Not too shabby?

As an angler I'd like to think that, even in these modern times, my PB list remains a viable testament to my commitment and ability. Don't get over excited - I'm not about to publish a list by which I can be compared, although regular visitors will have some idea of these figures for a few of the species involved. It's my hobby, I'm in competition with no-one but myself (and probably Benno?) - these statistics are, therefore, a collection of numbers of no relevance, at all, beyond my personal interest.

January 26th 1989 - 23 lbs 4 oz (Lynch Hill - Oxfordshire)
My PB pike on a centre-pin, from a boat!

However, there are a number of angling blogs, which I regularly peruse, whose authors are happy to post these statistics. I have no problem with this demonstration of personal choice. I find it quite amusing to see modern anglers publishing figures for carp which are PB Mirror, PB Common, PB Leather, UK PB and French PB, etc. They're all bloody carp - you can only have one PB, the others are just interesting asides. When Dick Walker took Clarissa from Redmire - the angling press didn't go crazy because he'd landed "The record Common" - He'd caught the UK record carp. Similarly, when Lee Jackson took his Conningbrooke fish, it wasn't hailed as "The UK record Mirror" - again, it was the record carp! Of course they are your lists and you can record whatever you like - it's just an observation, not criticism. I would imagine that the majority of modern anglers fish for this single species and these statistics are simply a manifestation of this culture. The all rounder is very much an out-dated concept. "You actually want to catch bream/tench/roach?"

This won't be the last time I'll use this image in 2015.
My 24 lbs 10 oz pike from Loch Awe - on a centre-pin,
thus, my new PB on that particular listing, but it was from the bank.
Yet another new list?

I'm sitting here at my soap box (lap-top); pontificating upon individual choice and the absurdity of using the results of others as a measure to judge your own achievements. Yet I still get drawn into the plot - yep, my PB Bream is bigger, Carp - you're having a laugh - Catfish - Oh fuck off - that's, originally, from Poland! What is even more worrying is the data that I do choose to list. My pike records are a perfect example; I'd even made mention of one such project in an early post. My anal desire to record all aspects of my angling (I even have lists of what reels were used) has resulted in a crazy jumble of data - assembled to allow me to compile meaningless lists, made up of meaningless data, from a lifetime spent enjoying the simple pleasure of being outdoors.

My PB pike - 2nd October 1986 (Wilstone Reservoir, Tring)

I don't do it to show off or in a hope of finding any inner truth, any deep meaning in my pursuit of enjoyment, just out of habit. I'm an obsessive and that's, sadly, what we do!