Phil The Fish Rants

An apology!
I had meant to write a product review of a new reel I had been given by one of our Suppliers to test and evaluate, but I’m afraid that will have to wait until at least tomorrow.
To give you the background, I’m lucky enough to live in one of the most beautiful places on earth, St Gilgen in Austria. The huge Wolfgangsee is just 30 feet from my front door and my front window looks across the lake to the Schafberg Mountain over which the Sun rises every morning, give or take a little cloud. Don’t get me wrong, it’s no mansion just a 4 room apartment with a stunning vista.
The apartment comes with its own ‘Badenplatz’ from where most of our testing is conducted.
So this morning off I strolled for a mornings ‘work’ (?). 3 minutes gentle dander and you’re there.
I unpacked the kit, admired the workmanship, took a couple of notes and got ready to make my first cast.
I saw a fish! Easy I thought! I made to cast then saw a closer fish. A Chub. Nice size, easy peazy!
And this is the ‘Rant’ bit!!!
Whilst I know there are many out there that find fishing cruel and barbaric etc. etc., much akin to fox hunting but with a ‘Big Stick’, as a keen angler I’ve always thought of them as the loony fringe.
But today I saw a sight that made my blood boil and would give grist to the mill of Anglings detractors!
The fish had lure in its mouth. A nice, green, tiger striped, 2-piece wobbler. This Chub was going to starve to death.
Now I’m a ‘Catch & Release’ man myself, though I have been known to take the very odd Trout, and I have no gripe with those that like to keep their trophies, but seeing this fish and knowing that it could never be caught and helped from its misery, due to the crass stupidity of the unthinking angler who cast the bait, just made me feel so gutted!
As anglers we have a duty of care to protect the environment and the fish we hunt so patiently. This includes making sure we tie knots properly, that our rig is sound and that we don’t put lures aimed at larger fish on line that minnows could break!
I know that fish will probably be dead by the time you, dear reader, peruse this article and it makes me sad.
And perchance a Pike takes this dying specimen?……….. aaaarrgghhh!