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…
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
