| The Challenge | | | | the water, the latter mostly on the surface. The |
| We all want a challenge from our fishing. This can | | | | anticipation of such a take heightens the angler's |
| come in many forms but I think it is true to say | | | | every sense and ensures that the battle |
| that all anglers enjoy a decent battle once hooked | | | | commences with the highest of spirits. |
| into a fish. This article looks at the factors that | | | | Desperation |
| make some fish more worthy opponents. | | | | I struggled to think of a more technical sounding |
| | | | word for this factor. Think of the times when you |
| Sheer weight provides the first element to our | | | | have played a fish to exhaustion and are just |
| list. Big fish can exert more pull on the line than a | | | | bringing it to the net when suddenly it senses the |
| smaller fish of the same species. However, weight | | | | end and spurts back into life for one more final |
| alone cannot satisfy us as some big fish are just | | | | flurry before succumbing to your skill. I don't think |
| lazy and allow themselves to be hauled in without | | | | this factor is something that goes so much with |
| any sense of sport at all. Fine for the beginner but | | | | species as with individuals but you may have had |
| not for the avid angler. | | | | other experiences. |
| Power & power transfer | | | | Wisdom |
| Obviously a fish needs power to put up a good | | | | Some species, and large specimens, tend to get a |
| fight. Predators tend to be leaner and stronger as | | | | reputation for being wily. They just seem to |
| their very survival depends on being able to strike | | | | know a baited hook from a natural morsel and |
| at their prey. Their design therefore tends to | | | | either leave the former alone or use some clever |
| allow for a large and rigid tail that can transmit this | | | | tactic to extract the goodies without actually |
| power into a strong thrust; the sort of thrust | | | | getting hooked. Perhaps they give a little tug to |
| that smashes your line. Think of these as Formula | | | | see if it's an impatient novice; perhaps they nose |
| One racing cars with their super-size wheels. | | | | around to see if there is a line attached. |
| Fact: Did you know that the Rainbow Trout is the | | | | Whatever it is they do, only the studious angler |
| fastest (and therefore most powerful | | | | stands any chance of getting a take. This aspect |
| weight-for-weight) freshwater fish of them all. | | | | of the challenge is often the one taken most |
| Tests have recorded speeds of 8.0 metres per | | | | seriously by experienced anglers as they try to |
| second (about 18 miles per hour for those who | | | | prove their own insight and acumen. |
| still think in those terms). This still pales into | | | | Surroundings & atmosphere |
| insignificance against the Black Marlin; with a top | | | | Perhaps this concept harks back to our hunter |
| speed recorded at 36.1 metres per second (that's | | | | origins. Some locations are just much more |
| an incredible 80 miles per hour) this is truly the | | | | suitable for an epic encounter. If you love |
| game-fisher's fish of fish. | | | | wilderness fishing you will understand my meaning |
| Stamina | | | | entirely. A pristine river with a backdrop of |
| Raw power isn't everything though. Some fish can | | | | remote mountains is exactly the sort of place to |
| give a great tug at the start of a battle but then | | | | feel a buzz even before the water erupts and the |
| fade quickly. A classic encounter needs a fish with | | | | line screams off the reel. |
| the stamina to keep fighting until the bitter end. | | | | Timing |
| Predators, ones that feed on other fish, do tend | | | | Certain times of day and certain seasons are |
| to have more stamina but I can think of | | | | more favourable for epic battles. Night-fishing is a |
| exceptions. | | | | classic example. In the dark the angler is less able |
| Athleticism | | | | to perceive the battleground and so the fish gains |
| We all know of species that leap in the air and | | | | an advantage. The angler is aware of this and has |
| somersault in the desperate hope of shaking | | | | to rely on a different set of senses. |
| themselves loose. Those that feed on the surface | | | | Conclusion |
| are the most adept, having had much practice of | | | | Every location, freshwater or salt, has its own |
| swooping upwards on the take. Leaping takes | | | | ecosystem and, though not every area is |
| power, but we don't see all powerful fish trying to | | | | fortunate enough to have the quality of fighting |
| escape this way - so I see it as a separate | | | | fish named above, there are sure to be local |
| factor. | | | | sporting fish as well as local duds. Every once in a |
| Aggression | | | | while though it is nice to get away and find a new |
| I keep aggression separate as well. Predators are | | | | challenge. With a bit of research you can follow up |
| aggressive by definition but not all are as | | | | on the factors listed above, and others of your |
| voracious. Truly magnificent sporting targets such | | | | own choosing, to find some exotic species to |
| as Golden Mahseer and Taimen are renowned for | | | | target and to get yourself an angling adventure to |
| their aggressive takes, the former usually deep in | | | | remember. |