Kevin Perkins
Well-known member
Or was it....?????
Part of the appeal of FM used to be its social events known as the Fish-Ins. Whilst we anglers can sometimes be a solitary lot, and a fair few spend their non-angling time ‘hiding’ behind their keyboards, there was always a ‘Fish-In’ coming to a venue near you if you wanted to a chance to see the faces (or avatars) behind the names (or nicknames).
Normally quite well-supported, there would be several events every year. Some were established, annual events, others more ad-hoc arrangements, but always these gatherings engendered the camaraderie of ‘belonging’ to the FM family.
But last weekend’s Clattercote Fish-In was a disappointment, not in the organisation by Nigel, but only on the FM camaraderie front. Although this event has attracted upwards of 40 anglers in the past, 30ish is the more regular number, and given the current financial situation that most people find themselves in these days, the fact that 20 turned up should be seen as a result of sorts. But not really a result for FM, in that only 3 of that number were committed, FM only members.
And this is not the only Fish-In that has suffered in the past year or so..........
No sign of the annual Press Manor fly fishing event this year - That’s strange given FM’s ‘Fish & Fly’ connections, you would have thought something like this would be an ideal opportunity to meet some of the members.
The Wensum in June – No takers yet
Idle Fish-in - Postponed last year, not rebooked yet
Grayling Fish-In. Some success, 5 turned up
Britford Fish-In. Postponed, not re-booked yet
Catfish Fish-In. Don’t think one is planned for this year
Aces v Chavs. Postponed, not sure if it’s still going ahead
James Farrow Memorial/FM Charity Fish-In. No sign of this continuing, and that is a real travesty
Blenheim. Probably the best attended annual event after Clattercote, but still with spare spaces
Then there was the GM ‘retirement’ bash, which of course was a one-off event, but probably the best attended FM ‘do’ ever, for obvious reasons.
And the point to all this? Well, are these ‘FM’ events or not? If they are (were) then should the members not expect some form of sponsorship by FM? And by that I don’t mean new rods and reels for everyone who turns up, nor Full English Breakfasts, Fish Suppers and a Free Bar for all the contestants. (Although a little trick with two loaves and five fish would certainly pull the punters in....)
The vast majority of the anglers who used to attend these events would happily fish for a 1st prize of a chrome-plated bobbin, and share a bottle of Vimto and a bag of Pork Scratchings to celebrate at the end. Just being at the event is/was the most important part of attending.
If the recent Clattercote match was an official FM event, why was no one ‘nominated’ to do a write up? Why was no one ‘nominated’ to take pictures before, during and after the match. People arriving, the breakfast (fabulous, by the way) the anticipation and ribbing at the draw. Snapshots of anglers during the match, the mounting excitement of the weigh-in and course the presentation at the end. With all those pictures, the story of the day almost writes itself. Without them...........well you won’t get much of an idea of what happened, if anything.
I don’t want to rake over the past, but if any of the events are going to go forward under the FM banner then it’s the personal appearance ‘touchy-feely’ presence by FM that’s needed to pull the punters in. Make them feel part of the FM family and the attendance numbers will rise again because members will want to be there because they will feel that they are wanted there.
Now, it might just be me, but it appears the dearth of attendance at the Fish-Ins seems to coincide with a substantial number of long term members drifting away. So the real question is does FM still want to run Fish-Ins under their banner, if so are they going to offer enough support (and that’s more in the way of moral support than financial) to make these events attractive to members old and new. You never know, some of those who have drifted away might even be tempted to come back.
If not, then perhaps listing these events as FM Fish-Ins might be construed as misleading advertising.......
Part of the appeal of FM used to be its social events known as the Fish-Ins. Whilst we anglers can sometimes be a solitary lot, and a fair few spend their non-angling time ‘hiding’ behind their keyboards, there was always a ‘Fish-In’ coming to a venue near you if you wanted to a chance to see the faces (or avatars) behind the names (or nicknames).
Normally quite well-supported, there would be several events every year. Some were established, annual events, others more ad-hoc arrangements, but always these gatherings engendered the camaraderie of ‘belonging’ to the FM family.
But last weekend’s Clattercote Fish-In was a disappointment, not in the organisation by Nigel, but only on the FM camaraderie front. Although this event has attracted upwards of 40 anglers in the past, 30ish is the more regular number, and given the current financial situation that most people find themselves in these days, the fact that 20 turned up should be seen as a result of sorts. But not really a result for FM, in that only 3 of that number were committed, FM only members.
And this is not the only Fish-In that has suffered in the past year or so..........
No sign of the annual Press Manor fly fishing event this year - That’s strange given FM’s ‘Fish & Fly’ connections, you would have thought something like this would be an ideal opportunity to meet some of the members.
The Wensum in June – No takers yet
Idle Fish-in - Postponed last year, not rebooked yet
Grayling Fish-In. Some success, 5 turned up
Britford Fish-In. Postponed, not re-booked yet
Catfish Fish-In. Don’t think one is planned for this year
Aces v Chavs. Postponed, not sure if it’s still going ahead
James Farrow Memorial/FM Charity Fish-In. No sign of this continuing, and that is a real travesty
Blenheim. Probably the best attended annual event after Clattercote, but still with spare spaces
Then there was the GM ‘retirement’ bash, which of course was a one-off event, but probably the best attended FM ‘do’ ever, for obvious reasons.
And the point to all this? Well, are these ‘FM’ events or not? If they are (were) then should the members not expect some form of sponsorship by FM? And by that I don’t mean new rods and reels for everyone who turns up, nor Full English Breakfasts, Fish Suppers and a Free Bar for all the contestants. (Although a little trick with two loaves and five fish would certainly pull the punters in....)
The vast majority of the anglers who used to attend these events would happily fish for a 1st prize of a chrome-plated bobbin, and share a bottle of Vimto and a bag of Pork Scratchings to celebrate at the end. Just being at the event is/was the most important part of attending.
If the recent Clattercote match was an official FM event, why was no one ‘nominated’ to do a write up? Why was no one ‘nominated’ to take pictures before, during and after the match. People arriving, the breakfast (fabulous, by the way) the anticipation and ribbing at the draw. Snapshots of anglers during the match, the mounting excitement of the weigh-in and course the presentation at the end. With all those pictures, the story of the day almost writes itself. Without them...........well you won’t get much of an idea of what happened, if anything.
I don’t want to rake over the past, but if any of the events are going to go forward under the FM banner then it’s the personal appearance ‘touchy-feely’ presence by FM that’s needed to pull the punters in. Make them feel part of the FM family and the attendance numbers will rise again because members will want to be there because they will feel that they are wanted there.
Now, it might just be me, but it appears the dearth of attendance at the Fish-Ins seems to coincide with a substantial number of long term members drifting away. So the real question is does FM still want to run Fish-Ins under their banner, if so are they going to offer enough support (and that’s more in the way of moral support than financial) to make these events attractive to members old and new. You never know, some of those who have drifted away might even be tempted to come back.
If not, then perhaps listing these events as FM Fish-Ins might be construed as misleading advertising.......
