The positives for fishing in Lockdown Three

The break from the bank doesn't have to be all negative. As we witnessed in the first lockdown, it could bring many benefits to fishing as a sport…

Club boom

Mirfield AC in Yorkshire used the first lockdown to create 25 platforms on a stretch of canal.

“You wouldn’t believe how many club books we sold off the back of just doing that,” said club president Martyn Highe.
“We’re going to use this lockdown to create 50 platforms on the River Calder and permanently peg a new stretch of canal we’ve acquired at Knottingley.”

Day-ticket improvements

Tony Bridgefoot, owner of Bluebell Lakes, said:

“I’ve been in this position several times before with flooding and I always try to take the positives from a negative situation. This lockdown will give us time to create permanent stock fencing so we don’t lose any fish to floods, and create better drainage to control the flow of water. It’ll also give me time to think about how I implement restrictions on angler numbers across the site, because last spring we had every swim occupied 24/7 and I don’t think it helped the stock or the natural surroundings.”

Bluebell will be using the time to build stock fencing and plan management of returning anglers

Trade catch-up

Fishing surged in 2020, leaving some manufacturers and shops unable to keep up with demand. This hiatus could see a welcome replenishment of stock.

The Angling Trust’s Martin Salter said:

“If we are going to have a lockdown it’s probably the best time of year for it. My contacts in the trade aren’t anywhere near as distressed as they were last spring.”

This lockdown could well have come at the best time of year for tackle shops