Whilst we here at Crabtree HQ may walk in the footsteps of Mr. Crabtree, as any viewer of Fishing in the Footsteps will know, we are not slavishly devoted to doing everything ‘The Crabtree Way’.
In fact, what ‘The Crabtree Way’ has come to represent is an encouraging arm around the shoulder and a gentle push to enable you to find your own way – taking the best of what’s gone before and adding your own personal twist.
You’ll have seen this in lots of the episodes where John and our ‘Peters’ are fishing using a successful collaboration of old and new methods, never needing to tie themselves in to any one particular method and deem it the ‘right’ one.
It’s important in life to walk your own path. There may be a certain number of set rules to follow, especially in team sports or institutions but that’s not the same as blindly following. It’s all too easy to fall in with the crowd and follow without question, but it’s the equivalent of walking around with your eyes closed. That’s not the way to learn, to experience new things and to develop as a person and an angler.
At every opportunity try new things, question yourself and those around you. Refuse to accept ‘just because’ – because that’s never enough. That’s how the legends became legends, by breaking the mould, not caring how outlandish their methods appeared, and not needing to be the same as everyone else around them. Isn’t it time you started doing the same?
For these and many other reasons, that’s why we love Jan Porter, and in particular the way he wears his Crabtree bobble hat.
How do you wear yours?
Want a Crabtree bobble? Click here to buy yours now – Just £9.99 until the end of the month!