Giant tackle shop set for 2016 opening

A giant tackle shop with floor space the size of two football pitches is set to open in the UK.
The new store, on the outskirts of Newark, Notts, will be one of the biggest in England, featuring more than 12,000sq ft of tackle.
The ambitious project is the brainchild of entrepreneur Tony Porter, owner of Future Fishing Ltd, who came up with the idea after his current tackle shop was struggling to cope with demand.
 He told Angling Times: “Our shop is just not big enough to house all the stock and keep up with the amount of custom we have been getting, so we have no choice but to expand.”
Tony’s plans for the two-storey shop include a lure demonstration tank, an advice desk and a bivvy village.
“We want to provide the help and advice of a small high street tackle shop with the stock and products of a superstore,” he said.
“I want to make sure that all types of angler, from predator to carp, have a range of products to view, try and buy. They deserve a decent shopping experience.”
Tony will open the store to the public in March 2016, with online sales already running. The company has a webpage for anglers to make purchases in the meantime. Visit: www.futurefishing.co.uk or call 01636 612654.

The Big Fish winner relives his TV triumph

“The Big Fish totally changed my life, as I’d never really ventured further than my local river.”
So said James Stokoe, winner of the hit BBC2 series Earth’s Wildest Waters: The Big Fish.
Newbrough, Northumberland-based James triumphed in the show’s dramatic finale in Zambia where he beat off competition from fellow contestants Sam and Dan in a thrilling two-day fish-off on the Zambezi River.
Negotiating murky, dangerous waters and wild animals, the trio targeted several species, and it was an 8lb tiger fish on fly tackle that effectively gave the 33-year-old the verdict, he told Angling Times.
“It felt totally surreal just to get on the programme, never mind win it. I’ve never really ventured far from the River Tyne with a fishing rod in my hand so it was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to go to these locations. The fish and the fishing were just mind blowing. I’m still on a comedown!” he said.
Filming for The Big Fish took place between April and July this year in 10-12 day spells, but it was only after the final episode was screened that James could break his silence.
The latest in a long line of angling success stories recently shown on terrestrial TV channels, the hit series was presented by Ben Fogle and featured commentary from guest judge Matt Hayes and local fishing experts.
So what does the winner rate as his favourite locations?
“As a country I’d have to say Zambia. The African wildlife and scenery was totally different to anything I’ve ever experienced before, it was spectacular. To catch a tiger fish on fly gear was something that was on my bucket list too.
“From a fishing perspective it was British Columbia, where I had a 130lb white sturgeon. The biggest fish I’d ever caught before this was an 18lb salmon, so I absolutely smashed it –  this thing was 6ft 4ins long.
The Big Fish has totally opened my eyes to styles of fishing I never thought I’d enjoy and re-lit my passion for the sport!” he concluded. 

Proud Bob Church awarded well-deserved MBE

Angling legend Bob Church described the moment he received his MBE at Buckingham Palace as one of his ‘proudest moments ever’.
Bob received the prestigious accolade for his services to angling during an incredible career as one of the most decorated fly fishers in UK history and one of the most passionate, enthusiastic and best-loved anglers this country has ever produced.
His medal tally includes team golds at the World Fly Fishing Championships in 1987 and 1988, plus a European team gold in 1990 – and Bob was also a regular contributor to Angling Times for more than 28 years.
It certainly was a day to remember for the founder member of the Northamptonshire Specimen Group, who travelled to Buckingham Palace with his wife Jeanette, daughter Nicola and son Stephen where he was presented his award by the Princess Royal.
“It was so surreal to be with my family in the ballroom at Buckingham Palace, surrounded by others from so many other walks of life, including those receiving knighthoods for services in Afghanistan – and there was little old me about to get an MBE.
“I felt so proud,” he said.

Divorced carper turns wedding bands into handy net clip

A carp angler who fished so much his bored wife divorced him melted down her wedding ring to form a net clip.
Alan Curtis admitted he was on the bank ‘almost every night’ before his partner ditched him. Not wishing to waste the valuable jewellery, he decided to turn the metal into a useful clip to keep his net in place when not in use.
“I just wanted to fish,” said Alan. “I was a bailiff at the time and fishing almost every night.
“She left me on the grounds of abandonment and I thought I’d melt the ring down, add a bit of gold and turn it into a net clip. It gets a great reaction on the bank when people see it and I tell them about it.
“There’s been no contact between me and my ex-wife so she doesn’t know about it.”
Alan’s quirky piece of tackle was spotted by carp tutor Adam Penning when the pair fished together at Ladywell Fishery in Essex earlier this month.
“I asked Adam what he thought it was made of,” said Alan. “He couldn’t believe it when I said it was the old wedding ring.”
The clip was created 15 years ago and Alan, who has since remarried, says his fishing/life balance is much more in check these days.
“I was just desperate to go fishing at the time,” said the Cambridgeshire rod who grew up carping in the Lea Valley.
“I still love it and was recently working back down in Essex and doing two nights a week in between, but it’s a bit trickier now the nights are drawing in.”

High street shop revival

The tackle industry has been given a boost with the opening of at least five new high street businesses.
Budding entrepreneurs have opened their doors in the Midlands and Manchester in an attempt to ignite a retail revival.
Ryan Haye has started up RD Tackle in Brierley Hill, West Mids, after beginning by selling gear at car boot sales and online.
He told Angling Times: “Obviously it’s a tough business to come into, but we offer great customer service which is key to successful trading. You need to have the products anglers need and the knowledge to go with it.
 “We also have brands that other tackle companies in the area don’t, so that gives us an edge.”
Another shop bucking the trend is Trafford Tackle and Bait in Stretford, Manchester. Business has been brisk ever since the shop opened back in June, according to co-owner Jeff Smith.
“It’s going really well,” he said. “There’s no shop within a 30-minute drive of us, which is a big advantage, and we’re already looking to expand.”
Working with business partner Scott Wilding, Jeff devotes half the shop to carp tackle and the rest to match and pleasure fishing.
“The carp side has been brilliant for us,” said Jeff, who once worked  for Marks and Spencer. “We invested heavily – you have to if you’re to succeed in this game – but it’s starting to pay off now.”
Martyn Edwards decided to open his new shop in Warwickshire, Stratford on Avon Fishing and Outdoors Ltd, not only as a new livelihood but as a way of putting something back into the community.
“I’ve always had a passion to set up shop in the town where I live and fish and know a lot of anglers. My plan is to do more for the area’s youngsters and encourage them to take up the sport,” he said.

Get 20% off an iBobber Fish Finder

Have you ever wondered what’s going on in your swim? How many fish are there and how big they are? Most of the time it’s sheer guesswork, but get your hands on this week’s brilliant reader offer and you can map out your swim with pinpoint clarity and work out just what lies beneath!

We’re offering 20 per cent off the Real Sonar Bluetooth iBobber fish finder. This smart little device shows the number of fish in your peg and their size, the depth they are sitting at and even the contours of the swim. There are also precise weather, water temperature and moon phase settings, with the option to store previously-mapped swims for future reference and to share on social media.

Compatible with all Apple and Android devices, the iBobber attaches to your line and works in two ways. To map the swim, cast to the required distance then reel in slowly, letting the sonar do the work, feeding back accurate measurements of depth and contours. To discover the fish in the peg, leave the iBobber alone and it will ping back the fishy life forms close by.

It comes with a charging dock, carry bag and instructions. All you need do is download the free app on to your phone, device or tablet and you’re away!

It retails at £99.99, but Angling Times readers can get the iBobber for £79.99 (plus free shipping), an impressive 20 per cent saving. That makes the iBobber the ideal Christmas present for the angler who almost has it all on the fishing front, or for the specimen and pleasure angler who take their fishing seriously!

FEATURES

The iBobber will allow you to:

- Map swim contours and depths down to 135ft at up to 100ft range

- Discover the size of fish below and above 15ins

- Chart water temperatures

- Indicate favourable moon phases on the calendar

- Display accurate weather data

- Store previously charted swims for future use

- Map good areas via GPS

- Share findings on social media

To order your iBobber, simply visit www.mailordergolf.com search for iBobber and then enter the code FISH20 to place your order. The offer ends on Thursday, December 31, 2015

Ex-police join poacher fight

A team of some of the UK’s top former policemen are to join the fight against illegal angling and poaching.
In a project directly funded by rod licence revenue, the six, who have over 150 years of crime-fighting experience between them, have been appointed by the Angling Trust as part of its new nationwide Fisheries Enforcement Support Service.
Led by Trust Fisheries Enforcement Manager Dilip Sarkar, and in partnership with the Environment Agency, each of the six Regional Enforcement Officers (REMs) will work directly with with police, anglers and clubs nationwide to help them understand the law and raise awareness of illegal angling.
The men will also be supporting the ‘Building Bridges’ project, aimed at encouraging migrant anglers to fish legally, and help to roll out the Voluntary Bailiff Service (VBS) across the country, a scheme currently running only in the South East.
“This is a massive step forward in the fight to protect fish and fisheries, and unprecedented from a non-government organisation,” said Dilip, himself a retired West Mercia police officer. “The experience of the new recruits across a wide range of disciplines will give angling a distinct advantage and spells bad news for offenders. “
The new REMs are no strangers to fishing, and most of them are keen anglers.
Paul Thomas, who will be the officer for the Eastern England region, is excited about putting something back into the sport: “I am honoured and truly proud to be part of the Angling Trust delivering a robust and effective Fisheries Enforcement Campaign with positive outcomes for all anglers,”
he said.
“The Building Bridges project and Voluntary Bailiff Service are the way forward for angling today, and as a truly passionate angler I am very excited by the opportunity to put something back into the hobby that has held me spellbound for more than 40 years.”

New Fishing Gurus hits Sky Sports this autumn!

The new season of Fishing Gurus is here and it’s set to be the best ever as the cameras follow Dean Macey and the team tackling brand-new angling adventures!

The next episodes (airing on Wednesday 11th November on Sky Sports 4, 7pm) see Dean Macey teaming up with match ace Adam Rooney for close-range tactics on the River Lea in Hertfordshire. The action is non-stop as the pair target running water species including barbel on the float and feeder with amazing footage of the prince of the stream in the crystal clear water.

The action then shifts to beautiful Ireland as the deadly duo of Steve Ringer and Pemb Wrighting plunder the famous Lakelands for big bream and hybrid action in a two-part special (set your reminders for Wednesday 11th and 18th November, 7.30pm) before Dean Macey goes wading and float fishing on the stunning River Wye for grayling and chub on Wednesday 25th Nov at 7.30pm.

If you’ve ever wondered what makes 2014 World Feeder Champion Steve Ringer so good, then the next episode on Wednesday 2nd Dec at 7.30pm is a must-watch as the cameras follow Steve through a real match at Packington Somers with Dean Macey keeping an eagle eye on the tactics and edges that make the Midlander such a consistent winner.

The action then moves to Larford Lakes on Wednesday 9th and 16th Dec at 7.30pm in a thrilling two-part finale with a pairs match that sees Paul Holland and Steve Ringer take on Pemb Wrighting and Adam Rooney in a running line and pole battle. Will Steve’s unbeaten record remain? We can only say that it’s one of the tightest and most thrilling finishes ever on Fishing Gurus…

Filmed over the course of the summer and autumn, the new episodes cover some of the most exciting coarse fishing action ever seen in Fishing Gurus as the team explore new venues and new species.

Packed full of tips and advice, the team tackle a variety of waters from Ireland’s stunning lochs, where the Gurus filmed two episodes in the Lakelands area, to crystal clear chalk streams and lily-pad strewn lakes in search of their quarry. Barbel, chub, carp, crucians, bream, perch, grayling, dace and a surprise river tench all feature with Dean Macey presenting alongside Steve Ringer, Adam Rooney, Pemb Wrighting and Paul Holland over the eight episodes.

Watch the trailer below.

EPISODE GUIDE

Episode 1 – Sky Sports 4 – Wednesday 5th Nov– 7pm

Dean Macey and Adam Rooney visit the beautiful Hinderclay Lakes in Norfolk in search of the crucian carp - a childhood dream catch for the enthusiastic pair.

Episode 2 – Sky Sports 4 – Wednesday 11th Nov – 7pm (repeats at midnight and on Thursday 12th Nov at 2pm)

Heading to Hertfordshire, Dean Macey and Adam Rooney take their annual river adventure to the prolific River Lea for a frantic session targeting the prince of the river, the barbel.

Episode 3 - Sky Sports 4 – Wednesday 11th Nov – 7.30pm (repeats at half-past midnight, Thursday 12th Nov at 2.30pm and Wednesday 18th Nov at 7pm)

The first part of an Irish adventure sees Steve Ringer and Pemb Wrighting travel to Southern Ireland to fill their nets on a wild lake surrounded by breathtaking scenery in the Lakelands region, famous for its silvers and hybrid fishing on the feeder.

Episode 4 - Sky Sports 4 – Wednesday 18th Nov – 7.30pm (repeats at half-past midnight, Thursday 19th Nov at 2.30pm and Wednesday 25th Nov at 7pm)

In part two of the Irish adventure, Steve Ringer and Pemb Wrighting visit a vast Irish loch in search of some big Irish bream and other species surrounded by the stunning Lakelands countryside.

Episode 5 – Sky Sports 4 - Wednesday 25th Nov – 7.30pm (repeats at half-past midnight, Thursday 26th Nov at 2.30pm and Wednesday 2nd Dec at 7pm and midnight, and Thursday 3rd Dec at 8am)

Dean Macey gets waist deep in the awesome River Wye, targeting the beautiful grayling and the hard fighting chub on float fishing tactics.

Episode 6 – Sky Sports 4 - Wednesday 2nd Dec – 7.30pm (repeats at half-past midnight, Thursday 3rd Dec 8.30am, Thursday 9th Dec 7pm, and Friday 10th Dec 5pm)

Steve Ringer is put in the hot seat at Packington Somers Fishery! We follow the former World Feeder Team champion though a match on a venue he hasn’t visited for half a decade – how will get on?

Episode 7 – Sky Sports 4 - Wednesday 9th Dec – 7.30pm (repeats on Thursday 10th Dec 5.30pm, Wednesday 16th Dec 7pm and midnight, and Thursday 17th Dec at 2pm)

A thrilling two-part finale to the series features a nail-biting match vs match pairs challenge. Adam Rooney and Pemb Wrighting take on Steve Ringer and Paul Holland over two days, fishing contrasting methods on the Specimen Lake at the Larford Lakes complex in Stourport.

Episode 8 – Sky Sports 4 - Wednesday 16th Dec – 7.30pm (repeats at half-past midnight and Thursday 17th Dec at 2.30pm)

The conclusion of the amazing match vs match challenge. The pairs do battle at Stafford’s Larford Lakes in a tense finale to the two-day match between Steve River and Paul Holland on one team and Pemb Wrighting and Adam Rooney on the other. Who will emerge victorious? Make sure you tune in to find out!

50m killer net found in Thames

An angler has saved the lives of huge perch, barbel and bream following the gruesome discovery of a 50m illegal net that was stretched across one of the best rivers in the UK.
Dedicated guide and predator fishing fanatic Warwick Salzer acted quickly to set free over 400lb of fish on the Thames, including 4lb perch and over 60 quality bream that were tethered in the gill set across the entire width of the venue at Teddington Weir.
It took the boss of Fling Your Hook charters along with two customers 90 minutes to retrieve the mesh and cut free over 90 quality fish, which also included barbel, big roach and flatfish in an incident that could have caused a major fish-kill if the party hadn’t intervened. 
“I’ve never seen anything like this, there was no escape for anything coming up or down the river,” said Warwick, who accidentally hooked the net with a float rig intended for pike.
“In the past I’ve worked on trawlers and I recognised that this was a very professional set-up, not the work of your average Joe.
“I imagine it was placed the night before to catch the high tide and get as many fish as possible and that’s pretty much what it got. A net like this used once a week could wipe out a stretch of river in a matter of months.”
Warwick believes the net was attached to a plastic bottle with a paper note inside to serve as a marker and also as an excuse for the poachers if they were caught handling it.
The incident was reported and the police and Environment Agency officers visited the scene. 

- If you want to report an incident of illegal fishing or poaching, call the Environment Agency’s 24-hour incident hotline on: 0800 807060.

Kids targeted by new Angling Trust survey

A campaign to attract thousands of youngsters into angling has been given a major boost after the launch of a ground-breaking survey.
Junior participation has dropped alarmingly in recent years, but the Angling Trust is now attempting to reverse the trend by creating a national questionnaire for under-18s.
The governing body hopes the move will help it understand what the sport needs to do to make it more appealing to youngsters.
Trust communications manager Will Smith said: “It is vital that we know what the sport can do to get thousands more young people to go fishing on a regular basis.
“This kind of research is essential because, ultimately, the more anglers we have, the stronger the future of our sport.
“Even if you have never been fishing, or only fished once or twice, we really want to know what we can do to make you get involved in angling,” he added.
Get Hooked on Fishing is the UK’s leading angling charity and its bosses have given the latest development their full support.
Chief executive Sarah Collins believes the results from the project could be vital to securing the future of fishing.
“This is a fantastic idea and we will be encouraging all the juniors who we coach to get involved in the project,” she said.
“Angling has to adapt to draw in more kids, but at the moment I don’t think we know exactly which direction to head in.
“We have two choices – we can either try to second-guess what young people think, or we can ask them directly. In my mind, it is clear that asking them will produce a more accurate picture of what needs to be done,” she added.
Anyone under 16 should get consent from an adult or guardian before filling in the form, with all participants having the option to enter a free competition to win up to £200 of Amazon vouchers.
Visit www.surveymonkey.com/r/ATYP to fill in the survey.

National Angling Awards 2015

The National Angling Awards are back and the power is in your hands to decide which of the runners and riders will claim the coveted silverware.
Designed to reward those who have achieved greatness within the sport, the awards put Angling Times readers in the driving seat and give you the opportunity to vote on the big issues that have made 2015 such a memorable year.
Hundreds of amazing catches, tackle innovations and match fishing achievements have been recorded over the last 12 months and every single vote received will play a crucial part in dictating who takes the glory.
Over 30 categories are set to be contested, with specimen angler of the year, river and stillwater of the year and TV show of the year just a few of the honours that are up for grabs.
Angling Times editor Steve Fitzpatrick is expecting a record number of votes in the coming weeks and he said: “The National Angling Awards are the perfect way to celebrate an incredible year for our sport and to give the big achievers the praise they deserve.
“There are other award ceremonies in angling but this is the only one that will attract tens of thousands of votes. That is why everyone who is nominated desperately wants to get their hands on one of the trophies.”
“Every nomination has a genuine chance of winning and I am urging every Angling Times reader to have their say and play a part in crowning the champions,” he added.
It’s not just individual anglers and teams that come into the equation, with major tackle companies also set to be applauded for a ground-breaking period in the industry.
The best rods, reels, poles and gadgets will all be voted on and Tackle Editor Mark Sawyer knows the launch of this year’s awards has already created excitement among the major manufacturers. He said: “The whole of the tackle industry is talking about the National Angling Awards and out of all the accolades they could gain, this is the one they want to win the most.
“If you have an item of tackle that has made the world of difference to your fishing, make sure you give it the praise it deserves by giving it your vote,” added Mark.

TACKLE

Get Hooked on Fishing pleads for donations following tackle thefts

Bosses of the nation’s biggest coaching scheme are urging Angling Times readers to help them raise thousands of pounds to replace tackle stolen during a devastating raid.
Get Hooked on Fishing is responsible for boosting junior participation numbers every year, but the charity’s efforts were hampered when crooks made off with a huge stash of tackle that was vital to one of its centres.
Police are currently investigating the robbery at the regional headquarters, Bradshaw Fisheries in Bolton, Lancs, but the chaos the thieves caused has left officials unsure as to whether the large scale coaching operation will be able to continue this winter.
Sarah Collins is the organisation’s Chief Executive and has now asked anglers for help so that the charity can continue the progress that has been made over the years.
“The Bolton part of the project coaches just under 1,000 juniors every year but this episode has put all that in jeopardy,” said Sarah.
“Unless we can raise over £1,000 to replace the stolen tackle, our carp and pike fishing plans for the coming months will have to be shelved, with the general coarse fishing for beginners being severely restricted.
“Angling is a sport that has a long history of showing its generosity, and we would be incredibly grateful if anyone can step forward and help fund the equipment we so desperately need,” she added.
Salford Friendly Anglers were the first to step in and aid the fundraising efforts, and secretary Mike Duddy said: “We don’t have a junior section of our own so we felt this was a great way of supporting that area of the sport.
“The donations have already started flooding in and we also intend to hold a raffle and hand over some new tackle to help them get back on their feet,” he added.
Anyone wishing to donate to the cause can do so by PayPal, making all payments to the admin@salfordfriendlyanglers account.
For details on other ways to donate call Sarah on 07525 255572.

New 'Super Freaks' strain of carp capable of breaking record, says creator

A new breed of carp that could break the UK record could be coming to a fishery near you.
‘Super Freaks’ are the creation of fish farming specialist Rob Hales, who has spent years adopting special techniques in order to produce the super-fast-growing fish.
The strain is being made available to the public through Rob’s firm, RH Fisheries, whose team of experts has already successfully bred carp to over 50lb at The Monument, in Shropshire.
Rob believes the mirrors and commons could reach record sizes within a decade, and he said: “Our current Super Freaks are only 18 months old, but already they average 3lb – that is double the size of other carp at that age.
“They all have the potential and genetics to grow beyond 40lb and will achieve more than 6lb weight gain per year if fed correctly in good water quality. That’s 50 per cent faster than anything we have bred before” he said.
Several carp fisheries have already been in touch to try and secure their order but Rob warned that mass production will not be easily achieved. He added: “We grade the fry from our fisheries and only choose the ones that are much bigger and stand out among thousands.
“These are put into our fish farm and fed six times a day on automatic feeders, with oxygen machines working on timers to ensure they are healthy and feed heavily” he said.
l Interested in buying some of Rob’s new stock? Call 01952 463141 or visit www.rhfisheries.com

3lb 5oz perch best

Richard Griffiths’ decision to leave his carp tackle at home and go drop shotting paid off in style – with six 2lb-plus perch topped by a 3lb 5oz specimen.
The Shimano-backed carper visited an East Midlands gravel pit with colleague Simon Bates, where the pair netted more than 40 predators using Rapala Storm soft baits on light lure rods.
Simon banked four fish over 2lb, including the biggest fish of the day which weighed in at 3lb 7oz.

Could junior fishing licences be made free?

A campaign to get more juniors into angling has taken a major step forward after plans to give out free rod licences to children were suggested.
Environment Agency bosses have pitched the idea to high-ranking government officials in a bid to get more kids into the sport.
The move comes after recently released figures by the EA showed that sales in licences for 12 to 16-year-olds had more than halved in five years, despite increased sales of adult licences this year.
In order to stop the decline, bosses have opened up dialogue with staff at the Treasury and the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (Defra) about the possibility of making price alterations, along with a raft of other changes to the rod licence system for 2017.
The current cost of a junior rod licence is £5 a season, but the EA’s Head of Fisheries, Sarah Chare, believes scrapping the charge would prove beneficial to the sport.
She told Angling Times: “We have been conducting numerous surveys over the past year or so and are now using the data to consider possible changes to the system.  The feedback suggests that making the junior licence free will help to protect the future of the sport.
“On top of this we will continue to invest in the Angling Improvement Fund which backs projects to get more kids into the sport, as well as work with the Angling Trust on other ways to increase their participation.”
The EA is also considering the possibility of a three-rod licence, a 365-day licence which starts from the day you buy it, and possible changes to how anglers can pay – but Sarah believes the decline in junior anglers is her top priority.
“We appreciate the hard work already being done by numerous agencies and tackle firms, but we need everyone to do their bit and help out if we are to make a difference,” she concluded.

Roach boost on the canals

Roach stocks in Britain’s most popular canals are set to receive a boost with the launch of a forward-thinking project.

The Canal & River Trust has revealed its plans to entice thousands of lapsed canal anglers, among them an initiative aimed at producing more roach for anglers to target.

The Grand Union Canal will be the first place where the Roach Restoration Project will be trialled. Thousands of pounds are set to be invested after numerous angling clubs complained that stocks on the waterway were in serious decline.

It is hoped the scheme will be rolled out nationally if it proves to be a success.

However, rather than stocking roach bred on fish farms, the project will instead go about working to protect fish already in the canal and encourage them to spawn with the help of specially designed mats on which they can deposit their eggs.

The inspiration for the scheme has been taken from the highly successful Avon Roach Project which was set up by Budgie Price and Trevor Harrop back in 2003 to help reverse the decline in redfins on the Hampshire Avon.

Detailed plans for the project are yet to be finalised, but the CRT’s National Fisheries and Angling Manager, John Ellis, hopes it will help bring more anglers back to canals.

He said: “The quality of silverfish angling on many canals is in decline, particularly for roach. We want to reverse that so that those who fish on our waterways can expect lots of bites.

“We need to reduce predation by removing some of the zander in the canal and provide fish with adequate shelter before building the mats to help stocks increase for the future,” he added.

Work is set to begin in the Milton Keynes and Northampton area, spreading to other stretches later if the project proves a success – but John pointed out that not every stretch requires attention: “The areas we will be concentrating on are those where a lot of match anglers like to catch silverfish. We won’t be removing zander from the whole canal circuit, as on some sections they are the prime target of lure anglers.”

The charity is in talks with the Angling Trust and Environment Agency to help fund the project with cash from their Angling Improvement Fund, but it is also appealing for help from the public.

To donate towards the scheme go to www.canalrivertrust.org.uk/get-involved/appeal  or call 0303 040 4040.

Angling set for £500,000 licence windfall

Angling is set to receive a major cash boost of more than £500,000, thanks to soaring rod licence sales.
The huge cash injection is being released by the Environment Agency after bosses revealed that the overall sale of UK rod licences has hit the million mark for 2015 – ending six years of decline.
In an exclusive interview with Angling Times, the Environment Agency’s Head of Fisheries, Sarah Chare, revealed that the sport will benefit financially from the trend, saying:  “For the first time since 2009 we have seen overall licence sales climb, rather than drop like we expected.
“This is great news for angling, as cash made from these extra sales will be ploughed straight back into the sport. The more licences we sell, the more money we have to spend on fisheries.”
Detailed plans for the spending of the cash have yet to be finalised, but the EA has revealed that £250,000 of the pot will go towards the continuation of the Angling Improvement Fund (formerly the Fisheries Improvement Fund) which it runs in partnership with the Angling Trust.
On top of this the EA has also planned to inject a further £370,000 into its local fisheries teams, to help with projects such as fish habitat work and anti-predation measures on rivers, lakes and canals.
Sarah explained: “Last season we sold just over 1.2 million licences. With several months of this season still to go we have already hit the 1.1 million mark. The money will be divided between 23 teams who work directly with angling clubs and fisheries to improve venues, so anglers will directly see their licence money helping them.”
One club to benefit from this type of work in recent years is Milton Keynes AA, which has seen thousands of pounds spent on improving fish habitat on its prolific Adams Mill stretch of the Great Ouse, the venue which holds the current UK barbel record.
Secretary Trevor Johnson told Angling Times: “The work that the local EA team has been doing on the upper Ouse area is making a huge difference. Anglers are starting to see the benefits and the cash boost is great for the future of angling.”
The extra money is not the only good news for the sport, as Sarah also revealed that the EA is working on several other issues with the Angling Trust.
“We are currently in talks with the Trust on discovering ways to increase participation in the sport. We are also helping it to roll out the Voluntary Bailiff Service across the UK to give fish stocks even better protection,” she concluded.

Play a part in the future of your sport

Every angler in the country is being urged to get involved in fishing’s biggest-ever survey being carried out to help shape the future of our spot.
The Angling Trust has teamed up with Sport England and the Environment Agency to run the nationwide research project, which will take a detailed look into the views and experiences of UK anglers and enable them to play their part in making major changes to the UK fishing agenda.
It is hoped that the results will reveal what can be done to drastically boost the number of people that regularly go fishing, while at the same time providing the tools for improvements that could be made to tempt exisiting anglers to spend more time on the bank.
The Angling Trust’s Chief Executive, Mark Lloyd, is one of the brains behind the project, and he told Angling Times: “We want to hear from anyone who has ever been fishing – whether they have dabbled just once or twice, haven’t done it for some time, or are a keen current angler that fishes regularly.
“We want angling to remain one of the most popular activities in the country, and that can be achieved if everyone gets involved in this survey.
“The last survey that we carried out identified predation, poaching and pollution as the issues closest to anglers’ hearts, and we’ve acted on the results to address these key issues.
“Whatever anglers tell us this time round, we will get to work on their concerns immediately to ensure a stronger future for fishing,” he added.
As an incentive to take part, there will be a chance to get your hands on hundreds of pounds’ worth of tackle vouchers from Glasgow Angling Centre.
Anyone who fills in the survey can easily opt in to be entered into the prize draw.

Take the survey here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/AnglingTrust2015

14,000 join in to learn all about angling

The sport’s most important initiative for attracting new blood has been hailed a huge success after 14,000 people took part.
National Fishing Month is an annual event that aims to boost participation, with over 300 coaching and taster days being held at fisheries across the country during this year’s action-packed schedule.
Staged between July 18 and August 31, professional tutors and event organisers were inundated with enquiries from people who wanted to try out angling.
Staff at the Angling Trades Association (ATA) were once again in charge of its organisation.
Chairwoman Naidre Werner was full of praise for those who helped make it such a success.
 “The achievements of National Fishing Month are largely due to the enthusiastic, steadfast support of the voluntary organisers and coaches who plan the events every year,” she said.
“It’s down to their hard work that the sport reaches out to so many people. It’s now our responsibility to ensure that as many people as possible who enjoyed their experience take up fishing on a regular basis to become the anglers of the future.”
Numerous angling clubs and fisheries helped deliver the programmes, including Nottingham Anglers Association who provided a full session of coaching for just £1 at its Bestwood Ponds complex.
All juniors who participated in at least two events were given free membership for the rest of the season.
Secretary Dave Turner said: “Juniors are vital to the future of our sport and we are determined to do our bit to tempt as many children as possible to take up fishing.
“We have already seen those who earned a free membership at our waters with family or friends and it is proof that the activities that make up National Fishing Month are making a real difference to participation levels.”
Planning has already started for the 2016 effort.
Anyone wishing to get involved can find out more information by visiting www.nationalfishingmonth.com

Fisheries turn to TripAdvisor to publicise their waters

Angling clubs and fisheries are using the world’s biggest travel website to publicise their flagship waters and bring the sport into the 21st Century.
TripAdvisor is used by millions of travellers to rate their experiences every year – it’s a free service that’s now being utilised by a growing number of fishing venues and organisations across the UK.
The site boasts over 200 million reviews of hotels, holiday destinations and restaurants and now anglers are rating their own experiences, as well as sharing photographs of their favourite venues.
Not only does it help each venue promote its waters, but also allows visitors to write honest reviews about their fishing, facilities and other experiences.
Day-ticket venue Arden Lakes Fishery, in Warwickshire, is one venue which has embraced TripAdvisor. “The site offers fisheries that are in an increasingly competitive market a great way of getting their name out there,” owner Hugh Mannall explained.
“It’s great publicity money can’t buy, especially for the lesser-known venues that don’t hold big matches.
“I very much support anglers being able to go on the web and review the venues they visit. It’s also a good way of providing feedback to us which we can use to improve,” he said.
It isn’t just fisheries that are utilising the award-winning site either – Todmorden Angling Society has posted some of its fisheries on the site.
Club secretary Ray Barber said: “We have posted details of four of our venues on there, some of which are day-ticket waters, as we think anglers deserve to get a feel for a venue before they visit. It’s also a great way of boosting our membership by increasing publicity.
“It won’t be biased either, as anyone can put a review on our waters not just anglers as we have bird watchers and dog walkers visiting our sites
too, so it will hopefully help to raise the standard of venues across the UK.”