To Tell or Not To Tell.

Before each session we all have our baits and our preparation techniques. We all add that little extra bit to try and make our own experience one for the record books. We all dream of the 40Lb plus.

In general people are very cliquey, and even though you greet and acknowledge others, we tend to stay in our own circle. We have our swim, we have our baits, we have our secrets and even though I will greet the people next to me, I am keeping my techniques close to my chest. We all want to have that edge.

Every now and then I find myself wondering what “those people” are using? Obviously I never go and actually ask… who would? Its almost a taboo subject in the fishing world. Often times people will give you information if you ask, but only a bit of it. For example, I am feeding maize and boilie, but not what flavours, or not a hookbait. Or you could get a hookbait, but not what feed. My learning curve has come from trial and error and from quite a few blanking sessions, or from putting together bits and pieces from articles and posts.

Earlier this month, I was lucky enough to do a session where the peg next to us was occupied by people we knew. After I and my peggy had caught we were asked what we were using. R, being the nice guy he is, gave him some of our bait and sent him off. I must admit I stuck to the cliché and told R off for it. We had lost our edge, so to speak.

When the young man pulled in new PB and I saw the smile on his face, I realised that whatever edge we had lost was worth it. The happiness I saw in this lad was palpable. His fish was massive compared to my little PB. Do I feel jealous, or proud? I stopped the green eyed monster in her tracks and decided on proud that I could help someone. From that experience I decided on a new train of thought…

We fish because we love it and I want people to catch fish. I want others to have that mad adrenaline rush and feel the joy after landing a beauty. So I have decided that anyone who asks me what I am using is going to get the truth. If I can help someone else catch and make a lifetime memory then I should.