September heatwave promises a bonanza of personal bests

Fisheries across the UK have hit their best form of the year for big carp, following some of the hottest September temperatures since records began.

Traditionally, this time of year is deemed by some of the sport’s biggest names as the best for beating carp personal bests as the nights draw in and fish go on the feed in readiness for winter.

It’s a theory that’s being proved at some of the top big-carp waters. In addition, commercial fisheries that hold larger carp are also reporting a huge increase in the capture of high double-figure fish, with specimens reaching 20lb.

Now, with record-breaking temperatures bringing warm water conditions, experts and fishery owners are saying there’s never been a better time for anglers to get down to their local carp venue and reap the rewards.

“It’s the best time of the year to target big carp and you’d be foolish not to be out there, especially with the recent high temperatures,” said Andrew Ellis, owner of AE Fisheries

“Some very high-profile carp anglers are all saying that this is the best chance of a monster.

“The only thing on a carp’s mind at this time of the year is feeding up ready for the winter and building up its stores of fat. 

“I feed my carp more now than at any other time of year. This feeding behaviour is being mirrored at thousands of fisheries across the country.”

Iain Macmillan with a fine late summer common.

Respected Shimano-backed carper Iain Macmillan echoed Andrew’s sentiments: “There are often more big carp caught between now and Christmas than at any other time of the year.

“There’s every reason to get really excited as this is the time when it’s not just about catching the really huge fish, but also big hits are on the cards.”

It’s not just day-ticket venues such as Oxfordshire’s Linear Fisheries and Staffordshire’s Baden Hall that have continued their incredible summer form for big fish. 

‘Runs’ waters like Northamptonshire’s Drayton Reservoir, Stafford Moor in Devon and Barston Lakes in the West Midlands are also in top fettle.

“There are loads of big doubles coming out at the moment, as a recent match was won with many carp between 16lb and 20lb,” said Barston Lakes boss Nigel Harrhy.

“Guys who just come here for runs are regularly upping their personal bests, and this time of the year is always spot-on for the bigger fish to switch on to the feed,” he added.

Angling to star in the Olympics?

Angling has taken a step closer to being part of the Olympic Games – with the submission of an official application to be a part of the world’s biggest sporting spectacle.

Numerous high-profile stars from within the sport have campaigned for years to see one of the world’s biggest participant sports included in the global event, and following this latest development the dream could finally become a reality.

Bosses from international match angling’s governing body CIPS have put together a huge dossier in a bid to convince the Olympic Committee that fishing should officially be recognised as a sport.

If the move is given the green light, it could then be considered for inclusion in future Olympics. 

TV personality and former Olympic athlete Dean Macey believes angling would be a worthy inclusion. He said: “Millions of people across the world go fishing, so why shouldn’t it form part of the biggest sporting event on the planet?

“It would be a huge boost for angling, and for those that compete it would be the pinnacle of their career. Forget Fish O’Mania and the World Championships, the Olympics has over a billion people tuning in. It would dwarf any other angling tournament.”

Given the nation’s huge array of talent, the chances of achieving success would be high and Dean added: “No matter what form the competition took, we would be in the medals. Be it feeder fishing, floatfishing or accuracy casting, Team GB would have the best in the world in their ranks.”

Current England international Des Shipp, who has won countless tournaments in an illustrious career, says that taking part in the Olympics would top the lot. 

He said: “It would be an honour to get selected if it ever came about, and I can’t even begin to imagine how amazing it would feel to win a gold medal.

“More and more sports are being included in the Olympics and angling deserves a chance to showcase itself on the giant stage.”

Former England boss and CIPS official Dick Clegg believes that a successful bid could have numerous benefits, and he told Angling Times: “It would be great to think that angling could one day be part of the Olympic Gamesin some format, whether that is accuracy or distance casting or something else.

“In the short term, being recognised as a sport by the Olympic Committee could lead to more funding for our national teams, which would play a huge part in maintaining our current high levels of success.”

Drive to get more clubs on canals

A major drive is underway to get more anglers to fish canals by offering clubs the chance to take over dozens of untapped stretches.

Hundreds of miles of waterway are currently without tenants, and the Canal & River Trust wants angling clubs to take advantage of the situation by boosting its portfolio of waters.

C&RT National Fisheries and Angling Manager, John Ellis, is leading the charge. He believes clubs are missing out on what is some fantastic fishing. He told Angling Times: “There are literally miles of canal which are barely fished but offer superb sport with a huge variety of species. 

“We prefer to work with clubs rather than just leaving stretches to be fished by individual anglers – it’s a win win situation. 

“Clubs help us to fight poaching and antisocial behaviour, while the members get a great venue to fish at the same time. Clubs who can’t afford to rent waters can still enjoy the canals, as most of our stretches are available to book for matches on our Waterways Wanderers Scheme for less than the price of a day ticket. 

“We want more and more anglers to discover the magic of fishing canals.”

One club to recently take advantage of the push is Little Britain Anglers. The North West outfit took over an extensive stretch of the Bolton & Bury Canal last year. Speaking at the time, club secretary Eric Owen said: “Our main aim was to bring back fishing to as much as the canal as possible so that it could be enjoyed by the area’s anglers. The canal was a somewhat forgotten venue and we wanted to change that. 

“Taking over stretches like this is a great way for clubs to offer their members places to fish other than just your typical ponds or stretches of river – you’d be surprised what lurks in canals.”

Winning crucian pics are revealed

THE WINNERS

Crucian – Richie Martin
Specimen Crucian – Andy Lewis
Scenic Crucian Waters – John Spilsbury
Junior Crucian Anglers – Michael Ewing

Each winner was given a £100 tackle voucher, a £35 crucian-themed bucket of products from Bait-Tech and a copy of Peter Rolfe’s book about the species, ‘Crock of Gold’.

There were eight runners-up who each received the Bait-Tech bucket.

Here are the results of a competition aimed at raising the profile of one of the UK’s most iconic fish!

The photographic contest was run in conjunction with ‘Catch a Crucian Month’ – an initiative aimed at raising awareness of the troubled species – and attracted hundreds of entries.

After hours of deliberation by a panel of species experts, a stunning shot of four fish in the net caught from Surrey’s Marsh Farm by Ringwood’s Richie Martin scooped the ‘Crucian Picture’ award, while seven-year-old Michael Ewing, of Godalming, was handed the ‘Junior Crucian Anglers’ accolade.

Stockport angler John Spilsbury’s inspiring image of a traditional float next to the lily pads won the ‘Scenic Waters’ category, while Andy Lewis from Warwickshire bagged the ‘Specimen Crucian’ silverware for a 2lb 5oz fish. He said: “I think it is a brilliant idea and I entered to try to help raise awareness of true crucians. I never expected to win, but I am delighted I have.

“Unless something is done, crucians could be extinct in a decade. I think this campaign is just what is needed to provide a bright future for the species.”

Numbers of ‘true’ crucians have declined at an alarming rate in recent years due to hybridisation with other species. This is the reason the Angling Trust has teamed up with the Association of Crucian Anglers to launch the National Crucian Conservation Project (NCCP).

One of the project’s many objectives is to encourage fishery owners and clubsto stock more true examples of the species while also persuading anglers to target them regularly.

Trust Campaign Coordinator Martin Salter played a big part in the process, and he said: “We have been delighted with the response to ‘Catch a Crucian Month’ and the accompanying photo competition. 

“Many entries encapsulated the charm and beauty of crucians and the delightful and intimate waters that they inhabit.

“There is no doubt that the project has inspired many clubs and fishery owners to create bespoke fisheries and think more carefully about how stocks are managed. 

“I’m sure this competition will go from strength to strength in future years.”

Renowned big-fish angler Chris Turnbull has a series of big crucians to his name and is an ambassador for various schemes dedicated to their protection. He said: “They are one of the UK’s most loved summer species, but within a short space of time they have become highly endangered.

“It is really important that we work to prevent their demise, and the first step must be the education of anglers.

“This competition is a great step forward in that process.”

To find out more about the National Crucian Conservation Project (NCCP) visit www.anglingtrust.net.

‘Nets In The Sun’ is a huge success

Fisheries nationwide have thrown their support behind an Angling Times campaign to help protect commercial fish stocks.

Angling Times joined many UK waters in the fight to raise awareness about preventing the spread of the deadly Koi Herpes Virus (KHV), following recent outbreaks of the disease at several popular fisheries.

Research has suggested that it can be transferred on keepnets and landing nets that haven’t been exposed to sunlight and properly dried out before use.

This saw the launch of the Angling Times ‘Nets In The Sun’ campaign, and bosses at several top commercials have now introduced new rules to help eradicate the virus.

Devon’s Stafford Moor hasn’t experienced KHV and owner Joanne Coombes is determined to keep it that way. She said: “Anglers must now dip all nets and stink bags and once they get to their peg, lay them out to dry. These are proven methods of killing diseases that could otherwise wreak havoc.

“We have invested thousands of pounds into the venue and we aren’t prepared to take any risks with our fish stocks. Everybody understands the need to put these measures in place, and anyone caught on CCTV flouting the rules will be asked to leave.”

Anglers are also being asked to dry their nets at home, and Packington Somers chief John Burchell believes the message has got through loud and clear. He said: “We are stressing the need to arrive here with dry nets, and so far everybody has done so, which is great to see. We are considering a stink bag ban as well.”

Boom time for river fishing

It's shaping up to be a record year for anglers returning to running water venues.

Sales of traditional river tackle have risen by 200 per cent, and clubs are having to print more books to meet the demand. 

With many of the nation’s top waterways now offering some of the best sport seen in decades, more and more are joining clubs and celebrating the variety of sport to be had there.

The trend has seen a welcome spike in demand for floatfishing tackle, and one manufacturer is reporting a huge increase in sales of its centrepin reels. 

TF Gear’s direct marketing manager, Alan Crawford-Plane, has revealed that sales of reels of this type have doubled since the company began selling them back in 2012. 

He told Angling Times: “Over the last couple of years we have noticed a big hike in sales of river fishing gear, and none more so than our range of ’pins. 

“We started with just one model but as demand rose we’ve had to increase that to four, to offer anglers of all pockets a choice. 

“The increase isn’t just because anglers are choosing traditional tackle, but because more people are back on the rivers. This has been reflected in strong sales of items like barbel rods too.”

It’s not just running water fishing tackle that has experienced a huge rise in sales. 

Dozens of angling clubs who offer stretches of river are seeing new members flocking to join. 

One such club is Nottingham Federation of Anglers. 

The club is going through one of its biggest recruitment drives in recent history, and club secretary Ian McLaughlin said: “We have sold more books this year than at any time in the last decade… so much so that we needed a reprint this season. 

“We run several sections of the River Trent and because our venues are fishing well and we’ve spent money improving access to them there’s been a noticeable increase in numbers. I think that’s true of many other clubs too. It’s great for us and the sport.”

These sentiments were echoed by river specialist and Angling Times columnist Dave Harrell.

 “It’s great to see more anglers coming back to the rivers,” he said.

“We’ve had a few good spawning years recently and this has seen sport improve dramatically on UK rivers.

“This, along with the high cost of fishing commercials, is helping to encourage anglers back to running water. 

“Because of this there has been a noticeable increase in the number of matches held on rivers in the last couple of seasons, and Riverfest has sold out again this year. It’s been so popular I have decided to begin planning a second pairs-style competition for 2017.

“It’s an exciting time to be a river angler, and fishing this year is just going to get better and better.”

Help save our lakes from KHV

Britain's anglers are being urged to play a major part in stopping the spread of a deadly disease that continues to threaten our fisheries.

Several high-profile commercials have been hit by Koi Herpes Virus (KHV) in recent weeks but experts believe that the problem can be contained if anglers pull together.

Thousands of pounds have been spent on research to find out how the disease is spread, with evidence suggesting it can latch on to landing nets and keepnets and be transferred when anglers visit other fisheries if the nets have not been exposed to ultra-violet light and dried out.

Leading scientist Bruno Broughton is adamant that anglers hold the key to eradicating KHV. He said: “This is a highly infectious disease of carp with a high mortality rate.

“But anglers have the power to help slow the spread of KHV by making sure all nets and carp sacks are dried thoroughly in sunlight. UV light kills the virus, and if all anglers did this it could make a huge difference to the number of fisheries that contract the disease.” 

Worcestershire’s Larford Lakes is among those that has been hit by the virus. Staff there are opting to stay open for business while introducing measures including net dips to try and stop KHV spreading further.

The Glebe Fishery has also contracted the disease and has been closed to members until at least early August. Owner Roy Marlow said: “People have asked how we got KHV, and as we do not buy any fish in, by far the most likely cause is that it was transferred by anglers with infected nets kept in a stink bag that had recently been in an infected water.

“We have a dry net rule, but it only needs one angler not to abide by it and it’s a disaster.”

Many fisheries have net dips and provide their own nets to help prevent the spread of disease, but more and more venue owners are now insisting that anglers dry their nets before fishing.

One such complex is the popular Barston Lakes, in Solihull, West Midlands. Barston hasn’t been affected by KHV, and takes all the precautions necessary to safeguard the venue. 

Top fisheries consultant and owner of AE Fisheries, Andrew Ellis, believes that commercial fishery bosses also have a massive part to play in KHV prevention. He said: “Too many fishery owners don’t have regular surveys done in the winter and therefore know nothing about their lakes with regard to key factors such as stocking densities.

“Many fisheries choose to introduce more fish without knowing how many they have in the first place. This is very dangerous once water temperatures start to rise and we experience the kind of weatherwe’ve had in the last few weeks.

“Ensuring that you have a healthy fishery is the best way to keep issues such as KHV at bay, and I’d advise any owner that hasn’t had any advice on the issue to get in touch.”

---

WHAT IS KHV?

KHV is a highly infectious disease that hits hardest in water temperatures between 16°C and 28°C. Outside of this range it may stop affecting a fishery. It is spread from fish to fish, but other agencies can be responsible for its transfer, including fish urine, faeces and infected water. On some fisheries KHV can wipe out just a handful of fish while on others the whole stock of carp can die from it.

The first confirmed outbreaks were in Israel in 1998, since when it has spread rapidly to at least four continents. It was first reported in the UK in ornamental fish in 2000, but the first main outbreak in recreational fisheries was in 2006. Since then there have been between six and 25 confirmed outbreaks each year. There is no known cure.

Any fishery who suspects they have KHV must inform CEFAS, who will then investigate and confirm whether or not this is the case by running a series of tests.

---

3 STEPS TO PREVENT KHV

Anglers hold the key to stopping the spread of KHV. Here are three simple things you can do to help the cause.

1 Let the sun do its work

Dry your nets – nets that are damp and chucked in the garage will harbour infections that can live for weeks on end. 

But by putting your nets out on the lawn in sunlight once you get home, you are almost guaranteed to kill any infections. 

If you are unable to dry your nets at home, lay them out on the bank at the fishery before your session, giving them at least 45 minutes in direct sunlight.

2 Tend to your stink bags

Empty stink bags – the stagnant water that collects in the bottom of these can also harbour deadly bugs. 

Tip the water out of your bag, making sure you do this well away from any venue so that it can’t seep in. Keep your stink bag open while you are fishing and allow the sunlight to dry it, killing all the bugs in the process.

3 Sterilise your nets

Use net dips – hundreds of commercials insist on visitors fully submerging their keepnets in a chemical solution before they start to fish. Although there is a lot of debate as to how effective dips are in the fight against disease, there is certainly no evidence to suggest they cause harm, and when in place they should be used.

Drying your nets after they have been dipped makes it even more likely that all bugs will be killed.

---

HELP IS AT HAND...

The Fish Health Inspectorate is part of Government agency the Centre for Environment, Food and Aquaculture Science (CEFAS). If you have any worries about your stocks email:
fhi@cefas.co.uk or call: 01305 206700.

Or contact the Environment Agency’s 24-hour hotline: 0800 807060. For more details on preventing the spread of KHV visit www.aefisheries.co.uk or www.bruno-broughton.co.uk 

World predator event at Grafham Water

Gary Palmer’s huge 36lb 6oz pike

Angling Times readers are being given the chance to win some of the biggest cash prizes in predator fishing with the launch of a new lure fishing event.
Prizes worth £18,000 will be up for grabs when the first-ever UK qualifier for the hugely popular World Predator Classic (WPC) kicks off on Sunday, August 21 at Grafham Water Park in Cambridgeshire.
Hordes of anglers from across Europe have already signed up to the England World Predator Classic Boat & Kayak Qualifier, which will see the winners walk away with an all-expenses-paid entry into next year’s £70,000 World Predator Classic (WPC) held in Holland.
The ‘open to all’ qualifier, which has been organised by former England Lure International Gary Palmer, will become one of the richest non-match fishing competitions on the UK angling calendar, but Gary believes this is just the start of something huge.
“The popularity of species such as pike, perch and zander has hit an all-time high and the call for more high-profile lure events like this has become greater each year,” he said.
“The WPC has grown immensely since it started three years ago, and qualifiers have already taken place elsewhere in Europe – next year we will have one in Wales and Scotland.
“Although anyone can enter the WPC, anglers are required to use their own boat.
“That can prove expensive and difficult, so the qualifier will give more average anglers the chance to attend.”
Gary tasted success for himself in this year’s WPC just a few weeks ago, winning the largest fish award with the capture of a monster 35lb 6oz pike (pictured).
Fishing on the famous Hellevoetsluis Lake ,Tokar-backed Gary tempted the giant predator on a 4ins Spro Bomy Shaker lure.
The WPC Qualifier isn’t the only lure fishing event to be held next month. The weekend of August 6/7 will see dozens of kayak anglers take to the water in Northamptonshire for the Pitsford Kayak Grand Slam.
The competition, which is another ‘open to all’ event, has been arranged by kayak angler Dane Wood, who warmed up for the event by netting a giant personal-best 5lb perch from
an unknown water in the Cotswolds while fishing with the Ocean Kayak UK Fishing Team.

From ashes to splashes

Two fishing companions staged the ultimate memorial to a late friend when they headed abroad for a fishing trip… and used his ashes to make the bait!

Yorkshiremen Cliff Dale and Paul Fairbrass were shocked when their bankside buddy Ron Hopper died before the three of them were able to enjoy a holiday to Jurassic Mountain Resort and Fishing Park in Thailand.

To commemorate Ron’s memory the pair created boilies nicknamed ‘Purple Ronnies’ out of his ashes and banked a 180lb-plus lake record Siamese carp.

“We came up with all sorts of ideas, but this was something out of the ordinary and as soon as we thought of it we were sure this was the best way to honour him,” said Paul.

Jeremy Wade to the rescue!

One of the world’s most famous anglers helped save the life of a fellow fisherman who was stranded on a remote island and was apparently ‘preparing to die’.

The incredible story unfolded during filming of the next series of River Monsters with Jeremy Wade around a group of uninhabited islands off the coast of Australia’s Northern Territory. There the crew found a ‘castaway’ who’d been without water or food for almost three whole days.

“We were filming for an episode of Series 8 called ‘Death Down Under’ and headed to the opposite end of the island because the waters where we’d originally planned to be were far too choppy,” said episode director Stephen Shearman.

“We saw this blue cooler box on a rock and the team joked that Tom Hanks might pop out of nowhere like in the film ‘Castaway’. Then this guy came running out of a cave and on to the shore, screaming for help and water. He was in a very bad way.”

Jeremy and the crew rushed to the aid of the man, called Tremine, and gave him water and hydration pills following a harrowing ordeal that saw the experienced hobby fisherman from Borroloola NT go without supplies for 60 hours.

The human body can survive only 72 hours without water, and this, coupled with blistering temperatures averaging 110ºF at Barranyi North Island – 60 miles from the nearest township – meant that the River Monsters crew were the roofer’s only chance of survival.

As he recovered in one of the team’s boats he told his rescuers that he’d already said his final prayer and was ‘preparing to die’.

“Tremine had left his boat and after a few hours digging for oysters took a wrong turn, got beaten by the sun and spent the night on the beach,” Stephen continued.

“It was just lucky that we decided to film somewhere else, otherwise we would have never found him. Myself, Jeremy and all the crew have been truly humbled by the experience.To save someone’s life under such incredible circumstances is something that none of us will forget.”

Tremine stayed with the River Monsters team overnight at a lodge that they used between filming, and the following day he was fit enough to return home.

- Series 7 of River Monsters with Jeremy Wade is currently showing on ITV1.

Divers unlock the mysteries hidden beneath the surface

Behind the masks of these two fearless divers are the faces of fishing fanatics eager to reveal the secrets of lakes and stillwaters across the UK.

Jodie Calladene and Mark Barrow come closer to fish than most anglers can only dream of, while offering their free service to angling clubs and fishery owners.

To unlock the secrets that lie beneath the surface of some of our most popular venues, the Yorkshire pair strap on their diving kit and venture into the unknown. This has revealed the location of pike and carp to over 30lb, and taught them more about angling and fish behaviour than they could ever have imagined.

Mark, who has dived in salt and freshwater for over 30 years and fished rivers since he was a boy, says the service has dramatically improved his fishing skills while helping fishery owners understand their venues much better.

 “I started fishing at eight and always had a fascination for what lies at the bottom of a river. When I started diving it blew me away that the mental image I had of a river or lakebed was completely different to how it actually is,” he told Angling Times.

“The dives have taught me so much about how fish move, how far they travel and how they feed – observations which have improved my angling fourfold – and we’ve been passing this information on to fishery owners and clubs for free because we love what we do.”

Jodie and Mark’s project, Beneath British Waters, was launched in 2014 but it only recently have they started to take requests to take photographs or shoot underwater videos.

They have covered the rivers Derwent, Wharfe, Eden, Esk and Liddle, plus dozens of stillwaters, in order to find out more about their stocks.

However, not all their weird and wonderful sights have been down to nature.

As well as some stunning fish and fantastic plant life, the guys have seen all sorts of strange things, from river crossings used by soldiers to escape the battle of Marston Moor in the English Civil War to sunken vehicles at the bottom of lakes. One object will stay in Mark’s mind forever: “I was doing a solo night dive on the River Wharfe. We swam into this 4ft deep pool and there, staring back at me, was a fully dressed mannequin in a blue dress, all made up as if she was going out on a date – it was the most creepiest thing you could ever imagine,” he said.

The pair, who fund all their dives from their own pockets, are not stopping there. Dozens more trips are planned for the coming months as more and more fisheries request their services.

For Jodie, a carp angler from Morton, in North Yorkshire, it’s all an education: “At the end of May we have been invited to a water that holds 35lb-plus pike, so we are hoping to get these fish on film, as we have been working on a pike production for the last 12 months,” he said.

“This year will also see us doing vidoes of barbel and freshwater eels and we are hoping to hit the salmon run underwater – which will be amazing. We are even considering filming carp taking an angler’s bait.” 

Watch the videos online

Mark and Jodie’s videos and images can be viewed on their Facebook page and on their YouTube channel. Search for Beneath British Waters.

And if you’re interested in them paying a visit to your water, email: beneathbritishwaters@gmail.com

Dai Gribble wins Drennan Cup by just two points!

The world’s biggest specimen fishing competition has crowned Dai Gribble champion.

In the closest-ever finish in the 31-year history of the Drennan Cup the Staffs-based specialist became the envy of the big-fish world when votes cast by angling’s elite put him just two points ahead of Yorkshire’s Tony Smith.

He sent shockwaves through the angling world when he began his campaign and made an incredible string of tench hauls that many believe will never be rivalled.

The Korum-backed angler’s incredible journey began last May when he targeted Medway Valley Fisheries and banked a huge 13lb 3oz fish that was backed up by no fewer than seven other double-figure specimens.

Just a few weeks later he switched to another venue and made tench fishing history when he banked the biggest-ever specimen caught by design weighing in at a colossal 14lb12oz. The specimen later graced his net for a second time an ounce heavier at 14lb 13oz.

Not only did he land 16 double-figure tench during his campaign, but his summer was completed when he struck gold again, this time with another species – a 20lb 10oz bream, along with six other ‘doubles’ that secured his third and final Drennan Weekly Award of the season.

“By the end of June I’d made five catches that were all once-in-a-lifetime achievements in their own right, and anglers that I hold in the highest regard were saying ‘Dai you’ve got the Drennan in the bag’. I didn’t even dare to dream that this could be the case,” he told Angling Times.

“I never set out to win the Drennan Cup as I just have a passion for catching big fish.

“To have my name etched on to this trophy along with names such as Terry Lampard and Tony Gibson is just incredible.

“The Drennan Cup is special because the winner is voted for by other specimen anglers. There couldn’t be a bigger honour in big-fish angling.”

Peter Drennan said: “In any other season Tony Smith with four awards across four different species would have walked away as the overall winner.

“But a run of giant tench and most of all a truly massive 20lb plus bream drew a tiny majority of the discerning voters in favour of Dai.

“What a fantastic season both of these dedicated specimen hunters have enjoyed, so serious congratulations to them.”

Record year for roach is on the cards...

The year 2016 is set to be a record one for roach, thanks to a series of revolutionary projects to rejuvenate the species on rivers and stillwaters nationwide .

Leading the charge to revive Britain’s most iconic fish is the longest-running conservation drive – the Avon Roach Project – which has seen a record-breaking year.

Species enthusiasts Trevor Harrop and Budgie Price created the scheme to boost redfin stocks on the Hampshire Avon by installing dozens of spawning boards. Roach lay their eggs on these and the juveniles are then nurtured with the aim of later restocking them back into the river.

According to Trevor, this year has been the best for the project, launched in 2005.

“The past couple of years have been the most fruitful for us by far and 2016 is going to be a special year for the species,” he said.

“The fish we restock are now bigger and better than they have ever been, and we are producing more numbers as we have honed our techniques after 11 years of running it. The work is starting to make a real difference.” 

However, the Hampshire Avon isn’t the only river with its own successful scheme to secure the future of the roach.

Other groups, including numerous river trusts, are using Trevor’s ideas as a blueprint for their own initiatives on their own waters.

One of these is the Kennet Roach Project. Run by Del Shackleford, fisheries officer for Reading DAA, it’s a project that has installed spawning boards into the Kennet for the first time and built two tanks to hold fry for restocking.

 “Fish stocks, in particular roach, have been in decline on the Kennet in recent years and we wanted to do something about it, so we have been working hard with the Environment Agency to improve fish habitats on the waterway and breed more fish,” he said.

Anglers are already feeling the benefits of the projects, with clubs and fisheries up and down the country reporting bumper match and pleasure catches which have coincided with increased demand for quality silverfish sport.

And it’s not just on our rivers where anglers are crying out for more roach.

Lemington Lakes fishery is one of many stillwater venues which have cottoned on to the renewed popularity of the species.

The Gloucestershire fishery has worked tirelessly in recent years to provide some of the best roach fishing in the UK, thanks to the help of leading fisheries consultant Andrew Ellis, of AE Fisheries.

He said: “A lot of people want to fish for big roach, especially the more traditional anglers, and plenty of fisheries have started to try to provide this, including Lemington.

“We have been netting and cropping the stock at Abbey Lake to help produce some of the biggest and best fish.

“This year’s netting saw us pick out a handful of roach to 3lb 4oz – the lake has some truly stunning fish in it,” he added.

The Big Fish Off is a hit!

The buzz surrounding ‘The Big Fish Off’ reached fever pitch this week as hundreds of thousands tuned in to episode one of the new ITV series.

The first show of Series 2, screened on ITV4, set an overwhelmingly positive precedent for the rest of the collection of shows that co-presenter and executive producer Ali Hamidi says ‘will be even better’.

Bosses at the channel been delighted with the early figures, and Angling Times can revel that Ali has already signed up snooker legend Jimmy White, boxers Ricky Hatton and Kell Brook, footballer Bobby Zamora and professional darts player Adrian Lewis for future shows.

Building on the success of the first series, seen by over five million anglers and non-anglers alike, early viewing figures for the first instalment of the second series – not including those that watched it via available ‘catch-up’ facilities – have delighted everyone involved with the show.

“We couldn’t have wished for a better start for the series. We are flying high,” said Ali Hamidi.

“I had emails from the guys at ITV 4 soon after the first show hit the TV screens saying how over the moon they were with the response and the early viewing figures – you can’t do much more than that.

“There’s such a buzz about this show that celebrities wanting to star in the show are now contacting me directly. I had a twitter message from the boxer Tyson Fury, who would be perfect, but training for his up-and-coming fight with Wladimir Klitschko conflicted with possible filming dates.

“The list of guys that we’ve already earmarked for the next series just shows you what a following The Big Fish Off has, and this is only going to get bigger as series two unfolds.”

As Angling Times went to press, positive comments surrounding the second show – featuring former footballer and top TV pundit Mark Bright and fellow sports pundit DJ Spoony – were flooding social media sites including both Twitter and Facebook.

Lottery grant will lift club

“We’ve been given a huge lottery grant to improve our fishery. It was so easy I don’t know why so many other clubs haven’t done the same.”
The words of Brian Billings, secretary for Audley Parish Angling Club, a group which has recently been awarded thousands of pounds after applying for a free grant.
The Staffordshire group got their hands on the much-needed cash just three months after applying to the Big Lottery Fund, a scheme which provides millions of pounds to community-based projects across the UK.
They plan to spend the money, £10,000 in all, on improving access for disabled anglers, as well as building a number of wheelchair- friendly pegs at their Bates Wood fishery in Newcastle-Under-Lyme. Now Brian is encouraging other clubs and community projects to follow suit.
“The money will be a huge help and we are encouraging other clubs to do the same,” said Brian. “We will be able to do work which we otherwise couldn’t afford, considering we are a club with just 140 members. We run a lot of junior events here but many less abled locals are denied the facility because of poor access.
“Thanks to this grant the facilities will become available for all to use and share.”
Another club who successfully applied to the scheme are Blackburn-based Southwest Angling & Sports Association. They were awarded just under £50,000 last year to turn their once-derelict pond into a community-based angling haven.
Club committee member Gary Hennigan is encouraging other clubs to follow their lead and apply.
“It’s fairly simple to apply online as long as you have a good plan of what you want to achieve and in what time frame you are in with a chance of being awarded some cash” he said.
Both clubs are open for new members – search for them on Facebook for more details.

River monsters returns to TV

The best-ever year for angling on TV just got better with the brand new series of ‘River Monsters’ with Jeremy Wade hitting our screens.

The action kicked off last week and the legendary extreme angler didn’t disappoint, with a host of adrenaline-fuelled encounters with some of the world’s most fearsome predators.

In one of the most daring River Monsters expeditions to date, series 7 comprises six programmes from Icon Films that see the biologist ride a physical and emotional rollercoaster as he dives into the lairs of man-eating monsters in hazardous waters. Along with new adventures he revisits places where he has yet to catch the infamous monsters of local legend.

From hunting an unknown ‘mutilator’ along the shores of the Mekong river in Asia, to terrifying encounters with crocodiles and the fearsome tiger fish in Africa, the gripping series also follows Jeremy through awe-inspiring adventures in Canada, Fiji and Alaska.

Jeremy was midway through a press tour in the US when Angling Times caught up with him and asked him to reveal his best moments from the new series. “One highlight was having a go after muskie, the legendary fish of 10,000 casts. What eventually transpired was one of my most memorable catches ever,” he said.

“Nothing was going my way, it just wasn’t working... until the very last minute, having practically given up, when things suddenly turned almost unbelievably in my favour.

“I also had a hands-on encounter with a big halibut. I wanted to get one in, have a good look at it, then release it undamaged. The boat skipper didn’t think this was possible (or advisable) with a 100lb-plus fish, and as far as I know it hasn’t been done before.

“I also observe tigerfish underwater in Botswana, and travel back in time to encounter some river monsters from the dawn of life on Earth.”

In the all-new ‘River Monsters: Prehistoric Terror’ the crew follow Jeremy as he finds out about some of the most ‘terrifying monsters of all time.’

More details

For more information about the award-winning series visit: www.rivermonsters.tv, www.facebook.com/RiverMonstersGlobal and www.twitter.com/RiverMonstersUK

Angling Times has evolved!

For 63 years we’ve been at the forefront of UK fishing, delivering the best news, features, star anglers, tips, tactics, tackle reviews, and guides to the hottest fisheries to generations of anglers.

Our exclusive mix of great stories, pictures, and columnists ensured we have always been the No1, biggest-selling weekly out there, and for that we thank you.

But we wanted to make Angling Times even better so around eight months ago we started work on creating a new magazine, and involved thousands of loyal readers from the start.

We listened carefully to what you wanted from your favourite weekly, spent time creating exciting new content and, thanks to you, as off the 26th April our new, easy to read magazine is here.

Inside our bigger-sized issues you’ll find fresh new content, bigger sections, trusted experts, greater depth to stories and tackle reviews, and unrivalled journalism and photography.

Our biggest-ever Where to Fish section has greater detail on the best fisheries making it easy for you to find the perfect peg and have a dream day on the bank.

There are exclusive tips and tactics from the country’s best anglers including Steve Ringer, Martin Bowler, Paul Garner, Keith Arthur, Des Taylor, plus a host of new faces and guest columnists.

We’ve introduced new features including The Coach, Quick Fixes, and Carp Insider, plus we’ve expanded our Q&A section to being you more advice for catching more fish.

Our trusted Tackle News section continues to go from strength to strength and we pride ourselves in always being first with on-the-bank tests of the best new gear while remaining the No.1 place for new tackle and bait launches.

You’ll also see some innovative tweaks to our highly popular Carp News, Match News and Kingfisher Club sections which have already been well received within our reader groups.

The new magazine also means a shift in your local store too and you’ll now find us alongside our other award winning magazines including Improve Your Coarse Fishing, Sea Angler and Trout Fisherman.

See you every Tuesday!

--

Once you've picked up your copy, tell us what you think of it by emailing us at newanglingtimes@bauermedia.co.uk

Hazel bankstick returned to angling icon Chris Yates

Chris Yates made the dreams of a lifelong fan come true after he returned an antique piece of tackle left on the bank by the angling icon.

The incredible story unfolded while Chris Johnson was enjoying the last day of the river season on the Hampshire Avon when he stumbled across an unusual bankstick that had been driven into the ground in his favourite swim.

Upon retrieving the tackle item Chris was still to realise the importance of his find but he soon it belonged to the angling great whose world famous television series ‘A Passion for Angling’ had been an inspiration to him.

“On reaching the swim I noticed two prongs sticking out of the ground,” Chris told Angling Times.

“I pulled the stick out and washed it in the river – which revealed the name ‘Chris Yates’ down one side. I knew by the bespoke quality of the stick that it wasn’t just any ordinary rod rest and took to social media to see if I could return it to its owner. I didn’t make the connection at the time that it belonged to the one and only Chris Yates!”

The pike fishing fanatic’s Facebook post was an instant hit with dozens of anglers and eventually it caught the eye of Robert Burt – the creator of the bankstick.

“Robert took my number and said he would pass it on to ‘Yatesy’,” Chris added. “A day later my phone rang from a ‘withheld’ number.

“I answered the phone and was greeted by that ever-so recognisable voice. After a brief chat I was shocked that he invited me round to his house so I could return the stick.”

During the meeting we shared a cup of tea and a chat about our fishing methods. Before I left he nipped upstairs and returned with a signed copy of his book, ‘The Lost

Diary’. I was almost speechless and felt so lucky to have been part of such a memorable experience.”

Overwhelmed by the generosity of Chris Johnson’s actions, Chris Yates commented on how true honesty can still be found in angling.

“My hazel fork stick is a beautiful piece of tackle and it would’ve been a huge shame to have lost it. It’s fantastic to see this kind of honesty and I applaud Chris for it. I look forward to seeing him on the river during the next season.”