Every one of us should be calling in illegal fishing - Dom Garnett
I have to check myself as I see the vehicle and the rods out. “Have you been under a rock for the last two months?” is what I want to say. What actually comes out is a more polite “did you not realise that all waters are closed at the moment?”
The guy shrugs. “How am I meant to know?” he says, eyes down, looking at the second rod he is about to lob out. “I don’t follow social media.”
His mate is sunbathing in the car, as if he’s at a barbecue.
Are these guys totally stupid? Again, I daren’t utter the immediate thoughts running through my brain. Luckily, they decide to pack up.
Perhaps I shouldn’t be surprised. Stupidity is a virus with no cure, closely followed by selfishness, and those people who point-blank refuse to listen, even when instructions come with helpful qualifiers like “people are going to die if you don’t follow the advice.” Times of crisis tend to reveal the true nature of human beings. The layers are stripped away and the real character of groups and individuals shows.
Unfortunately, that means as well as true heroism and kindness, we also see an ugly kind of base layer that would make Charles Darwin himself ponder the very idea that species evolve over time.
The lockdown has unfortunately revealed that our own sport has this small but conspicuous core.
Like the fool still fishing the river while passers-by tap their heads, or the family who were rightly fined when caught driving from London to Devon to fish.
Quite what goes through their heads is baffling, although the sad truth is that this is nothing to do with intelligence and everything to do with selfishnes.
On reflection, it shouldn’t need a virus for the rest of us to realise this. These are the anglers who don’t buy a licence, who break every rule going or expect others to pick their litter up. Unfortunately, though, in the same way hooligans are still football fans on some level, these people share our sport and make us all look bad.
Every crisis will pass, but unfortunately the selfish of the world will survive it completely untroubled by the period of reflection most of us undergo when life turns on its head.
I have no answers in this regard, other than for all of us to call these people out for what they are and, where necessary, challenge them.
Every one of us should be calling in illegal fishing to the EA. Where it’s safe to do so, we should also be challenging rule-breaking, littering and the 101 things that these muppets still perceive as acceptable. Rant over.
The guidelines currently are that we shouldn’t be fishing
"I’ll never take fishing for granted again" - Reader letter
“I think of myself as a mad-keen angler, but on cold nights when I’m knackered, laziness strikes and what may well have been a glorious session gets passed up for a night in front of the TV. But I’ll never take fishing for granted again. Every chance I get for a session I’ll take, every fish I’ll appreciate, and every breath I take shall sing of my contentment and joy at being by the sea, lake or riverside.
Soon the sun will rise and we’ll see the water again. The thought of all the sessions ahead are among the only things helping me stay sane.
Stay safe, hold together and remember, we’re all stronger than we know. I wish you all the best, good health and, in due course, tight lines.”
George Johnson (In an email sent to Angling Times)
Soon the sun will rise and we’ll see the water again
Angler makes over 300 visors a month for NHS staff
SWANSEA angler Paul Boyce loves nothing more than catching big perch from his local White Springs Fishery – but like milions of other people across the country he’s had to halt his fishing plans.
Paul Boyce with a 4lb-plus White Springs perch
Paul is a full-time carer for his wife, and suffers from mental health problems. For years he has relied on the essential help provided by the NHS, so when he heard the service was struggling to source personal protective equipment he decided to step in and do something.
NHS staff wearing Paul’s visors
“When I’ve been at my lowest the NHS has always been there for me,” he tells us,
“so I wanted to give something back.
“I’d bought a 3D printer a few months ago because I fancied the idea of designing and making some fishing products over the spring, including a custom rod holder.
“Instead I decided to try my hand at making some visors for the staff at Morriston Hospital, Prince of Wales Hospital and the paramedics of Ravenhill Medical Centre.
“The process was very easy as all I had to do was download the free visor design from 3D company, 3DVerkstan, type the credentials into the 3D printer and watch as it created the visors from a 1kg reel of PLA filament.
“Once the frame is completed you just clip on an A4-size acetate sheet, which is the part that shields your face.
“At first it took me an hour and five minutes to make just one, so I bought another printer so that I could run two at a time.
“I’ve since played around with the printers’ settings and I’ve now got it down to four visors in an hour and a quarter! In the last month alone I’ve made more than 300 visors.”
The 3D printer working on a plastic frame
The PLA filament was a hard material to source at first, but a call to Swansea Council soon brought a solution.
“I told the council what I was doing and asked staff to contact the local university and schools for materials or assistance,” he explains.
“The response was great and the council agreed to supply me with 16,000 plastic sheets free of charge, and even got a few schools, a college and CBM Wales (an advanced manufacturer of 3D products) to come on board. They are now all printing their own visor frames.
“So yeah, things progressed quickly!
“I do miss going fishing, as it’s so relaxing, but the fish will still be there when this is all over.”
Completed visors ready to be shipped to hospitals
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
Fishery boss will do "as many shifts as needed" to help in Covid battle
As well as being a licensed electrician and the owner of Norfolk’s popular Highbridge Fisheries, James Brown is also a proud Senior Emergency Medical Technician for the NHS.
Fishery boss James Brown is also a proud NHS worker
The role is a stressful one which involves driving a response vehicle at high speed to give medical care to those who need it, and now has the added pressure of dealing with people infected with Covid-19.
“When I’m running the fishery and the electrical business, I normally only work six shifts a month for the ambulance service, but I’ve now offered myself up to do as many shifts as they need me for,” he tells us.
“I’m sad for the deaths of so many people and obviously I’m scared I’ll get the virus, but I have to help where I can.”
In the event that James does become ill he’s already made plans for two of his close fishing friends to look after his beloved Highbridge complex.
“I’d been focused on improving our syndicate for a while and things were going well,” he says.
“We were looking at bringing in three different 40lb carp this year and I was hopeful of another 4lb roach catch. The fishery is famous for producing huge roach, so the cormorant problems have been my biggest focus.
“While we were issued a licence to use lethal force, the best and most humane way to deal with these birds is having members on the banks to act as a deterrent.
“As the fishery is an artificial irrigation reservoir with limited natural resources, I’ve had to buy a ton of feed to keep the fish as happy as possible at this vital time of year.
“It’s been a setback financially but it had to be done.”
Highbridge Lakes boss with a big common carp
Despite everything that is happening, James is still looking forward to getting back on the bank when the crisis finally blows over.
He adds:
“I’ll either be floatfishing some luncheon meat next to a marginal lily bed, casting my beachcaster off a Spanish beach with a beer in hand or wading through a Scottish river with a fly rod.”
A clonking Highbridge Lakes roach
"We’re still fishing!"
Andrew Bradshaw from Warwickshire is able to cast a line 24 hours a day, seven days a week – quite legally.
“I consider myself blessed to live on a narrow boat,”
the 52-year-old told us.
“I’m currently moored in a private marina off the Grand Union Canal near Napton-on-the-Hill and it’s absolutely stuffed with different species of fish.
“One minute I’ll be pole fishing for 2lb perch alongside a reedbed, the next surface fishing for 20lb-plus carp.
“The carp are relatively easy to catch as they frequently swim next to the boat. All I have to do is chuck a few pieces of bread out there to get them feeding. I had a 22lb mirror the other week.”
There are plenty of spots to fish from on Andrew’s 70ft-long boat, and the kitchen is one of his favourite pegs.
“The window there is relatively large so I can even fish the pole or cast a jig along the side of the boat while I’m cooking dinner,” he says.
It’s not just boaters who’ve struck lucky. On-site fishery owners are also taking advantage of the lockdown to get some fishing in.
Father and son Adrian and Dan Hull co-own Leicestershire’s Shearsby Valley Lakes and they’ve been competing against each other in a number of angling challenges to pass the time.
“As match anglers it’s hard for us to enjoy fishing without a competitive edge so we decided to go head-to-head,” Dan tells us. “Our first challenge was a feeder-only match on Hurricane Lake and I managed to pip Dad with 101lb of carp to his 87lb. He managed to get his revenge in the second challenge on Sunset Lake with 79lb to my 58lb.
“Normally we can’t fish because we’re managing the fishery, so it has been a really welcome change to our ordinary way of life here.”
Growing support for Trust's plans with MPs
FURTHER hope has been given to anglers wanting to get out fishing today, as an increasing number of MPs come forward to back the Angling Trust’s ‘When We Fish Again’ report.
In an article in today’s Daily Telegraph, a group of both Conservative and Labour MPs have sent a letter saying they support proposals to lift restrictions on low risk activities such as angling.
On Friday, Trust boss Jamie Cook called for anglers to contact their MP to rally further support, to which some 5000 anglers responded.
Perhaps one of the most recognisable names who has shown support, is former Liberal Democrats leader, Tim Farron, who said:
“I agree that this most solitary and relaxing of sports should be among the first considered.
“I am pleased to confirm that I have written to the Minister for the Cabinet Office of the United Kingdom to ask that the Government consider these sensible guidelines.”
The next review of restrictions is set to take place on May the 7th. Will anglers be coming out of lockdown?
To read the full Daily Telegraph article, click here.
To read the Angling Trust’s ‘When We Fish Again’ report, click here.
Lockdown angling audio
Relax in your favourite chair, or pop your headphones in while you take your daily exercise, and listen to some fishy tales old and new...
Dick Walker on Desert Island Discs
This might be one of the most interesting things we’ve unearthed in lockdown. From deep in the BBC’s archive comes this recording from 1974 of Richard Walker picking his favourite eight tracks to be castaway with on a desert island.
Unlike today’s guests on this long-running Radio 4 show, the former carp record-holder seems at pains not to share too much information. There’s even a crackle of tension in the air as host Roy Plomley tries patiently to tease out some colour. It is certainly of its time and, despite some clipped responses from Walker, sheds light on the life and times of one of the country’s greatest anglers. His final track – and the one he picks as his favourite – will also be familiar to many a sports fan…
Fishing for Doubters with Chris Yates
Another gem from the BBC’s vast archive, this is a 30-minute Omnibus programme first broadcast in 1996. It follows Chris Yates in pursuit of carp and, interspersed with famous quotes on fishing, has the feel of an audio-only version of A Passion for Angling.
In fact, keen fans of the TV show will recognise Yates’s comparison between carp fishing and playing chess with a grand master.
It’s a beautifully relaxed half-hour in which Yates is at his eloquent best.
The Carp Cast
With many of us having time on our hands right now, the Carp Cast’s huge back catalogue could be just the thing to stimulate carp anglers’ minds. There have been 99 episodes of this podcast – more than any other UK fishing podcast – and most of them are well over two hours long. Each episode features a lengthy interview with a star guest, from Danny Fairbrass to Adam Penning, via Jim Davidson and Kevin Nash.
The Thinking Tackle Podcast
A relative newcomer to the podcast landscape, this series of in-depth interviews is produced by Korda but doesn’t just feature anglers associated with their brands. And it’s not as carp-heavy as you might think. Host Simon Pitt is given free rein to explore his guests’ upbringings and outlooks on life, making the episodes feel much more rounded than some other angling podcasts.
We’d pick the Simon Scott one if you want to enhance your fishy knowledge and listen to a master storyteller at work. All of the episodes are available to
watch too.
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.
What anglers have been doing on lockdown...
FACED with the prospect of no fishing for the foreseeable future, the nation’s house-bound anglers have been seeking to maintain their sanity in a variety of different ways. Here’s a selection of some of the most amusing...
Carp workouts
Welsh carp angler John Flewin got into the spirit of online exercise videos by doing his very own ‘fat lads and carp dads workout’ using items of tackle. His wife Jo is a personal trainer, so it’s actually a pretty useful workout! John told Angling Times:
“I’m always up for a cheap laugh – usually at my own expense! I’m surprised it’s been a hit.”
He has since added a yoga-based workout to his video line-up.
Indoor fishing
Portuguese carp angler Rui Devesa gave us a chuckle with his hugely elaborate set-up, including an indoor swimming pool full of koi carp. Don’t worry, he didn’t use hooks, but he did mock up a complete carp trip, including catch shot! At the time of writing, the video has been shared 55,000 times on Facebook.
Backyard fishing
The lockdown is clearly getting to Angling Times reporter Freddie Sandford, who donned his waders for an impromptu session in the backyard of his house in Bourne, Lincolnshire.
“I’ve been baiting this naughty little spot for the last few days and heard a few fish bosh this morning. Slipped on the waders, ready to jump in if things got tasty, but no bites were forthcoming,” said Freddie.
Pond dipping
Stewart Rusling, member of the popular Fishing in the Northwest Team, also tried his luck in a garden pond, targeting some koi carp. He went the whole hog to ensure his fishing fix, setting up both his seatbox and pole.
“I know they said no fishing, but I had to give in to the urge,” he joked, “because the fish were on the feed!”
The bog roll challenge!
Angling Times staff have been using screenbreaks from their computers while working from home to take part in the Bog Roll Challenge, keeping their casting skills up to the mark in the process. The back-garden game, which thousands of anglers have been taking part in, involves trying to cast a lead into a toilet roll inner two rod lengths away. Top matchmen Andy May and Jamie Hughes took just four and five attempts respectively to complete the task, but our Features Editor Richard Grange didn’t fare quite as well, saying:
“I hit the roll five times in 20 casts, but none went down the tube. That’s good enough for me!”
Dog fishing!
Across the Channel, keen angler Nems Lilou sat in his belly boat with flippers and a rod, and got his fishing fix by attaching his line to a dog toy. His dog, complete with shark fin on its back, put up a playful battle!
“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.
Club goes extra mile to protect fish stocks
With fishing currently banned, there’s a big worry that fish theft will go through the roof as there will be no honest anglers on the bank to discourage any light-fingered individuals.
As a result, one club is going the extra mile to protect its stocks – Reading and District Anglers Association.
It has selected 10 bailiffs who will continue to monitor its 14 lakes.
“Usually, we rely on our members to report any incidences of illegal fishing,” fisheries manager Del Shackleford tells us, “but as our waters are all closed, there’s nobody to make sure that everything is running smoothly.”
A letter has been sent to each of the selected bailiffs to give to anyone who approaches them. It explains why they are outside and confirms that they have the permission of the club to be there.
“In urban areas, crime rates are going through the roof,” Del explains, “so now, more than ever, we need people to keep an eye on our waters.”
Not only will these bailiffs be looking out for fish theft, but they’ll also be searching for any fish in distress, as well as warding off any members who are walking around the lakes.
“Our bailiffs won’t be fishing, as some people seem to suggest,” Del emphasises.
“They’re protecting our waters and our fish.”
Fish like this need protecting
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.
5 great fishing reads
NEED a good book to get your teeth into during lockdown? Fortunately, anglers are quite fond of writing. Here are some of our favourites…
How to Fish
by Chris Yates
We could, of course, have chosen many other books from angling god Chris Yates (such as Casting at the Sun and Falling in Again) but How to Fish is a complete overview of our hobby that even has a Kindle edition if you want to read it instantly. Don’t be fooled by the title, this is a celebration of angling, not an instructional book.
Gone Fishing: Life, Death and the Thrill of the Catch
by Mortimer & Whitehouse
Books to accompany TV series are often hastily written cash-ins, but this is anything but. It explores much more deeply the inspiration for the television show and the process – familiar to many of you – of an experienced angler introducing a novice to the sport. But above all it’s about how angling shapes and solidifies friendships.
How to Think Like a Fish
by Jeremy Wade
Jeremy Wade isn’t just an effortlessly good TV presenter and intrepid adventurer. Fishing has shaped his whole life. This book exposes Wade’s deep scientific understanding of fish but does so with a light touch and plenty of scenery and anecdotes along the way.
The Compleat Angler
by Izaak Walton
The godfather of angling wrote this book in 1653, which feels about as long ago as our last fishing session.
If you consider yourself an angling obsessive and haven’t read this, then now is the perfect time to do so.
It’s full of statements and tactics that science and technology have since debunked, but it’s still deeply relatable nearly 400 years on.
The Old Man and the Sea
by Ernest Hemingway
If lockdown is your time for inspiration and escapism, settle into this classic novel by Ernest Hemingway.
It tells the story of a Cuban fisherman battling a giant marlin for days.
No words are wasted by Hemingway and it’s short enough to finish in one or two sittings. You can find it for free online.
"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.
The best mobile phone fishing games!
LOOKING for an angling fix during lockdown? You could do a lot worse than download one of the many mobile phone fishing games. These range from swipe like crazy arcade titles, to some that are just as serious as the real thing - you think we are kidding!
To give you a flavour of what kind of games are out there, we sent our News Reporters into the App Store to investigate. Here are their findings…
(The below are the opinions of Angling Times staff and no paid promotion has gone into this article. The images are simply cropped screenshots from in the games themselves.)
Fishing Clash: Tap to Fish!
Price: Free but in-app purchases
App Store Rating: 4.8 stars
Our Rating: 3 stars
AS the name suggests this game requires some pretty frantic finger action at times. It is very simple to play and actually can be quite addictive. You basically tap on the screen to cast and then within seconds of your bait hitting the water, a little bit like a summer commercial, you have to strike, which is also done by a simple tap on the screen.
The interesting and entertaining bit comes once the fish is hooked. You then have to tap as fast as you can to keep your tension bar in the ‘hot zone’, which in turn will stop you losing the fish, by it either breaking your line or just dropping off.
Now, it does start off pretty easy, admittedly, but you will soon be getting frustrated as the boss fish will have you smashing your screen protector to bits trying to catch up. Unfortunately, we failed to land one!
The fish are cool and look awesome with the smooth graphics. There are also a lot of different species and some new venues to unlock, which does give it a bit of playability.
For us, although it is fishing, it hasn’t really got enough decision making to keep us hooked. After all, it would be called ‘catching’ if we could get a bite every chuck, wouldn’t it?
Ultimate Fishing Simulator
Price: Free but in-app purchases
App Store Rating: 3.7 stars
Our Rating: 3 stars
THIS offering is a bit more suited to the coarse anglers and has a host of our favourite species to target, from shy biting crucians to monster predatory pike.
There is a lot of freedom with this game, as you can go for a wander and cast to likely looking spots, as well as explore a host of tackle and bait options.
The casting mechanic is a simple touch on the screen, as long as you are in range of the target. Once the float is out there, initially, you will get bites pretty much instantly, and there is a lovely mini-screen, where you can watch the float shoot under.
The striking mechanic is a swipe backwards and you can actually get it wrong and miss them sometimes, which gives you a skill to master. Reeling is then done by a circular motion on the screen to resemble the feeling of actually reeling in - ah the good old days!
Once a fish is caught, you can place it in your keepnet and at the end of the session, sell your catch for coins. These can then be used to purchase new tackle, baits and venues. This gives the game plenty of depth and it certainly is one we will be spending a bit more time progressing on.
Graphically, the game looks great and the fish look spot on too. We do think it would be nice to see some movement of the fish in the water, as you are casting a bit blind at times. We are also hopeful to hook something that pulls back soon, but it looks like that will take some game hours!
Carpcraft
Price: Free but in-app purchases
App Store Rating: 4.5 stars
Our Rating: 5 stars
THIS game doesn't look much but it goes deeper than a 5G Twitter thread. You start with your awesome little lego type character, sat by a lily fringed pond, armed only with a float rod.
Clicking on the hook next to the character, brings up all kind of customisation options. You can change your rod, reel, line, hooks, floats and baits.
Once you have selected the right kit, you are ready to make the cast. Now, unlike some of the other games we have mentioned, this takes a bit more skill if you want to get it bang on the money. In the initial action, you have to time a moving cursor to get the direction right, then again for the distance and a final time for accuracy. This makes it a bit more interesting than just chuck it and chance it, as you can aim to get it slam tight to the pads - just where those virtual carp will be!
If you mess it up, you lose your bait and have to start again too, but the frustration doesn’t stop there. Once it has popped up on your screen that you have had a bite, you can swipe up to strike. This is where we went wrong, initially losing fish after fish - doh!
A virtual reel pops up on screen and you can use your finger to wind in the fish, playing it off the back wind when the tension gets too high. Make sure you don’t rush it too - they do come off!
When you have banked a fish, you get coins as a reward, which similar to the other games mentioned, will unlock you all kinds of extras. It doesn’t take you too long to catch enough fish to earn your second rod, a leger rod, which can then be used to target the bigger carp. You can even unlock all the favourite carp rigs, to fool the really wise ‘Most Wanted’ fish in the lake.
Give this game a chance and we think you could easily get hooked!
Fly Fishing Simulator
Price: Free but in-app purchases
App Store Rating: 4.3 stars
Our Rating: 4.5 stars
AS the name suggests, this is one for the fluff chucking fraternity. It is, however, actually a great offering for all angling enthusiasts, as it is very simple to control and strangely addictive.
In the traditional fly fishing manner, you let out more line to be able to cast further distances, which is done by a simple on-screen rotational reel.
The fun bit comes with the shadows of fish in the water, indicating where you need to be placing the fly. There are loads of flies to choose from too and a really nice touch is the ‘match the hatch’ button. This tells you what is hatching and allows you to match a pattern from your box, thus increasing your chances of that virtual strike.
Once you get a bite the rod arches over and it’s then about taking your time reeling in, so they don’t come off. It is actually quite exciting when you latch into those bigger fish.
There are lots of different species to target and venues to unlock as you progress through the game. The second venue is a particular favourite of ours, as you watch flies land on the water in a wild chalk stream, quickly getting engulfed by trout.
Graphically, the game uses real world images. If you focus in too hard, you may even begin to believe you are there!
Certainly worth a download.
I Fishing Lite
Price: Free but in-app purchases
App Store Rating: 4.6 stars
Our Rating: 3 stars
FANCY chancing your arm at becoming a bass fishing pro? If so, this is probably the game for you. Initially, it is all about boat work and using your sonar to find groups of big fish. Then you simply ping out your chosen lure to catch them.
Casting requires you to flick your phone forward, similar to the actual casting action we are all missing, but it does feel like your lure should go further than it does! You can then reel in at different speeds, depending on your target species and if you are on them, it doesn’t take too long to get a bite.
The striking mechanic is different to other games and can provide some comical results. Forcing you to smash your phone back towards your face as fast as possible to set the hook. This is not one you want to be playing if you are trying to be discreet whilst your partner is watching Eastenders!
In game fish fights are great and with a fair balance between the chance of landing or losing the fish. Once beaten, your catch sort of dangles awkwardly in the air for a while, at which point you can brag on social media or release it.
A really nice one to beat the lockdown blues, is the ‘Fish a Photo’ feature. This lets you pick a shot from your photo album and fish it. Missing that regular spot? You can fish it on your phone, albeit, you might find a few different species are in the digital version!
Our main issue with this game is the constant adverts. If you can get past this without breaking your phone, however, the game is thoroughly enjoyable.
Carp Fishing Simulator
Price: £2.99 with in-app purchases
App Store Rating: 3.6 stars
Our Rating: 5 stars
WANT a fishing game that is almost identical to the real thing? Then Carp Fishing Simulator is definitely one you are going to want to download.
There is so much to this game, we could probably write endless pages on it. Funnily enough, however, we haven’t actually caught a fish on it yet!
You start armed with just a rod and seemingly, only bread as bait. With two lakes to choose from initially, you can wander round both, looking for visible signs of fish, all with very simple to use controls.
Now our initial problem came with actually casting out for these virtual cyprinids. For whatever reason, our hair-rigged bread was not a suitable choice and thus the game would not let us cast it in. Completely unsure how to conquer this problem, we caved and spent £2 of our hard earned Bauer Media wages on buying all sorts of extra bait, rigs and kit.
Now it has to be said, the carp angler in you will want to buy every option available - and we can’t blame you, as this game is pretty addictive. But these extra rigs, baits and tackle items like bait boats and bivvies, can be earned by just catching fish in game - if you are skilled enough.
Casting is simple but can be done accurately, to put the bait in certain hotspots on the lake. Once cast out, it is then a case of kicking back with a cup of tea and waiting for the buzzer to sound. If it ain’t happening, you can grab your virtual binnoculars and scan the lake for signs of carp - you do see some too!
A move is always a good idea in any fishing you do and Carp Fishing Simulator is no different. As you wander round the lake you will see all kinds of characters, some of which look straight from an 80’s disco or an episode of Baywatch. We aren’t sure what the thinking was here but it does cause some brief amusement in amongst the painful blanking.
The next part of the game, we too are yet to find out, but it does look exciting. As you conquer each lake by catching all the target fish, you can unlock new waters, some with very familiar titles like the historic ‘Bluemire Pool’ or the popular ‘St Dons Lake’.
We are probably going to be on this game for some time!
