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
"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.
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.
