The best highs in angling...

[no-one in particular]

Sea trout are worth a mention as they have already but although I have only caught a couple accidentally but, wow. If it just came down to fish then those and river mullet as well. But neither are coarse fish, I cannot think of a coarse fish that matches, I suppose carp and barbel come close but for sheer excitement and power and sustained fighting ability those two fish are hard to match in my limited experience.

 

[S-Kippy]

I agree. Mullet and sea trout are both incredible fighters. For sheer brute strength I would say catfish but every mullet and sea trout I’ve ever caught ( and a few which I didn’t) have gone absolutely mental….you just have to hang on and hope the hook is still in when they eventually calm down.

 

[seth49]

Been many and varied, my first salmon was special, after trying to catch one for five years, and that was back in the sixties when there were plenty, unlike today.

and then the first of new species, and PBs of same, I’m still trying to catch a twenty pound carp, and a seven pound tench would be nice, I do like catching crucians as well.

 

[The bad one]

Sitting on my favourite mere in the 3 Counties with a south westerly warm wind blowing in my face. The optonic ( Delkims now) striking up its staccato note as my home made Henderson replica arm starts to go up a few inches and then drops like a stone to its downward full extension.
Feeling the initial thud of a double figure bream as it makes its kick before it loses its balance and comes in like a lead lamb. It's not the fight of the fish you fish for, it's the unpredictability of when, where and how the fish will feed.
They can truly be an Enigma when it comes to feeding.

 

[terry m]

As a fan of generally light rods that are through action, my highlight is not species specific, simply the joy when you hook into a lump that sets the curve right through to the butt. Fully bent rod, line singing in the rings, and clutch squealing as it absorbs the lunges. Perfect tonic for me.

 

[markcw]

Hitting every dip of the float when fishing for F1's would be a bonus , and keep finding them at whatever depth they change to during the session .