Wintle’s World of Angling

Mark Wintle, an angler for thirty-five years, is on a quest to discover and bring to you the magic of fishing. Previously heavily involved with match fishing he now fishes for the sheer fun of it. With an open and enquiring mind, each week Mark will bring to you articles on fishing different rivers, different methods and what makes rivers, and occasionally stillwaters, tick. Add to this a mixed bag of articles on catching big fish, tackle design, angling politics and a few surprises.

Are you stuck in a rut fishing the same swim every week? Do you dare to try something different and see a whole new world of angling open up? Yes? Then read Mark Wintle’s regular weekly column.

A little over a year ago I tentatively sent off an article to FISHINGmagic. I was amazed to see it published almost within hours. Since then, Graham has indulged me with a weekly column. As it’s Christmas I’d like to thank all those that have made my fishing so much more enjoyable with your comments, advice and help, and in particular to Graham, Rontroversial Clay, Andy Nellist, Dave Slater and Peter Jacobs. I’ve learnt a tremendous amount this year from these exceptionally successful anglers and I’m sure you have too.

Mark with a winter tench

Last Christmas I laid out my hopes for various things, some of them may yet come to fruition. This year I’d like to look back at what I’ve learnt, and what I’d like to see.

Pie in the Sky Tackle
At the beginning of the year, I described my idea of perfect reels for trotting. It is clear to me that the major manufacturers find it difficult to accept that many of their fantastic SPINNING reels are not much cop at all for the lightweight British floatfishing coarse scene. Their claims that top match anglers assist in the design of such reels are disproved by the pictures of the self same anglers struggling to use them. We will only get what we want if American anglers take up lightweight floatfishing. Enough of my frustrations.

Let’s give the tackle tarts something to get their juices running. For the pike anglers, how about a super fluorocarbon-type trace material; forty pounds breaking strain, tougher than wire and harder to cut, flexible and near invisible? For the chub anglers I’ve just invented the quivertip that bleeps when you get a bite. With smart software it can ignore false bites and minnow tweaks, and detect barbel saw bites. Saves staring at a tip until you’re cross-eyed. Of course, it’s connected to a special reel that automatically feeds line to the bite to fool those sneaky chub that just hold the bait in their lips. For the carp angler I’ve developed the guided lead. Just point the laser at the spot where you want the lead to go, click and let fly. It even feathers it down onto the water. No more constant recasting to get your bait right under a tree. Comes with a guided spod. For the perch anglers we have jack pike repellent so that you don’t have to resort to wire traces (though a fine version of that fluoro pike trace would do the trick) or suffer bite-offs. Put one drop on your hook and hey presto! No pike within fifty yards, and it’s also just the job for the roach angler. Kevin Perkins is working with Tickle Tackle PLC to get these out in the shops for the second quarter 2004, say around the first of April.

Andy Nellist – champion of true record fish claims (click for bigger picture of Andy with a 4lb 1oz perch caught in 2003)

A new procedure for the BRFC for those contentious claims
FISHINGmagic has been at the forefront of pushing for a new procedure to get species that are liable to mis-identification or hybridisation properly identified. Whether they are roach, rudd, silver bream, crucians, whatever, let’s have a means of getting an authenticated scale tested so that the identity is proved beyond doubt. There is more to this than DNA testing, of course, but Andy Nellist is the man with the answers and he’s contactable via FISHINGmagic. The recent forum went a long way to finding a procedure. There is a way to go yet, but his suggestion of a short contact detail on every rod license on how to claim a record is surely achievable. All it needs is the BRFC to put the procedure in place behind it.

Trying something different
This year in Wintle’s World of Angling, I have tried to get onto different rivers, fish for different species, and try different methods. I have to say that it has made my fishing much more challenging and interesting. Although my favourite fish are roach, I’m no purist so trying to catch any type of fish is good fun. On waters far from home, you do need plenty of time to suss out the water, yet the time spent on reconnaissance is rarely wasted. Location of fish is always key to success, but it is only the starting point to getting the fish feeding and catching them.

In my case, to get an article out of a day’s fishing is doubly challenging. I need something to photograph (and often someone with a little photographic ability to take the pictures). Angling artist John Searl and river keeper John Levell have proved to be the best angling photographers that I have encountered this year, though near neighbour Hugh Miles is the true king. I have started to understand a little about the pressures that the real stars must face when fishing for TV or a magazine article. Of course, I have had the odd failure. A stagnant Bristol Avon, crystal clear and dead, yielded just two minnows. Neither have I managed to put any time in for barbel, an omission that I must put right next year. I still have a list of challenges as long as my arm, so who knows what will turn up.

So here’s my challenge to you: next year, try a different river, a different method, a different species. Do your homework on location, tackle and bait, and get out there and give it a try. Why not start on Boxing Day? (I’m trying to wangle a one-day fishing pass from my much better looking other half and proof reader, Valerie!). Forget the traditional pike, how about a winter tench? Or a river bream? Some dace on the stick? Above all, have some fun.

Read something different next year and you may understand more about the psychology of angling says Mark

Books – Something different?
The advantage of visiting a big North American city like Toronto is that you get to find some fishing books that you are unlikely to see over here. Four gems that a specialist like Paul Morgan at Coch-y-Bondhu, or Borders, might be able to locate are: ‘Fly-fishing For Sharks’ by Richard Louv – a journalist investigates angling in North America; ‘Think Like A Fish’ by Tom Mann – a top black bass angler and lure developer tells it as it is, I split my sides on this one especially the story about the mole and the donkey!; ‘My Secret Fishing Life’ by Nick Lyons – autobiography by Nick Lyons, worth reading for his account of fishing book publishing alone; and finally ‘At The Grave Of The Unknown Fisherman’ by John Gierach – more classical writing by Gierach. None of these will tell you how to catch more carp, barbel or tench, but you might understand more about the psychology of angling. Much nearer home, Chris Yates was talking on Radio Solent the other day about getting around to writing another book or two; I certainly look forward to another book from Chris.

Fight pollution
Last year I appealed for new members for the ACA. The annual fee is a tiny amount compared to the value of our fishing, so just do it. Despite being in existence for fifty years their membership remains a tiny fraction of anglers. There is no excuse for not joining. So, join up – just do it. I know the ACA would greatly appreciate more members. The fight against pollution, drought and other environmental threats affects all anglers, as well as those also interested in the wellbeing of our rivers and lakes. If you are already a member then recruit a friend or two or three. If not, send a cheque for £ 15 to Anglers’ Conservation Association, Eastwood House, 6 Rainbow Street, Leominster, Herefordshire, HR6 8DQ. Other rates apply for fishery owners, syndicates, and clubs etc. email admin@a-c-a.org website www.a-c-a.org.

Give the ACA a New Year to remember, they’ll be delighted to hear from you.

The NFA – Time for a rethink?
The departure of Bob Clark from the NFA leaves it in a perilous position. Will coarse anglers ever get the representation that they truly need? Does the average angler know why the NFA is so important? It’s about a lot more than just match fishing yet that’s all the average angler thinks the NFA is about. The Salmon and Trout Association show us how it should be done, with subs of £ 35 a year, and are respected for it. The NFA is so entrenched in the past that starting with a clean sheet of paper might come up with a better organisation than the one we are saddled with. It ought to be truly representative of all coarse anglers, not just affiliated clubs but including specialist anglers. If you don’t believe me then look at the powerful voice that the RSPB has with similar numbers but proper funding!

So here’s a radical thought to drag angling into the 21st century. Up the rod licence to £ 100, yes £ 100. £ 25 to the EA, £ 20 to the ACA, and the remainder split between the S&TAA and the reborn NFA, say £ 20 to the S&TAA and £ 35 to the NFA (the split could even be chosen by the angler). Think of the clout that such a powerful organisation could wield! Don’t panic – not everyone would have to fork out a hundred quid – there would be major reductions for those that genuinely couldn’t afford it.

Whatever pulls your string I wish you a Happy Christmas and a successful New Year.

Next week: ‘Hant’s Avon Grayling and Chub’