This is our third week coaching the lads from the local ‘secondary’. And I have to say, despite never holding a rod or pole before, they have – thus far – all caught fish; including big tench, stunning scaly carp, and some very healthy looking roach.
All this, regardless of the prevailing conditions: windy weather or calm, high pressure or low; bright sunshine or biting rain; falling water levels… you get the idea.
Which rather begs the question: how come the kids are catching…. whilst so many ‘senior’ anglers are struggling?
The answer, of course, is: they are willing to listen and learn from our coach (John Pope, of EverybodyCanFish).
An experienced angler and trainer for more years than he’d probably care to remember, John is passionate about sharing his knowledge. And he works not just with youngsters but with adults of all ages too – encouraging and nurturing beginner-anglers, whilst helping more experienced ‘returners’ to update and enhance their skills.
I didn’t have a ‘John’ (behave yourselves!) when I started fishing; I had a Ken; a remarkable chap who – between scaling trees like a speeding macaque, retrieving my miscast rigs, and unravelling myriad bird’s-nests – instilled in me the basics; the angling ‘essentials’ that I carry with me to this day.
And there have been a whole host of Kens since: folk who’ve introduced me to new and interesting branches of the sport; helping me to adapt my approach to suit different waters, conditions and species.
Of course, being unflinchingly ‘self-aware’ – fully cognisant of my own shortcomings, and shameless in the pursuit of ideas and edges I can steal and make my own – I have no hesitation ‘putting my hand up’, when I see anyone catching more fish than me (which – yes; thank you, Michael – is almost everyone).
Others, perhaps through a misplaced sense of pride, seem reluctant to similarly ask for help; preferring instead to blame their lack of action on the unfavourable climate, preponderance of natural food, angler pressure; and even – a puzzle to me, given our stocking levels (which are somewhere north of jaw-dropping) – an absence of fish.
But why? Is angling so fundamental to our sense of self-worth that asking for help, be it from peers or pro’s like John, is deemed such a faux pas; a source of social awkwardness so profound as to have us driven from our communities in shame?
I think not. With which in mind, I would strongly urge anyone who is currently struggling – be it on our lakes, or others – either to approach their more accomplished contemporaries for advice; to contact an Angling Trust coach like John, to discuss a ‘one-to-one’; or to attend one of our own (completely free) coaching events.
You’ll find full details of those events here: http://bit.ly/RBFcoaching
