Fishing: why do we even bother?

People go fishing for a variety of reasons. Some to relax and unwind, some to seek adventure and the chance to catch a fish of a lifetime, while others do it out of necessity in order to put food on the table.

Some well earned rest from lure fishing for Sam and Kev

A questions we are often asked by many anglers is "what type of angler are you?"

These days, anglers are pigeon holed into different categories: from "specimen anglers" to "carpers", "pikers" and those so called "pleasure anglers". These labels became popular by anglers finding their own niches in the sport, as well as the influence of marketing from tackle companies and angling media.

Kev demonstrating the reward of his efforts

"Fishing is one of the blessed antidotes to the pressures and synthetic nature of modern life." - Matt Hayes

For us, fishing is a a mixture of relaxation and adventure, depending on how energetic we are feeling! It is certainly a release from the everyday routine and a chance to reconnect with nature. For us, fishing is a means to an end, and the end is about being out there, enjoying the mystery of the water, learning the watercraft and learning about nature and the environment.

We enjoy the mystery and excitement that fishing brings, and the variety of species we are have in British waters adds to the fun. 

Sam tempts a fine little canal chub

The thought of restricting ourselves to a single species would be like eating just the cola bottles out of a pack of Haribos. It might be nice at first, but after a while, we feel a bit sick!

So our simple message is this: if you're new to fishing, go after as many species as you can and catch fish off all sizes! You will soon find a fish you enjoy enjoy targeting and a style of fishing that suits you. 

Finding a method that you love shouldn't stop you  from trying something different

Like any sport or subject you learn, begin by learning the basics. The so called "traditional" ways of simple float fishing are just as enjoyable now as they were in the days of Bernard Venebles. If you don't know who Bernard Venables is, we recommend you find a copy of his book or look him up!

Don't feel pressured into a particular type of fishing simply because you are following the crowd. Read, watch videos and do a little research before you start. But the most important thing is to make your own mind up about what you like and what works for you.

It's the mystery of the water that keeps us coming back

Whatever your reason for fishing, the most important thing is to get out there and ENJOY YOURSELF!

Visit Fishing Hut for friendly advice and a great range of tackle to suit all styles and levels of expertise.