Fishing Light

[Charlie_Thompson]

Sparked by another thread

Just my opinion - I've never thought about it that much before but since I've got interested in game fishing the issue has been highlighted. I always thought "fishing light" was more sporting as one reason was it "Gave the fish a chance" It doesn't.

If you're broke off a fish ends up with line hanging from its mouth or lying on the sea / riverbed.

If you don't get broke off the fish is NEVER going to win. We are just playing with them for a longer or shorter time depending on how heavy your gear is. A prolonged fight due to light tackle can kill many fish. In game fishing circles targetting fish without a sufficiently heavy line is frowned upon.

I'm being as bit picky like but it makes sense to me.

"Fishing Right" I suppose should be the aim.

[The Great Wallsendo]

As the fish in Monty Python say "Oh sh*t look - there's Mr Creasote"

[Topfly]

I agree Charlie, fishing light can be too traumatic for some fish. you have to know when the fish has had enough, get him in and unhooked.

[Charlie_Thompson]

I have to admit to 2 major failings

I think Monty Python and Elvis Presley suck

[Charlie_Thompson]

Stickler, I think the main challenge is getting a fish to take your bait after that it's all gravy and I think the main aim should be getting them in quicksharp then knocked on the head or put back.

[Topfly]

I'll go with that charlie.

[spike]

Fishing light has got nothing to do with giving a fish a chance,once its got a barbed hook in its mouth it has no chance.
The use of light gear is simply to enjoy the fight of the fish not to just winch it in,the end result will still be the same with the fish on the bank,but there will be less damage to its mouth due to playing the fish rather than dragging it out.
One of the reasons I will not use a beachcaster and daylights to catch mackeral only spinning tactics for me.
But commonsense has to come into play you wouldnt fish light if there were any snags about,best to leave the light tackle to the river or clean beaches.
Or have I and other coarse anglers got it wrong and we should be using boat rods and 30lb line to drag carp out as they will be less truamatised fished that way.

[Charlie_Thompson]

"Enjoy the fight"

If you are concerned about the state of a fishes mouth then you should also be concerned about the rest of it's body which suffers hugely during it's fight for freedom. Winching them in is probably best for the fish but not so cushty for the angler seeking "A fight"

Co**** fishing is another thing all together.

[phill_itofish]

just my opinion but i'm a fan of light tacktics, when spinning or floating, and i do think it gives the fish a chance especially when comparing it to "Macky Bashing" with daylites. dont get me wrong ive done the whole 7 daylight trace on a big beach rod but it is far more fun with the small rod.

And i would have to say that spinning is seven times less damaging to the fish then spinning, not scientificaly proven or any thing but when you pull a mackrel in on the spinning rod you have 1 mackrel with a sore mouth, when you pull 7 in on a big rod you've got 7 mackrel with sore mouths.

I like to look at it like this, Spinning with light gear is light two cowboys with there pistols at dawn. Big rod with 100 daylights on is like the yanks dropping a 100lb bomd on the taliban.

[The Great Wallsendo]

LOL like your analogy

I think this has been touched on before, but if you are to rationalise a fish and its apparent suffering then why do we do what we do? Not all of us are in for the food or the hunt - I would say 99% of recreational Anglers are in it for the sport.

Light tackle is more fun otherwise we may as well ditch the rods and use nets.

[Charlie_Thompson]

I should have maybe said it is possible imo to fish too light

[The Great Wallsendo]

what about the Charvas that use light tackle to fish with 5oz leads and 12 daylites?

[Charlie_Thompson]

Bless them , they know not what they do