Family activities have always been important but never more so than now. Covid has had a significant impact on our lives and made us realise the importance of those around us. Suddenly, not being able to do the things we loved with the people we loved hit us hard. As they say, it’s not until something is taken away from you that you realise the significance of it. Those things are so precious.
Fishing always has and always will be a fantastic sport for the whole family to enjoy. It is time to be together, participate in a shared interest, and most importantly, it gets everyone outdoors enjoying the countryside. Why would that not appeal to anyone?
The Tackle Shop Ely first opened its doors in May 2021 to share that passion for fishing with the broader community. Ken first started fishing shortly after he learnt to walk, and his memories have always been fond ones…both back then and now. The key to building that passion is ensuring everyone is having fun. It’s all about enjoyment. If we all look at the things we love, it’s because they make us smile, and, for some of us, there was something that ignited that passion either 50 years ago or just last week. When it comes to fishing, every single one of us will remember the first time we hooked a fish. It was at that exact moment that we were hooked ourselves. We need to get other people feeling that same excitement…young, old, male, female…who cares!
Ken and the other members of The Tackle Shop Ely family are huge supporters of the Angling Trust’s “Get Fishing” campaign as they believe in everything that the Trust is trying to achieve.
“Get Fishing is the Angling Trust’s campaign to get more people fishing more often. Each year we run hundreds of events for all ages and abilities. Get Fishing angling events are for anyone who wants to get into fishing, get back into angling or find out where to go fishing, who to go fishing with, what to use to start fishing and how to go fishing for the first time.”
Angling Trust
Over the following year and beyond, Ken is on a mission to collaborate with the Angling Trust to hold regular fishing taster days for the local community and those outside of the area who want to get involved. The FREE events will give families and individuals alike the chance to try out the sport and get a feel for what it’s all about. It is an opportunity to ignite that passion in people who have either never tried it or want to return to the sport after many years out of the loop. It is vital for Ken and his team that these FREE taster days are available to anyone who wants to give it a go. Young, old, male, female, it doesn’t matter. Fishing is for everyone.
Fishing usually requires a licence, but these events will include a group licence for everyone involved, making it easy and totally hassle-free. All you need to do is turn up full of enthusiasm and an open mind about trying something new. These events will be fun and the perfect opportunity to learn more about this fantastic sport.
The Canal River Trust states the following…and we couldn’t agree more:
“No matter what age you are, when you join an angling club, you become part of a community, whether you take part in competitions or just nod a greeting to the angler on the next peg. You can join in as much or as little as you want to, but being around like-minded people, sharing an interest and connecting with new friends is a great way to spend the day. 40% of adults can’t sleep at night due to stress, and just being around water lowers anxiety and induces feelings of calm.”
If fishing is something you would like to learn more about, either as a solo sport or something to share with friends or family, please continue to follow The Tackle Shop Ely’s Facebook page. There you will find updates on future events, such as the fishing taster days mentioned above. Ken is eager to get the whole community involved. It would also be great to see those who haven’t actively participated in the sport for several years reigniting their passion. It’s never too late to jump back into fishing and remind yourself why you once loved it.
Why not get involved…
To find out more about the Angling Trust’s “Get Fishing” campaign, visit their website at Get Fishing - Angling Trust
Fly fishing is one of the oldest forms of fishing, with records dating back to 16th century Europe. It has become more popular as people learn about its benefits and watch it on TV. Fly fishing is best for expert fishermen because they can cast a fly from miles away without getting tangled in weeds or snagged on rocks.
The main benefit of fly fishing is that it is more environmentally friendly than other forms of fishing. Fly fishermen use fly rods and fly-tying equipment instead of heavy tackle to catch fish, so they can select their bait or lure appropriately for the situation from a wide variety and are less likely to cause harm to the environment as they reel in prey.
Fly fishers also have an intimate connection with nature that allows them to relax more in their surroundings, making fly fishing a great stress-busting and meditative activity.
The top five things you need to know before you go fly fishing:
One of the keys to successful fly fishing is determining what depth the fish are holding. The best way to know this varies throughout the day, depending on things like water temperature, weather conditions, and insect hatchings.
Cast your flies and wait for a pull, or until the bait has sunk. To find where they’re holding, measure five countdowns before you start to retrieve your line. Each time you cast with no luck, add an extra 5 on to the next attempt.
When you're fly-fishing, start casting near the surface and work your way down until you catch anything. The five second rule is usually a good baseline which means that after waiting for 5 seconds without any action, try 10 seconds,
If your rod is raised too high, it will be out of range and the fish will not feel any movement on their end of the line and will likely never take the bait.
Be sure to point your pole tip down toward the water and watch for any movement in your line. Next, lift the rod in order to hook your catch.
When it comes to fly fishing with trout, they have several unique qualities that set them apart from other animals. They can't squint like many other creatures and their pupils don't constrict as easily, making fly fishing even more challenging for an expert fisherman.
Trout are especially sensitive to light levels and will retreat during the day. During sunny days, change your fishing patterns to go deeper in order to find them.
It helps to see what's hatching on the banks of the river and adjust your fly accordingly. If you see small, recently hatched flies, then do try switching to smaller patterns.
When catching trout with a fly, any flies that most resemble natural invertebrates will work best - but they should be fished close to the tops of streams to intercept feeding fish.
Although not everyone appreciates fly fishers exploring the quiet banks of a stillwater—where trout are close to their home and as sensitive to movement from above as humans are—that doesn't stop many anglers from stomping along the shoreline, dropping heavy gear by the bank without considering what that does to trout.
When the angler is trying to catch fish, they should try and do so without startling them.
In conclusion, you should make sure you have the right equipment and enjoy yourself!
Catching carp fish is a great pastime for those who enjoy fishing and carp water. The carp fish are one of the most popular freshwater game fishes in the UK. Carp fishing can be done from shore, boats or by wading out into the water. There are many different ways to catch carp depending on where you plan to do it and what gear you have available to you but there is one important thing that needs to happen before any carp will bite your bait; they must see it!
In carp water, carp mostly feed on insects and food that falls from the surface. If they see your bait in the water then they will have a high chance of biting it! This is why you need to fish at dawn or dusk when carp are feeding actively. Carp fishing can be done anytime during the day but these times offer more bites so carp fishermen tend to use this technique for higher success rates.
The best way to catch carp with baited hooks is by using one rod fitted with an open eye line (tungsten), hook and pelletised bread as bait tied onto a length of shot either above or below the hook depending on water depth, 180 metres maximum. After several hours waiting without any carp taking your bait, you might want to tinker with the carp-catching technique, maybe by changing bait or location.
To catch carp, it’s best to use a large spinner or live bait on the end of your rod. A hook smaller than 12/0 is best - this will allow you to get closer without carp feeling threatened.
When carp are near enough for a good shot with your reel and net, make sure you wait until they turn sideways before reeling in because if not then the carp will likely break off! Once you have reeled them in just be careful when landing them so as not to cause any injury (carp can sometimes throw themselves into trees or rocks).
You'll know immediately whether or not one has hooked onto something by looking at both the line that's coming out of the water and and the carp's mouth. If there is a knot in the line, then it has hooked onto something.
Don't be discouraged if you have to wait for carp to bite your bait or get close enough for an easy catch - carp fishing can take patience!
In conclusion, carp fishing is a fun and rewarding experience. Whether you are looking for carp to feed a family or just want the bragging rights of catching one, carp fishing is an important thing to know how to do well.
