| KEVIN PERKINS | |
Never mind smelling the flowers, don’t forget to take time out to see the satirical side of fishing life and grab a laugh along the way as well. So here’s a regular column from Kevin Perkins to remind us that life is for laughing at, or taking the p*** out of, whenever we can. |
MINI HUNTERS You may not be aware, but there is a group of dedicated anglers who are determined to reverse the headlong trend in fishing that bigger is better. You know the kind of thing, longer casts, ever-lengthening poles, and heavier fish. Here at last is a specimen group that specialises in miniaturisation in both tackle and their preferred quarry. They are true exponents of the ‘Less is More’ school of thinking, but of course, as in all things angling, there is polarisation between high tech and traditional. I should point out that the quarry here are genuinely small species of fish, as opposed to small fish of a certain species. We are talking minnow, stickleback (three and ten spined, both have their fervent supporters) loach, and bullhead. Gudgeon are unfortunately excluded, although they are frequently caught when after other species, when finally brought into the bank they are welcomed much the same way as carp anglers greet the site of a boilie munching bream making its way to the landing net. These high tech ‘Mini-Hunters’ are pushing tackle companies to produce far less cumbersome equipment to allow a far more sporting contest when hauling out these mini monsters. Rod test curves are measured in ounces as opposed to pounds with a good all-round rod being rated at 1.45 oz. Rod lengths are also dramatically reduced, with one-piece, one metre long weapons being the norm. Rod ring manufacturers had to rise to the challenge of downsizing and produce new half leg rings with tiny internal diameters and made of aircraft grade titanium alloys. All over the country sewing baskets were being raided for those devices that girlies use for threading needles, just the job for putting line through these miniscule rod rings. Although this technological advance wasn’t a patch on the massive investment that had to be put in by the makers of reels. The new 01/2 0 size Baitcrawler reels are just de rigueur on the banks of the streams and ponds. Terminal tackle has been dramatically scaled down; line diameter and breaking strains are dropping almost by the day. Hooks sizes plummeted to 46 and below; sales of magnifying glasses soared as a consequence. Matchstick and toothpick floats were all the rage at the start, until some bright spark took a bristle float, threw the float away and just used the bristle. This rig is so sensitive you have to consult a barometer and factor the BP into the shot loading. Mouse droppings being the favoured weight, not lead in the shape of, but actual mouse droppings. Groundbait tends to all be liquid as even cloud with the consistency of thin gruel tends to overfeed. Groundbait concentrations are now stated in parts per million, with 10-15 used as a good starting point. Baits themselves have almost standardised on the hair-rigged, popped-up double ants’ egg. These are mostly commercially produced, as the electron microscope required to mount baits on the hair is only available to the most ardent micro-fishing fanatic. Those who don’t want to use this hi-tech bait technology stick with the traditional crude but effective joker tail. When it comes to concealment, camou gear is not enough on its own. Bulk is the enemy, no good trying to creep up on the little darlings if you are blotting out the sun, doing a passable impression of an eclipse as you pass along the bank. Those who weigh seven stone wringing wet are at a positive advantage at this particular branch of our sport. The traditionalist approach to micro fishing requires cane, of course. Nothing as involved as split cane, oh no. Whole cane is the order of the day, with a very specific length/internal diameter combination. The internal diameter needs to allow the interference fit of the carefully extruded, cylindrically sectioned support of the fish location/capture and retaining system, which is carefully stretched over it. Some are oval, some are round, and both have their supporters. Not as easily available as they once were, if you are lucky they can still be found in the back of a few newsagents. To complete this outfit a fish retention/inspection chamber is required. Usually made of a clear silica based material, and there are models available from both the Stewart and Edinburgh crystal companies that can be pressed into service but true traditionalists usually prefer Robertson’s (flavour not important) The one compulsory factor, however is that the transportation harness must be made out of hairy string. And this is where the debate rages. The traditionalists claim their method is the original, time-honoured and ‘proper’ way of catching micro-species. The high-tech boys claim that theirs is the least damaging to the fishes’ habitat, as it does not involve scooping out great handfuls of weed and slime in order to possibly extract a specimen, and dumping said mess in a jam jar. In any event, no matter which of the methods is used to catch a mini specimen, the person you have to feel sorry for is the taxidermist… |
