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Fishing: Still a cheap hobby if you want

Living close to the River Thames as I do, I have miles of free fishing at my disposal, subject to owning a rod licence of course.

Keith Arthur
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For as long as I can recall fishing has been a cheap hobby. I know specialist anglers, whether that is boat, sea, game or match will spend an absolute fortune on their kit but is the fishing really that expensive?

I have had calls about syndicate owners increasing both price and numbers of members; the latest is Wellington Country Park where the 50 members paid £1,000 for the 2007 season. I understand that this is to rise to £1,500 pa, with an increase in membership to 75.

There is a waiting list so I understand why the market is being tested by the owners: it will be interesting to see if there are that many people prepared to pay that much to catch what are some very big fish indeed.

I suppose there are carp anglers who play the numbers game and to rack up a host of '40s' is considered good angling, no matter where they are captured: fish of that size never throw themselves on to the hook!

For anglers that think along those lines, 'Welly' and other waters like it, Acton Burnell springs to mind, must be like manna from above and £30 a week is less than two nights on a 'normal' commercial carp fishery in real terms.

Day ticket fisheries, even the very best, probably charge less than the cost of fuel to get there and back and when a bit of bait is added on the cost of the fishing becomes proportionately even less.

Football

Then there's club membership and for the price of a single seat at a Premier League football match, or a couple of nights at 'the flicks' (giving may age away slightly) a whole year of angling on private waters is available.

Just look through some of the mail order ads: if you are a match angler the mid-price range for poles now seems to be around £1,000; top-of-the-range now seems to be knocking on £3k!. A seatbox system can set you back a grand.

Carp anglers buying rods and reels in threes are spending £800 for a 'set' of the most popular high-end models. Add another £800+ for the best 'big-pit' reels, plus spod and marker rods and reels, bivvies, pods, bedchairs etc and £3,000 doesn't get you very far. And that's not going near boilies at £10 a kilo!

Yet for the nitty-gritty, the permission to use that tackle, we seem to be griping.

Golf

Golfers have a very different scenario. I've just had a quick search on the internet and £750-800 seems about average for membership of a golf club. This isn't for a championship course -which I'd relate to a good carp fishing syndicate - but a reasonable average. Green fees can be from a VERY cheap £15 each to whatever you like really. Compared to angling a round of golf lasts a fraction of the time most people spend at the waterside.

I know there is upkeep, but decent fisheries all have maintenance to consider and the fish don't fly there on their own (I know certain exceptions, but we better not mention those!).

I recently had a day with Charles Jardine on an exclusive beat of the River Test in Hampshire. It was close-season for trout and we were fishing for grayling, as guests of the fishery manager. A day's trout fishing there would cost anything upwards of £300 a day, don't forget!

Now compare that to one of the great reservoirs, such as Chew or Rutland Water. Although there are wild fish in the Test, most of those captured are stockies, including rainbows. I wouldn't swear that the quality of fish was better or worse because I have seen great fish on either kind of venue. I suspect the justification is the exclusivity and carp syndicates should really be seen in that kind of light.

Fishing

As for me, living close to the River Thames as I do, I have miles of free fishing at my disposal, subject to owning a rod licence of course. I can fish for coarse fish from June 16 until March 14 and, if I desire, I can fish from April 1 until October for trout, as long as I use artificial lures and return all coarse fish caught accidentally. I can even lash out £65 for a 'Migratory Trout and Salmon' licence and have a go for those: all for free! I don't know a wild golf course where I could do that.

There are free or public stretches on many rivers, dotted all over the country and the fishing can be as good, or better, than on some of the more private sections.

So it's down to you really; fishing can be about as expensive as you make it. Tackle has certainly never been cheaper - for all those dear rods and reels I mentioned above there are other brilliant alternatives that perform wonderfully well on sale for very little money compared even to 30 years ago.

My first carbon match rod cost £133 as a blank: I had to make the handle and build the rod. I could buy a better rod, with a reel, line and even some kit for the same money today.

And still have change for a day's fishing.

TIGHT LINES
Keith Arthurs answers your questions

To send Keith Arthur a question, please click here: skysportsclub@bskyb.com

FRENCH FISHING
Hi Keith, me and my mates are planning a fishing trip to France and with so many places to choose from it could be a bit off a lottery. Can you recommend any places? I have been on fishing holidays in England and spoken to anglers who have been over to France and I have had some bad reports. Thankyou for your help. Amanda Hill.

KEITH SAYS: Hello Amanda, I know that Nigel Botherway has been to the Kevin Nash resort, Lac Chateau Cavagnac and returned singing its praises. It is not an easy 'runs' water but is beautifully managed and maintained. There are lots of things to know about it, so best check the website: http://www.nashresorts.com/

Angling Lines are a company that deal in foreign holidays, many in France, and every venue is surveyed, and usually filmed, by them. They have all sorts of carp fishing, from the small and intimate through to mega-waters: http://www.carplines.co.uk/

I'm sure you'll find something within those sites to suit your purpose, plus there are others you can find easily enough through a search engine. I have suggested the two above based on experiences of friends. I also believe that you need to have expectations within the realms of reality. Big carp are big carp, whatever country they inhabit and do much as they like. Bon voyage.

PLEADING FOR THE FIFTH
Hi Keith, I want to know where i can get a 5th section for a leeda blue diamond. I am desperate to get back into pole fishing. Do you have any more tips on pole fishing? I hope you can help me thanks. From John in Castleford.

KEITH SAYS: Hello John, Here's a contact number for Customer Service at Leeda: 0800 1300 621. Make sure you have the butt section of the pole in front of you with the model details as I am fairly confident there has been more than one Blue Diamond pole. Leeda used the Blue Diamond name for their commercial fishery based equipment. It is a good range of gear.

If you have a section that is broken and you haven't lost it, make sure you keep watching Tight Lines because in the next few weeks we will be visiting one of the premier pole and rod repair companies in the UK, Esselle, to see how they do it. Here's their website: http://www.polerepairs.co.uk/ Good luck!