Anglers raise thousands for the NHS!
The NHS needs our support more than ever before, so it’s fantastic to see anglers step up to help. In this article, we salute those who’ve raised thousands for the cause during the pandemic lockdown.
Simon Jones - Virtual Festival (Raised £6000+)
Solihull’s Simon Jones came up with the idea of holding a virtual festival at Cornwall’s prolific White Acres, opening 160 places priced at £10 each to raise funds for the NHS.
Every space was quickly filled, with big names including current Fish O’Mania champ Andy Bennett and former Parkdean Masters winner Craig Edmunds giving their support.
“My family and I drew pegs for the competitors every day of the week before randomly generating a weight for each of them,” explained Simon.
“I relied in part on my knowledge of the pegs and anglers to decide the fantasy results each day and used creative licence to throw entertaining curveballs into the equation.
“I did a daily live Facebook video with a report from the fictional day that I’d concocted, with the vast majority of anglers posting how they’d ‘caught’ that day.”
The extravaganza ended with a giant raffle supported by tackle manufacturers and over £6,000 was raised from the whole event.
Shock overall winner of the virtual festival was 12-year-old Perren Wynnick, who saw off the big shots to be crowned champion!
Simon Jones organised a virtual White Acres festival that raised over £6000.
Adam Wakelin - Online auction (Raised £1000)
An online auction of three boxes of hooklinks tied by England Feeder international Adam Wakelin raised £1,000 for the Coventry Community Nurses where his wife Lindsey works.
In total, 210 hooks for F1, Method feeder and banded pellet fishing were hand-tied and sold, the highest bid being £351 for the Method box. Each hooklink was made using Daiwa line and hooks from Adam’s own stash.
“It took me about eight hours of solid tying, but I’m delighted with the amount raised,” Adam told us.
“It just goes to show that even in these hard times, when people are watching the pennies, anglers will still stick their hands in their pockets for a great cause.”
Adam Wakelin’s online auction raised £1000
Gordon Bullock - Kayak Challenge (Raised £2000+)
FISHING took a back seat at Redbridge Lakes as owner Gordon Bullock used it for a gruelling NHS fundraiser in his kayak.
The Essex complex is currently out of bounds to the public, but Gordon made sure it was put to good use as he tried to replicate a famous race that had been cancelled as a result of the ongoing crisis.
The annual DW Canoe Race sees hundreds of enthusiasts row an energy-zapping 125 miles from Devizes in Wiltshire to Westminsster in London.
Gordon decided to row the same distance around one of his lakes and raise money for the hospital where PM Boris Johnson was treated – St Thomas’.
“Over four days I managed to complete more than 900 laps of the lake and finished the challenge in 25 hours. I’ve done other kayak challenges in the past that have been more dangerous, but the monotony and heat made this a real test,” Gordon told us.
His efforts were well worthwhile, though, with online followers donating over £2,000 to the cause.
Gordon Bullock used his kayak to raise over £2000
Trust boss calls on anglers to contact their MP
FOLLOWING the release of the Angling Trust’s report to government titled ‘When We Fish Again’, Trust CEO Jamie Cook has now called on all anglers to write to their MP.
The newly appointed boss of the Angling Trust made the rallying call in an article on the Trust’s ‘Lines on the Water’ blog earlier today.
He said:
“We’ve been delighted with the overwhelmingly positive reaction to the report. It’s provoked a lot of interest and feedback.
“We’ve made sure every MP in the country has received a copy and our next job is to get them to persuade ministers to adopt our plans to get us back fishing.
“I need every angler reading this to send a short email to their own MP asking them to back our plans to ensure fishing is at the front of the queue and that we are allowed out on the bank as soon as it is safe to do so. We’ve made this as easy as possible – it takes less than two minutes – and it really will make a difference.”
An easy link has been set-up on the Angling Trust website to aid this process: Contact your MP.
For the full blog visit: Lines on the Water.
Will you be writing to your MP? Let us know…
Should angling clubs refund their members?
TAKE a look at some of the photos in the magazine over the past two weeks and you’ll see that anglers are, as always, finding ingenious ways to bring some much-needed humour to the worrying situation currently gripping the country.
Funny videos and entertaining indoor fishing challenges have brought smiles to all our faces, but one topic where opinion has been more divided is the issue of refunds of syndicate and club membership fees for the period where fisheries are closed.
Some anglers are seeking compensation for missed fishing time on expensive tickets, despite the fact that angling clubs still have to pay rent on their waters, and many rely on income from memberships just to stay afloat.
Oxford’s Linear Fisheries is one of Britain’s most popular venues, and staff recently announced plans to freeze direct debit payments for syndicate members from April 1 until the fishery reopens.
“For us, it’s the moral thing to do,” says head bailiff Ian Roper.
“People can’t go fishing, so we’re not going to charge them for it.”
Despite the financial implications of the move, Ian says that the welfare of their regular anglers is the main priority.
“We’re a business, and we know we’re going to take a big financial hit by taking this decision, but we’re trying to do what is best for our members. We also closed our doors a few days before the official Government announcement. Again, this was because we felt that it was the right decision.”
Further south, Wimborne and District AC (WDAC) are compensating their members’ missed time in a different way.
“We’ve extended memberships by the period of the lockdown, thus not penalising members for a situation outside their control,” a club spokesperson tells us.
“It seemed to be the moral option, as many people will be suffering from reduced earnings and increasing financial pressure. It’s also a positive step to help our members, and our way of reciprocating their enthusiasm and loyalty.”
But not all angling clubs have felt the need to compensate their members, including Warrington Anglers Association, one of the biggest club in the north.
“We’ve only had one member ask for a refund,” says secretary Frank Lythgoe,
“but most of our members know that they have a responsibility to the club. We’re not a business like a gym, with members who join just to use our facilities – we’re a proper club, with members that support us through thick and thin.”
As a large club, controlling 33 miles of canal, over 160 acres of stillwater fishing and 60 miles-plus of river, Warrington AA rely heavily on subscriptions to cover their costs.
“Just like any other year, we have rents and various other expenses, and without income from memberships we wouldn’t be able to meet these obligations,” Frank explains.
“But we’re lucky, as we have fantastic members, who are all in this together with the club.”
Over in the Midlands, Shrewsbury AC secretary Chris Wood reveals that their members were following a similar path.
“None of our 250 members have mentioned refunds,” he says,
“and to be honest, I’m not quite sure why someone would expect a pay-out. Sure, it’s frustrating that we can’t fish, but the closure of fisheries isn’t something that the club have decided – it’s a government measure that’s there to protect people’s safety.
“If we lost membership income as a result of the lockdown, the club would suffer. Thankfully, our members are happy to continue supporting the club while respecting the Government’s decision.
“At the end of the day, this won’t last forever, the water and the fish will still be there when we are allowed on the bank again. Let’s look forward to that.”
Permitting angling will be great for the UK economy
ONE of the main benefits of angling highlighted in the recent Angling Trust report provided to Government officials, was the money the sport brings in.
Fishing makes a substantial contribution to the UK economy
Generating £4 billion annually, angling makes a substantial contribution to the UK economy and is one of our most popular pastimes.
Some 40,000 jobs are linked to fishing through either, manufacturing, retailing, distribution or fishery management.
Fisheries management creates thousands of jobs
In the ‘When We Fish Again’ report, the Trust called upon the findings of The European Anglers Alliance, who suggested that in Holland, where fishing has continued to be permitted throughout the pandemic, the contribution to the economy has nearly trebled.
The lack of anglers on the bank throughout the lockdown has also seen an increase in vandalism, fish theft and poaching, which has economic impacts on fisheries and our enforcement services.
Korda and Embryo boss, Danny Fairbrass, was keen to comment on this issue, in the report he said:
“We have 25 lakes from Yorkshire to Oxfordshire, and almost every one has been vandalised or fished illegally during lockdown.
Our staff and volunteers have spent significant time repairing damaged fences and providing a human presence to deter vandals and poachers.
Property has been stolen, and we have serious concerns that some of our fish may have been stolen as well.
Fellow fishery owners across the UK have complained of similar illegal activity, forcing them out of isolation to protect their livelihood.
With fishing safely re-introduced this would eradicate all of these issues overnight.”
Korda and Embryo boss Danny Fairbrass
The Trust reinforced the point that anglers themselves are they eyes and ears of our waterways, and letting them return to the banks will ease the pressure on public services.
To read the full report, please visit Angling Trust.
The Angling Trust’s Volunteer Bailiff Service patrolling the banks
Angling may be first sport to return when restrictions ease
FISHING potentially could be one of the first sports to get permitted when lockdown restrictions are relaxed, a government official has hinted this week.
Culture Secretary, Oliver Dowden MP, stated his department had been compiling evidence on which sports could best socially distance, with hints fishing and golf could be front of the line.
Ultimately, however, any decision would be down to the Prime Minster and in keeping with scientific advice.
Fellow Conservative MP, Giles Watling, asked during a select committee meeting, if considerations could be made for non-contact sports such as golf, bowls and fishing.
In response the Culture Secretary said:
“We are gathering that information. In respect of all sports I want us to ease restrictions as quickly as we are able to, but that has to be consistent with the public evidence and guidance.”
The comments have provided anglers currently on lockdown with some hope that restrictions on the sport may lift sooner rather than later. Social media has been a battlefield over the past few weeks, with a portion of the angling community stating fishing is ‘the best form of social distancing’ and therefore should ‘not be restricted’.
Currently, the advice remains that fishing is ‘not an essential form of exercise’ and anglers should stay at home.
“Matches in future will require cooperation and common sense” - Dom Garnett
IT’S only been a few weeks since my final pre-lockdown fishing match, but already it seems a lifetime ago.
The reaction of clubs and fisheries was interesting in those strange early days of the virus. Many matches were cancelled, but the bigger venues tended to crack on, albeit with social distancing measures.
For my money, though, a smaller club match seemed the safest bet. And so, with just a handful of competitors and some proactive ideas on keeping Covid-19 at bay, I joined the lads from Taunton AA for a knock-up on the canal.
So how would they manage to compete without risking a bout of virus? Well, for starters, wider-than-usual pegging and fewer than 10 anglers would help – I wouldn’t have fancied a 50-pegger on a busy commercial fishery!
Match organiser Dan Baldwin had also identified the two biggest risks of any match: the draw and the weigh-in both tend to encourage a scrum of anglers at well under two metres. Pegs were therefore all drawn by one person, with everyone else at a safe distance.
Talking of that magical two metres distance, it might seem that we’ve been conscious of it forever, but before the lockdown, the message really hadn’t got through to most of the public! Our competitors were highly compliant, though, and took it with their typical banter (“I’m not social distancing, I just don’t like you lot!”). Does it also help that pole anglers already think in metres?
The same could not be said for the passers-by, however. From groups of friends acting as if it was a picnic, to runners panting their way along a narrow towpath, it felt like the safest place to be was right on the water, facing the other way!
I had an unmemorable match. I kicked myself for not bringing a long whip, as the regulars stole a march with hordes of small bleak and roach.
Nor did my usual chopped worm approach work. Two measly rudd were the sum of my bonus fish, while my neighbour Steve Kedge netted a tench and two solid perch to sail into a huge lead.
If playing a tench on light line wasn’t perilous enough, the next challenge would be the weigh-in. Again, match organiser Dan stepped in while onlookers were reminded to keep their distance. The main possible transmission risk would be each angler’s keepnet, but with disposable gloves and hand gel on standby it was no recipe for danger.
For me, the match was a strangely heartening experience. The world can’t shut down forever and at some stage match fishing has to continue but it will require cooperation and common sense.
FISH O'MANIA grand final postponed
FISH O’Mania is probably angling’s most popular event in the UK, so it’s disappointing to hear that the grand final has been knocked back a month thanks to the Covid-19 outbreak. It could be worse, of course. It could have been cancelled.
The showdown was supposed to be held on Saturday, July 11 at Doncaster’s prolific Hayfield Lakes, but a new date of August 29 has since been earmarked by the competition’s organisers, Matchroom Multi Sport and the Angling Trust.
Despite having to wait a little longer to see who will pocket the £50,000 jackpot, the extra time has been allowed for the remaining 16 qualifiers to be fished.
Current Fish O’ champ Andy Bennett automatically qualified for the 2020 final and he’s happy that the contest is still on.
“We don’t know how long the pandemic will go on for so another review could be on the cards, but this is some very positive news for the competition and the whole sport,” he tells us.
For weekly updates regarding Fish O’Mania, visit www.fishomania.net
Do the right thing and buy a rod licence - Rob Hughes
THERE have been calls from some anglers this past week for the Environment Agency to give a reduction in rod licence fees and even refunds for angling time lost due to the lockdown.
When I first read about this on social media, my initial reaction was: “Are you serious? A licence costs a little under 58p a week, and you want a refund?”
Angling licence sales have been falling for a number of years and this enforced hiatus will lead to them falling even further. There’s also a risk that if the lockdown continues, some people might not buy a licence for a few months, or even at all this year, instead choosing to chance it in the hope that they won’t get caught.
The thing is, rod licences run for 12 months from date of purchase, so you won’t lose out. Better still, buy one now anyway, even if you don’t get to use it for a number of weeks or months.
Why? Because any further reduction in rod licence sales will weaken our numbers, our funding and our position as a sport. Funding for fishery improvement comes back to us from rod licence sales. The fewer that are sold, the less money comes into the pot.
I bought my own rod licence when it was due on April 1, knowing full well that I’m going to miss out on a proportion of it. Why? Because angling needs me now more than ever before, and I want to do the right thing.
"We survived the winter and we'll survive this too" - UK tackle shops vow to beat Covid-19
On March 23rd Boris Johnson declared that all non-essential shops in Britain had to close to the public – and these included hundreds of fishing tackle outlets spread right across the country.
But rather than getting downbeat, owners and staff at these stores are remaining optimistic, and are hopeful of a surge in customers once the sport returns to normal later in the year.
Nottingham’s Matchman Supplies is one such shop. Although they’ve been forced to shut, they’ve been able to keep things ticking over through online trade.
“Fingers crossed, we’ll get through it,” says sales assistant Bill Bywater.
“The final stock deliveries were done the day after the government’s announcement, so we’ve got quite a bit of tackle to sell online before we open our doors again.
“It’s strange here at the moment,” he adds.
“We’ve usually got three members of staff in the shop, but now we’re coming in one at a time to sort out online orders.”
Bill hopes this trickle of trade will be enough to pull them through these unprecedented times.
“I’m optimistic that we’ll get through it. The people I worry about are the small tackle shops that don’t sell online. These guys could really struggle,” he says.
Graham Duckworth owns just such a shop – J.T Rodgers Ltd, in Leeds. As a traditional, local tackle shop, Graham has no online sales presence.
“I was absolutely gutted when we were forced to close,” he says, from the safety of his garden.
“I didn’t take over the business to make loads of money, it was just to pay the
bills and to keep the local angling community’s tackle shop going, so when the news hit it really hurt – especially after one of the worst winters for fishing in
recent memory.“In fact, things had just started to perk up and we’d had two good weeks of business before everything ground to a halt.”
Currently, Graham is looking into what government grants he is eligible for, and despite the bleak short-term outlook, he has faith in the future of his shop.
“We survived the winter and we’ll survive this too,” he says.
“As much as the current situation hurts, we have enough customers to keep going, and once the ban has been lifted anglers will hopefully be out in numbers.
“Everybody needs to keep their chins up. We’ll get through this.”
Dan Brydon, owner of Norfolk’s Wensum Valley Angling, also thinks that angling will thrive once the fishing ban is lifted.
“I get the feeling that people won’t want to risk going abroad this year, which will mean more people spending their holidays fishing here in the UK,” he tells us.
“Some may even be put off booking holidays in advance over the next couple of years and that would give angling in this country a real boost.”
While Dan is able to sell odd bits and pieces on eBay, it won’t be enough to keep his shop going. But alongside some financial help from the government, he has come up with an ingenious idea that should help to keep his shop afloat.
“We’re selling corona vouchers,” Dan revealed.
“These give anglers up to 25 per cent free once they can return to the shop. For example, you can buy a £100 voucher, and we’ll give you £25 free on top.
“My mate jokingly came up with the name, but we’ve already sold a few, so hopefully they’ll keep us going while also encouraging people to return to the shop once we’re all out and about again.”
Interested in buying some corona vouchers? Contact Dan Brydon on
01603 929090 or 07766 658948.
Keeping the fish fed during lockdown
FISHERIES nationwide are stocking up on pellets to keep their valuable stocks fed during the lockdown period.
Fish are at their hungriest now and are looking to feed up prior to spawning, so keeping them in top condition is essential.
One such fishery preparing a lockdown feeding programme is Stafford Moor in Devon. Owner Joanne Coombes says:
“We’ve just paid over £1,000 to have a tonne of pellets delivered. It’s important we keep our livestock fed while anglers aren’t fishing and putting bait in.”
Advice has been released by the Institute of Fisheries Management to other venues anxious about the uncertain months ahead. It recommends a regular but limited feeding programme of quality pellets and frequent water quality checks.
The IFM says:
“It is important that fishery managers consider the implications of the loss of anglers’ baits in waters with limited natural food or high stock densities. However, there is a greater risk from over-feeding than under-feeding, so we recommend that managers are very cautious with any feeding regime.”
For the full guidance document, search ‘Institute of Fisheries Management’ on Facebook.
Fishery to raise thousands for NHS nurses
ONE of the country’s biggest match fisheries has come out in full support of NHS workers who are currently fighting the virus outbreak, with plans to raise thousands for frontline staff.
Staff at Drennan Lindholme Lakes in Yorkshire have planned a one-off NHS Nurse Appreciation Day, scheduled for August 31 this year assuming venues have reopened by that date.
The event will be a fishing match of epic proportions, with the owners aiming to fill all 400-plus pegs on the 10-lake complex.
Entry will be priced at £20 per person, with £10 going into match pools for the participants and the other £10 going directly to NHS staff.
If you want to attend and support this great cause, head to the Drennan Lindholme Lakes Facebook page, click ‘events’ and register your interest
Who knows? You may find yourself taking part in one of the best fishing matches in history!
Lindholme will fill every peg!
No licence refund...for now
THE Environment Agency have confirmed that they are not currently offering out refunds for fishing licences as a result of the current COVID-19 lockdown.
There have been growing calls on social media for the Agency to provide some compensation to anglers, who have not been able to get out on the bank due to social distancing laws.
A spokesperson from the EA told Angling Times:
“We do not know how long the restrictions on movement will apply and so do not know what impact Coronavirus will have on people’s opportunities to go fishing over the rest of the year.
“We are not currently offering a refund on licences or other options such as extending the period of time a licence is valid. We are, however, continuing to review the situation and will take any action at the appropriate time.
“In the mean time we urge anglers to follow government guidelines on leaving the house only when necessary.”
For all the latest updates on how Coronavirus will impact your fishing, head to our ‘Lockdown Lowdown’ page.
Anglers breaking social distancing to be dealt with by police not EA
REPORTS have surfaced on social media this week suggesting that the Environment Agency will be removing anglers from the bank who are breaking lockdown rules. This is, however, a matter that can only be enforced by the police, according to EA officials.
The message circulating on social media platforms reads:
“The Environment Agency have set up a National Incident hotline and are operating 24/7, to try and remove any anglers breaking the rules. They said that they will almost definitely be up in the court of law and facing massive punishments.
“Here’s the number if anyone wants to report anyone that’s breaking the law.
0800 80 70 60.”
We contacted the Environment Agency for clarification, they said:
“Enforcement of government regulations on social distancing are a matter for the police.
“We continue to operate the national incident hotline, for the reporting of environmental incidents.
“We will also continue to enforce regulations on illegal fishing, such as fishing during the closed season or without a license.”
We will continue to update anglers with the latest ‘Lockdown’ information as it develops.
TIME TO STOP FISHING! - Angling Trust
THE Angling Trust have called on anglers to stop fishing, following Government guidelines on non-essential movement.
In a recent statement, Jamie Cook, Angling Trust CEO, said:
“In light of the Government’s announcement on 23rd March, the Angling Trust and Fish Legal are asking that all anglers follow the current guidance and stop fishing.
Whilst we understand the proven benefits on active lifestyles, physical health and mental wellbeing that angling provides, it is not currently classified as one of the safe exercises in which to engage.
The Angling Trust have sought clarification on this point and we hope to work with Government, the Environment Agency and Sport England as things move forward, to ensure that access to fishing and the benefits it brings are part of the nation's plan for ensuring our community’s health and wellbeing.
For now though, we as a community, must take responsible action to protect ourselves, our families and our communities through this period. This is about saving lives and supporting the NHS.
For more on COVID 19 and fishing guidance, please visit:
COVID19 Support Hub | Angling Trust & Fish Legal Membership https://joinanglingtrust.net/covid19-support-hub/
Support hub launched for angling businesses
THE Angling Trust has set up a support hub and hotline for all angling organisations following the Government ban on all non-essential movement.
Fishery owners, fish farmers, tackle shop owners and angling clubs can access the helpline, as well as information regarding financial support that could be available, by visiting the Angling Trust website.
Trust chief executive Jamie Cook, also revealed he has written to the Government in a bid for clarification on whether fishing could be classified as permitted exercise during the lockdown.
“It’s clear that the only permitted activities that have been specified are walking, running and cycling for the purpose of local daily exercise,” says Jamie. “Therefore until further notice we should all refrain from fishing. This is about saving lives and supporting the NHS.
“However, we have written to the Sports Minister highlighting the benefits to both physical health and mental wellbeing that angling provides and that we are ready and prepared to offer whatever support the Government or Sport England require now, or in the future, to get people back fishing as soon as is safely possible.”
Clubs, fisheries and other angling organisations seeking support should visit:
