The buzz of the take is fishing's most exciting moment - Des Taylor
THE other day I was talking to Angling Times editor-in-chief Steve Fitzpatrick about what we thought was the most exciting thing about fishing.
Was it the waiting and the anticipation of that next bite? Was it the take, the playing of the fish, or the landing of our prize? We agreed that it had to be the take every time.
Is it a float lifting and then slowly sinking below the surface that sets your pulses racing? Maybe it’s a predator slamming into a lure, or a chub tapping on the quivertip before pulling it round 90 degrees? If you’re a carp angler, it’s probably all about sitting in your shelter on a still, silent night when out of the blue the indicator flies up and the buzzer screams a one-toner as a big fat mirror hits the lead on a bolt rig.
A float amongst the bubbles, the excitement when it goes under is unrivalled
Whenever a fish takes, our heart rate steps up a gear and with boyish enthusiasm we hope and pray it’s the biggest fish in the lake. Even if that fish turns out to be a 2lb carp or 1lb chub, you didn’t know that at the time you first made contact did you? No – when the moment came it was your first 20lb carp or 6lb chub. Just keep at it, and eventually your dreams will become reality.
On my barbel guiding days I can see what the take does to an angler. When the rod bends over double I tell them not to panic, and to just pick the rod up without striking. The answer is always the same: “No problem, I’ve been fishing for years so I won’t panic.”
But after a wait which may be one minute or one hour the rod thumps over as though a sack of spuds has hit the line. My pupil lurches forward, sometimes falling off his chair as the rod is being pulled off the rest. In blind panic he strikes!
“The rod thumps over as though a sack of spuds has hit the line”
Of course, the fish is traveling at 100mph and the angler strikes on powerful line in the opposite direction and is nearly pulled off his feet. But that’s what it’s all about, and he’ll remember that take for the rest of his life, whether it’s from his first double or a 6lb barbel.
Later he may well recall the playing of the fish and the photo of his prize, but it’s the take that will really stick in his memory.
It’s the same for me – even now, after so many years, it’s that buzz of the take that keeps me going back for more.
Only the other day on the Severn I was sitting there with two rods, hoping for a chub or a barbel on the boilie, but because of cold water entering the river overnight I was hardly confident of a bite. I’d been almost comatose, looking at the stationary tip, and then suddenly it doubled over.
What a take, what a chub, and just like one of my customers I was all over the place once it was in the net. I tell you, the day I don’t get that feeling is the day I will pack up. Will that be soon? No chance!
“I’d been almost comatose, looking at the stationary tip, and then suddenly it doubled over”
The joy of balanced tackle - Des Taylor
Anglers will always read about the successes of others, and try to emulate their tactics and catches.
I only wish that when people read these articles, they think about when and where they can apply the information they’ve learned to their own fishing.
If you read about an angler fishing the tidal reaches of the River Trent using two beefy 3lb test curve rods pointed to the sky, 5oz leads, 15lb mainline and clonking great size 4 hooks, it doesn’t mean that this is the way you should fish on the middle Severn in low water conditions, targeting a spot under a tree down the near margin.
On the Severn and other rivers like it, fishing with mega heavy gear will eliminate all of the pleasure you get from playing a fish. What’s more, in many cases it would also lessen your chances of catching. It’s not rocket science to realise that fishing down the near margin with rods pointing skywards would cause the mainline to come up vertically from the rig, spooking any feeding fish!
This is where the local tackle shop proves its worth, with a good local angler behind the counter. He’s the chap who will put you right concerning the kit you need for your local water.
It’s much the same in carp fishing. When experts are writing about chucking 150yds with heavy gear to target 50lb-plus fish, the same tactics won’t apply to the smaller water you’re planning to fish. There’s no real pleasure to be had in playing a 15lb carp on super-strong gear, but there’s a lot of fun to be had doing so using a 2lb test curve rod and a smaller reel loaded with 10lb line, which is more than strong enough!
This year I’ve seen anglers using gear that’s way too heavy for the venue they’re fishing. I’ve watched them bully fish in, then moan about the lack of fight. I can see why match anglers would want to get fish in quickly, but does it really matter on a pleasure session?
On the Severn I use a 1.75lb test curve, through-actioned rod and 10lb line and enjoy every barbel that I hook. Most of the fish are around 5lb, with a good one just reaching double figures. I’d be able to land them more quickly on stronger gear, but it wouldn’t be as much fun. And surely that’s what it’s all about. You can only catch what’s in your venue, so make sure you get the balance right between the size of fish being targeted and the tackle you are using. That way, you’ll get full enjoyment out of every fish that you hook!
Using the right gear means I enjoy every fish that I hook.