Vicious fighting grayling - Jack Perks
“As anglers we give grayling this whimsical tag the ‘Lady of the Stream’, but they’re more ‘Bruisers of the Brook’!
“In spring, the males will turn quite black and dark and they rut with each other like deer. They don’t have teeth, but they’re really violent – biting and slapping each other for the right to mate with the females. It’s really quite shocking to watch!
“This happens in spring, when anglers aren’t fishing for them, so most people won’t have seen it, but I’ve filmed it in the Peak District in Derbyshire and you’ll see this in all waters that contain grayling.”
Help fund new fish film
Jack is currently crowdfunding to produce a free film called Britain’s Hidden Fishes, narrated by Jeremy Wade. To help get this project off the ground, visit the website here.
Schoolboy bags brace of a lifetime!
DAY sessions don’t get much better than the one enjoyed by Kyle Brayne recently.
At just 13 years old, he became the envy of many a seasoned big-fish specialist when he braced a 7lb 10oz chub with a 17lb 14oz barbel.
After being stuck inside for weeks, Kyle had been itching to get out fishing, and he got his wish when his dad’s friend Robert Bown offered to take him to a local stretch of the middle River Trent a mile from home.
“The river is within walking distance of both our houses,” Robert told us,
“so Kyle and I spent the few days leading up to the session baiting a swim we fancied.
“When Wednesday arrived, we got to the bank for 9.30am, and it wasn’t long before we were into fish, the first being the huge chub. Kyle played it like a professional, and after a few minutes’ battle the fish was netted.
“Unsurprisingly it’s a personal best for him, and we ended up chatting for hours about his extraordinary catch.”
Kyle Brayne and his monster 7lb 10oz chub
The pair decided to pack up late in the afternoon, but just before they called time, the right-hand rod roared off again.
“This fish went on a series of big powerful runs, but Kyle again played it brilliantly, coaxing the fish out of a snag that it had kited into,” Rob revealed.
“We saw a huge barbel surface, and on the scales it registered 17lb 14oz – another big PB for Kyle!
“A little later I picked up my rod to reel in and head for home, and it almost tore off in my hand, with a smaller barbel being the culprit. It’s sod’s law that I landed the smallest fish, but it was Kyle’s day, so him landing the biggest was only right.
“We walked home wet and muddy but over the moon. What a day session!”
Kyle backed up the chub with this huge 17lb 14oz barbel
Big game bonanza!
ANGLERS should soon be able to legally fish for Atlantic bluefin tuna off UK shores, with a realistic chance of catching them for the first time in more than a generation.
In a development that seemed inconceivable only a decade ago, charter boat customers look certain to be allowed to participate in a thriving British big game fishery, the likes of which hasn’t been seen for the better part of 70 years.
The exciting news comes after the EU gave the UK 0.25 per cent – almost 50 tonnes – of its international bluefin quota as part of the Brexit Deal. Initially modelled on the Republic of Ireland’s successful scientific catch-and-release-tagging (CHART) tuna fishery run on registered charter boats, these British fisheries could grow in size and scale over coming years.
Anglers should soon be able to legally fish for Atlantic bluefin tuna off UK shores
“Over the past two years experts from the recreational angling sector and the scientific community have worked tirelessly alongside civil servants to thoroughly address all the issues required to establish sustainable, world-leading recreational live-release Atlantic bluefin fisheries in UK waters,”
explained Steve Murphy, the driving force behind Bluefin Tuna UK, a campaign launched in late 2018 which called for a recreational catch-and-release fishery supporting scientific research.
Wide support
Since that launch, numerous MPs have lent their support to the proposals, as have charter skippers from the Professional Boatman’s Association and the Angling Trades Association, along with a number of its members.
The Angling Trust has been hugely supportive of the campaign, offering expert advice and participating in the process from the start. Its Head of Sea Angling, David Mitchell, welcomed the willingness of government department Defra to work with angling in an exercise that should, all being well, conclude in a ‘UK CHART’ programme.
“We’ve made excellent progress in making the case for a science-led tagging programme to be run this year (2021).
“We’ll be keeping anglers informed as this consultation process continues – hopefully with news that charter boats will be taking anglers out fishing for tuna as part of important ongoing scientific research into the species,” said David.
Bluefin like this 300lb giant have been caught accidentally by charter skippers targeting sharks
Future quotas
In the short term, launching bluefin fisheries off the south west of England, Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland and Crown Dependencies Guernsey, Jersey and the Isle of Man would not require much of the international quota be set aside to run CHART-style catch, tag and release fisheries.
And when angling tourism starts bringing in much-needed money to hoteliers, restaurants, tackle shops, fishing charters and other small local businesses in our coastal communities, there should be scope to grow those fisheries further by securing more international quota in the future.
“While the current focus is on how this 0.25 per cent of quota might best be employed in 2021, Defra will undoubtedly be considering a longer-term strategy and policy for Atlantic bluefin tuna going forward,” explained Steve Murphy.
“If this programme does get the go-ahead then all of the data it gathers will be useful in informing future policy. Socio-economic studies looking at the most profitable uses of this finite resource are going to be essential. And transferring some of the cost of scientific research from the taxpayer to charter businesses catering for paying anglers makes sound financial sense.”
Individual fish average over 300lb
Kit for the job
One thing is certain, the usual rulebook on tackle and techniques will need to be torn up for anglers to be able to hook and bring these hard-fighting ocean predators to the side of the boat for safe release.
With individual fish averaging over 300lb – and occasional specimens approaching three times that – tuna fishing in UK waters will be as close to an extreme sport as angling can get. Whether any of these fish will equal the current largest bluefin ever caught in UK waters – an 852lb specimen landed by John Hedley Lewis fishing out of Scarborough in September 1949 – remains to be seen. But if eyewitness accounts are reliable, then numerous fish in that size range have been spotted feeding in UK waters over the past four years.
One recreational sea angler who has witnessed first-hand the growing number of bluefin off UK shores is former Angling Times journalist Greg Whitehead, who now lives in Guernsey.
He said:
“I’ve fished all over the world and I’ve never seen anything like the bluefin feeding around the Guernsey coast these past four years. The most I’ve seen at once was a school of around 2,000 fish blitzing a four-hectare ball of whitebait. Myself and other boat-owning friends have regularly sat among 1,000-plus feeding bluefin.
“All you can hear is the roar of white water. The air reeks of fish oil and giant tuna almost hit the boat in the frenzy. It’s an amazing sight!”
EA invests heavily in angling, after nearly a million rod licences sold!
A NEW Environment Agency report shows that a whopping £48 million has been invested into angling to help the sport to grow.
The figures come from the EA’s Annual Fisheries Report, which shows that it used the money generated from rod licence sales as well as Government grants to undertake a wealth of projects, including stocking of over half a million fish into our lakes and rivers, installing dozens of fish passes to help migratory species, and helping to protect fisheries from predation and otters.
A whopping £48 million has been invested into UK angling
Around £20 million of the total was raised by rod licence sales, of which 940,974 were sold in the year to March 31, 2020. This was supplemented by a further £28 million in partner contributions and additional Government funding.
Kevin Austin, Deputy Director for Fisheries at the EA, urged anglers to continue their support of the EA by purchasing a licence for the new season ahead:
“Income from licence sales is used to fund vital work to improve and protect our fisheries and fish.
“Income generated is invested directly back into the angling community, improving fish stocks, boosting opportunities for anglers as well as working with partners to make it easier for anyone to take up fishing.”
“Income from licence sales is used to fund vital work to improve and protect our fisheries and fish.”
With an estimated 100,000 people having taken up angling since lockdown began, the EA’s coffers are expected to swell further in the current financial year, and the Agency is planning an increase in spending on projects that benefit anglers and fisheries following the boom in licence sales. This includes further investment in fisheries improvement, events to boost participation, and added protection against predators.
Heidi Stone, the EA’s Fisheries Partnership Manager, is hopeful that fishing’s popularity will continue to soar.
“In 2020, we saw an exceptional increase in licence sales as people rediscovered fishing,” she said.
“We anticipate that fishing will continue to be popular after bringing such benefits to people’s mental and physical wellbeing.”
What the money was spent on
500,000 - Roach, dace, chub, barbel, tench, rudd, bream and grayling stocked
515km - Amount of river habitat improved, alongside 185 hectares of stillwater
58 - Fish passes installed
40,000 - People encouraged to try fishing for the first time, across 1,525 angling participation events
135 - Fisheries Improvement Programme projects to enhance facilities
2,000 - Collaborative projects, with partners including local angling clubs and river trusts
27 - Projects to protect fisheries from otters and cormorants
Angling's 7 Deadly Sins
The dividing line between success and failure on the bank can be incredibly small. To ensure your net is soaking wet rather than bone dry at the end of the session, here are some costly mistakes to avoid...
Being too noisy
If you want to keep the fish in your swim, the very first piece of the puzzle comes by keeping your bankside disturbance to an absolute minimum.
Heavy footsteps, hammering in banksticks and shouting to your mate down the bank will send the fish scurrying into the next postcode, never mind the next peg.
Keeping quiet, not casting too often (unnecessarily) and staying off the skyline will all dramatically boost your chances of catching.
And if you’re on a ‘social session’ with friends, don’t be the one tricked into having the lunchtime get-together in your swim – it could turn what’s usually a flyer into an absolute duffer!
Keep the noise down and try to be as stealthy as possible on the bank
Lazily picking the easy swims
Be honest, how many times have you fished the swims closest to the car park? Although these can occasionally be reliable areas, the chances are that the fish will be wary of them, as they are often the first spots taken by anglers.
Finding where the fish are holed up is the single biggest factor when it comes to success. After all, you can only catch what’s in front of you. With many venues under a lot of pressure these days, more often than not the fish won’t come to you, so you’ll have to go to them. Look for bubbles, swirls and tail patterns on the surface, showing fish, fins poking through the surface scum at the windward end of the lake, diving ducks coming back to the surface looking spooked – these will all massively boost your chances.
The fish often give us all the signs we need, we just have to spend time at the start spotting them… then acting on them.
The fish will often let you know where’s best to fish
Going too far
Casting is one of the most enjoyable aspects of angling. But we can all be guilty of getting a bit carried away occasionally and launching our rigs way out into the middle of the pond. The funny thing is, the majority of the time, especially as we move into the warmer months, the fish will be right under your feet. Always try to catch the fish as close to the bank as possible, because this makes the whole process of working a swim to its maximum potential much easier. If you start close and work your way out, you’ll capitalise on every possible bite. Also, if conditions change – say a strong wind picks up – you won’t suddenly be dropping short of your loosefeed. You can always give it the ‘biggun’ on the cast later in the session if you haven’t had any action.
Start close and work your way out
Piling in too much bait
With no shortage of videos or magazine articles showing anglers piling in the bait, it’s easy to think that when you turn up and deposit 10kg on to a spot, or ball in 20 balls of groundbait, the fish will come flocking from all corners and start feeding ravenously. However, 99 per cent of the time this simply isn’t the case. On short day trips you are far better off feeling your way into the session. A small pouchful of feed on each cast will slowly build the swim. This continual feeding activity will keep fish investigating the spot on a far more regular basis, and competing for feed, rather than picking slowly at the 10-course banquet on the bottom.
In most circumstances, little and often feeding is best
Using unbalanced tackle
We’ve all been there. Sometimes your kit simply isn’t up to the job. Whether it’s using a rod that is too stiff for your target species, or a line that snaps quicker than Gordon Ramsay’s patience, you need to balance your kit to the angling situation being faced.
Sometimes, you might think, ‘well if I fish heavier, I might land that accidental monster’, which of course is true, but you can guarantee it will be costing you countless bites from your desired species. Using balanced kit will not only boost your catch rate, it will make the experience way more enjoyable too. It’s far more satisfying to land a big roach on a finely balanced float set-up, with a light mainline, than to winch one in on a carp rod!
Balanced tackle makes fishing more enjoyable and you will catch more!
Cluttered boxes
Nothing’s more visually satisfying than a well organised tackle box, and believe it or not it’ll make you fish better as well. Having all your bits in one place will help you react to the tactical challenges being faced far quicker and easier.
There’s no fun to be had in scrambling around at the bottom of a mouldy bag looking for a feeder, disgorger or hook packet, only to be impaled by a discarded rig amid a bird’s nest of clutter from previous sessions. Keep your kit well ordered, and you’ll reap the rewards!
A messy tackle box can make fishing far more challenging
Lack of patience
In today’s ‘instant win’ society, patience is a dying art, but in angling it’s a core skill. Seeing a fish on the surface and crashing a bait straight on its head is often a shortcut to failure.
Steady feeding increases the fish’s confidence and the likelihood of it falling into your trap. This could take minutes or hours. The same applies to bites. We’ve all had the classic missed chub bite on the rivers, or the premature strike at a liner from carp in the margins on our local commercial. Learning when to hit bites and when to sit tight and let them develop comes with practice. Sometimes it’s best to sit on your hands until that bite is truly unmissable!
Sometimes it takes time to catch a fish
Watch out…. it’s the roaching rozzers! - Rob Hughes
No, I’m not talking about Her Majesty’s finest constabulary, but ‘the fishing fuzz’. You know the sort – the ‘experts’ that clearly know everything about everything, and love to jump on a social media post to criticise, whinge or, worse still, make a sweeping comment without actually ascertaining the facts first.
Generally, the captor of anything decent these days usually has his or her collar felt for some alleged misdemeanor or other – no landing mat in the shot, the picture taken from too far away, the wrong bait being used. You get the point.
One typically enthusiastic ‘roaching rozzer’ had a few things to say about my recent catch shot that came after an incredible day’s roach fishing.
One went so far as to suggest that the fish had been killed so that I could get a shot of them all on the mat. Have a word… or, better still… don’t. Perhaps if they went fishing a little more, they’d understand a little more.
Sometimes it’s better to keep quiet and let people think you’re a fool, rather than open your mouth and prove that you are!
Loads of posts are ‘copping for it’ at the moment. We all know the pike police are a pretty serious outfit, but the mat mafia, keepnet cops and carp police are on fire too! Maybe we should start a special Blue Light award for particularly impressive ‘collars’.
‘More time on the bank, less at the keyboard’ should be the sentence handed down to these offenders.
What is it with these keyboard cops who think they know it all?
How can we get more kids to fish matches?
Participation and recruitment are two key factors that will ensure a healthy future for angling and for match fishing that’s never been more important.
Faced with a barrage of technology and the world of the PlayStation, TikTok and YouTube, fishing is always going to struggle to grab the attention of teenagers. Even if they do pick up a rod, is there an incentive for them to enter the match scene?
So many times, we draw for a match and look around, seeing the youngest face at around 30 or 40 years of age. With that in mind, we asked four match aces how can we increase match participation...
How we can get youngsters to put down their PlayStations and start entering competitions?
Bring back club junior sections - Matt Godfrey
“Is the real problem the retention of youngsters? If I was to look at the very first Match Academy in 2016, it’d be interesting to see how many of them are still fishing matches. Admittedly, few will go on to become big ‘names’ and get to big finals – Rob Swan and Kristian Jones are two I can think of – but just as in senior match fishing, there’s a mixture of desires among the youngsters. Some want to be Andy Bennett, while some just want to get better and compete on their local open scene and I do reinforce on the academies and Talent Pathway that most of them are not going to get all the way to the top.
“The backing of parents is crucial in terms of transport and money, but I get tired of people who knock young lads and lasses, saying ‘well, they don’t have to pay for anything.’ This is the same in any sport. Having a parent who is interested but not pushy is a must. If a parent pushes them too much, then by the time that youngster is 17 and can drive and work, they don’t want to match fish.
“What we need more than anything is the re-establishment of club junior sections. That seems to have gone now and as a junior, if you want to fish a match, it’s an open or clubbie up against seniors. It’s then easy to become fed up when you’re not doing well.”
“What we need more than anything is the re-establishment of club junior sections”
Run kids matches - Grant Albutt
“I’ve worked with Steve Porter to develop junior matches at my fishery Moorlands Farm, and the response last summer was tremendous with 44 fishing, so it shows that the interest is there. However, I can’t do it all on my own and would urge other fisheries to do the same.
“Run a match for kids, try and secure some goodie bags and I’m positive it’ll be well-supported. That’s the reason Steve and myself did the matches – the area around Kidderminster had youngsters crying out for matches. Much of this success is down to the parents – without their support it wouldn’t happen.
“How we keep these youngsters interested in matches is the million-dollar question. It’s not about winning, that will come in time. There’s a lot of learning involved beforehand. If they catch fish, be it two or 50, they’ll come back, keep learning and see an improvement. That’s why junior matches on commercials as opposed to canals and rivers are a must.”
“The area around Kidderminster had youngsters crying out for matches”
Decent events - Josh Newman
“Schemes like the Guru Academy and Talent Pathway show that there are plenty of youngsters out there, but the big stumbling block is deciding which match route to go down.
“We see the likes of Andy Bennett and Jamie Hughes fishing only commercials and winning big events and that’s a powerful motivation. As a result, you end up becoming a little one dimensional in your fishing.
“Also, how many junior matches are there on commercials? Very few – to fish a match, you have to go in with the seniors, which is tough. Joining a club is a much better alternative, as you’ll find that they fish a range of venues.
“If you’re not achieving anything, then it’s easy to think ‘what’s the point?’ and jack fishing in. Having matches to fish aimed at your age group would be a big help.”
“Schemes like the Guru Academy and Talent Pathway show that there are plenty of youngsters out there”
Keep them catching lots of fish - Sarah Taylor
“We need taster days on places where juniors are going to catch fish. I’ve seen in the past people hosting days on places where the juniors are going to catch one or two fish a day. Kids are easily bored, so you need to keep them busy.
“Another thing is not to get them straight into carp. This is one reason why youngsters in match fishing are dying out – anyone entering the sport wants to immediately go for the biggest fish. I remember my dad starting me on a rod catching rudd, then slowly moving me up towards carp so I didn’t get obsessed with the biggest fish.
“We also need more junior events. When I was in the old Cadets part of the Junior National, there were more than 15 to 20 teams per category, but it seems to have dropped off. Also, we used to have the CADG (Cheshire Angling Development Group) and NJAA (National Junior Angling Association) leagues which were team events. Unfortunately, they folded, but they kept us fishing from the age of 10-12 – something which is missing a lot now.
“There’s also the issue of money with regards to gear, but that’s a wider issue. In short, companies should encourage juniors, or those in more financial need, by offering cheaper options in their tackle lines. That would help youngsters build a setup they could improve on when they take up fishing seriously.”
“Kids are easily bored, so you need to keep them busy”
Fishing safe at historic pike venue
A YORKSHIRE stillwater famous for producing a huge 46lb 11oz pike will continue to allow angling despite plans to add more watersports facilities to the site, developers have said.
The trout lake at Wykeham near Scarborough is part of the N Yorks Water Park complex, which has three fishable lakes. A wakeboarding course is soon to be installed on the neighbouring Water Park Lake, but spokesperson Elena Bunbury said:
“Fishing will still be a core part of the business.”
This huge pike was caught back in 2014 at 46lb 11oz from the venue
On the road to protect our rivers
AN AVID 82-year-old angler from Lancashire has walked nearly 300 miles with his dog to help raise funds to protect his local rivers.
Philip Lord is chairman of The Ribble Rivers Trust, a body created to protect and improve the Ribble and other local rivers. Based in Clitheroe, the organisation has incurred heavy costs during the pandemic, having had to expand its offices to make them Covid-safe, on top of its usual expenses.
With the Trust struggling, Philip took it upon himself to help by setting the target of raising £2,000.
“I go out every day on a five-mile circuit with my dog Freddie, but we’ve still got further to go until I reach my target,” he said.
With the Trust struggling, Philip took it upon himself to help by setting the target of raising £2,000
If you wish to support Philip, visit: www.gofundme.com/f/philip-lords-walking-challenge
Victory for anglers as plans for Severn dam changed
Controversial plans to build a huge dam on the River Severn appear to have been shelved, and anglers have been praised for their part in getting developers to seek alternatives.
Last year it emerged that a dam capable of holding 60 million cubic metres of water was being considered for construction at Shrewsbury, across which the new North West Relief Road would run. But, in a positive turn of events, a new blueprint now shows the road running over a viaduct, which doesn’t interfere with the flow of the river.
Ed Tate, joint chair of the Save Our Severn group, said:
“Anglers and clubs have been proactive since plans for the dam were revealed, sharing their experience and helping us to make developers aware of its impact on our area. They’ve helped us preserve the river not only for us, but for future generations.”
Among the lobbyists was Carl Humphreys of Prince Albert AC. He welcomes plans for a viaduct but is aware of future threats.
“This was just one battle,” he says.
“We expect developers to attempt to build a dam elsewhere. We’ll try to deflect anything they throw at us.”
Anglers continue fight to protect the fishing on the Severn
Elite Angling: A Sport or a Pastime? - Rob Hughes
A rather grand title for this subject and no, I’m not talking about anglers who have egos bigger than their own fishy tales.
I’m looking at the issue of elite sport and, more precisely, what constitutes it.
A while ago I became embroiled in an argument with the presenter on Radio 5 who asked me “How could something that you wear a woolly jumper for be classed as a sport?”.
He was trying to provoke a laugh, but the reality is that a sport has to contain a number of ingredients or elements in order to be classed thus, and to my mind angling has them all: organisation, physicality and competition.
The Oxford Dictionary defines a sport as “an activity involving physical exertion and skill in which an individual or a team competes against another or others”.
Angling ticks that box. Online, it’s a similar story if you use Dictionary.com, which defines sport as “an athletic activity requiring skill or physical prowess” and uses racing, tennis, golf, bowling and wrestling as examples.
Once again, we qualify. Any match angler out there will vouch for the competitive element of our sport.
Some may say that more people don’t compete than do, and I’d agree with that statement, but the same can be said for cycling, swimming, running and shooting…. and they’re always classed as sports!
So, my conclusion is this: if we’re a sport, then surely the best at our sport, especially those that are at professional or international level, must be classed as elite? It’s a no-brainer to me.
Can fishing be described as a sports the same as golf?
"Perch follow eels on hunt" - Jack Perks
Underwater cameraman and angler Jack Perks has witnessed Britain’s many fish species doing some amazing things. We asked him to shed light on some of these hidden behaviours…
Perch follow eels on hunt
“When I’ve observed good-sized eels going along the lake or riverbed, digging in rocks looking for crayfish or bullheads, they’ll often be flanked by larger perch of about 1lb or 1lb 8oz.
Eels unwittingly help big perch to find food
“As soon as the eel goes under a rock, it sends smaller fish up in the water for the perch to feed on.
“This is really interesting because it’s learned behaviour. We tend to think of fish as being stupid, but this is a form of anticipation on their part that shows intelligence.
“I’m not saying I’m the first to discover this, but I’ve not seen or read about it anywhere else.
“I first saw it on the River Test and then again two days later on the Hampshire Avon. I’d imagine that it happens wherever there’s a good eel population.”
Perch know eels will uncover food for them
Help fund new fish film
Jack is currently crowdfunding to produce a free film called Britain’s Hidden Fishes, narrated by Jeremy Wade. To help get this project off the ground, visit Britain’s Hidden Fishes.
Midlands electrofishing sparks debate over status of ‘non-native’ zander
Debate is raging once again over the status of zander after contractors were criticised for removing and killing the predators in a canal marina.
The Canal & River Trust (CRT) electrofished Diglis Marina on the Birmingham and Worcester Canal in Worcester, leading zander fans to question whether it would have any impact on established populations, whether it was a good use of CRT funds and whether other species caught during the operation were returned alive.
The ‘non-native’ zander are being removed from canals in the Midlands
‘Futile’ culls
“It’s an exercise in futility,” said predator angler John Glover, who believes electrofishing actually boosts zander numbers because it tends to remove larger fish, leaving younger ones to thrive. He said waters which aren’t electrofished balance themselves out, leaving silverfish populations to remain naturally consistent.
Mr Glover, of Tusses Lure Division Angling Club, criticised the sporadic electrofishing of CRT waters as a money-making exercise for contractors. He said:
“It’s counter-productive and it’s not efficient. All it generates is more zander, and these small zander go on the rampage, which is what annoys the match anglers.”
Healthy canals
On stretches of canal run by Tusses Lure Division, where the CRT does not routinely remove zander, Mr Glover said the all-round fishing had never been better. Moreover, he added, a zander-fuelled boom in lure angling was bringing money to the local angling economy.
“The canals are the best I’ve ever known them for coarse fishing,” he said.
“I love roach fishing and I reckon it’s currently the best it’s ever been.
“We’re trying to encourage more matches on our stretches and I think match anglers would be pleasantly surprised. I’ve had 2lb roach out of the Oxford Canal and, in the same spot where we’ve caught half-a-dozen zander in a day, a friend and I have each had 100lb bags of bream in the summer!”
John Ellis, the CRT’s fisheries manager, defended the Worcester cull but said he was happy to have a debate about the way canal zander are treated. He said the fundamental issue was legislation, including the Wildlife and Countryside Act, which makes it illegal to stock or return zander to the water.
“If people want to change the law they should lobby the Environment Agency and Government,” he said.
“Shouting at the CRT is a bit like lobbying the police to change the law on speeding – Parliament changes the laws, not those who enforce them.”
Mr Ellis said fully enclosed stillwaters could legally hold zander and that the CRT would happily donate all its canal-netted zander to such venues for free, but very few waters meet the criteria or have applied for a licence. He said none of the 72 reservoirs under the CRT’s control was classed as fully enclosed.
Electrofishing is used by the CRT to remove zander from canals
Duty under the law
He added that the approach to non-native species had to be consistent, and that anglers couldn’t pick and choose preferred species to remain.
“We can be prosecuted if we allow zander to enter other waters,” he said.
“There’s case law involving the plant Japanese knotweed, where Network Rail was sued when it started growing in people’s gardens.”
Asked whether removing zander had any real impact on their numbers, he said work focused on stopping populations taking hold in previously uncolonised waters and had successfully eradicated zander on stretches of the Trent and Mersey and Sankey (St Helens) Canals. He said:
“Electrofishing catches fish as small as 10cm-15cm, so we’re reducing zander numbers and overall weight. Its overall effectiveness depends on how efficient and regular you are.
“I agree there’s not enough science on this subject, nor the money to undertake the research. The industry collectively needs to sit around a table and work out a future.”
“We can be prosecuted if we allow zander to enter other waters”
Other concerns
Mr Ellis said about 100lb of roach and bream were caught during the cull at Diglis Marina, which cannot be fished, and were taken to a nearby Droitwich Spa AC stretch. Asked why MEM Fisheries, which he founded, was given the electrofishing contract, Mr Ellis said he left the business in 1997 and that an eight-strong procurement panel sat for all CRT tender jobs.
He said most of the CRT’s 250 tenant angling clubs support zander control, but stated he was in favour of a ‘Midlands canal zander zone’ which the trust proposed to the EA in 2015. No decision has yet been reached.
“I wish it was easy to legally create zander fisheries, because I think that’s ultimately the solution,” said Mr Ellis.
“That could include a small Midlands canal zone if people could sign up to reasonable compromises – including zander anglers, the EA, CRT, Natural England and wildlife trusts.”
Speaking as a non-executive director of the Angling Trust, Mr Ellis added:
“I’m sure it’ll come up at future meetings.”
Is the all-round matchman gone forever?
Match angling has never been more specialised than it is now. From the days of having to be a jack of all trades, you can now focus on one type of angling and find plenty of events to take part in, whether that’s on a canal or commercial using a feeder rod or pole.
That’s not a bad thing, as it cuts down on the kit needed and allows you to focus on your chosen discipline and become very successful at it. The negative is that the all-round match angler, the sort that can win fishing for carp shallow one day and then use the feeder for bream on a tidal river the next, is dwindling.
We asked four top names in match angling: is the all-round match angler becoming a thing of the past?
Is the all-round match angler becoming a thing of the past?
“They aren’t needed” - Tommy Pickering
“There are two types of match angler – the silverfish river angler and the commercial angler. We’ve definitely seen the decline of the all-rounder and the rise of the specialist, people who have learned that they can’t compete on that venue or that venue, so I’ll stick to this venue. They fish a style at a fishery that they enjoy, understand and can do well on, and now there’s so much choice in terms of matches to fish that who can blame them?
“The actual true all-rounder who can do anything anywhere are few, and those who are about tend to be team anglers, who need all of the skills to tackle a range of waters. What we’re seeing now, certainly in my area in Yorkshire, is a development of specific ‘scenes’ based around types of fishery. The Mirfield AC club runs opens on the River Calder and Aire & Calder Canal and gets 70-odd on them, and then there’s Southfield Reservoirs, bream fishing on the feeder, where you can’t get a ticket for an open! That’s before we even get to the commercial fisheries. The all-rounder is still out there, but the reality is, you don’t need to turn your hand to everything any more.”
“The all-rounder is still out there, but the reality is, you don’t need to turn your hand to everything any more.”
”It’s all about the money” - Dave Roberts
“I’ve had success on commercials and rivers at a high level, but certainly I do feel that what I do is a bit different. On my local River Wye match circuit, the crossover of anglers who do both is minimal and I think a lot of this is to do with prize money. Even in river fishing, there are more and more events offering £4,000 here or £6,000 there, which is enough of a carrot dangling to mean you don’t have to bother fishing commercials or canals to try and win a good few quid.
“That’s why the number of all-round match anglers is quite low.
“That’s not to say that many of the people I fish against couldn’t compete on a range of venues. Too many people see the young lads who fish F1-dominated venues and say: ‘I’d like to see them catch on my river’. They’re brilliant anglers and they would empty the place, but they don’t need to because there’s enough to keep them happy doing what they’re most comfortable with.
“Why make the effort to slog a mountain of kit across muddy fields on the river when they can fish almost out of the back of the car on a commercial? I don’t mind the muddy walks, but I can understand why so many are turned off by rivers.”
“Why make the effort to slog a mountain of kit across muddy fields on the river when they can fish almost out of the back of the car on a commercial?”
“It’s too tricky” - Steve Hemingray
“If you are not a professional angler, then it’s hard to do everything. Only a select few can do this and, even for me, work and family come before fishing, so I can’t fish every event that I want to!
“You have to pick the type of matches that suit you, which in my case are based around natural waters. For other people that will be commercial carping.
“The problem with fishing the Thames one day and Larford Lakes the next is the changing over of kit, baits and practice time, especially if you’re fishing venues you’re not familiar with.
“It’d be great to have a crack at the lot, but you have to be realistic and fish to your strengths. There are still some great all-round anglers out there, but they will always struggle to compete against the people who have picked one type of fishing and stuck with it.”
“If you are not a professional angler, then it’s hard to do everything.”
“They’re back!” - Darren Cox
“The all-rounder was a dying breed, but they’ve had a renaissance in recent years owing to the increase in events to fish.
“Take a feeder angler on commercials – they can now fish things like FeederMasters knowing they have the skills to compete and it’s the same with floats. If you can catch roach on the waggler on a river, then you can catch carp on it on a commercial. The only difference is heavier tackle!
“Having an all-round skill set makes you a better angler and many of the people we see as the best started their match fishing doing very different things – William Raison, Andy Bennett and Steve Ringer are a few that spring to mind. They began on rivers and canals and still have those skills learned on natural waters. You never forget them.
“It’s still very difficult to flit between the types of fishing and be successful at it but, if you have experience under your belt, I think you can compete. Years ago, we used to have a National Superleague with rounds on rivers, natural lakes and big canals and that demanded that you had the skills to do the lot. That type of event has gone now, hence why people see so many successful anglers as ‘one trick ponies’, when the truth is that they’re actually not. Perhaps we need more of this type of event?”
“The all-rounder was a dying breed, but they’ve had a renaissance in recent years owing to the increase in events to fish.”
“Stop the snobbery over our record lists” - Des Taylor
Angling’s never been the most organised of sports, and even after 50 years of doing it there are still things about it that really confuse me.
Take our rod-caught record list. On it we have pumpkinseed, golden orfe, brown goldfish and bitterling. All these are from overseas and about as non-native as you can get, but new records for these species can still be accepted. Yet Wels catfish and grass carp, which have been here at least as long and in some cases far longer, are treated very differently. The records for both are frozen, and no further record claims will be accepted. Does that make sense?
I love fishing for catfish – they’re great sport
I know lots of serious anglers who spend thousands of hours trying to catch catfish and grass carp and have landed numerous fish over the frozen record – and yet neither the fish nor their captors get any recognition. I don’t know anyone who intentionally fishes for pumpkinseed and the other foreign imports. I suspect that any future record contenders will have been caught accidentally, yet these captures will be officially recognised.
There’s only a handful of anglers – me included! – who seriously fish for golden orfe, and yet these are also active on the record list. To add to the stupidity, that list includes zander, so why are the EA and many angling clubs still trying to eradicate the species from their waters? You couldn’t make it up.
I love fishing for cats. They’re a great sporting fish, and even though I know some have been stocked at huge weights I know of others of 100lb or more that have grown on from doubles.
Let’s draw a line under what’s happened in the past. These fish are here to stay, so let’s accept their presence and their right to a place on the record lists.
Exactly the same can be said of grass carp. Grassies are beautiful fish, and the big ones some of us are targeting in this country should get due recognition.
And while I’m at it, why zander are still being removed from some waters I have no idea. You only need to look at the Lower Severn at Upton to see that a healthy head of big zeds can live in harmony with the silverfish. Anyway, many specimen predator anglers in this country now rate a big zander as highly as a big pike, and rightly so.
This 18lb 11oz zander from the River Severn is as much a prize as a big pike
I think we should just revert to the original rules governing any record fish, which are that it has to be caught by fair means on rod and line. For me that’s it. Whether it’s been living in a wild water and never been fished for, or stocked the day before capture, it still has to be caught!
There’ll always be the knockers who try to devalue record fish. We need to be very careful we don’t allow the coarse fishing record list to become the same as that of the game world, where we have ‘wild’, ‘natural’ and even ‘cultivated’ records, and where many records, for whatever reason, have been frozen out until further notice.
Too many fish are being caught at the moment that are being lost to angling history, and that’s not good at all.
This 21lb 2oz trout was taken the day after it had been stocked, but I still had to catch it
Call for Natural Resources Wales to take Wye pollution seriously
A WELSH Government body has been accused of downplaying pollution being caused by poultry farms along the River Wye. Reports suggest that 60 per cent of the waterway fails environmental targets for phosphates, and there’s strong evidence to suggest that the high number of poultry farms along the valley are a root cause.
However, in its recently published planning advice to councils within the Wye catchment, Natural Resources Wales downplayed the impact of the farms, stating instead that ‘phosphate is naturally occurring’ and that ‘bank erosion’ and ‘sewerage’ are possible sources.
Nick Mesham, CEO of Salmon & Trout Conservation, has labelled the advice heavily flawed and called for tighter restrictions on poultry farms.
“NRW has a responsibility to protect the River Wye. That responsibility cannot just be set aside or watered down in order to allow the poultry industry to expand” he said.
Reports suggest that 60 per cent of the Wye fails environmental targets for phosphates
How will climate change affect our fisheries?
AS WINTER bites it can be difficult to believe that global warming is a real phenomenon. Yet whether or not you believe it’s caused by human activity, the climate is changing and this will affect our fisheries for centuries to come.
The Earth’s climate has always been in a state of flux, with periods when the planet was hotter than it is now and other times when it was significantly cooler. The last Ice Age, for example, which covered most of the UK in an ice sheet hundreds of metres thick, ended just 12,000 years ago – a mere blink in geological terms. Whatever the reasons, we’re now seeing the planet warm up and, with the complex weather patterns we see in the UK, this is already having an effect on our climate. The weather affecting the UK is becoming more extreme and less consistent.
The only certainty is that long-term global warming, climate change and disruptive weather will have consequences both good and bad
Which species will thrive?
Warmer summers and mild winters are good news for many UK species of coarse fish, many of which are close to the northern limit of their range. Species such as carp, tench and bream aren’t native to Scotland and the Borders, but are increasingly stocked in fisheries here and do well. Successful recruitment of small fish into the next generation is likely to be limited, though, particularly because of lower-than-required sustained temperatures in summer.
Higher summer temperatures and longer summers could well see recruitment improving for these species, particularly further north.
Bream may actually benefit from a longer spawning season
It’s not all good news, though, especially for some of our rare native species that require much cooler conditions. The once abundant burbot disappeared from our rivers after the last Ice Age, because it requires low temperatures to survive. Powan, a rare whitefish found in just a few glacial lakes in the UK, are also under increasing threat from rising temperatures and pollution. Grayling are perhaps another species that could see their range diminished as some rivers become too warm for them to tolerate.
Grayling are at risk from rising temperatures
Records may be broken
Will rising temperatures see our coarse fish records broken as fish will be able to grow faster? Once again, what benefits one species may limit another. Longer summers and mild winters can, other factors being equal, mean that fish can grow faster and for longer. Food must be plentiful, though, and oxygen levels must remain high for fish to feed.
Over the last few decades we’ve seen tench, carp and barbel records shoot up to weights previously thought unobtainable in the UK. Interestingly, the sizes reached by these species are now approaching those seen some years ago in mainland Europe.
The average size of specimens of all three species has also increased massively and across the whole country, which suggests that this is not just a localised phenomenon. While the carp record could be expected to increase as more fish of better strains have been stocked, the other two species are perhaps more intriguing. While many different reasons for this size increase have been postulated, only changes to the climate can explain why this has happened in so many, such diverse, venues.
Other species have seen no increase in their maximum size and specimens have, if anything, become more rare.
Pike and roach are good examples of species that appear to have been ‘left behind’. Both species are not close to their northern extremity in the UK, and so the climate here is probably already close to the optimum.
The records for these species are also similar to ours in many other European countries, suggesting that they derive no benefit from climate change.
UK perch are approaching the size of those found in Europe
The results of flooding
An increase in the frequency of extreme weather is predicted to be another consequence of climate change for the British Isles, and this could have a big impact on our fisheries. Heavy rainfall, leading to flash floods, has affected many parts of the country in recent years and can have a major effect on river fisheries and adjacent stillwaters.
Floods can wash away the young-of-the-year fish, in particular, and this can lead to the loss of potentially good year classes. With the populations of many river species, such as chub, often being dominated by just a couple of year classes, it is obvious that a badly-timed flood can have a serious impact on the fishery for perhaps several decades.
Increasing volumes of water also mean that there is rightly an increased emphasis on flood management to prevent flooding in the first place. While this is essential, engineering work and removing cover from rivers to increase their water capacity can destroy important habitats for fish and other animals and plants. Even if floods themselves do not damage our river fisheries, the management of flood risk may have a knock-on effect.
Whether you believe in human-made climate change or not, there are always winners and losers when the weather changes.
Predicting what these changes will be is, at best, an inexact science thanks to the complex interwoven connection between fish and their environment.
Heavy rainfall, leading to flash floods, has affected many parts of the country in recent years
Fishing prescribed on the NHS!
Angling is set to be prescribed by doctors on the NHS to help combat mental health problems.
Fishing will be prescribed to combat mental health problems
This significant endorsement of the sport’s life-changing qualities will begin with a trial scheme in the South West.
Under the pilot, which will begin referring patients this summer, GPs at seven surgeries in the Somer Valley, Somerset, will prescribe fishing to those with conditions such as depression and anxiety. Angling is one outdoor activity seen as part of the ‘green prescribing’ solution, which links countryside pursuits with restorative effects.
At least one large local angling club has agreed to provide access to fishing kit and venues for the scheme, Angling Times understands, although more are expected to follow suit as it gathers momentum.
People will be able to be prescribed angling by their GP as one of a number of activities to improve mental health
Angling’s advantage
Dom Garnett, who has been part of the planning process with the Angling Trust, told us:
“People will be able to be prescribed angling by their GP as one of a number of activities to improve mental health.
“Our sport has an advantage over some of the other activities labelled as ‘green space’ or ‘blue space’ therapy because it can be sociable or, for those with anxiety when around groups, it can be a solitary pursuit.
“If we get some good case studies from this pilot then we can get the message out there that angling is really good for you. I see no reason why this can’t go nationwide, which would be brilliant for angling.”
“I see no reason why this can’t go nationwide, which would be brilliant for angling”
The scheme’s backers
The trial in Somerset is backed by a partnership between Natural England, Wessex Water, the University of Bath, Bath and North East Somerset Council and the local NHS. It has been funded by Wessex Water, Defra and Natural England and is expected to run for three years, but may be extended to five if funding can be secured.
Wessex Water has backed the scheme because it’s keen to reduce the use of anti-depressants in the Somer Valley. These find their way into the sewage system and are costly to remove. The utility company has said that it will monitor water quality during the scheme and the University of Bath will track the project’s effectiveness by surveying GPs. Water companies elsewhere are also likely to monitor the impact of the trial with a view to duplicating it.
The trial is expected to run for three years
Fishing as a force for good
Organisations such as iCARP have demonstrated angling’s ability to help servicemen and women suffering from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and other mental health issues, but this NHS-backed scheme adds further endorsement and boosts the sport’s flourishing public image. When lobbying for a safe return to the banks after last year’s initial lockdown, the Angling Trust’s When We Fish Again proposal quoted Dr Paul Stolk as saying:
“It is evident that participation in angling can have a positive effect on personal health and wellbeing, most notably as a means by which an individual can escape or recover from stress, trouble or illness.”
Dom Garnett added:
“We know the therapeutic value of angling and more case studies will only help us grow and reach more people. This will help take it from the anecdotal to the real world, proving it works. It’s great for mental health generally, with fewer people needing expensive therapy and popping pills.”
“We know the therapeutic value of angling”
A step in the right direction
Commenting on the scope of the pilot scheme, Dom said:
“It’s not a silver bullet – it won’t be for people with really serious mental health issues and it’s not going to be perhaps the only answer or definitive answer, but it could help a lot of people.
“There will be a lot of people who haven’t processed what they’re going through and will still carry the scars and anxiety of lockdown once we emerge from it, and I believe fishing could be of huge benefit.
“Angling is more visible than ever. Wouldn’t it be fantastic if it was seen as part of the solution as we return to normality?”
Jane Wright, a senior adviser at Natural England said:
“I’m pleased to be overseeing this fantastic project, working with partners to embed the use of green prescribing to improve mental health and wellbeing.
“This year has shown how essential nature is to our wellbeing. Angling offers a great opportunity for people to connect with nature and enjoy a sport that’s healthy and fun. The health and wellbeing benefits of fishing are well-known and we hope to see a positive impact on the community and those who need additional support.”
Angling offers a great opportunity for people to connect with nature and enjoy a sport that’s healthy and fun
Birdwatchers and otter lovers spring to defence of Kent’s anglers in gravel pits drama
BIRDWATCHERS and otter lovers have sprung to angling’s defence in a bid to save fishing at four historic gravel pits.
Bradbourne Lakes has been fished since 1948, but Kent Wildlife Trust (KWT) has told Bromley & District Angling Society (BDAS) to move on from next month, as it plans to redevelop the site.
Bradbourne Lakes has been fished since 1948
The lakes, on the Sevenoaks Wildlife Reserve, hold 40lb-plus carp, specimen tench, bream and pike, but BDAS has been told that angling will end on March 15, even though it has an agreement until 2024.
This has prompted the Angling Trust’s Fish Legal team to intervene. It says the planned termination of BDAS’s licence is “not effective” and that the club “would welcome a constructive discussion” on the site’s future.
BDAS secretary Dennis Puttock said:
“Our members are appalled by the treatment they have received from KWT. Its misguided anti-angling agenda is a slap in the face to our volunteers and to all the local families who value this peaceful oasis.”
Support for the club’s plight gathered momentum last week, with backing even coming from several communities deemed to be at loggerheads with angling.
Dave Webb, of the UK Wild Otter Trust, said his organisation was
“dismayed to hear fishing at this historic club lake was to be ended”,
adding:
“We totally rebut the idea that angling, otters, beavers and other wildlife are unable to co-exist.”
James Wallace, of the Beaver Trust, said:
“Angling, beavers and nature restoration are compatible. We hope that the Sevenoaks Wildlife Reserve will find a compromise where different activities, including angling, can be accommodated.”
Chris Couch, from Sevenoaks Birdwatchers Action Group, added:
“Do the new heads of KWT not know that fishermen, birdwatchers and wildlife go hand-in-hand?”
KWT spokesperson Fiona White told Angling Times:
“Ahead of the public consultation, we felt it was right to communicate our intentions to BDAS first as a key stakeholder. We had hoped BDAS would contact us directly after our initial conversation, in which we offered further support and discussion if desired, but we are yet to hear from them.”
The Duke of Edinburgh was a former visitor to the site now proposed to be off limits to anglers
Cod stocks at critical level
CATCH and release regulations could be introduced to help protect stocks of cod around our shores, a new report has revealed.
The UK fisheries audit released last week by conservation organisation Oceana claimed half a dozen species are in a critical state due to overfishing, with herring, crab, and whiting also amongst the stocks deemed to be at a critical level due to overfishing.
An Oceana spokesperson told us:
“The UK is currently negotiating catch limits with the EU and Norway. Usually, a specific recreational catch quota is allowed, as happened with seabass and European eels, but as this is the first time such negotiations are happening since Brexit, we’re not sure of the outcome. If the UK allocates a zero-catch limit on cod, it could apply to recreational anglers too, which could result in catch-and-release fishing only.”
Catch and release regulations could be introduced to help protect stocks of cod around our shores