Hi my name is Steve I am a mature angler with a keen interest in anglings rich and varied history, angling is a tradition which has been practised for centuries from solely a means of putting food on the table to the sport / pastime we know today so whats in store for the anglers of tomorrow?

Let me take you into the future a quiet tranquil riverbank early morning sun low in the sky fish rising to take the first of the unwary active flies when out of the mist emerge a convoy of 4x4 electric powered shiny compact angling buggies each one homes in on its allotted peg stabiliser legs appear to level and secure the cocooned angler in the most advantages position. At the touch of a button out shoots rod and line with the latest, digitally enhanced umpteen million-pixel auto fly catchfish attached.

A robot arm casts the fly which hovers inches over the water sending back pictures to a hand held combined phone, video player, camera, with satellite link so you know the correct time anywhere even outer Mongolia.

When the selected species size and weight is identified the fly dives into the water and with its humane sucker attachment secures the unfortunate creature signals the reel which then recovers the fish, the landing net is slipped out by the arm the fish is then deposited gently into a holding tank where it can be observed by the angler and pictures of his catch can be transmitted to family and friends, whilst he relaxes in his upholstered air conditioned, sound proofed cabin with built in beer chilling cabinet, massage cushions, surround sound system, and multi game consul.

I can hear you, far fetched, ridiculous, you mark my words when the politicians, EU bureaucrats, nanny state do gooders have finished you will not be able to walk on a riverbank, WHAT!! They will say rough ground near water, not without an overhead gantry and safety harness, the use of sharp metal hooks banned, with threat of custodial sentence, and repeatedly casting no no no serious risk of RSI, and we the anglers of today are laying the foundations for this.

How, look at us what seems to be the most important factor when buying tackle how light is this rod, how many flashing lights automatic functions and gadgetry has that reel got, good grief are we all seven stone weaklings so unfit we cant use a rod weighing more than a feather, what happens when a light goes out in your super flashy shiny reel you cant get into the thing without smashing it with a ruddy ten pound lump hammer so what do we do chuck it away buy a new one which fuels the market to produce even shinier built in redundancy tat.

We seem to have got lazy losing the simple pleasures angling offers in the quest for ever more technology to do the tasks for us so we dont have to think, hey look I am no dinosaur wanting a return to horse and carts, technology is good and has improved all our lives but are we to dependant, brainwashed, allowed it to take the pleasure out of our simple pursuits. Whats wrong with using a beautifully crafted split cane rod built from natural material that has had time, care, and soul, lavished on its creation and reflects this in its response and clean elegant lines, using a handcrafted reel in burnished timber that glints in the sun and you can on those dark winter evenings easily strip down clean and maintain whilst contemplating the next fishing trip remembering your last and using it with the skill and precision that lies within us all if we can be bothered to find it.

But no I suppose we will carry on using the latest high tech rod built from extruded chemical junk, but you say, and this is important, it was developed in the space program,WOW!! (urm but are there any fish in space?) and it glows in the dark ( I wonder why?) produced by the million by some soulless machine, but hey its really light, and the latest reel that shines the most with the most complicated mind blowing micro chips ever invented, that makes you glow in the dark!!!!! so we are going to get what we deserve arent we.

Steve www.anglersgifts.co.uk