Hello all. Feeling slightly reflective today (not in the shiny way). I've been pondering some things from years gone by. One thing in particular has stuck in my mind:

Many (many) years ago, I accompanied my grandfather on a fishing trip to the Conwy. I was only a child (5 or 6) but I remember to this day a conversation (well, more a few words) we had at the river.

After an hour or so's fishing my grandfather hooked a beautiful silver tourist of around 13lb. Now this was back in the day when you could use gaffs. So he duly brought the fish to the bank and gaffed it out. I distinctly remember me saying "does that hurt the fish, what if you want to put it back" to which my grandfather replied "ha, why ever would I want to put it back?".

Of course, if he were alive today he would see how fishing and conservation has changed a great deal since that day 30+ years ago. However, has it all changed for the good? Has progress been at the expense of some of the old ways?

I don't mean the gaffing/keeping the salmon incident in particular, that was merely the spark to my reflectiveness. More `on the whole' what is better now, compared to 30 years ago, and what is much worse?

Hi Stuart,
Going back 70 + years, I would say that most things have changed in fly fishing, better lines, better flies, better leader material, more affordable fishing, transport to and fro' the venues, and above all, fly rods, no comparison to the rods we used years ago, I often hear the saying,"They were the good old days" not only regards to fishing but all walks of life, take it from me they were the bad old days, we're having the good days here and now.

No takers?

OK, I'll give you one thing that, in my opinion detracts from how we fish today compared to 30 years ago, and it isn't even an item of tackle.

If I could tell my grandfather there was such a device that would enable grandmother to talk to him, no matter where he was - pub, river, lake. . . he would have a face not to dissimilar to a vary famous painting by Edvard Munch.

Yes, the mobile phone. I was fishing yesterday evening at a local small water and I swear I heard 10 different ring-tones. Each one sending a shiver down my spine, not to mention having to listen to the ensuing conversation due to the increased volume used by people when they use a mobile phone.

Do any fisheries ban mobile phones? If not, why not!

*edit* Apologies Pete, you posted your reply when I was typing mine.

[QUOTE=stuartpengs;460628]No takers?

Yes, the mobile phone. I was fishing yesterday evening at a local small water and I swear I heard 10 different ring-tones. Each one sending a shiver down my spine, not to mention having to listen to the ensuing conversation due to the increased volume used by people when they use a mobile phone.

The mobile phone one of the best inventions ever and probably the very worst, every where you go you see people doing thumb exercises and especialy in work. mobiles must be costing business an absolute fortune through peolpe texting friends instead of working. I have seen people using their mobile for at least 1 hr a day contacting family or friends needlesly. Anyway yes rods have changed dramatically. Fly lines have changed much better now than years ago and in 10 years time everything will have changed again as technology is advancing so fast.

Alan and more

There was a lot more free fishing years ago, now its all taken by clubs and syndicates. The kids of our day don't have the same chance I did.

__________________
I will arise and go now, and go to Innisfree,9 bean rows will I have there and a hive for the honey bee.

Yes some fisheries do ban mobiles, well maybe not ban them but insist on you turning them off, A short bit of the Test where I occasionally get a chance to fish, I do believe some fly fishers are very selfish when they use mobiles while fishing, most inconsiderate towards fellow fishers, more so these folk who sit fishing with a bloody mobile radio blurting across the lake, only ever come across that once, once is enough...........I carry a 12 bore now....

Very good point MARAZION MIDGE. It does seem every time a water becomes available these days it's snapped up by a syndicate. Though I will say fly fishing has been opened up to more people due to the growing popularity of the `small water' fishery. It's much easier to catch non-indigenous species in the UK today than it is to catch indigenous species. Something else my grandfather would find difficult to believe.

Very true, I used to fish the river Avon in Amesbury in the 1930s, on my way home from school, but in those days I could run faster than the bailiff.