Fishing Republic : Back to Basics

When I was a younger my Dad started to take me fishing. He didn't fish himself, but it was still a magical time and something I will never forget. We spent many an hour down the canal and even now I can still remember the first fish I ever caught, all be it a Gudgeon. Unfortunately, I lost my Dad before my 18th Birthday, and was left to teach myself the Art of Fishing. In the early days I probably caught more Tree Perch than anyone else, but eventually I got the knack of casting without losing the float and hook.

As the years went by, I grew more confident with my fishing and I moved onto river fishing. I spent hours with my friend and his father in law to be wandering up and down the bank in search of those illusive river fish. I was still catching Gudgeon but they were a lot bigger from the river.

Time moves on and sadly we lose touch with friends. Other interests take over and fishing takes a back seat, but after going through the Motorbike and Car phase I found myself again learning the skills I needed to go fishing. This went on for a few years and Ten years ago I decided to have ago at Carp Fishing. So, again began a long learning curve to teach myself how to Carp fish. I spent many an hour watching TV, videos and reading carpy magazines and would like to thank the likes of Matt Hayes, Mick (Steptoe) Brown, Kevin Nash the Korda team and many more who between them have accumulated many years of experience which gave me the inspiration and knowledge I needed in learning these skills.

Unfortunately, these days people don't want to learn the basic skills they need and all they want to do is cast a lead 100 yards or so (if they can) and sit behind the rods and alarms. I once read an article in a fishing magazine where a 17-year-old wanted to know how to float fish for carp as all he has ever been told was to chuck a lead out with 2 kilos of bait and wait, which is nice if you don't pay £12 to £14 a kilo. Funnily some people think after 3 or 4 years of fishing they are experts but even now after over 30 years of fishing I wouldn't dream of calling myself an expert (a Tackle Tart, Yes) but an expert never and I bet Matt Hayes and the like would feel the same way.

To date I can say that I have had some reasonable success since carp fishing with a

P.B of a 49lb 3oz Cat

P.B 28lb Common

P.B 27lb 5oz Mirror

Along with numerous 20's and mid doubles

The only other thing to say is, I know everyone would like to catch the Biggest Carp in the lake but wouldn't it be more sensible to learn the basics first like fishing with the float, Feeder, Trotting and ledgering and then when you have learnt the basics move them skills on to carp fishing.

My castings improved a bit now, so I don't catch so many Tree Perch. And hasn't technology moved on with the use of underwater cameras, depth sonar, fish finders and bait boats, with some saying it's taken the skills out of fishing. Well, in a way, yes it has. But if you have learnt the skills first what's wrong playing with technology, I just love it.

My names Malcolm Withnall and I'm a self-confessed Tackle Tart.