Could 16 m of pole and 3000£ put off youth ???

[TF_paulnewell]

All angling papers and mags continually harp on about no youngsters coming into the sport !! The rest of Europe has seen the need to restrict to 13 metres. Have they concluded it was good for the future ? Good for our posture . Bank balance !!! Perhaps originally being a working mans sport they concluded it was more affordable thereby more level for all. :confused: :rolleyes: :rolleyes:

[TF_CraigH]

I’ll agree with that

[TF_allyParticipant]

Or could it be the weather, IPads, cost of day tickets, cost of petrol, cost of seat boxes, carp, cotton wool parenting, angry birds, skateboards, Simon Cowell or colour TV. Or it could even be a combination of all the above, plus another few thousand reasons that can be thought of.

[TF_Slider]

Is that the same “rest of Europe” that sit on £1500 quid seatboxes and use £30 worth of bait for a 3 hour match ?

Pole limits aren’t suitable for English fishing in any other situation than a CIPS match IMO.

[TF_map-mike]

Paul,

There are lots of youngsters coming into the sport, unfortunately its carp fishing they are heading into, not match / coarse fishing. It has nothing to do with the price of tackle or the need or pole restrictions.

If your young and want to get into fishing, you have a two choices coarse/ match fishing or proper carp fishing. Youngsters find it more appealing to catch a 20lb carp than they do a 1lb roach.

The social side of things pays a massive part as well, especially with anglers aged 18 -25.
When match fishing was at its height, the social aspect of it was a massive part of it.

Coaches full of anglers spending the day together, a few beers after the match (no drink driving in those days) and that’s now gone. That so social scene is massive within carp fishing as they spend weekends on the bank with mates having a drink – something you cannot do with general coarse fishing.

I firmly believe that in introduction of pole length restrictions in Europe has had a massive effect on pole technology, as they only develop poles that are 13m, they are no longer pushing technology boundaries. Would 13m poles be as good as they are nowadays if you could only develop that length of pole? – I doubt they would be.

[TF_macca63]

It was my grandad who got me into fishing otherwise I don’t think I would have ever taken up the sport as there were no opportunities where I lived when I was a kid. So I suppose it all boils down to if an angler is prepared to spare the time to take a non fishing youngster under their wing, parents aren’t going to fork out their hard earned on their kids on what could potentially be a whim and where they have to spend time with their kids out on the bank, the much easier option is spending £50 on a computer game to keep them occupied.

When kids do come into fishing a lot of the time they only want to catch carp [the bigger the better] – a guy I know runs a small complex and has said he gets kids coming on asking what the largest carp is before they even consider setting up.

[TF_TIDALWAVE1]

I do believe there should be a pole limit of 16mts maximum,as you can purchase a good usable 16mt pole without spending 2nd mortgage money.which is in the reach of the vast majority of anglers who would wish to fish at these lengths.this would level the playing field for all anglers,both sponsored and normal joe public who pays for everything.the only problem i can foresee is for the fisheries that have been built a certain width like snake lakes for example and you may need 16mts+ to reach far bank features on some areas.you do not need to spend £3k on a pole to compete,and they certainly do not cost a fraction of that to manufacture.and any manufacturer who tells you that you cannot get a decent 16mt pole without spending £2k+ obviously does not rely on consumer feedback from joe public for product development advice or input from the real world outside,and that is probably every major manufacturer,despite what they claim or say about customer feedback for product design.but if people choose to spend whatever they wish on tackle,that is their hobby and their decision.

[TF_allyParticipant]

I think bread should be banned, just think of all the wheat intolerant youngsters that are excluded from our sport.

[TF_wightangler]

i’d agree with MAP mike regarding youngsters wanting speci carp – only down our way – they seem to get bored of that after a couple of years. and then disappear.

most local speci-carpers are around the same age and overall number as our aged dwindling matchmen and local tackle shop sales reflect that – though about double still buy beginners kids rods and as a holiday thing.

[TF_badgerParticipant]

I don’t for one minute believe the cost of fishing tackle etc. is a reason for the lack of teenagers taking up fishing. I work in further education and can see first hand what a lot of kids spend their money on. Most of them have the latest mobile phones, and don’t think twice about spending up to £120 on trainers or jeans, some will have cars and pay insurance premiums of £2500. Most think angling is un-cool and an old mans hobby, the ones that do fish see it as a fine weather pastime. I don’t think limiting pole lengths and therefore cost would encourage youths to take up match fishing, and like someone has stated most of the kids that take up the sport go down the carp fishing route and the ones that I talk to have all the latest and expensive gear. I don’t know what the answer is to get more young uns into fishing, maybe there isn’t one, sorry if this post comes across as pessimistic, but that’s what I firmly believe.

[TF_enterthedragon]

I am heavily involved with leigh ospreys junior’s ac along with several other volunteers. The numbers have dropped significantly over recent years we once had just short of 50 youngsters signed and turning up regular to fish matches. It then dropped to about 15 and last year was up to 20 odd however on match days it depends on what water we are fishing as to how many turn up. If we get on a local carp water we have a full house but the.more natural venues may get 10 if we are lucky.
I have always taught my son if you can catch on a Canal or natural venue you can catch anywhere.

[TF_AnthonywatersParticipant]

My opinion is a 3 grand pole is a priviledge and not something I’d deem a necessity there’s plenty of good match anglers that use 1 thousand pound poles to good effect.Kids will not be put off by the cost they just don’t express an interest in angling anymore, 30 years ago when I started we were all fishing mad our school had a team and we entered the nationals etc my daughters school has 1800 kids and she doesn’t know anyone that goes fishing never mind the school having a team, its the sign of our times kids just want social media,fashion and Starbucks these days.

[TF_paulnewell]

@ally wrote:

I think bread should be banned, just think of all the wheat intolerant youngsters that are excluded from our sport.

Sally me thinks you are a sly croc too thick too grasp a method other than you think is worthy . Reckon I got all your pools money . Only those with an ability to learn can progress . Bye bye and thanks for pooling up !!!

[TF_allyParticipant]

I am lucky enough not to be wheat intolerant, and if I can be bothered to stop chucking birds at pigs, quite often dangle a lump from my £3,000 child beater.

[TF_allyParticipant]

I am actually against many/most bans. I will also predict that drop shotting on the pole, will be the next big thing. Controlled movement of the bait will attract more fish and probably a few bans.

[TF_paulnewell]

Because I go on this forum without hiding I think it’s extremely important not to make snide comments and to use this vehicle as a way to discuss some feelings thoughts and issues and come up with a census of opinion that may end up usefull . Your input was nothing to do with the original discussion nor usefull only designed to have a pop at my old method . Since they banned my method only I man came to me to my face and said what he thought wrong . He said it was too good !!!

[TF_allyParticipant]

My original input was to do with the discussion and aimed at pointing out that it would take more than a pole limit to attract youth back to match angling. I did then decide to have a pop at your double standards. Why is it ok to ban one thing and not another, oh it’s alright if Paul thinks it’s alright.
If you had thought about your initial post more, and maybe asked how can match fishing be made more attractive to the youth of today, then a more meaningful discussion could of possibly occurred.

[TF_paulnewell]

The other anglers joined in with some thought out replies . I won’t ask your opinion on how to construct a Discussion point but look forward to reading your next subject !! If I have anything to say you know who I am but I will attempt to be constructive.

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