Fish Selfies

After the weekends success, I thought I would share a near failure and hopefully get some advice from people as to how I can improve.

Fishing alone has its disadvantages, namely assistance in landing fish and Photography! There has been a lot of chat on social media about taking pics and I will add my two pence!

Foremost is the fishes welfare. I have had a few pike that no one has seen but me because I felt they needed to go back straight away. Thats not for any suspicious reason, more just time unhooking or poor bank conditions. I caught a nice pike once in a swim that was so muddy, I could not stand for too long, let alone set up a great shot situation!

I have a mobile phone like everyone else, I brought a clip for it and have the screw for bank stick adaptor. I don't use the whistle app that people talk about, instead relying on the 10 seconds of time to get into position.

I also have bought a Samsung camera with a flip screen that is similar to the phone set up. The bank stick attachment fits the phone and camera and I also have a mini tripod that fits the camera. I feel I am equipped to take a good pic. But my success rate is not the best.

I am determined to practice on the field in a crouched position with the bank stick and bits and try and have the distance stored in my mind so I get a good pic. But until that time, I live on the edge of disaster...

On Saturday I used the camera on a bank stick. Set up while the fish was unhooked in the net. Set up above the mat, I was ready. Unfortunately it did not go well. 10 secs seemed a long time to hold the fish low but steady. It flapped towards my chest. So I put it back on the mat. No one told the camera to stop counting, but it made me smile, and I saw the funny side.

The second pic, which needed me to put the fish down and press the button again was no better. I think the fish wanted to wear my jumper, coming in for a cuddle and just being covered by my hands.

As I mentioned, by now I wanted to return the fish so after one quick try again, I was too eager to get close to the camera. Successsfully removing most of my head.

Not a bad pic of the fish, but I deserve to be in the pic too!!

By now, I had decided to return the fish and it was in the net. A man suddenly appeared from around the lake and I asked him to take a pic. He agreed and in less than a few seconds I had my shot, but would I have been happy with the 3 above if he had not come by??

In truth, seeing the fish swim gracefully and strongly away in the clear water was enough to make me smile, and as for you lot!? Well, you will have to come fishing with me and we can share the picture duties!