It was a technique used by poachers, not Gentlemen. Laws around hunting in the UK have a strong scent of class about them (Eg hunting with a bow is illegal, hunting with dogs was legal far longer than it should have been). My grandfather had a loose coat with a slit in the lining that would take a salmon.
I think the reason is it's easy to do without a fishing license. That's why poachers would use this technique - if they get caught by the authorities there's no incriminating equipment, they just claim they were going for a walk.
Fishing rights in the UK are very strictly protected. The are many places where the public can walk along a river but are not allowed to fish.
Plus you need a government (Dept of Environment) supplied rod license to fish at all [1]
“You need a rod fishing licence to fish for salmon, trout, freshwater fish, smelt or eel with a rod and line in:
England (except the River Tweed) Wales the Border Esk region of Scotland You must always carry your rod fishing licence when you’re fishing or you could be prosecuted.”
That licence is for fishing with a rod or line, might tickling still be legal?
Re:Trout Tickling
by chadcmulligan on Wednesday August 01, 2018 @03:25AM
(#17660321)
Maybe the british don't consider it sporting?
Nope, they just wanted to keep the trout away from the poor people.
Using a snare is possible too I am told. Like tickling, but you slide the snare over from the tail end up to the gills.
There are lots of 'poachers tale' type stories like this inn the UK.
Re:Trout Tickling
by mrguyorama on Wednesday August 01, 2018 @10:15AM
(#17662650)
Are you sure? Fishing in my neck of the (American) woods requires a $25 license every year, and even the poorest families in my town get them, because it's just that profitable to supply yourself with fish for a whole year.
The money is used to protect the rivers and water bodies from foreign predators and pollution, so that those families can rely on this source of food for decades to come
Re:Trout Tickling
by dsfyu404ed on Wednesday August 01, 2018 @10:25AM
(#17662743)
Yes. Hunting/fishing rules/regulations in most of Europe reflect a society where (until recently) only the upper classes owned land and it was illegal for commoners to take any resource from that land without the permission of the landowner
why? i mean i understand when for example explosives or highly maiming (while not very efficient at actually catching) types of hooks, spears, etc. are banned, or nets. What is wrong with tickling?