YouTube Channel Update: Long-Form Break

So, I have arrived at a very difficult decision to stop regularly releasing long form videos on the LOTB YouTube channel from the end of the year (2023). Over the last 4 years I have released around 100 videos and it’s time for me to jump off the YouTube hamster wheel and take a break. I have a couple of videos scheduled for release over the next month, including some cracking perch videos – which I know you all love!

Readdress the balance

You guys that watch the videos have been awesome. I appreciate every single subscriber, like, share, comment and message. It’s time, however, to readdress the balance, spend more time with family and get involved in some other exciting video projects.

Can’t you just do less videos or spend less time on them?

I always strive to create a highly rendered piece of work. A high level of finish means more time shooting and in the edit (eating into life quite significantly). It’s obviously challenging to maintain a regular upload schedule when trying to produce a fairly glossy output. I could throw up a rough edit taken straight off the GoPro, but I wouldn’t get what I need creatively from the process. It’s just not me.

I don’t feel that the platform lends itself well to providing high quality videos less frequently. High quality videos delivered to a more relaxed posting schedule probably would satisfy the existing community, which of course, does have a value and is fulfilling! However, I personally believe that any business venture or endeavour needs to scale and grow if it is to be viable and deemed successful. It doesn’t feel like the algorithm wants creators to take extensive breaks and there’s a danger that your latest videos could become less visible to a new and existing audience as a result of an inconsistent contribution to the platform. Obviously, this would surely impact on growth in my opinion.

I’m not disappearing entirely!

I will not be disappearing from YouTube altogether, and you will frequently see my ugly mug popping up on other YouTube channels for the brands that I work with, so you haven’t got rid of me entirely! I have new agreements in place to feature in videos for Korum, Sonubaits and Fox Rage in 2024. So, I’ll still be in plenty of videos on other channels. I will certainly be fishing, filming and editing a lot less than I have been, but I will still be on your screens from time to time.

YouTube Shorts and Reels

Maybe don’t unsubscribe from the channel just yet! I’ll be regularly releasing short form videos (Shorts & Reels) across multiple channels (including YouTube), which is way less commitment and hopefully still brings plenty of value to our wonderful subscribers. I may even publish long form videos again one day, you never know. Like they say …. never say never!

Thank you so much for the kind comments and messages following my post explaining the situation, made a couple of weeks back on Instagram, Facebook and to our YouTube community. Your kind words mean a lot.

Family first … always

When I put my mind to something I tend to go ‘all in’! It’s just the way I’m programmed. I could release fewer videos, make them shorter and render them to a lower quality …. but that’s just not for me. I’m either all in or all out. Unfortunately for my family, when I go ‘all in’ I’m not as present as maybe I should be. Family first …. always!