COMMERCIAL SUCCESS

     Success may be too strong a word; stroke of luck may be closer to the truth but wherever that truth lies, I'll take it. Having been tempted to fulfil an urge to catch some commercial silvers, I had struggled to hit bites here last week on the tip. I had left feeling that the pole might be more productive and it would at least tell me if all those missed bites had been down to rig inefficiencies or, as I both suspected and hoped, just small fish. I decided it was time to dig out Old Marmalade and a week-old pint of casters.  Although, or maybe because, I'd caught four pasties on maggots on that previous visit I decided to feed only casters, trying maggots occasionally if I was getting bored.

 

      It took a while to get bites on the casters but maggots drew interest from the off. Unfortunately they produced mainly tiny fish and while I was getting bites, which made a nice change, it was casters that tempted the best fish including my largest Perch for a long time, a lovely fish one ounce shy of two pounds. I never get tired of seeing a big perch come to the net and this one immediately set me thinking about prawns, worms and a proper effort to catch some more from this attractive water. 

 

     On one hand I despise commercial fisheries for what they have done to fishing in general. In the main, Carp have become a shadow of the prize they once were and Match angling has lost its way to a great extent thanks to the huge bags required to win from grossly overstocked waters that are fundamentally stew ponds. They have turned angling for the majority that have tagged along behind from a peaceful, relaxing pursuit into a relentless quest for efficiency devaluing the whole sport en route. It's what human's do in every field of endeavour of course so it really shouldn't be a surprise.

     On the other hand, once mature and maybe slightly down at heel, I find they can have a certain charm. Once the owners find that the costs of overstocking to compete for customers with the bigger venues become less bearable, things can begin to slide. Footfall subsides and there is less cash and waning enthusiasm for any more than basic maintenance; then and only then, can nature move in and gradually regain some influence.

 

     These waters can often become rather more attractive venues in my eyes. My particular favourites are snake lakes. They can be small, intimate waters reminiscent of small streams and derelict canals but with the advantage of having been dug for anglers. Designed for pole fishing, with deeper margins and room behind for shipping back they are comfortable spots to fish. They are also just about as cormorant proof as any water can be considering the bird's dislike of tight spaces and proximity to human beings.

     Because most commercials are Carp orientated they see a lot of bait and that benefits the silverfish population which in turn lays on a full-blown Perch buffet. If the angler can get past the pasties there is some fine Roach, Bream and Perch fishing to be had. Often these are fish naturally born and bred in the venue growing in accordance with their circumstances and as such, I feel, a more worthy quarry than the traditional 'one more lorry load' of small carp. It is such a shame because, even when small, Carp can be such attractive fish whose beauty is so often obscured by familiarity and, frankly, abuse.