Henry Gilbey's World of Fishing Blog

• This kind of thing just about makes my week

  Posted 08:16, 7 July 2010

  • I received an email the other day from Steve Mitchell down in south west Cornwall, and he has kindly given me permission to display it here, along with a photo of the stunning bass he caught. I can not tell you how much it means to get emails, comments and feedback like this, so my thanks goes to Steve, and of course my congratulations at catching such a fantastic bass. To know that a few of the bits and pieces that I do within fishing can actually help some anglers out just makes my week, but make no mistake - it works the same way for me.  Opening up one's mind is a skill........

  Hi Henry,
  
  I just wanted to drop you a line

  I live in South West Cornwall and have been sea fishing on and off since I was a lad and I have also done quite a bit of fly fishing, my biggest bass has been around 5Ib and biggest brown trout 5Ib 8oz from Argal back in 1999 when it was a trout fishery. I have never done any lure/plugging for bass before. My son for Christmas bought me one of your DVDs on plugging and this has inspired me to re-think my fishing. I have been looking on your website which is great, and have bought most of my gear on your recommendation. I have also been following your blog and find it very informative your enthusiasm certainly comes through
  
  I have been out quite a few times since March and haven’t caught any bass using this technique that is until last Wednesday night, I went fishing on the North Coast with my son. I was using a Maria Bull Chop in calm conditions when I got hit by a bass about 25 yards out, I couldn’t believe my eyes when I landed it, it tipped the scales 9 pounds 3oz my first lure caught bass this has got to be some kind of record? It will be down hill from now on, I don’t think I will top that in a hurry

  I decided to keep the fish, however I did feel quite emotional when I thought of how old this fish must be, I must admit in the past I couldn’t understand why anyone would not want to take such a fish home, however I have completely change my mind, and will release larger fish in future (that’s if I catch any!)

  I just wanted to thank you and my son of course, for rekindling my enthusiasm for fishing.

  Keep up the good work

  Kind Regards

  Steve Mitchell

  

  Photo courtesy Steve Mitchell

  • Thanks again Steve. Personally I think it's really brave of Steve to say how his feelings at taking such a fish have now changed. I am sure that every single one of us has at some point in our fishing lives killed fish that we then thought about  in a different way and ultimately regretted. I know I have. Whatever the case, that is one hell of a first lure caught bass Steve, and I would like to say thanks for contacting me. I would guess now that Steve has got the lure bug bad !!

   

   

  Comments

  On 7th July 10 Tim Griffin said: That's a super fish from a stunning looking spot. What a way to open your lure fishing account as well - amazing! It is a shame Steve took this fish in my opinion, but I think he now feels the same respect as most lure fishermen for the big bass.

  On 7th July 10 Ian Morris said: Hi Henry, A great fish. Quiet often you hear that it takes an angler to experience killing a big fish himself for the penny to drop. These often make the best conservationists because it comes from the heart and not because someone has told them it’s the right thing to do. I think its good of you to post his story because it might help someone reading about it make a more informed decision when they land their first big one. You mention how much it means to you to get this kind of feedback in that a big part of what he is doing is due to being inspired by yourself; I am wondering does any part of you feel the slightest pang of guilt that you have played such a contributory factor in great fish like this being caught and killed, or do you view it as collateral, if you like “bycatch” damage that’s part and parcel of spreading the word about how effective and enjoyable lure fishing for bass is. That’s not a dig by the way, because I have a good deal of respect for the enthusiastic “Gilby” mantra, it’s a serious “outside the box” what-makes-you-tick kinda question. Keep up the good work, Ian

  On 7th July 10 Henry Gilbey said: Tim - thanks for that. Ian - valid point, I have no problem at all with you asking the question if that is any help. But do I feel "guilty" ? In a word, no. I do my best in my own little way to promote the sport of fishing, but it is 100% up to the individual as to whether they release fish or not. Who's to say that I am promoting fishing in the best possible light anyway ? Many ways to go about doing it, and all credit I reckon to Steve for allowing me to publish that email axactly as he wrote it. You and Tim both make good points - it is often the case that an angler almost "needs" to go through taking a good fish for the penny to drop. But no, I do not feel "guilt" at this kind of thing happening. It has to be up to the angler as to what they do.

  On 7th July 10 Ian Morris said: Ok Henry I understand, and many thanks for taking the trouble to reply. Yes you are of course right there are plenty of anglers out there who view what we do as a totally alien practice, but please do not underestimate how 'big' your 'little' way is , I think you have the ear of an awful lot of anglers. Ian

  On 7th July 10 Simon Lewis said: I caught & kept a 7lb Bass last year. It was my first 'Big' Bass. It was a turning point for me, as it was the first & last Big Girl that i'll ever keep. I guess that the proof is in the pudding, as when i caught my 9lb'er this year, i had a scales, tape & camera ready, so that she was back in the water as quickly as possible, and swimming away strongly. I have a wonderful set of pictures & a video to remember her by. Full credit to you Steve for catching such a magnificient fish, and the fact that it's made you question your approach is a tremendously positive result - i know how you feel!!

  On 7th July 10 Graham Blackmore said: If you eat fish its stupid not to kill one you've caught. Untold damage is caused in harvesting the one for sale in your local fishmonger or supermarket - whether it be farmed or fished (lined fished excluded). I like to eat fish and so do my family so I am happy to kill some of my catch and don't feel any guilt at all. Personally I wouldn't take one bigger than 4-5lb but thats personal and if it saves somebody buying I would rather see them kill a big bass. I would love to see any destructive and wasteful commercial fishing banned (scallop dreging in lyme bay was a result) and sensible and conservative quotas introduced for all other fishing (min and max size) and substantial penalties for rule breakers.

  On 7th July 10 pete smith ireland said: Henry,Pete from Kerry,what a way for Steve to start his lure fishing carrer,as he said himself it may be a while before he tops that fish. It must be wonderful for you to have been instrumental in his first bass. As for taking fish,I don't think Steve like most of us will take any more healthy bass. Well done Steve on a tremendous catch.

  On 8th July 10 Nick Ring said: I have to agree with Simon. I kept a 12lb 4oz bass from the boat. It had swallowed the hook, so I thought I would keep it rather than release it with a hook down its throat. It was my first double and happened 5 years ago now. To this day I still deeply regret my decision, and do feel very guilty. Since then I have had several large bass from the boat weighing up to 9lb, and all have been released. I love to eat fish, and only take the occasional fish now that falls between 3 and 5lb. Anything either side is returned. That 12lb'er regrettably lost her life, but in doing so has saved other large fish, and will continue to do so.

  On 9th July 10 Julian Fox said: My first double went in the pot - I was 21. I lay awake that night thinking that fish is as old as me. I haven't killed another big girl since.

  On 9th July 10 Keith White said: I rarely keep any Bass now. 3 or 4 a year maybe if we get bleeding fish. Sometimes they just won't go back and that is unfortunately the price of sportfishing. However, it is selective food fishing in that we choose what to keep selectively. Is it so wrong to eat fish ? I don't think it is but with the caveat that we fish sustainably. Anglers (the minority unfortunately) and spearfishermen get the raw end of deal but it is very selective and IF the commercial equation where in balance, we wouldn't be having these discussions As we know, it isn't and isn't likely to be in our lifetimes so I guess all we can do is our individual bit. Thankfully I have never lost a big fish to deep hooking in the last 20 years of Bassing. Sadly, I did kill my first Bass and that to this day haunts me. It was 10lb exactly, yep, my first ever Bass. I totally regretted it just hours later but what was done couldn't be undone. In following years I have been instrumental in seeing guys catch their first bass or their biggest bass and have seen them swim away in great health. Believe me, the latter gives great satisfaction.

  On 9th July 10 Henry Gilbey said: Great comments guys, thanks so much - seems to be a common thread that a lot of us have killed a decent fish in the past, then thought about it afterwards and ended up regretting it. And as a result we have changed what we do with the fish we catch. I am not in any way saying that fish should not be taken for eating by the way, but it is so often the case that anglers are the most self-disciplined people out there when it comes to this.

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