I don't comp fish, but was reading the 1lb/hr penalty thread.

What are the rules if say you are two fish from your limit and 4 hrs before the whistle you hook an obviously small fish, when you know much better fish are there and catchable? Can you slack line it to lose it, or savagely re-strike and "break off"?

What are the rules?
What are the ethics?
Does it happen?

and is it enforced?

__________________
"Anonymous presence grant that, when I come questioning, it is not with the dictionary in one hand, the microscope in the other."
R. S. Thomas

``·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸ ><((((((º>

´¯`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸ ><((((((º>

I think you probably know the answer to this yourself..............

Of course it happens, there was some accusations flying about here a short while back about the way certain individuals release there fish, overarm behind the head I believe.

I have seen some very poor practice when both fishing comps and as a boatman. Fish don't stand a chance, they are horsed in on overweight gear, skimmed over a net, hook ripped out and launched back into the water if it is to be released. Comp anglers do not want to loose time faffing about with releasing fish. Call it greed, personal glory or just blind fury I don't know but fook being a fish on comp days.

Walker

PS. Not every comp angler behaves likes this, but there are a few out there.

Very very few in fact and I've never seen it in lots of comps..

Otter startler, why are you asking questions like that if you don't fish competitions. If you want to start a thread in the competition section, why don't you make it a constructive next time or stick to Viewpoint.

__________________

So it's better to play them for ages on light tackle, net them when
they are about dead through exhaustion and then release them !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I don't think so.
In hot weather there should be no catch and release, an 8 or 10 fish
limit and 2lb an hour time bonus.

Get back in your box! Has the comp scene something to hide?

I'm just curious, not accusing, I've only ever fished a ressy once in my life ( Chew and I was really surprised how good it was ). I just wanted to know what the rules were on "intentionally losing fish".

__________________
"Anonymous presence grant that, when I come questioning, it is not with the dictionary in one hand, the microscope in the other."
R. S. Thomas

``·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸ ><((((((º>

´¯`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸ ><((((((º>

Did I say that? Let's not get ahead of yourself.

Do you fish in comps? Have you seen how the pro's horse fish in?

Walker

The 1lb an hour thing is a Bonus not a penalty. and as far as I'm aware there are no rules that say your first 8 fish must be killed - if you want to release some of your first 8 fish in the hope of getting bigger ones then that's ok I believe. The only problem with that is that you run the risk of not bagging up and risk not getting any time bonus.

There are no rules specific to you're question other than rule number one, which is "competitors will participate in the spirit of the sport". Deliberately losing fish would possibly come under this. Look at the results from Chew, Grafham and Rutland for the last 3 months. There has been no "selective" fishing recently, every fish has been valuable I can tell you!

Try losing a fish on purpose, it's almost impossible. Very few would risk snapping off and losing flies and having to tie a new leader and I've NEVER heard of this in 15 years competition fishing. Fishermen are great gossips, if someone did this in a comp, word would get round. Also slack lining so the fish comes off doesn't work...try it!

Regarding "horsing fish in", when you first hook a fish, it is often off balance and you are able to get it into the net quickly...often in less than a few seconds, If it gets it's head down you then have to play a fish out. The skill is in hooking the fish in the first place, every experienced angler knows how to play a fish...all be it badly sometimes

Oh...and I'm nowhere near "out of my box" my friend.

__________________

Agree BG although having an 8 weight helps..............

Walker