon :lol:

MGs wrote:To my mind, "traditional" is more about how you approach your fishing and the mental attitude you have towards the water you fish and the species you catch. I like to catch fish but over the years this has become a less important aspect of my angling. I was obsessed with catching fish, catching the biggest fish I could and catching as many fish as I could.
I am still obsessed with trying to catch a 2lb roach. However, I am no longer disappointed when this doesn't happen. I am also less upset with blanking, which luckily doesn't happen often.
Because of our hectic modern lives, my fishing has over recent years been limited (last season I didn't have one session). I therefore take great pleasure in just having the opportunity to fish and be beside the water. I treat every session as a chance to relax and unwind rather than a fanatical quest. Therefore to me "traditional angling" is about enjoyment rather than the weight of fish on the bank. I have had some great days fishing where I have caught little or nothing because the weather was fantastic, I saw some rare wildlife I had the chance to catch up with an old fishing buddy etc.
End of sermon :lol:

Totally agree MGs.
The point about Walker et al using cane etc being pioneers of their time and current split cane users not being so, is akin to a 1960s E-type Jag owner being someone who wanted the latest, fastest car but the current owner of an E-type would be a different sort of person altogether.

Nicely put MGs. And for the 2lb roach, my quest continues tomorrow. :thumb:

The Sweetcorn Kid wrote:Nicely put MGs. And for the 2lb roach, my quest continues tomorrow. :thumb:

Success with your quest, SK! :thumb:

I think Nigel 'Fennel' Hudson sums up traditional angling rather well here http://fennelspriory.com/angling.htm

Snape wrote:I think Nigel 'Fennel' Hudson sums up traditional angling rather well here http://fennelspriory.com/angling.htm

Agree, he does rather hit the nail on the head.

A barbel bait: "In Marche and in Apryll take a fayre freshe chese, and laye it on the borde, and cut it in small square peces of the le[n]gth of your hooke. Than take a candell and brenne it at the ende at the poynt of the hooke vnto the tyme that it be yelowe, and than bynde it on your hooke with fletchers sylke, and make it tough lyke a welbede, this bayte is good all the sommer season."

Another version suggests it should read "Rough" like a welbede; as a welbed(e) is a woodlouse, I suggest that means it needs tying on tightly enough to look segmented.

So, we have a processed, milk-protein-based, part heat-treated bait, tied onto the hook in a shape and colouration suggesting a grub of some sort - a sort of Wickham's Fancy in cheese.

Pretty advanced for about 1450, I'd say. When are bait-makers going to catch up with the fifteenth century and give us imitation caddis larvae made of high-nutritional-value ingredients?
Bogged down in tradition, the lot of 'em....

Oops!...

(Incidentally, although he cribbed much of the layout of his introduction from the "Treatise", Walton was quite dimissive of Berners' wonderbait. Too trad or too rad, I wonder?)

Fantastic stuff Vole. I wish there was translation to make it easier to read :think:

Snape wrote:Fantastic stuff Vole. I wish there was translation to make it easier to read :think:

I thought my eyesight was getting worse for a minute. :chuckle:

I do sometimes use boilies for tench and carp but only when leaving a hookbait in the water for a long time is necessary. I get a bit nervous and loose confidence after a while with bread, meat and pastes.
Personally I don't see it any different from when the early carp anglers used par boiled potatoes to discourage small fish from nibbling off the bait.

My favourite bait for barbel though has always been luncheon meat.