My Great Uncles' Penknives: A dedication and discussion on 'coarse' fishing.

Great read Blake the Blade, thanks for sharing your family treasures, memories, and pictures. Love the explanation and terminology on "course fishing". :thumbup:
 
Here the Grayling is also considered a 'noble' (Game) fish, while carp anglers are a bit of a species in themselves :)

When I was a kid, we had to travel two counties just to get some fishing because the waterways were so polluted. It's been incredible to see how they've cleaned up these past 40 years. Back then, the capture of a small gudgeon in Sheffield canal led to a headline in the local sports paper. The other day I saw a guy fly-fishing the River Don right in the centre of the old industrial zone. :)

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Hey Mark glad you found that interesting. Generally speaking we have carp (common, crucian and mirror), tench, pike, perch, roach, bream, chub and eel in our fresh waters. All of these are edible, but virtually none are eaten today. In fact it is, for the most part, illegal to not return fish to the water once caught and is considered unsporting not to do so. Fish stocks and habitats are tightly controlled for the good of the various species, and course fishing is policed by bailiffs and licencing for the good of the sport and the environment. Trout, salmon and some inland salt water varieties can be caught to eat but usually at a price. Generally speaking it's now sport only.
 
My grandfather on my mother's side was a very keen fisherman - he'd even go fishing on Christmas Day! Back in the 20's, when times were hard, there wasn't much he hadn't eaten, including every type of freshwater fish he could catch, even the bottom-feeders like tench.
 
Tell me about it Jack. My brother and nephew are dyed in the wool specimen hunters, they even look like carp now. And yeah its fantastic what's happened to our canals and rivers: probably the only good thing to come out of the decline of our industries. Largely thanks to volunteers as well, especially the canals.
 
I expect you had to do what you had to do in those days Jack. I guess that's one of the things about fishing, it's nice to think you've got the skills just in case you should need them.
 
Gents, we are posting on a knife forum. Please post appropriately.
 
Here's a dedicated fish knife, a Brusletto Fiske-Sprett :thumbup:

 
Nice knife Jack, Italian?

Here's my modified Opinel. I also carry my Vic Farmer when fishing, particularly for its saw, in case I get hooked up in branch or something and a bit of lopping is in order. I used it to fix my landing net pole last year. By cutting out the section I'd trodden on I was able to fit it back together and secure it with a jubilee clip. Got me out of trouble for the rest of the day that did. I'd have been knackered if I hadn't had with me so wouldn't be without it now. I also keep a small Leatherman with scissors in my tackle-box, for cutting line and smaller tasks.

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Norwegian Blake, but they've not made that one for 20 years.

That looks like a good set-up :thumbup:
 
Blake, the type of fish you refer to as "coarse" we refer to as "rough" and it is subjective. Fishing is fishing and unless you are fishing in a Trout pond with only trout, you never know what you may catch.

For example rough fish would include Carp, Dogfish, Gar Pike and suckers, again it's subjective because of the diverse ethnic groups here in the States, many of the ones I listed are delicacies to certain folks. :)

My hand made Fish Barlow :)

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Yes, back on topic. Afraid I'm responsible for the threadjack. Apologies.

Here in the States, most fisherman at one time or another have had a version of the "fish knife," here an Imperial with an incredibly thin, springy blade and the scaler/hook remover/caplifter blade:

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Another almost universal choice the Martiini filet knife, which is a lot of folks' intro to the greatness of Scandinavian knives:

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Neither of these photos is mine, but I own both knives.
 
It is more or less the same here Mark, or it certainly was with my generation. Most fishermen would have probably owned a Fish Knife made by Richards at some time. Martinni knives were sold here with Normark colours, as were EKA knives, they were very popular with anglers and advertised in the fishing press :thumbup:

I never had a Martinni knife as a kid (which is when I did my fishing), I had my trusty paring knife-cum-sheath knife, a constant companion throughout my childhood.

Does anyone remember those little fish-shaped key-chain knives, which were made in the Far East, I haven't seen one for years? :)
 
Also, my Mother's father, from whom I inherited my love of knives, fished in the coarsest way possible, with a cane pole and live worms, for panfish. And caught them by the dozens.

These fish are so small that they can't be fileted, instead they are beheaded, scaled and gutted. Then fried "whole" in cornmeal/flour "batter." Some little bones, but very fine eating.

This Utica fixed blade was his blade of choice when it came to cleaning those sunfish, probably "bream" in your vocabulary.

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Again, not my photo, but Pappaw;s was the same pattern, but with a black plastic handle. I have it and a more recent version (70s) as well.

And, slightly off topic, but a photo of the fish in question:

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I absolutely agree with it being subjective Mark, I don't agree personally that one fish is better than the other or that one method of fishing is more refined than the other. In England this sort of categorisation (I.E. The term 'coarse') arises historically out of privilege and ultimately our class system. Having said that I have working class routes and prefer trout or a bit of salmon to a pike or tench any day of the week. Nice knives by the way, love your handywork on the folder.
 
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Good stuff Blake, my Richards Fish Knife went to R.C.S. last week and a more traditional powder-horn style by Jowika of Ireland went to another member here. I saw one in a shop the other day, and you wouldn't believe what they are trying to charge for them these days! :eek: :D



My Martinni Hunting Knife also went into a giveaway, but I still have my EKA 88 with Normark colours :)

 
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