Back to Basics?
Traditional angling, being the ultimate form of pleasure fishing, is a long way from the results-orientated modern sport. It sleeps in the long grass on a summer’s day, sips real ale, reads a book at a slow and contemplative pace, gazes at the waterside flora and fauna, and immerses itself in all the wonderful, natural, distractions that help to quieten a busy soul. If one catches a fish, great; it’s a welcome by-product of a leisurely day at the water’s edge.
Sadly, many peole think traditional angling is just to do with using vintage fishing tackle. In my opinion, it's not.
Relax. It's not about the tackle
Last year I responded to the growing misonception about traditional angling by writing a series of blogs that made my view clear: traditional angling is a mindset, it is fundamentally not to do with tackle.
My opinion regarding tackle choice is a longstanding one (held for twenty years), amplified by recent observations of so-called traditional anglers fishing with a modern mindset (competitive, urgent, unseasonal, all about catching fish – even if it’s to the detriment of the fish’s welfare). I felt that these people were masquerading as traditional anglers by using vintage-styled tackle. Their so-called ‘traditional’ angling was merely a charade. Sure, these anglers were enjoying themselves but their fishing was too fast-paced and eager.
Fishing, to me, is about relaxation – switching off from the urgency of modern life and drifting into the calming hypnosis of nature. Vintage tackle can help with angling aethetics (enhancing the much-sought illusion of timelessness and escapism at the waterside) but it's secondary to the gentle nature of the pleasure angler.
You can fish with modern tackle and still be a traditional angler
I decided to prove my point. I went out and purchased a set of modern coarse fishing gear: all the multi-rod, bivvied up, carp barrowed, computer-designed and space-age tackle used by modern carp fishers and specimen hunters. I fished with it through the autumn and part of the winter, writing articles about the experience. I even gave my hair a crew cut and wore military-style camouflaged clothing to complete the image.
But I fished in my usual relaxed fashion, brewing cups of tea beside the lakes and rivers, and spending half my time studying wildlife through binoculars. I was using modern gear, but fishing traditionally.
Hopefully, my efforts rebooted people’s perception of traditional angling – proving that traditional angling is not dependent upon the tackle one uses.
Use the tackle that suits
I’d done my bit. I could now return to my normal style of fishing with bamboo rods, wicker creels, and a hat tipped upwards in respect to Izaak Walton and my friend and mentor Bernard Venables.
I could do it, but would I do it?
Vintage and old-fashioned tackle is congruent to my desire for escapism and relaxation while fishing. It's on-brand with the old-fashioned imagery of Fennel's Priory and the handcrafted 'feel' that appeals to me. But I'm not 'all or nothing'. I know that vintage tackle has its place – and so does modern tackle.
The best of old and new
At a time when plastic is an environmental no-no, I crave more than ever to surround myself with organic materials. A slow-paced, natural, organic approach to angling is my release from the pressures of modern life. Give me natural, traditional materials – such as bamboo, willow, canvas and leather – whenever appropriate. But that doesn't mean all the time, just when it suits.
There are practicalities to consider. Bamboo rods feel and look great when playing relatively small or not-so-hard-fighting fish, or for short-range casting (with light leads) next to open water, but are unsuitable for most other opportunities. Wicker creels and canvas bags are wonderfully organic, but not especially waterproof. The list goes on.
So while more modern items of tackle are more mass-produced and often lack the handcrafted look and feel, they are infinitely more versatile and functionally superior for what they're designed to do. Hence why I've decided to cut through the snobbery, politics, and pretentiousness of traditional angling 'rules' by declaring that I will continue to use modern items of tackle.
Have I gone over to the 'dark side'? No. I'm just done with the tackle debate. I’m still absolutely a traditional angler.
Remember: traditional angling is a mindset. It's nothing to do with tackle.
If you like this blog, you'll like Fennel's book Traditional Angling. You might also like to read Traditional Angling Evolution, a chapter from Fennel's Book of Secrets.
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