Could you be the BBC's new face of fishing?
Have you ever wanted the opportunity to be the star of an angling TV Show?
If so, the BBC are offering passionate anglers the chance to take part in a new television series which will see participants fishing some of the most exotic destinations across the globe.
With a working title of ‘The Big Fish’, the programme is currently in the early planning stages but producers are on the lookout for anglers from differing disciplines of the sport to come forward and apply to take part in what is thought to be the first ever reality angling programme to be paid for by TV licence money.
The series is hoped to educate viewers about a huge variety of fish from all manner of destinations from Africa to Southern America and the ways local people catch them. Each week participants will be challenged to test their skills in their new environment, combining their own talents with new techniques learnt from the indigenous population and international experts to outwit the environment they find themselves in.
The new show will become part of a growing list of angling based programmes which have appeared on terrestrial television in recent years including the likes of Robson Green’s Extreme Fishing and Jeremy Wade’s River Monsters which attracted as many as 3.4m viewers during particular episodes.
The talent search is open to non-professional anglers aged 18 and over and resident in the UK. Anyone interested in finding out more or downloading an application form should contact thebigfish@bbc.co.uk or call the team on 0117 974 2349.
Click here for more angling news...
Catch carp... in your lounge!
Anglers can now get their hands the most realistic fishing computer simulator ever made.
Dovetail Games Fishing has drawn on the expertise of the some of the biggest names in the sport to ensure the experience is a close to being on the bank as possible.
The game will see players tackle every step in the fishing experience. Once they’ve selected their tackle and rigs they will use a new intuitive casting and reeling mechanism called ‘Total Cast Control’ to test their skills by finding, baiting, catching and landing the fish.
The developers have worked in partnership with Essex-based tackle giants, Korda, who have provided their expert knowledge.
Dovetail brand manager and keen carp angler, Darren Nokes, said: “Everything from casting to how the fish fight and sound effects to the bankside environments have been taken in to account."
He also revealed that he will be meeting with Sparsholt college lecturer Simon Scott to ensure the fish behaviour within the game replicates real-life and that plans are in place to recreate some of the top carp lakes in UK and Europe.
“Once we’ve got the licencing agreements sorted we can make the accurately recreate the lakes – even to the extent, for example, that gravel bars etc will be in the same place. We will also include each lake’s main target fish and their weights will even reflect what they should be at certain times of the year and after spawning.”
He added: “As well as providing an opportunity for fishing fans to practice fishing when it’s not possible outdoors, one of our aims is to encourage more people to get into real fishing through playing our game.”
The game has now been released in Early Access mode which allows users to play the first phases of the game for just £4.99. They will then receive each accompanying phase – there will be seven in total – for free resulting in a large saving of completed game retail price expected to be around £29.99.
Darren explained: “People who purchase the Early Access will be able to give us their feedback and work with the development team which all helps to ultimately create the best possible experience for players.”
**To try the game for yourself visit: www.dtgfishing.com and keep an eye out in Angling Times for further news about the game.**
Click here for more angling news...
Meet the River Trent task force
The war on illegal anglers gathered further momentum this week after the Environment Agency launched their latest crime fighting assault on the banks of UK’s most popular river.
Angling Times joined the team from Operation Mercury - an initiative which has been setup to crackdown on illegal fish removal and rod licence evasion on the River Trent in response to an increase in fish related crime on the waterway.
The action is part of the agency’s nationwide initiative called ‘Project Trespass’ which has seen similar crackdowns on other UK rivers such as the revolutionary ‘Operation Stone’ on the River Severn.
Both teams have already been dubbed a huge success with dozens of anglers already reported and awaiting prosecution including at least six anglers caught fishing illegally during our visit.
Joel Rawlinson, an Environment Agency, Fisheries Technical Specialist who has been working with the patrol unit on the Trent in Nottinghamshire, is well aware of the importance of the project: “Fishing on the Trent is booming at the moment with fish stocks at an all-time high so it makes it all the more important to protect what we have.
“It also has a deterrent aspect as anglers see us and know that in the future they can’t get away with fishing without a licence; in fact we have already seen an increase in licence sales since we began the operation” he said.
NIGHT RAIDS
Patrols have been running up to four times a week on the river including night raids to catch out poachers operating under the cover of darkness.
The boat used by officers is a powerful 150 BHP rib which can reach speeds up to 60 knots, giving the crew the ability to cover large areas quickly as well as providing the element of surprise. It is manned by three of the EA’s enforcement officers who receive the same training as the police and are fully loaded with cuffs, batons and protective clothing. All the men are connected up so they can communicate with not only each other but other EA officers elsewhere as well as their base: “By being connected we can work far more efficiently and increase time spent actually checking licences,” Joel continued.
“We have a code so we can call the police and receive an instant response when required, for example if someone threatens us with a weapon and we also have a 24 hour translator service so we can communicate with any non-English speaking foreign anglers more effectively. “
INTELLIGENCE
So far anglers on the bank have taken the patrols positively with clubs and individuals even helping out with operations by providing intelligence and reporting sightings of any anglers taking fish.
Environment Agency officers have been working with clubs around the area to help us determine when and who is committing offences and what areas have the higher concentration of possible illegal anglers.
It’s not just the EA ramping up efforts to stop illegal angling though, as Nottinghamshire Police are also helping the agency to clamp down by posting messages on their social media pages after officers received an increase in the number of calls from the public about fish crime this year. DCI Caroline Racher, Rural Crime Lead Nottinghamshire Police said: “It is important to appreciate that fish theft is not simply victimless wildlife crime. Many fish that are stolen are worth thousands of pounds this impacts negatively on local businesses, livelihoods, and the angling community as a whole, as well as causing endless environmental damage.”
2014 on the Trent
River Trent Enforcement Figures 2014 (from April to date)
400 - the number of licence checks
50 - the amount of illegal anglers caught
12.5 - the percentage of anglers caught fishing illegally
EA enforcement nationwide in numbers
40,000 - licence checks this year to August
4.7% - evasion rate this year
80,000 - checks last year
3000 - prosecutions for illegal angling in 2013
£600,000 - the amount in fines paid by offenders in 2013
Anyone who suspects illegal fishing to be taking place should report the matter to the Environment Agency’s incident hotline, on 0800 807060.
Click here for more angling news...
Is the Trent the UK's finest river?
‘Fishing on the River Trent has never been so good.’ This is the claim being made by anglers following last week’s venue record match weight.
The huge haul by Sutton-on-Trent angler Toby Bunting saw him land around 40 bream from the Holme Marsh stretch in Nottinghamshire to weigh in a staggering 167lb 6oz.
Another recent Division One National on the river at Newark saw nearly all of the 420 competitors weigh in and the top six recorded nearly 200lb between them.
70-year-old Stewart Goulding, match organiser for Worksop District Anglers Association, the scene of last week’s record weight told Angling Times that he can’t remember the fishing ever being so good. “I have fished this part of the river since I was a lad and it’s better now than in its heyday,” he said. “Back then it was just roach and chub but now it’s other species too - this year we have had numerous 100lb-plus match nets of big barbel and bream.”
Chris Shaw, President of Midlands Angling Society, a club which runs a stretch of the river at Caythorpe in Nottinghamshire, has also sang the river’s praises: “As well as specimen fish we have seen a notable improvement in match catches over the past five years or so with roach, dace and chub being caught in huge numbers,” he explained.
It’s not only matchmen enjoying the quality of the fishing, however, as specimen anglers are also reporting bumper catches. Numerous barbel captures over 16lb have been recorded in the last month in what has been a bountiful year for the Midlands waterway which has also seen zander to over 16lb, carp of more than 30lb and chub to 7lb-plus banked.
One of the anglers cashing in on the superb sport is big-fish man Lee Swords, who netted a 7lb 4oz chub from the river in June. He told Angling Times: “The river has been improving year-on-year and this season has been one of the best, especially for chub. There has also been some huge barbel caught too so I wouldn’t be surprised if a record fish emerged in the next five years.”
The excellent fishing has also seen an increase in sales of traditional running water baits like hemp, maggots and casters. Tim Aplin, who runs Nottingham’s Matchmen Supplies, said: “Takings from baits like maggots have definitely been up this year as more anglers have been visiting the river. Not just those who have fished it before but new and young anglers are trying it for the first time which is such a positive sight.”
A multitude of reasons has been cited for the upturn in sport, much of which can be linked with work carried out by the Environment Agency. They have made numerous restocking’s on Trent stretches including immediately after pollution incidents. In 2009 thousands of fish were killed after cyanide leaked into the river in Staffordshire but in response the EA stocked over 50,000 coarse fish the following winter. The quality of the water in the Trent has also been steadily improving since the 1970s and work has been carried out at numerous places across the Midlands to reconnect the river with the floodplain which helps to boost fish populations by providing shelter in high flows, as well as creating a productive environment in which juvenile fish can grow rapidly during the summer months.
Sarah Chare, the Environment Agency’s new head of fisheries, said: “The River Trent is the healthiest it has been for many years and a popular place to go fishing. Not wanting to rest on our successes, we are doing even more to further improve water quality and biodiversity. This is a great example of how rod licence income is used to protect and improve fisheries.”
FIVE TRENT HOTSPOTS TO TRY
River Trent, Burton Joyce, Notts
20lb roach nets on the pole or stick float.
Contact: 01159 870525, Victoria Tackle
Prices: £6 a day on the bank, Ashfield AC
River Trent, Burton on Trent, Staffs
Roach nets to over 20lb falling to stick float and maggot tactics.
Contact: 01283 512711, Coors AC
Prices: £35 a season Coors AC
River Trent, Caythorpe, Notts
Barbel to 14lb and chub to over 6lb have been caught here this season.
Contact: Midland AS, 01773 784840
Prices: £3.50 on the bank, Midland AS
River Trent, Holme, Newark, Notts
Barbel and bream bags to over 100lb featuring in catches here with the groundbait feeder working well.
Contact: Worksop DAA, 01909 486350
Prices: £4 a day on the bank, Worksop DAA
River Trent, North Clifton, N Lincs
This tidal stretch has been in great form for bream, barbel, chub and roach with match anglers and specimen boys enjoying good sport.
Contact: Harrison’s Tackle, 01522 523834
Prices: £4 on the bank, Lincoln DAA
Rod licences to be reviewed by Environment Agency
Having to buy two full rod licences to fish with three rods has been a long standing complaint of specimen and carp anglers. But that could be set to change after the Angling Trust began discussions with the Environment Agency to push for a reform of the current system.
The move comes following a huge response to a recent survey carried out by the Trust with aggrieved big fish hunters claiming they are being ‘overcharged’ for fishing three rods. The Environment Agency’s new Deputy Director of Fisheries, Sarah Chare, has since met with Trust officials to discuss possible solutions.
In accordance to current law the UK coarse rod licence allows the holder to fish up to two rods at one time, but in order to fish three rods - a common practice among carp and specimen anglers - you are required to buy two licences at a cost of £54 per year.
“We need to find a workable way forward that’s fairer to specimen anglers without impacting significantly on the funds that pay for the vital work of the EA’s fisheries department,” said Angling Trust Chief Executive Mark Lloyd.
“The Trust has welcomed the willingness of Sarah Chare to listen to the views of the angling community and to consider taking action to make the licence system better for those wishing to fish with three rods.”
Top carp angler and Korda Tackle boss, Danny Fairbrass, agrees the current system needs changing: “There has to be a more cost effective way of charging for an extra rod,” he told Angling Times.
“The best thing would be to introduce a fee for a single rod because very few fisheries actually allow the use of four rods.”
Any changes will not be implemented until April 2016 at the earliest because of the constraints of the commercial rod licence contract.
“This review may also affect the cost of licences which have remained at the same level for the last 5 years,” said Sarah Chare. “As part of this review we are talking with the Angling Trust and other partners to understand the views of the angling groups they represent. We will be seeking the fairest deal for anglers that secures the best future for angling through the services the Environment Agency delivers both directly and through the partners we fund."
Click here for more angling news...
Meet the oldest bailiff in Britain
He's 90-years-old, he’s been patrolling riverbanks for over three decades, fished with World Champion anglers, England footballers and nearly died doing his job… meet Ira Stannard, Britain’s oldest bailiff.
After 32-years working for Kings Lynn Angling Association, Ira is finally hanging up his ticket bag and retiring as one of the club’s fishery bailiffs. Over the years the Norfolk based pensioner braved all manner of conditions from hurricane winds to thick snow, patrolling miles of what is some of Britain’s most remote waterways in the Fens. “I started back in the 1980’s when the club secretary at the time, George Beer, challenged me to do a better job than the current bailiffs after I complained about them. I like to think I have now proved him right!” he told Angling Times.
SEEING STARS
Having stalked the banks of venues like the Middle Level Drain, River Great Ouse and the River Wissey for many years, Ira has met all manner of people, many of whom he became friends with. But they don’t come much bigger than international anglers and Ira met at least five of them during his time. “I have fished with or met the likes of Bob Nudd and Alan Scotthorne as well as Ian Heaps who I once came across teaching Paul ‘Gazza’ Gascoigne how to fish the slider when he was just a lad down on the Ten Mile Bank. Prior to that I’d met Jimmy Randall a couple of times when I asked for his day-ticket money. He nicknamed me ‘the vulture’ as he could never get away with a free day’s fishing on my watch!” he joked.
However, his proudest moment didn’t come with a wad of tickets in his hand but with a rod and line. “I met the great Ivan Marks on more than one occasion but I will never forget the time I trounced him off the next peg during a festival match in Southern Ireland! He’s still my biggest hero of all time - I have never seen anyone as good since” he said.
ACCIDENT
It hasn't all been plain sailing for the 90-year-old, however, having nearly lost his life in a horrific accident while patrolling a venue in the early 1990‘s. “I’d parked up by a bridge but before I got out of the car, a sugar beet lorry ploughed into me and broke nearly all of my ribs, punctured a lung and knocked me unconscious. I was in hospital for weeks and lost some of my memory.” Incredibly, Ira returned to the scene of the accident several months after and found a prized possession. “I spotted my false teeth which I’d lost in the accident down the bank so I asked an angler who was there to retrieve them for me,” he laughed.
LIFETIME IN ANGLING
Ira started fishing when he was just aged 8 and continued to do so even when Britain went to war in 1939. “I tried to sign up to fight but wasn’t allowed as I was an agricultural worker so had to stay in Britain.
“I remember the days watching the bombers fly over my favourite venues and I even joined the Home Guard and Observer Core,” he said.
Angling became more important to him later in life, becoming secretary and member of numerous clubs and societies and having lived in Norfolk, the Fens is where Ira could always be found with a rod in his hand. “These stretches used to be far more popular than they are now, at any given time on a weekend around the 1970’s and 80’s every peg on the Middle Level was lined with anglers - they travelled miles to get here.”
Sadly like those glorious days Ira’s time as bailiff has come to an end. “It’s time to stop as the banks are getting steeper and I’m not so nimble as I once was but I will still walk the venues and I’m not going to stop fishing. I would like to thank everyone who has helped me or been my friend over the years,” he said.
Kings Lynn AA secretary Ashley Brown, added: “Ira has always been friendly and helpful to all the anglers he has met. No one has ever had a bad word to say about him. To sell tickets in all weathers and nearly losing his life bailiffing for the club takes very a special person.”
Ira Stannard’s Life In Numbers
22,000 - estimated total of day-tickets sold by Ira
32 - years patrolling the banks or 4,992 days
19,968 - estimated miles walked on patrols in 32 years
1,664 - editions of Angling Times produced since Ira began as bailiff.
Click here for more angling news...
Vote now: The hunt is on for the greatest canal angler
The search is on to find the UK’s greatest canal angler of all time – and you can have your say.
The Canal and River Trust are calling on members of the public to vote for who they think deserves the accolade from a list of 10 top anglers, including Kim Milsom, Ivan Marks and Ian Heaps who started their careers and made their names by fishing canals.
The online poll follows a series of articles created by the charity which features profiles on each of the 10 anglers, the first of which was revealed on their website earlier in the summer.
The chosen anglers were carefully picked by staff from the agency with the help of angling historian, John Essex, and as well as selecting your favourite you can also pick an angler who you think is missing from the list.
Becca Dent, national angling development manager for the Trust, said: “We really wanted to celebrate the rich heritage of angling on the nation’s canals which sadly can become forgotten. It’s a chance for us to remember and recognise the great sportsmen and colourful characters who helped to inspire a generation of anglers. These men started as novices trying angling on their local canal for the first time and between them went on to win numerous titles, compete for their country and, in some cases, change the way we fish today. Each one of them has a brilliant story to tell which we want to recapture today; encouraging more young people to have a go and hopefully developing a new generation of angling heroes.”
Former World and European Angling Champion Ian Heaps added: “I grew up fishing hard canals in the North West so canal fishing will always be in my heart. Those days helped make me as an angler and they are still a great place to learn how to fish.”
To place your vote and view the anglers profiles visit: www.canalrivertrust.org.uk/greatest-angler
The Nominees
Dave Roper
Bob Fuller
Kevin Ashurst
Ian Heaps
Alan Wright
Billy Lane
Fred Foster
Kim Milsom
Ivan Marks
Benny Ashurst
Click here for more angling news...
Your questions answered by the Environment Agency's Head of Fisheries
In April 2014 the Environment Agency appointed Sarah Chare as their new head of fisheries, taking over from Geoff Bateman.
Having worked in the EA’s fisheries department for nearly 20 years including stints in enforcement, disease prevention and as an area fishery officer, Sarah has plenty of experience in the subject.
One of her main aims since taking on the role is to see the EA working more closely with anglers and angling based organisations but what else does she have in store? We were given an exclusive interview and decided to ask her some of the questions that really matter to Angling Times readers.
Q: Are you going to change the format or the price of rod licences? Josh Turner, Ramsbottom, Lancs
A: We are starting a full review for changes to be made starting in April 2016 and that includes the price, how anglers can buy their licence as well as the number of rods you can fish with. We will be talking to the Angling Trust and others making any decisions about this. We have a great relationship with the Angling Trust and I would like to see this continue – sometimes they challenge us in our role as the regulator but we have many areas of common ground.
Q: Would where you buy your licence ever change? Sam Whetting, Liverpool, Merseyside
A: It is important to us to keep the costs of selling licences down so at the moment we are not looking at selling licences in any other venues other than the Post Office or online.
Q: Is the way rod licence money is spent going to change? Colin Hoban, Wakefield, W Yorks
A: The priorities will stay the same as we need to protect our licence income so we can spend it on enforcement, fish kill response and eradication of non-native invaders to name a few. Unless anglers tell us differently these will stay the same. However, the way we go about our work will constantly be monitored and improved. I believe partnerships with other organisations are becoming increasingly important. For example, working with the Angling Trust has really helped with our enforcement work.
Q: Is the problem of illegal fishing and fish theft still high on your agenda? Michael Gittins, Runcorn, Cheshire
I will be looking at how the area teams are organised to do enforcement work that includes how we target illegal activity and working across boundaries. We have had some great operations recently such as Operation Vulcan which was a joint operation with the police. My job is to make sure the teams are funded and organised in the best way they can to maximise their effectiveness but we can’t fight this alone so my message to anglers is to report everything, as we use and process all information for future operations and to highlight problematic areas. Last year alone we had just under 3,000 prosecutions. We support fisheries or clubs asking for licences upon entry; anyone who goes fishing and claims to care about their sport should have a licence and those who don’t are robbing other anglers.
Q: Is the closed season going to be reviewed again? Charlie Robins, Lechlade, Glos
A: I know the closed season is really crucial to anglers and I am aware that there are some very strong and differing views surrounding it. We are going to be working with the Institute of Fisheries Management (IFM) and the Angling Trust to review past studies and to look at how we can make an informed decision on something that is very important. It is possible we may do some limited trials at some point but this work is only just beginning.
Q: Is the amount of fish stocked into rivers and stillwaters going to change? Granville Noble, Nottingham, Notts
A: At the moment Calverton Fish Farm meets our demands so we have no plans to increase facilities. They will continue to provide fish to stock venues such as river stretches which are recovering from long term environmental problems or a pollution incident.
Q: With an increasing number of migrants resident in the UK, are the EA still working to reduce illegal fishing from these groups of people to educate them about our rules? Steven Wallis, Oundle, Northants
A: We are still funding the Angling Trust Building Bridges project which provides information to foreign anglers with what the rules are but those who are deliberately taking fish will be fully prosecuted; it is still high on our list of priorities like any illegal angling is.
Q: Angling venues have suffered a lot from pollution in the past. Are the EA still keen on prosecuting offenders despite high litigation costs? Matthew Walsh, Bridgwater, Somerset
A: If we think we have a case we will always take it to court; we owe it to anglers and the environment to try to prosecute those we think are guilty even if there’s a risk of it not working out. We also seek to recover our costs in court and provide information to the sentencing council about the impacts of fishery offences to help with future cases.
Q: Are government budget cuts going to affect how the EA goes about their work? Gavin Kelly
A: We are going through a big organisational change at the moment. Since April we have been changing from a three-tier organisation to a two-tier one which means working at a national and area level in order to make efficiencies and savings. We are also always looking at new ways of working to make the money go further and we have to spend on the right things and in the right way to continue to provide the same level of service.
Q: Are you going to help try to improve participation in the sport? Jane Rollins, Hemel Hempstead, Herts
A: The angling strategy is now with the Angling Trust who we have partnership projects with and these are also funded by Sport England. We are currently doing some marketing work targeting around 500,000 lapsed anglers who have left the sport to encourage them to get back into it. Our primary route is with the Trust but we have also been working with schools recently to get kids into fishing.
Q: Are you going to do more to eradicate crayfish numbers and other non-natives affecting fisheries? Scott Nevitt, Enfield, London
A: Non-native species is one of our priorities and a big part of what we do. When we discover a new one we need to look at what harm it can cause, where it has been distributed and how it can be controlled. In some instances we can only prevent spread rather than full eradication. There are many ways of eradication including biological control but with this you have to be sure how it’s going to behave as often there is no comeback.
Q: Would the EA consider educating fisheries with things like baliffing and disease control? Matthew Thomas, Aberystwyth, Wales
A: We have always run workshops for fishery managers and owners with organisations like the IFM and these will continue where there is local demand. We also have the stillwater fish ageing kits we can send out to anyone who requests them. These involve fisheries taking a scale sample and fish measurement and sending it back to our lab so we can determine the fisheries’ health. We can then give them advice or help. Also fisheries can always contact their local fishery officer if they seek any advice that includes bailiffing.
Click here for more angling news...
The Big One show set to be biggest and best so far
The 2015 Big One Show is shaping up to be the biggest in the event’s history.
With just under six months until the doors open exhibitors are flocking to what is set to be one of the highlights of the angling show calendar.
Tackle firms from all over Europe have been in talks to take part in the event which is being held on the weekend of March 21/22 at Farnborough Airport in Hampshire.
A record 17,500 people passed through the gates of the 2014 show and show bosses are hoping to surpass that figure this year.
Event organisers Vince Davies and Colin Rumney said: “The show earlier this year was a huge success and we had loads of great feedback from both visitors and exhibitors. With the line-up we’ve got in place for the 2015 show we’re confident it will be even better.”
Visitors will be able to see all the big coarse and carp brands that have attended in the past including Nash, Greys, Chub, Preston Innovations, Maver, Gardner, Korda, Pure Fishing, Fox, Matrix, Taska, Guru, Garbolino and Sensas as well as numerous new up and coming brands.
It has also been revealed that Italian tackle giants, Colmic, will be exhibiting for the first time at the Big One 2015, displaying their excellent match and sea fishing ranges, and northern bait giants Sticky will returning after missing last year’s show.
Angling Times’ regular columnists Des Taylor and Keith Arthur will be on hand to chat with visitors and guest speakers are due to be confirmed in the coming weeks.
Tickets are now on sale for £10 per adult and can be purchased online for early entry on the day. The £35 VIP tickets are also selling fast and include a gift bucket with a value of £80. Visit: www.fishfacepromotions.co.uk/thebigone for more info.
Click here for more angling news...
New predator section inside this week's Angling Times
This week sees the launch of Angling Times’ brilliant new weekly predator section packed with all the latest tips and tactics to help you catch species such as pike and perch.
Fox’s Julian Chidgey will be one of the regular columnists and he proved why there are few better when it comes to catching predatory fish with this 3lb 1oz perch. The impressive specimen was the highlight of a 15 fish haul from Chew Valley Reservoir in Somerset which included another large stripey of 2lb 15oz.
The former Drennan Cup Champion used fly fishing tactics and opted for a fast-sinking line to get his fly down to the bottom where the bigger perch were sitting and took all the fish in a manic three hour period.
“There’s very limited access to target these huge fish using conventional methods, so I had to switch to fly tackle and this just proves that sometimes thinking outside the box and using alternative methods really pays off,” Julian told Angling Times.
Click here for more angling news...
Brand new predator section inside Angling Times
Inside Angling Times out tomorrow, we launch a new weekly section dedicated to helping you catch more pike, perch and zander.
Andy Crossley reveals the basics of drop shopping and how to get the most out of this very simple tactic.
Martin Bowler shows how to catch big perch on cooked prawns.
Read the full report from the UK's first Fox Rage Lure Championships plus there's your chance to enter the Angling Times/Fox Rage National Drop Shot Championships 2014.
Plus we reveal essential tips for this week and win some drop shot tackle in our predator question and answer section.
Drennan Cup celebrates its greatest ever summer
Angling's most prestigious big fish competition is celebrating one of best summers in its history as the UK’s best specimen anglers battle it out in this season’s Drennan Cup.
Despite only being at the halfway stage no less than 60 weekly awards have been earned by anglers vying to be crowned the 2014/2015 Drennan Cup Champion.
Huge predators dominated the headlines early on but May and June saw big tench and bream go on the feed with no less than 13 weekly prizes given for double-figure tench and Alan Stagg took one of the biggest bream braces of all-time weighing 34lb 11oz.
The nation’s rivers haven’t disappointed either with barbel to 17lb 12oz and several 7lb-plus chub landed. But the real talking point of this season’s competition so far has been the number of huge 3lb-plus rudd caught, with six weekly awards handed out as opposed to just two for the species in the 2013/2014 season.
“The fine settled weather most of the UK has experienced this summer has resulted in the capture of some really spectacular fish, of various species. In fact, the sheer volume of caught-by-design specimens – means our little Drennan Cup Awards committee, in conjunction with Angling Times, often has a tough call debating which ones are most deserving of an award each week,” said Stuart Moss at Drennan International.
“A settled winter is likely to see some monstrous barbel, chub, perch and pike caught in particular, and some of the nation’s finest specimen anglers are already emerging as leading contenders to take the cup from 2013-14 winner Jamie Cartwright next Spring”
Leading the way so far and already boasting four weekly awards is respected big fish angler Alan Stagg.
The Gardner Tackle employee had huge bream to thank for his first two awards as May saw him land a brace of specimens of 17lb 3oz and 16lb 12oz, but the best was yet to come as he followed this up with one of the biggest braces in angling history with slabs weighing 17lb 6oz and 17lb 5oz.
A 15lb 8oz barbel from the River Thames and a 3lb 5oz rudd caught from a southern stillwater earned Alan his remaining two awards.
He said: “This summer has been of the highest quality for big fish as both the rivers and stillwaters have been in top form. It has really made for a great start to the Drennan campaign, not just for myself but also for many of the other anglers in the running.
“So far everything has gone right for me and all of my home-work has paid off. I’m honoured to have four awards at this stage, but the beauty of this competition is that it’s still wide open.
Angling Times columnist, Paul Garner, is hot on Alan’s heel with three weekly awards thanks to tench of 12lb 10oz, 3lb 11oz rudd and a 4lb 2oz 8dr.
Other anglers including former Drennan Cup Champion Darran Goulder, Jim Mathews, Mike Lyddon and up-and-coming specimen angler James Champkin are currently on two awards.
Click here for more angling news...
Apply now for government funding to save local fisheries
Angling clubs are being urged to take advantage of a funding scheme that could see them receive thousands of pounds to take control of new waters before it comes to an end.
With council budgets being slashed in recent years, hundreds of community venues with bags of potential are on the verge of being lost to angling due to a lack of management.
In a last ditch bid to create a positive future for these fisheries, the Angling Trust is leading the drive to get clubs to apply for up to £10,000 of government backing.
The Community Assets and Service Grants Programme has been running for several years but the scheme is set to end within weeks, with all applications for the final round of bidding required by October 31.
National Angling Strategy Manager Rick Warner believes the project offers clubs the ideal opportunity to expand their portfolio of waters and he said: “Angling is not a priority to many local councils due to a lack of finance and we need clubs to come forward to help manager waters that will otherwise be neglected.
“The Angling Trust is on hand to help clubs process these applications and hopefully put in successful bids that will benefit both the clubs and local community,” he added.
Derbyshire’s Earl of Harrington’s AC are among those that have already taken on and transformed abandoned waters, including a series of park lakes which are now top class fisheries. Club treasurer Teresa Parr believes the club has benefitted massively as a result of the move. She told Angling Times: “The illegal fishing and neglect that the park lakes suffered from is now under control and each one is improving, producing some fantastic sport for a variety of species.
“We have sold loads of day and season permits as a result of acquiring these and I would definitely advocate clubs applying for this funding to take ownership of similar venues,” she added.
For more information call Rick on 07850 774857 or email rick.warner@anglingtrust.net
Click here for more angling news...
Did you catch a record fish and not even realise?
Have you put back a potential British record fish and missed out on a place in the record books?
A string of specimen-sized fish taken in the last few months would have set new benchmarks for the recently-created DNA list if their captors had claimed them. That means the records for roach, rudd and crucian carp are still up for grabs because the British Record Fish Committee (BRFC) are yet to receive any applications.
The new DNA record list was created in 2013 specifically for the above mentioned species which are notorious for hybridising with other fish. Any angler catching a roach or rudd of at least 3lb 12oz, or a 4lb 8oz-plus crucian carp, can claim a new record, provided a scale sample is supplied explained Mike Heylin, chairman of the BRFC.
“Crossing is very prevalent in these three fish and the DNA record list came about because several questions were asked of the current roach record of 4lb 4oz. Unfortunately there was no scale sample so we could only go on photographs and scale counts, and the latter are very similar to rudd. The DNA list was created to find pure lines of fish and it’s also a move forward to save stocks of true crucians,” he said.
Rudd of 4lb 1oz, 4lb and 3lb 15oz 8dr, a 4lb 1oz roach and a 4lb 8oz crucian have been reported to Angling Times since July 2014 - all of which would have qualified as DNA records if a scale had been taken. The original record list is very much still running, albeit separately to the DNA version, which the BRFC deems as the fairest way of singling out a true roach, rudd or crucian with modern technology, according to Mike.
“Crucians most commonly hybridise with brown goldfish but I’ve even seen a crucian-chub hybrid before. Roach and rudd tend to breed with each other or bream, but almost any fish can hybridise with each other if the circumstances are right. In the past anglers have haven’t sent record claims in to us because of the grief they’ve received from others, especially keyboard warriors on social media websites. DNA tests will hopefully put a stop to that as they determine whether a fish is a true example of its species or not, there can be no arguing with one,” he added.
How to claim a record
1) Take several good quality photographs of the fish for identification purposes and to help the panel decide whether the fish is the claimed weight.
2) Check that your scales are accurate. Being inaccurate by just 1oz could be the difference between claiming a record and having it rejected.
3) If the fish is a roach, rudd or crucian, carefully take a scale from it. This will not cause any distress and can easily be achieved with your fingers. Once home, slice the scale in half with a clean blade. Keep half for your records and send the rest off for analysis.
For a full list of procedures visit www.anglingtrust.net
Click here for more angling news...
Angling's future is in your hands
The sport’s governing body is urging anglers to help reshape the future of fishing by getting involved in a new research project.
Officials at the Angling Trust have ploughed time and resources into numerous campaigns since the outfit’s creation in 2009 but they are now giving people the chance to have their say on what issues they think should be the next focus.
An online questionnaire has been launched, with members and non-members alike being canvassed for their opinion on a range of topics. The feedback will then be analysed before it is used to help build an action-plan for the year ahead.
Trust Chief Executive Mark Lloyd is at the forefront of the investigation. He said: “It’s been five years since we launched and we believe this is the ideal time to take stock of things and see how we are performing.
“We want to know what matters to anglers and then take appropriate action to see that those issues are addressed.”
Two years ago the National Angling Survey was run in conjunction with the Environment Agency, with almost 30,000 people giving their views and Mark is confident the latest move can be a similar success story.
He added: “Poaching, predation and pollution were three of the biggest issues back then and we have worked hard since to improve the situation on all those fronts.
“We now want to reassess what matters to anglers. We can assure them that their feedback will not be swept under the carpet and ignored but will instead play an important part in planning the route ahead.”
To have your say visit www.anglingtrust.net/membershipsurvey
WHAT YOU THINK
We asked fans of the Angling Times Facebook page what they believed the biggest issues dogging the sport are:
John Hunt - Cormorants are the biggest problem by a mile.
Eric Bradford – Poaching is a massive issue.
Louise Monk - Lack of interest from younger generations and predation.
Chrissy Charles – We need more education for anglers.
Ringwood Tackle – Predation, more specifically otters.
Click here for more angling news...
W.C. Bradley Co. buy Preston Innovations
One of the country’s most popular tackle companies has been purchased by W.C. Bradley Co..
Preston Innovations is the UK’s leading match fishing brand and has rapidly grown its presence in the coarse, carp and bait markets with its sister brands Korum, Avid Carp and Sonubaits.
The sale was completed last Tuesday although terms of the purchase were not released.
David Preston, founder and owner of Preston Innovations, said: “I am extremely proud of the business we have built, but felt we had reached a size and complexity which were better suited to a new owner who could exploit the clear growth potential of Preston Innovations in Europe and beyond."
Jeff Pontius, President of W.C. Bradley Co.'s worldwide fishing business said, “I couldn’t be more pleased that David chose us to continue building the Preston Innovations brands. We have been looking to expand in Europe, and in particular have been looking for a premier player in the match and carp segments. Preston Innovations is one of the leading tackle businesses in the UK and we see great potential for growth in its home market as well as in much of Europe. The team at Preston Innovations has a lot of passion for building their brands and we will be there to support that growth.”
Best ever year for river fishing
‘The nation’s rivers are in their best form for over a decade’. That’s the verdict from a series of top angling coaches and match organisers who have seen bookings rocket this season.
Commercial fisheries have taken the limelight in recent years as a result of the prolific sport and modern facilities but a number of factors have now led to large numbers of anglers returning to natural venues.
Over 1,000 tickets for RiverFest tournament qualifiers were snapped up within a week of going on sale, with attendances also increasing drastically at open and club events.
The spike has left many surprised but Angling Times columnist Dave Harrell believes it was only a matter of time before the crowds came flooding back. He said: “The people I coach are often shocked at what they can catch on a river and can’t get enough of that type of fishing from then on.
“People are getting bored of commercials and with the UK’s rivers in top form they offer a very different, yet equally rewarding, challenge.
“There is no doubt running waters had a period in the doldrums and venues such as the Don and Mersey were badly polluted but they’ve recovered and they are once again at their peak,” he added.
Professional tutor and England international Mark Pollard has spent more time than ever before on running water and he told Angling Times: “I offer anglers the opportunity to enjoy coaching at any type of venue and I’ve had the highest amount of requests I’ve ever had for river venues this season.
“Almost every river is improving and this is drawing back a lot of people who thought they’d never fish on one again,” he added.
Committee members of river-orientated clubs have also seen a marked increase in permit sales. Yorkshire’s Mirfield AC is amongst those experiencing a boom in popularity and match secretary Martyn Highe said: “Our membership numbers are up almost 20 per cent this year and people are travelling hundreds of miles to fish our waters.”
“In one of the last matches on the River Calder, 28 anglers had double figures of silverfish so it’s easy to see why we are seeing more and more new faces.”
For more details on expert river tuition visit www.daveharrellangling.com or www.markpollardfishingdays.com
Click here for more angling news...
More anglers in the Lure Angling Champs final
European style street fishing came to the UK in the latest two stages of the Fox Rage backed British Lure Angling Championships.
Competitors first tackled the Camden Lock area of the Regents Canal in central London where perch proved to be the primary species. Hampshire’s Adam Kirby totalled 364cm to win with John Wheeler, Ben Tregoning, Olivier Gayer, Kamil Drapala, and Mervyn Jones also going through to the final.
Then came Somerset’s River Tone where Gareth Finney came out on top with 128cm of perch and chub. The other five qualifying places being taken by Kevin Jones, Simon Nicol (pictured), Ben Thomas, Stuart Turner and David Smith. The final takes place at Chew Valley Reservoir on October 4th.
Click here for more angling news...
Predation Action Group set to mount legal bid
The Predation Action Group (PAG) has taken its ‘most important step forward’ in addressing fish-eating predators by beginning legal action and challenges to the law.
Members of the voluntary organisation recently agreed that £10,000 of funds are to be allocated for the exercise. The PAG is also looking for financial support from donators and the trade to help fund this further. Its five years since the inception of the organisation and board member Rob Hughes said: “Currently there are a lot of grey areas in wildlife legislation in respect of certain predators, licencing, protection of fisheries and the responsibilities of certain authorities. We’re seeking clarification on exactly what is legally possible and if it is we’ll challenge it. Everybody shrugs their shoulders and says that there is ‘nothing you can do’ about some predators but that’s not the case. The PAG wants the extent of the law to assist in protecting fisheries,” he revealed.
It is also looking at alternative sources of funding for otter fencing than the ‘wholly inadequate’ Environment Agency fund. For more information on how to support the PAG visit www.thepredationactiongroup.co.uk.
Click here for more angling news...
New The Fishing TV Show has it all
“I was that pleased that I nearly self-combusted when I saw it!” These were the words of top carp angler Ian ‘Chilly’ Chillcott after he got a sneak peek at the first episode of BT Sport’s eagerly anticipated The Fishing TV Show.
The new programme is set to broadcast in three eight-part series, the first of which kicks off on Thursday, September 25 at 7pm on BT Sport 2, and will cover all disciplines of angling at rivers, lakes, canals and coastlines across the UK.
As exclusively revealed by Angling Times in July, the shows have been produced for BT Sport by Fishing TV, who already produce and broadcast their own programmes via their website, and are hosted by Chilly and top fly fisherman, Rae Borras.
The duo will not only be sharing their infectious passion for fishing along with their top tips and tactics, but will be joined by a long list of big names such as Des Taylor, former Drennan Cup champion Julian Chidgey, Jerry Hammond and Adam Penning.
The first episode will feature Chilly and Rae carp fishing at the historic Hollybush Lake in Hampshire, tips on using pellets from Duncan Charman, Bob James fishing the River Wye for chub and barbel, Rae targeting salmon in the River Deveron and Dave Barham goes out with the British Conger Club.
Chilly believes the show will be a huge hit because it isn’t solely aimed at giving advice to anglers but is a celebration of fishing that will even appeal to non-anglers.
“Every episode oozes all of the positive aspects and experiences that you get while out on the bank,” he told Angling Times. “I have to keep pinching myself to make sure that I’m not dreaming because to be a part of such an amazing series that covers every aspect of this great sport is beyond my wildest dreams.
Richard Lisney, sales and marketing director of Fishing TV said: “We are delighted that BT Sport have taken the decision to include angling as part of their offering on BT Sport - more mainstream airtime can only be good for fishing as a sport.”
For more information visit: www.fishingtv.com
Click here for more angling news...
