It's official - Fishing is good for you! - Marina Gibson

The power of angling has been promoted by record-breaking fly angler Marina Gibson at an event for National Stress Awareness Week, where she revealed the positive impact that fishing has on mental health.

Marina, who is a lifelong angler and qualified fishing coach, became truly aware of the power of angling whilst working in the busy capital city.

“When I was living in London and found the stresses of everyday life all too much, fly fishing at Syon Park offered me an escape.

“Fly-fishing has long been heralded as a great source of therapy and it demonstrates how fishing and being outdoors allows you to step away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life.

“It clears your mind by focusing on the beautiful surroundings as well as the art and technique of exercise, as well as keeping your mind busy with an art form.”

Since the event Marina has continued to spread her message on the positives of fishing by appearing in an article by The Times newspaper and in an interview on Sky News.

Mortimer & Whitehouse: Gone Fishing to return for third series

FILMING has started for a brand new series of the countries much-loved and critically acclaimed angling show – Mortimer & Whitehouse: Gone Fishing.

The announcement was made by the BBC after the show’s second series charmed the nation over the summer, boasting viewing figures in excess of a staggering 2.2 million.

The format for the new series is set to stay the same with the comedy duo exploring venues across the UK and possibly abroad.

Each episode focuses on a particular species, with Paul using his extensive angling knowledge to be Bob’s fishing guide, whilst Bob hunts out unique places to stay and prepares some ‘heart-healthy’ food.

Talking to Angling Times whilst out on the bank, an excited Paul Whitehouse said:

“It was a surprise to be honest as following the feedback from the second series, the BBC were quickly on to us to begin the third – so it was a very quick turnaround.

“Filming has started and this series we plan to showcase fishing through all four seasons.”

Paul and Bob will be looking to build on the universally positive reviews the shows second season received, whilst recognising this support, Paul was also keen to bring a new element to the show, as he explained:

“We really want to bring anglers together and highlight just a few of the issues that affect our sport, whilst still in keeping with the feel good factor of the show.

“I think that the angling community will be in a much stronger place if we can show a unified front on conservation issues and we have the audience to highlight some of those.”

So what can viewers expect in season three?

“There will be all the usual antics, laughs and tears. At the end of the day we are the fishing show for people who don’t go fishing.

“Bob likes to use a float and hopefully we can capture that magic of watching one, whilst probably behaving like a couple of kids”, Paul said.

Revealed: plans for new ‘masters’ of matchfishing

A new ‘invitation-only’ event to discover the true king of Britain’s match anglers could be launched next summer. 

Under the groundbreaking proposals, all of the winners of this year’s major events pitted against each other in a one-off match to discover the true ‘champion of champions’. 

The event is the brainchild of a lifelong angler and Angling Times reader who, although wishing to remain anonymous at this stage, has outlined his plans for the exciting event and has said that he is willing to provide a hefty prize fund of around £40,000 from out of his own pocket.

Speaking ahead of formal meetings to thrash out the finer details of the proposed match, he said: “It struck me that both snooker and golf have ‘Masters-style’ tournaments where all the best players fight it out at the end of the season, yet fishing doesn’t.” 

“I thought it would be great to see the winners of all the big-money matches to participate in an annual match to decide who is the true champion. 

“I’m in my late 70s now and would love to make this happen. I’d like the event to operate on an ‘invitation-only’ basis, and I’m in talks with Angling Times to see how we could expand on this idea and turn it into reality. Watch this space!”

As well as inviting the winners of high-profile events such as Fish O’Mania and Maver Match This, the winners of ‘natural water’ competitions such as the Division 1 and 2 Nationals, as well as RiverFest, could also be included to give a true reflection of who the UK’s best matchman.

Angling Times will report on the event’s progress as it develops, but initial conversations with the cream of UK match anglers have received a resounding thumbs-up. 

Jamie Hughes, winner of this year’s Maver Match This and Golden Reel Winner, said: “I think an all-star match sounds phenomenal! It would really take things to the next level and be another step towards true professionalism for fishing.

“It’s something I would love to get involved with, and I’m sure many of our best anglers would be too!” 

Zombait - Bring your deadbaits back to life

AN INNOVATIVE fishing device which has taken America’s fishing scene by storm could provide an ethical alternative for anglers who use livebaits for predatory fish here in the UK.

Zombait – the product that brings your deadbaits ‘back to life’ – has been a resounding success for fishermen across America and eastern Europe since its conception in 2017, but now the brains behind the product believe it could make a huge difference to both sea and predator anglers on the British Isles.

Michael McNeil, who is the Chief Marketing Officer for Zombait, explained more about the product’s origin and success.

He said: “The idea came from a commercial tuna fisherman in Maine named Rink Varian, who needed a solution for when his live bait died and needed a way to make them look alive again.

“Through a mutual connection with family friends he teamed up with Jessy Cusack, a mechanical engineer, and Matthew Borowski, an electrical engineer, who designed and created the first prototype and brought the idea to life.

“Since the product’s launch we’ve received great feedback from people, especially pike fisherman, using Zombait both in North America and overseas.

“A huge highlight so far has been a fishing team using a Zombait to catch a 340lb Bluefin Tuna to help win a huge fishing tournament.

“It really has made a big difference to people’s fishing and of course it provides a great alternative to livebait.”

Despite Zombait’s success overseas there has been reason for concern with some members of the angling community in the UK amid fears the product could part with an angler’s mainline.

Predator expert Neville Fickling said: “My view is anything that makes pike fishing easier for pike anglers is a help, although you just have to be so careful that the device doesn’t end up inside a pike due to crack offs or breakages.”

To ensure the Zombait remains connected to your line Michael urges that anglers must take precautions when attaching the device to their rigs.

He added: “Certainly when pike fishing you must use a strong wire tippet, or some sort of wire that attaches to the hook and the designed tether point on the Zombait so you can protect against aggressive strikes.

“Strong mainlines and tight knots should always be used with this product too, and if you can do it right you will have no problem retrieving and reusing the Zombait over and over again.”

Zombait will soon be available to buy from the Amazon UK website here: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07665HGJD/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=zombait&qid=1573034402&s=sports&sr=1-1

For more information on Zombait, please visit the website at www.revivefishing.com

Exclusive Angling Times interview

 Angling Times constructed an extended interview with Zombait’s Chief Marketing Officer, Michael McNeil, to find out a little more about the product.

Here’s what he had to say:

Angling Times: Just how effective has Zombait been? Have you increased your catch rates tenfold? Did it work in your fishing pretty much straight away?

Michael McNeil: Whilst we have no hard stats on this, we have received great feedback from pike fisherman, and anglers using them for a variety of gamefish both in North America and overseas. A highlight would be team 'Duck Soup' winning the Blue Fin Blowout Fishing Tournament using a Zombait to catch a 340lb Bluefin Tuna!

AT: Do you make a smaller Zombait that’s ideal for smaller deadbaits? Or perhaps have a similar idea in the pipeline?

MM: We currently have the one size, which measures in at 6.9 inches (or 17.5cm) but we have a smaller version now in the works.

AT: When setting the Zombait up for predatory fish with sharp teeth, what precautions should anglers take? For example: use strong wire when tying the Zombait to your hook?

MM: Yes, we recommend using a wire tippet, or some sort of wire towards the end of your leader that attaches to the hook and the designed tether point on the Zombait, so you can protect against aggressive strikes and retrieve and reuse it over and over again.

AT: How easy is it to use the Zombait? Is there an instructional video people can watch?

MM: It’s as simple as charging the battery and placing the Zombait inside your favourite dead bait fish of choice. As for rigging, a lot of it is personal preference, but we definitely recommend tying on a tether from your Zombait device (from the designed loop) back to either the hook or you main line to secure it in the event of an aggressive strike, and to protect against toothy critters. You can check out instructional videos on our website, and YouTube Channel, at www.ReviveFishing.com and https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCCybb_tHxl1Z7cPMbSkQy-Q

AT: Would you say that Zombait is better or equal-to a livebait? Have you found that the Zombait has been more effective than a livebait on a particular day?

MM: Live bait is great, and we wouldn't necessarily say it’s better, but it does provide a unique presentation and some great advantages. It offers more flexibility in hook placement on the bait, as well as the ability to fish a "live bait" presentation anytime, anywhere, if you don't have time to catch your own live bait or buy it. As well, the problem with live bait is that it often dies, even with expensive live wells, which not everyone has, and in some countries, where the use of live bait is illegal, Zombait gives you a great opportunity to give some action and movement to your dead bait that you otherwise wouldn't have.

Positives:

•          Eliminates the use of a livebait

•          Is easily attachable to your standard deadbait trace

•          Comes with rechargeable batteries and a charging pack

Negatives:

•          Requires very strong hooks, traces and mainline to use

•          Is too big for smaller deadbaits, although a smaller Zombait is in the pipeline

•          The battery is limited to a maximum of 3.5 hours of use on a single charge

War declared on rubbish in rivers

Britain’s angling clubs are being urged to help clear the mountain of rubbish building up in many of our rivers and tributaries. 

Tagged ‘Treasure Your River’, the charity initiative aims to remove 90 tonnes of litter from the Rivers Avon, Mersey, Thames, Severn and Forth, with plans to expand further. 

The campaign is being run by the Coca-Cola Foundation-funded charity Hubbub, which is reaching out to clubs, organisations and companies to sign up and get involved.

Hubbub’s CEO Trewin Restorick said: “The vast majority of plastics that end up in the world’s oceans are carried there by rivers. Cleaning rivers is one thing, but preventing litter getting in there in the first place is crucial. Our research shows that 81 per cent of people believe businesses should be doing more to tackle the issue. 

“Whether you’re a sailing club, a school, a local business, a charity or a resident, we want to hear from you!” 

The move has already been welcomed by many authorities, including Mark Barrow of Beneath British Waters – who spends lots of his time diving and filming in waterways all over the country.

He said: “I think anything that can be done to try and improve the situation will be brilliant. 

“It’s amazing how little the public knows about the rubbish in our rivers, and it’s crucial to educate people.

“The problem can only be solved with a long-term programme. It only takes a few weeks for litter to come back after it’s been cleared up.

“Angling clubs have to get involved, and if they do it will make a huge difference.”

How you can help to find out more and sign up to the campaign, visit www.treasureyourriver.co.uk

the 71lb NEW record carp that won’t be claimed...

A carp eclipsing the current UK record of 68lb 1oz has been banked, but its captor will not be submitting a claim, Angling Times can reveal. 

Martyn Lowe (46) slipped his net under the huge mirror weighing 71lb during a two-day session at Cambridgeshire’s Holme Fen Fishery. 

However, he revealed that he has been deterred from potentially taking his place in the record books following the rejection last year of another huge Holme Fen mirror by the British Record Fish Committee (BRFC) on the grounds that it was stocked into the lake at too high a weight. 

Although Martyn’s fish was stocked at a much lower weight, and would stand a strong chance of being accepted as the new bona fide record, he has chosen to stay out of the limelight.

Martyn said: “For me, catching  a UK 70lb-plus carp is more than enough, and it’s just great to see that fish of this calibre can be caught in the UK.

“I know other ‘British record-beating’ fish have been banked from Holme Fen in the past but rejected, so I just thought it wasn’t worth going through the rigmarole of submitting a claim with the possibility of the same happening again.”

Martyn was alluding to the BRFC’s decision in late 2018 to reject the credentials of the Holme Fen mirror known as Captain Jack, which was caught by Vinny Parker at 69lb 10oz in September 2018. 

One of the contributing factors to the rejection was the fact that the fish was imported from Israel and stocked into the fishery at a weight of 41lb. The case is different with Martyn’s catch however, as he explained…

“Martin Dawson, who is the owner of Holme Fen, informed me that my fish was stocked into the fishery at a weight of 15lb 8oz in 2013, so I guess there is a chance it could been accepted, but I’ve still decided it’s not worth it. I’ve had a British 70 and I’m just really pleased with that.”

In November 2018 the BRFC released a statement highlighting all of the factors that are considered when judging a record carp. These include the weight of the fish when stocked into the water from which it was caught, the length of time the fish has been in the water of capture since its stocking and whether the fish reached the weight with the help of supplementary feeding by the fishery owner.

Nick Simmonds, Secretary of the BRFC, said: “Any captor wishing to submit a claim for a potential record carp may do so and the committee will consider each claim on its own merit under certain factors. 

“Martyn has chosen not to submit a claim this time, but if he was to change his mind then the fish will be judged fairly and on its own merits.”

As things stand, Dean Fletcher’s 2016 capture of The Parrot from Cranwell Lake on the Wasing estate at 68lb 1oz remains the official British record.

The Unofficial British record carp list

• 83lb 4oz | Unknown | Wingham, Kent Nov 2017

• 71lb 4oz | Rob Harrison | The Avenue Oct 2016

• 71lb | Martyn Lowe | Holme Fen Oct 2019

• 69lb 10oz | Vinny Parker | Holme Fen Sept 2018

• 69lb 3oz | Tom Doherty | The Avenue Sept 2016

• 68lb 5oz | Unknown | Holme Fen Sept 2017

• 68lb 4oz | Nigel Ludbrook | Holme Fen Oct 2017

• 68lb 1oz* | Dean Fletcher | Wasing Estate Jan 2016*

• 67lb 14oz | Oz Holness |Conningbrook Aug 2008

• 67lb 4oz | Dave Smedley | Holme Fen Nov 2017

The BRFC’s judging criteria

• The weight of the fish when stocked into the water from which it was caught. 

• The length of time the fish has been in the water since it was stocked. 

• The origin of the fish and its history prior to stocking. 

• Whether the fish reached the weight claimed by feeding on natural food and anglers’ baits only, without supplementary feeding or other treatments. 

• Evidence of the growth rate of the fish. 

• Consideration of whether the fish would be able to naturally sustain its weight in the fishery concerned.

Rob Hughes says:

“There is every chance Martyn’s fish could be acknowledged as a new British Record, and in my eyes, the catch certainly passes the BRFC’s considering factors.

“The fish was caught on rod and line, stocked into Holme Fen at a weight of 15lb-odd in 2013, and has reached that weight over the last six years in that lake. 

“The BRFC have raised the point of carp waters being excessively fed in the past, but this is happening at every other fishery in the country. Fishery owners feed their fish, and it’s no different at Holme Fen.”

MOST WANTED! CARP WITH A PRICE ON THEIR HEADS…

The owner of one of the country’s biggest fisheries is offering visiting anglers the chance to pocket £10,000 if they can bank all five of the venue’s most sought-after carp.

The massive prize fund has been provided by Todber Manor Fisheries owner John Candy who, since 2018, has been creating incentives to get more people out fishing in the winter.

The £10k reward will run alongside Todber’s already successful ‘Most Wanted’ competition in which competing anglers are awarded points for catching the biggest and best carp on the complex. The angler with the most points at the end of the competition walks away with a £500 Todber Manor Fisheries gift voucher.

John said: “This is our second year running the ‘Most Wanted’ competition. The £500 voucher is already a superb prize, but catching our five biggest carp is now the ultimate challenge. I’m a gambling man, and if someone can pull it off I will be proud to hand over the money.”

Todber isn’t the only fishery offering cash rewards for catching prized carp. Aiden Hodge proved that by pocketing £1,000 after banking Lakeside View Carp Fisheries’ first-ever 40lb-plus specimen.

He said: “I’m blown away – to not only catch my first UK 40 but to win the prize pot. Pete at Lakeside is making dreams possible and I think other fisheries should follow suit.”

The cash incentive has been a massive hit with anglers visiting the Devon fishery, according to owner Peter Grandfield.

He added: “Our prize pots are very popular with visiting anglers and pay out between £3,000 and £4,000 a year.

“I would say 90 per cent of visitors pay into it, but we have had an occasion where one of the target fish was landed without the captor paying into the pot – an expensive mistake to make!

“The competition is all funded by anglers – we may start the pot off with £50 to get it going, but then anglers pay £1 from their ticket to enter the prize pool, and if they catch one of the targets they take home the pot.

“We cap the pots at £1,000 and then start another, so there’s always something to go for. 

“This most recent pot ran for 12 months. We pick challenging targets for our anglers, so the pot grows to a high sum.

“If anyone feels like they’ve got what it takes to catch our biggest carp, I urge them to come down and participate!”

Our campaign for Wilson memorial

Angling Times is launching a campaign for a memorial blue plaque in honour of John Wilson to be erected where his Norwich tackle shop once stood.

John, who was voted ‘The Greatest Angler of All Time’ by AT readers, died just under a year ago, leaving behind an unparalleled legacy of TV programmes and books that inspired generations.

Plans are afoot for a memorial bench to be installed at one of his favourite fishing spots, Lenwade Mill, but we believe that John deserves to be immortalised further in the form of a blue plaque being placed on the wall at the former site of ‘John’s Tackle Den’ in Bridewell Alley.

Blue plaques typically commemorate a link between locations and famous people, and those already present in Norwich form part of a programme to promote the city’s cultural heritage, of which John is undoubtedly a part following a prolific career that spanned 160 TV programmes over 20 years, dozens of books and long-standing columns for Angling Times and the Sunday Express.

Initial conversations with Norwich City Council have been positive, with a spokesperson saying: “A memorial plaque for John is certainly something we could do. He was a very popular figure here in Norfolk, so I’m sure it would be well received. It would no doubt bring tourists into the city as well.”

Memorial plaques of sorts exist for several famous anglers, notably Peter Stone and Ivan Marks, at their favourite fishing locations, but no official blue plaques.

Steve Fitzpatrick, editor of AT, believes that if anybody deserves to be the first, it’s Wilson. He said: “Through his shop and then all of his writing and filming achievements, nobody has done more to promote coarse fishing in this country than John. It would be a fitting tribute to have him remembered in this way.”

Angling Times has made an official application to Norwich City Council for the plaque to be erected. Watch this space for updates!

Inside britain’s biggest carp farm

We are fast approaching that time of year when fisheries around the country are looking to top up their stocks – but what exactly goes into farming these fish? 

This week Angling Times takes an inside look at one of the largest carp producers in the UK – VS Fisheries.

Who are VS Fisheries?

Formed in 2005, VS Fisheries is the brainchild of former Sparsholt College fisheries management lecturers Viv Shears and Simon Scott. 

Both men have made their mark on the angling world in other areas too, with Simon’s many appearances on Korda’s Thinking Tackle series leading to him now being known as ‘half man, half carp’. Viv, meanwhile, has recently hit the spotlight for his work with the Anglers National Line Recycling Scheme.

Since the farm’s inception, it has grown from 15 ponds across five acres to a mammoth project incorporating 60 production ponds across 50 acres – all with the sole purpose of producing carp for UK fisheries.

The list of waters stocked by VS Fisheries includes Linear Fisheries, Savay, Wraysbury, Horton Church Lake and the most famous carp water of them all, Redmire Pool. 

But how exactly does farming carp work? Unlike some of the many other fish farms across the UK, VS Fisheries has the advantage of growing fish right from the start, from fertilising a small egg right through to adulthood.

This has allowed VS over the years to experiment and create strong strains of carp through selective breeding. 

Every year in the hatchery, staff cross many different historic bloodlines in their quest for the perfect carp, resulting in a final product of attractive, healthy and fast-growing fish.

Spawning carp

Simon Scott’s expertise comes at this early stage of the rearing process, as he selects strains to cross breed from the established broodstock on site.

“These brood carp are then brought in from their outdoor ponds into a special hatchery tank, where the water is warmed to 23ºC and the fish are injected with a spawning-inducing hormone called Ovaprim,” he explained. “With the eggs from the female stripped into a bowl, a drip of the male’s milt is added, enough to fertilise the lot!” 

After the eggs are stirred to remove their natural stickiness they are transferred to jars and within 72 hours they hatch into small larvae which travel through a pipe to a holding tank.

“Once the fish are hatched, we feed them a plankton diet called Artemia (brine shrimp) – as much as 10 times per day,” added Simon. “Just over a week later the fish are ready to go to a pre-prepared outdoor pond where they will really start growing.”

Growing carp

The ponds are prepared through a process of draining and liming, which kills any parasites or life that may be detrimental to the fish in the early stages of development.

Each pond is covered with netting to ensure the fish can grow quickly without the stress imposed by predators.

Within two growing summers the carp (C2s) will be averaging 1lb 8oz to 2lb, thanks to a regimented pellet feeding programme.

“After four growing summers the carp will be three years six months old and weigh up to 10lb – a perfect size for stocking into specimen carp fisheries, although we sell fish at each stage of development, from two-inch C1s right through to 25lb C6s,” said Viv.

VS Fisheries in numbers

• 850 Number of venues stocked since opening

• 30,000 The number of miles clocked up by staff while delivering fish

• 85 Tonnes of pellets fed each year. Five to eight tonnes of wheat are also fed

• 47lb 12oz The farm’s biggest stocked fish to date. ‘White Belly’ was stocked into Mustang at 15lb and is now 14 years old

• SIX The number of staff who make it all possible – two full-time and four seasonal employees (plus Viv and Simon!)

The bream lake where 200lb is common...

Llandegfedd Reservoir is shaping up to be the greatest bream fishery in the UK according to local anglers, who have been enjoying bumper 150lb-plus nets of the species in recent weeks.

David Healey, 34, lives just two miles from the Welsh Water-run venue best known for predators and has been targeting its bream stocks for the last 10 years.

Now he and other locals are urging anglers from all over the country to give it a try after new management has taken big steps to improve coarse fishing on the water in 2019. 

David said: “I think there is a huge market in angling now for people who want to catch huge bags of bream and Llandegfedd is now the place to do that. 

“There are monstrous shoals of bream and hybrids and my friend Chris Ponsford and I have enjoyed many 150lb-200lb bags in recent years. I know of many pleasure anglers who have had red letter days with 400lb nets. 

“The water is so big that the bream and silver fish are just left to thrive, and if you can get on the right pegs at the right time you can really have a session to remember.

“We’ve started to run open matches and have even hosted a festival this year to try and showcase the fishing. They’ve all been tremendously popular – with many anglers travelling from far and wide to fish the venue that reflects Irish waters from back in the day.

“We want this to be a regular sight at Llandegfedd.”

Accessing the 430-plus acre reservoir has previously been a big problem for anglers although Welsh Water has now improved its system, as David explained.

“Until this year you had to pay £21 for a boat to take you to your swim but new management at Welsh Water only charges £5 for this service.”  

“You can get your trolly and all of your gear into these boats and it’s completely hassle free. 

“The idea of an access road being built has also been lobbied, meaning that anglers could potentially drive to their pegs in the future. The fishing potential is huge and access is now great – so it’s just a matter of getting bums on seats.”

The appeal of Llandegfedd has not only drawn regular anglers to its banks as a number of familiar faces have also made an appearance this year to sample the fine sport on offer.

Preston Innovations-backed ace Des Shipp was one and he reckons the Welsh venue has the potential to be the very best bream water in the UK.

He said: “Llandegfedd is one of those places where if you go once, you want to come back time and time again.

“The quality of the roach, bream and hybrid fishing is second to none and because the venue is vast and natural you’re pretty much catching fish that have never seen a hook before.

“The sport is only going to get better if more anglers fish it and more bait goes in. The fish need time to get used to the bait. When they do, triple-figure nets will be a regular occurrence.

“The management is also taking steps to improve access and when you combine this with the fishing, Llandegfedd’s potential is enormous.”

Have your say on cormorant control

Anglers and fishery owners are being urged to have their say on the control of fish-eating birds.

The in-depth survey has been launched by the government’s Department for the Environment, Farming and Rural Affairs (Defra), which wants to review the country’s current General Licence for bird control. 

Over the next three months, the Government is expected to be asked to remove some birds currently covered by the licence – but The Angling Trust claims new birds need to be added to the list, including cormorants.

Stuart Singleton-White, Head of Campaigns at the Angling Trust, said: “Many birds that pose the greatest threat to our fish and fisheries are not covered by the General Licence. While non-lethal methods of control are always the preferred option, they are not always possible.

“This consultation and the broader review of the General Licence is an opportunity to place birds such as cormorants on to the General Licence.

“It’s illogical that birds which pose a severe threat to fish populations are afforded high levels of protection, while fish are not. In a perfect world, the predator-prey relationship would find a natural balance. Unfortunately, with the massive rise in cormorant numbers, and with all the pressures our rivers and freshwater venues face, this is not the case.”

The option to review the current General Licence is music to the ears of many anglers, who believe that a clampdown on cormorant numbers will hugely benefit silverfish stocks.

Angling Times columnist Dave Harrell said: “I applaud this move. Cormorants and goosanders have been a major problem. Although you can apply for a licence to shoot a small number of these birds it isn’t enough to make a difference.

“At some venues, I’ve spotted at least 40-50 cormorants, so I sympathise with those people whose livelihood is running a fishery – they simply don’t have the law on their side. It’s got to the point where nature can’t step in and level things out, and yet these birds are just left to thrive.”

To take part in the consultation type bit.ly/WildBirdSurvey into your web browser and follow the steps outlined there.

Get Involved

Your views and evidence are needed to help decide how General Licences should be used in the future to:

1- Kill or take wild birds to: conserve wild birds and to conserve flora (plants) and fauna (other animals)

2- Kill or take wild birds to: preserve public health or public safety

3- Kill or take wild birds to: prevent serious damage to livestock, foodstuffs for livestock, crops, vegetables, fruit, growing timber, fisheries or inland waters.

The consultation will close on Thursday, December 5, 2019. 

Tom Pickering back in the england fold

Former world champion Tom Pickering will get the chance to add to his huge international medal collection after being called up to the Masters team for the 2020 World Championships.

One of England’s most decorated matchmen, 64-year-old Tom revealed the news last week... and he’s delighted

“Representing my country is something I’ve always wanted to do and to receive that call-up again is one of the best feelings in the world,” he said.

“I was surprised to get into the Masters team as being 64-years-old I had aimed to apply for the Veterans team at 65 next year. To get into the Masters team for 55-65 years olds is a real bonus. 

“We’ve got a superb team with plenty of experience and I’m very happy to have the opportunity to contribute to the cause in Slovenia.”

The Doncaster man was first selected to represent England back in 1985 in Italy – an event he and his England team mates would go on to win.

In 1989 he won the world individual gold medal in Bulgaria and more recently managed England to two World Feeder Championship team and one individual win, as well as leading England ladies to three team and individual golds. 

It was this experience that couldn’t be ignored, according to England Masters Team Manager Joe Roberts.

“I’m really pleased that we have Tom on board not only for his wealth of knowledge and skill as an angler, but for the fact that he’s experienced this all before,” said Joe. 

“Between both the Masters and Veterans teams we now have seven ex-World Champs winners so I am very optimistic going into next year’s match.”

Five Minutes With: Matt Godfrey

A few week’s ago Matt Godfrey came within a whisker of becoming World Champion at this year’s showpiece event in Serbia.   

His result in the World Championships on the canal at Novi Sad capped a quite remarkable rise for the affable 28-year-old from Yorkshire. 

The multiple World Youth Champion finished fourth – still a mightily impressive finish in his first senior Championships. 

Of course, Matt is no stranger to the big-match podium. After all, he won three golds in World Youth Championships and is a key member of the all-conquering Drennan Barnsley Blacks side. He is also now a TV star, featuring in the recently transmitted Fishing Allstars series. 

To those who know him, he’s a larger than life character brimming with cheeriness and an unbridled love for the sport.

Not content with his own fishing, though, Matt is also heavily-involved with bringing on the next generation of match anglers into the England fold as coach of the England Under 15s side.

The Guru media & marketing co-ordinator looks set for a long and distinguished career with England, current boss Mark Downes being quoted as saying it’s a case of ‘when’, not ‘if’, he becomes World Champion.

Is there no end to Matt Godfrey’s talents? Angling Times caught up with the ‘ginger ninja’ to find out…

Q: You made your full Men’s World Champs debut in Serbia – was it just like you’d never been away or very different from the World Youth Champs that you fished?

Matt Godfrey: It’s similar in the way the event works. I fish a lot of matches to international rules, such as the Sensas Challenge and World Club Champs, so it’s not as though I wasn’t in touch with what was needed. It was pleasing to see many of the anglers in other teams I’d fished against at youth level so yes, it was like I’d never been away!

Q: England boss Mark Downes says you have ‘the best angling brain’ he’s ever seen. Is much of this down to natural talent, or do you have to work hard to stay on top?

MG: Natural ability only achieves so much. I enjoy fishing and I enjoy competing. I like to work out the best way to catch the best weight as quickly as possible, be it F1s at Tunnel Barn Farm in winter or carp and catfish on a Spanish river. All this involves a lot of preparation, practice and sourcing information, then you must bring it all together on the bank. 

I see it as a challenge, I thrive on it and I have a competitive streak that must have helped me get to where I am .

Q: After winning three World Youth titles, did you think ‘that’s it’ regarding England or did it make you want to go all the way?

MG: I was fortunate that a year after I’d finished my Youth fishing, Mark Downes and Mark Addy invited me to be in the European Champs team. It was a big step up but the next one that I had to take and I won my section, which made me think ‘I can do this, I can and should be fishing at this level’ and from that point you have an eye on the World Champs, all things being equal. 

By fishing the World Club Champs regularly I was taking part in the right matches to help with England so there were few doubts – but taking in all that I’d achieved before those Euro Champs, I didn’t feel that I shouldn’t have belonged in the team.

Q: Most of us will never fish for England. Can you describe the difference in mindset between fishing a match in the UK and for England abroad?

MG: I think this is down to what goes on outside of the actual match itself. If I’m fishing an open at Hallcroft, for example, I may make up some rigs the night before and perhaps have a quick practice, but a World Champs is entirely different in terms of the work involved.. 

Take this year in Serbia, for example – there’s a journey of over 1,400 miles in a van, two weeks of practice, early starts to prepare bait, late finishes with team meetings – not to mention the weeks spent tying rigs and hooks and finding out information about the venue. It’s all incredibly intense for eight hours of fishing.

Q: There seems to be a decreasing level of interest in international match fishing. How can it be taken back to the 1990s when everyone wanted to know how England had got on?

MG: A lot can be done to raise the profile of international fishing and I think it needs everyone involved in match angling to get together and create an agenda that we can all work to. That mean the anglers, the management, the media and the Angling Trust all knocking heads and working together. 

Social media is a massive part of this and I’m positive we could generate huge interest this way, but it has to begin from the level above the media and anglers and then go from there. I’d love to see it happen, as the World Champs is the biggest event out there, but it seems to be in the shade now compared to Fish O’Mania, Match This and even FeederMasters among the fishing public.

Q: Now being involved in the England Under 15 side, is there anyone who stands out as a future full cap?

MG: They could all be the next Will Raison or Alan Scotthorne but no one knows how their lives will go over the next decade. I hope they’ll continue to develop, and I’m buzzing to be playing a part in it all. I think that just as at school, where the learning curve is very fast, so it’s the same in fishing.

Of the current squad, Charlie Sibley and Billy Kirk are the two that have caught my eye this year – they are both very, very good.

Q: What will the Under 15s need to do in the next 15 to 20 years to try to break into the men’s team?

MG: It’s not necessarily about fishing international matches, more about fishing at a high level. I wouldn’t want to see the lads fishing junior matches and would urge them to fish against the men and learn. That might be big match qualifiers, feeder matches, the Sensas Challenge, all of which will make them more rounded anglers. Joining a team helps, but it has to be a good side with good anglers to learn from. 

It’s not all about winning, though – fishing against the likes of Sean Ashby, Will Raison and Lee Kerry and then picking their brains is the thing to do.

Q: We know the exuberant and lively Matt Godfrey from the TV and online. Does this transfer into your match fishing, or do you become a totally different beast when the whistle goes?

MG: For me, it’s about being myself until the match starts. Then I want to beat everyone and I become quite evil in my single-mindedness. That’s the competitive side of me, I suppose, but I do believe that I have been brought up to be a good sportsman so there are never any grudges held or sulking. It’s so important to conduct yourself properly, as you can influence other anglers, but I don’t let that get in the way of my results. So if you see me on the bank in a match and I’m not talking, it’s nothing personal and I’ll buy you a pint afterwards!

Q: Participation – now there’s a thorny subject. How can angling encourage more youngsters to take up fishing and stick with it?

MG: A whole new project is needed to get youngsters and adults to start fishing and then stick with it. The Guru Match Academy and Talent Pathway is great for developing match talent, but not for gaining numbers from the grass roots. 

I believe that we need to get fishing into schools in some fashion and everyone – the tackle and bait industry, media, fisheries and governing body – need in the next 10 years to get together and work. We all know each other, and the benefits of more people starting fishing will be mutual across the board. It does come down to money and that’s the sticking point. Who is going to put their hand in their pocket?

THE CURIOUS CASE OF THE ‘MISSING’ TENCH

Double-figure tench are once again being caught from Horseshoe Lake after apparently disappearing from the famous venue nearly a decade ago.  

The Carp Society’s 62-acre water, which resides on the Oxfordshire and Gloucestershire border, has long been a popular destination for anglers pursuing monster tincas and even showcased on TV programmes such as the Great Rod Race and Record Breaking Fish with Matt Hayes and Mick Brown.

Since the show’s airing, however, the once prolific tench water suffered a steady decline of specimen fish being caught, leaving the local tench enthusiasts and on-site bailiffs completely baffled.  

The huge tench that Horseshoe were famed for were feared dead until the last few seasons where double-figure specimens have once again made an appearance. 

Horseshoe Lake manager Miles Carter told Angling Times: “The tench have come back with a vengeance over the last few years and this year The Tenchfishers club has had a fantastic season, reporting specimens of up to 12lb. I was worried that the tench had gone, but these are obviously not new fish being caught, they are the same older residents that for some reason are coming out again in numbers.”

This isn’t the first case of tench disappearing for anglers with the phnomenon also being noticed on other venues across the country.

Fish Scientist and Angling Times columnist Dr Paul Garner was happy to provide a possible explanation for this so called ‘disappearing act’.

He said: “I’ve seen and heard of this happening before. 

“I think the fish are just so preoccupied on natural food, to the extent that they become very difficult to catch for two main reasons. Firstly, they ignore most baits. Certainly, anything bigger than a caster is likely to not get picked up. 

“Secondly, they move around very little when feeding, basically just sucking in mouthfuls of food, sorting it, then spitting out what they don’t want on the spot. 

“This makes most rigs highly inefficient. 

“There are probably other factors playing a part, but it all proves the point that you cannot write off a tench water just because it has a bad year or two – the same goes for big bream waters as well.”

Tenchfishers member Paul Hawkins with a recent 11lb fish from Horseshoe.

WANT TO FISH 

HORSESHOE LAKE?

Location: Horseshoe Lake, Burford Road, Lechlade, GL7 3QQ

Contact: 01367 253959

Prices: To fish Horseshoe you must be a member of The Carp Society which costs: 

£25 per year for adults and £10 per year for juniors

Fishing on the lake then costs £1 per hour for two rods

Rules: No leadcore, no leaders, barbless hooks only, no nuts, no braided mainlines

Website: www.thecarpsociety.com

Facilities: Toilets, showers, tackle shop, catering facilities

£110,000 WINNINGS IN JUST TWO WEEKS!

Jamie Hughes has confirmed his status as the country’s greatest big-money matchman by winning £110,000 in just two weeks of competition angling. 

The three-times Fish O’Mania winner is no stranger to the pressure of huge events, as shown when he secured victory in the Golden Reel final on September 15. 

Fishing from unfancied peg 60 on the Match Lake at Larford Lakes in Shropshire, Jamie defied the odds and fished his way to a superb £50,000 pay cheque – a fine accompaniment to the £60,000 winnings he secured during the Maver Match This final just two weeks earlier.

Talking to Angling Times, the Matrix and Spotted Fin-backed champ said: “I don’t know how to feel about it at the moment to win Maver is ridiculous, but I honestly never thought I had a chance at the Golden Reel from the peg I was in.

“I don’t know what’s next, but I know I just love competing in these big-money events. 

“This might just take off some of the pressure, so I can really go all out for it again next year.”

Jamie told Angling Times how he has planned to spend his
well-earned winnings…

“I have paid off the house with the Maver money and I’m going to get a new van. The rest will go to the family,” he said. 

Jamie’s win highlights the growing demand for big-money matches like these, which are becoming increasingly popular around the country.

And his top tip to those who may be looking to enter one? “There is a lot of pressure in these matches and it can be quite demoralising at times, trying to get to the final,” he said.

“If it’s what you really want, my main advice is to be persistent and just keep going.”

5,000 new recruits in boost to angling

More than 5,000 people have been introduced to angling for the first time through this year’s National Fishing Month (NFM)scheme. 

Held between July 26 and September 1, the Angling Trades Association-run project encouraged the public to have a go at fishing across hundreds of events in the UK.

During NFM’s most recent showcase event at The Game Fair at Hatfield House, Herts, coaching teams from the Professional Anglers Association and the Game Angling Instructors Association gave free coaching sessions to hundreds of youngsters and adults. 

For many first-time anglers there were unforgettable moments as they caught carp and pike on the lake.

River Monsters star Jeremy Wade joined the PAA coaches on the day to offer his support. He said: “National Fishing Month is a great way for people to learn the angling basics and appreciate the outdoors. 

“By introducing newcomers
to the sport, you pass on a gift that stays with them throughout their lives.”

Clubs also took advantage of NFM to get more people fishing. 

Organisers at South Cerney AC, Goldsworth Park AC, Firtree Fishery, Barford Lakes and Gipping Valley AC all helped to give first-catch memories to Scout groups, specialist schools, vulnerable youngsters and adults. 

The results across the six-week programme were encouraging to ATA officials, who were quick to thank the many organisations which made NFM 2019 possible. 

John Loftus, chairman of the Angling Trades Association, said: “We owe a debt of gratitude to the enthusiastic, loyal support of the voluntary organisers and coaches who plan and deliver the events every year.  

“It’s down to their hard work that so many people are introduced to angling, and they are the ones who help build initiatives like NFM to recruit the next generation of anglers. 

“Our thanks go to Angling Direct for its financial support, to Dinsmores and Fladen for their product donations, and to the Environment Agency for its fishing licence waivers.

“I’m encouraged with the results from this year’s events, but I know that we have an even greater opportunity to grow these events in the future.”

Fox makes a return to the big one show

Carp, match and predator tackle giant Fox is to make a spectacular return to both The Big One shows in 2020, showcasing major new launches at Stoneleigh and Farnborough.

The first show, at Stoneleigh Park on Saturday, February 29 and Sunday, March 1, will see the company’s Matrix match brand come to the fore with poles, boxes and new accessories on display to the Midlands crowds.

On Saturday, March 21 and Sunday, March 22, Fox will head to The Big One Farnborough where it’s planning a huge stand for carp anglers and a space in the Lure Live Arena where it will show off Fox Rage and Salmo branded lure gear.

Visitors will also get the chance to meet their star anglers and get advice on tackle and tactics.

book your ticket

Tickets have already gone on sale for the two shows, with early-bird purchasers snapping up top money-saving offers. For the latest deals on tickets go to www.thebigoneshow.co.uk

Step too far for matchfishing?

One of Britain’s leading matchmen has defended commercial fisheries after 3,000lb of carp were banked between six competitors in a record-shattering contest.

Adam Richards led the weights at The Oaks in North Yorkshire with a phenomenal 583lb 5oz of carp. He was followed by five anglers who each took more than 400lb to the scales.

News of the huge catches have has led to claims that such weights are ‘catching not fishing’. However, North Yorks-based Adam was quick to defend the commercials that provide such sport.  

“The main comments I’ve seen seem to be about anglers having a lack of skill for catching these weights, which is really bizarre to me,” said the Browning-backed star and regular big-match finalist. 

“I’ve fished matches where I have caught 200-plus roach on a natural reservoir, 200-plus dace on a river and 200-plus carp on a commercial. 

“When you’ve fed your peg correctly and presented your bait right, they’ve all been easy to catch. You’re fishing for a large number of fish and creating lots of competition from feeding fish within your peg to get lots of bites. 

“The actual weight at the end is just relative to the size of the individual fish. Two hundred fish is 200 fish, regardless of the species. 

“I find it strange how 200 carp is seen as easy and only caught ‘hook-a-duck’ style, but 200 roach is seen as requiring a great deal of skill to catch.”

Oaks owner Tony Kay also countered allegations that such weights are detrimental to the wellbeing of the fish. 

“Ash, Sycamore and Beech lakes are exclusively match-fished and they’re only booked twice a week,” he said.

“By not allowing pleasure anglers on them the carp are getting caught far less often and in turn, they’re in fantastic condition.

“Like many other match venues there is also a net limit employed which each angler must comply with.  

“Anglers who don’t want to fish for carp are very well catered for at The Oaks as I have other pools where you can catch big bags of silverfish or F1s, specimen carp and mixed nets. 

“It’s important as a fishery owner to try and please as many people as possible.”

The Angling Times Facebook page received hundreds of comments from anglers voicing their opinions on the subject. 

What you said

Michael Box: “It’s not fishing, it’s just catching! On my local fishery, Twynersh in Chertsey, you have to work for every fish.”

Craig Hillier: “Some places are way over-stocked. It’s like shooting fish in a barrel. We want more natural fisheries with a good variety of species. Everything has gone carp mad!”

Nick Crooks: “There’s plenty of different venues to suit the style, method or weight of fish you wish to catch. If you don’t like it, just fish where it’s more to your liking. Nobody makes people go to them.”

Anthony Waters: “Commercials have secured a future for matchfishing – without them the match circuit would be pretty bleak.”

Mark Spink: “It would be good to see commercial venues have at least one lake that has no carp in it for matches.” 

What the experts said 

2019 Maver Match This winner Jamie Hughes: “The fishing isn’t as challenging as these waters are stocked with more fish than others, there’s more bait going in to feed them and they’re just lining up to be caught. It’s a question of who can bring them to the net the quickest. As long as there are measures to ensure the fish welfare is alright, then it’s okay.”

2019 Fish O’ Mania winner, Andy Bennett: “It’s not my cup of tea, but I get the appeal. Anglers can go and catch 200lb of carp and not win a penny in the match but they’ll still consider it a great days’ fishing. It must take some skill – I don’t think anyone could turn up and catch 500lb.”

Stafford Moor Match record holder, Steve Ford: “Venues that need 150lb to 200lb nets to win are just right, then every now and then you’ll get a 300lb or even 400lb net and have a red letter day. Regular 400lb-500lb nets are just hard work and lining up more than four keepnets is a joke really.”

are you up for the bluefin challenge?

Sea anglers on specially-chosen boats are to be given the chance to target huge bluefin tuna off the south-west coast of England.

The exciting news comes after the Angling Trust successfully lobbied for anglers’ skills and knowledge to contribute towards a major tagging programme run by THUNNUS UK – a collaborative research project between the University of Exeter and government body the Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science (Cefas).

Populations of bluefin tuna around our shores have grown significantly to the kind of numbers witnessed in the early 20th century as the species makes a comeback. 

Until the 1950s, fishing for Atlantic bluefin – then known as ‘tunny’ – was big sport in England, with fish to over 850lb landed off the Yorkshire coast. 

After decades of decline and over-fishing, gradually warming seas have led to the species’ return, and sea anglers targeting sharks off the coast of Cornwall, Wales and Ireland have caught increasing numbers of the legendary species over the past few years. 

THUNNUS UK began a tagging programme in 2018 and, under the latest development, paying anglers who have prior experience of fishing for large sea fish will be allowed to participate in the project for the remainder of 2019. 

A spokesman for THUNNUS UK said: “We are continuing the tagging programme to increase knowledge of the tuna’s seasonal migrations and behaviour. We are now broadening participation in the tagging programme to include recreational sea anglers as we seek to deploy up to 30 state-of-the-art electronic tags on Atlantic bluefin tuna this year.”

The news will be music to the ears of the country’s marine big game anglers, and officials at the Angling Trust believe it is a major step towards having a permanent bluefin tuna fishery established in the UK.

David Mitchell, marine environmental campaigns manager for the Trust, said: “We’re very happy to see that there is a limited opportunity for anglers to contribute to this tagging project to help establish the numbers of bluefin tuna, which are once again visiting our shores.

“After Brexit we have the chance to become an independent coastal state which means we can apply for a bigger quota from ICCAT, (International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas).

Homegrown barbel to help boost stocks on top river

Lea fishery manager grows on ‘predator proof’ barbel in his back garden!

The manager of one of the country’s most prolific river fisheries has introduced nearly 200 barbel into his local waterway after hand-rearing them in a purpose-built tank in his back garden for the last three years. 

Andrew Tredgett is the proud owner of Kings Weir Fishery in Hertfordshire and since 2016 he has been growing-on barbel fry in a bid to improve stocks of the species on the waterway.

This week 181 barbel between 8oz and 2lb were released into the Lea at Kings Weir by Andrew with the help of Environment Agency officials, and each has a much higher survival rate than smaller barbel fry.

Andrew said: “I’ve got mixed feelings really, but I’m ecstatic to finally get to the stage I was aiming for.

“I’ve been feeding these barbel by hand every other day for a long time so it’s sad to see them go, but bigger barbel have now been released into the fishery and they have a much better chance of surviving to help sustain and repopulate the current numbers in the river. 

“We first decided to do this as we felt that too many small babel were going into the rivers and weren’t surviving for very long due to factors such as predation.

“A lot of people said it would never work and that I should leave the Environment Agency to sort out fish stocks, but we have now proven them wrong.

“The growth rates of the fish we have reared have been very impressive, and the hope is that one day one of these fish can break the venue record or even the national record.”

Andrew’s hard work mirrors the Environment Agency’s annual ambition of helping to improve barbel stocks on many other rivers across the country. 

Predation and poor spawning grounds seem to be making the biggest impact on barbel survival rates on smaller rivers and other factors do come into play, although EA officials agree that the stocking of larger barbel could start to make a significant difference. 

Kye Jerrom, who is a Team Leader for Fisheries, Biodiversity and Geomorphology at the Environment Agency, said: “Over the last 10 years we have been helping to improve barbel stocks at locations on the River Ouse and Ivel, plus other venues that don’t necessarily have sustainable barbel populations.

“Earlier this year we introduced barbel well over 30cm in length and approaching 3lb – the largest barbel we’ve ever stocked.

“Our recent PhD studies have shown that barbel numbers are being impacted most heavily by poor spawning and poor fry survival, which in effect means the populations are struggling to support themselves.

“We are doing a lot of work to turn that around by improving spawning habitat, building fry refuge areas, creating fish passages and of course stocking.

“These bigger barbel have a much larger survival rate than the fry and they have also been dye-marked with a blue agent.

“We want to take advantage of anglers fishing for them to learn more about their growth, survival and spread.”