Formed four years ago ISHA now has
members across the world from the UK to
Australia, and just about everywhere in
between. Members have access to
research data that is unavailable
anywhere else and is entirely free. All
we ask in return is to be given detailed
catch reports at least twice per month
to further aid our research into
specimen fish behaviour.
For the data collected to be worthwhile,
accuracy and honesty are vital.
Inaccurate data is worse than no data at
all which is why we have to carefully
examine every application, especially as
full members also have access to our
experimental baits which are not for
mass production. If our recipes and
techniques were to be given to a
commercial concern for production our
research and possibly the fish
themselves could be irreparably damaged
as we could have a situation where
inexperienced anglers were catching
specimen fish with no idea as to how
they should be handled. As a result
membership to ISHA is notoriously
difficult to achieve with only one
application in around 200 being
accepted. Even then, new members are not
given total access to our research data
for the first year. There is also a
confidentiality clause to sign as well
as a number of restrictions regarding
the release to the media of any of our
material. ISHA is without doubt the most
exclusive angling association in
existence, and rightly so.
A)
Because there are many who would abuse
the information and .....
B)
Because why should we allow everyone to
exploit information that has cost us
many years and a small fortune to
accumulate ?
We do however fully appreciate that
there are many anglers who have been
unable to join either because of the
commitment required or simply because
they have not managed to pass our entry
requirements despite being honest and
well intentioned. We obviously make the
odd mistake as we always tend to err on
the side of caution when receiving a new
application, perhaps at the expense of a
genuine one being declined. A year or so
ago we expanded the European Specimen
Hunters Association to become ISHA due
to the demand from many outside the EU
and in the same way we feel it is time
to expand again to include a second &
third
entry level that is much easier to join
and without the restrictions imposed by
full membership. This will also make it
easier to apply for the top level
membership at a later stage as we will
obviously get to know the new members
better and perhaps treat them more
fairly should they wish to upgrade.
Obviously, the entry level will be
restricted but it will still allow
access to data that has not previously
been available as well as being able to
join the discussion forums within the
site. Information on a variety of
species, terminal rigs, methods and
baits, ....... all of which should prove
both interesting and useful to anyone
that wants to improve their knowledge of
fish behaviour in general and take the
pursuit and care of specimen fish
seriously. It should also appeal to
pleasure anglers who enjoy catching fish
of any size without having to apply the
dedication needed to catch the bigger
specimens.
