Fundraising campaign launched for 'Blue Planet style' film on British fish
Anglers are being asked to chip in to help a one-hour film showcasing the secret lives of Britain’s fish – narrated by Jeremy Wade – go into production.
Acclaimed underwater cameraman and angler Jack Perks is behind Britain’s Hidden Fishes, but the not-for-profit venture needs £30,000 to come to fruition.
We spoke to Jack ahead of the launch of his crowdfunding drive.
Acclaimed underwater cameraman and angler Jack Perks is behind the project
What’s this all about?
Britain’s fish are often overlooked and under-appreciated, and it’s about time we put them in the spotlight. We have many amazing wildlife spectacles unfolding beneath the water and this film aims to showcase hidden and untold stories about British fish.
This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to get a cinematic-looking film made on some of the most incredible creatures we have, everything from tiny sticklebacks right up to behemoth basking sharks.
How much will it cost?
I’m aiming for £30,000, which sounds like a lot, but when you think about the millions it takes to produce some wildlife programmes it’s a drop in the sea. It’s the lowest amount I know I can do it for and it’s all or nothing – if we don’t hit the target we won’t be able to make it.
Is this a solo project?
I’m overseeing it and will do some of the filming, but we’ve got a whole team who will be paid for their work.
I’ve got a drone pilot who’s interested in wildlife, a composer to create new music, and one of the cameramen from the BBC Wildlife series Dynasties, Lindsay McCrae, has an interest in Scottish salmon and has agreed to be involved. And we’ve got Jeremy Wade on board as narrator.
Britain’s fish are often overlooked and under-appreciated
That’s quite a coup. How did that come about?
I knew Jeremy and had fished with him, through our mutual friend Dr Mark Everard. Jeremy is very good at what he does and he lends the project some extra weight and credibility. He’s known for travelling all over the world, but he’s also a biologist who loves fishing closer to home.
Why not get a TV company to fund the project?
I’ve tried banging on various TV company doors to tell these stories but they don’t want to listen, so as the old adage goes, if you want something doing properly you have to do it yourself.
It it a struggle to sell fish to a wider audience?
TV companies have got better, but it’s always going to be a badger or some kind of bird that wins out. And you have to remember that fish are hard – they’re not easy to film! It’s not like you can look out of your back door and see them. But I want to prove to people that they’re not brown, slimy and boring – they are fascinating.
“If you want something doing properly you have to do it yourself”
Are you inspired by previous fishing productions, and will you emulate them?
A Passion for Angling is the best angling show ever and I’m definitely trying to get that feel, just without the anglers! It’ll be full of really good cinematography with misty sunrises and frosty mornings – a feast for the eyes is what I’m aiming for.
What fish will you be looking to film?
There will be a big variety of freshwater and sea fish, including brown trout, because you find them everywhere, and things like barbel spawning. I’d also love to film tuna off Cornwall, plus sharks and much smaller species.
How long will filming take?
If we reach our goal it’ll begin straight away because spring is when everything kicks off underwater. I’m aiming for two years’ filming, so I’ve got two chances at recording each behaviour and we’ll be filming all year round.
There will be a big variety of freshwater and sea fish
Might we see things we don’t expect?
There’s lots of stuff that has never been filmed properly before, like perch and roach spawning. No-one has ever filmed that, which is incredible. It’s like someone saying ‘I’ve never seen a robin’s nest’.
There are other things like perch and eels co-operating when hunting. Perch know that eels will go along the bottom looking for prey and will send smaller fish shooting up into the water, so they swim above the eels, knowing they can get an easy meal.
There are also mullet in Lewes, where thousands gather in a little carrier stream before spawning. It’s like a spa – they arrive covered in fungus and spend time in the stream cleaning themselves off before spawning. I’m also keen to hear from anglers if they spot anything unusual.
Where will the film be shown?
At the moment it’s planned that this will go online so everyone can see it, so it’ll be on YouTube. I would love to have a premiere, though, even if it’s just online.
If there’s interest then it could be sold to TV, but it is non-profit so I’d either have to give it away for nothing or charge and then donate the money to a charity, probably a fish charity.
Find out more and how YOU can help here.
Let's hope common sense prevails on Brexit bait issue - Rob Hughes
Going to France for an annual carp fishing pilgrimage is something many big fish anglers have enjoyed in the past. Match and predator fishing fans have done likewise to places like Holland, Denmark and Spain, but sadly these jaunts are currently little more than distant memories. This isn’t just because of the dreaded Covid, but now also the new import and export regulations that are in place. Yep, Brexit has bitten back.
There was a story on the news that, while almost laughable, has deeper connotations. A British truck driver was stopped going into Holland and had his ham sandwich confiscated. This is because cereal and meat-based products are not allowed to be taken into Europe without paperwork.
While you may not be too concerned about your packed lunch, you’ll be more concerned about your boilies, groundbaits and maggots, as they’re on the banned list too! Then there’s the food we take – simple, innocuous things such the milk for cups of tea – and all manner of other things that we have taken for granted whenever we cross a border.
The fear is that Europe will want to make an example of the UK, or try to prove a point, and that may well make life difficult for years to come.
Let’s hope that common sense prevails, and when we do actually get to travel freely again – whether that’s this year or next – we won’t be met with the type of frosty reception the truck driver was forced to endure.
Thinking of taking boilies in to Europe? Think again!
Have we created the most cautious generation of pike ever? - Dom Garnett
I’m not going to lie to you, recent fishing has been a grind. My results wouldn’t flatter Sheffield United right now, especially when it comes to trying to catch a better pike or two.
It would be nice to think that after 30-odd (sometimes very odd) years of pike angling, these fish would be a formality. But no, they seem as moody as I’ve ever found them.
Pike seem as moody as I’ve ever found them
Have I got worse as an angler? Probably not. What I lack in free time, I ought to make up for in experience. But the one massive culture shift since I first started casting plugs and spinners in anger is the huge increase in fishing pressure. When I was growing up in the 1980s, it was a genuine novelty to see a pike angler. Devotees of the species were seen not so much as specialists as ‘a bit special’.
The far better tackle and greater respect for pike we have decades later should be welcomed. However, the massive increase in angler numbers has taught us that pike are not as daft as we thought.
Have we created the most cautious generation of pike ever? From fish that have a phobia of lures, to ridiculously gentle takes on bait, this would seem to be the case. If anything, it probably helps protect them against poaching – not that it’s much consolation when you’re sat by a canal contemplating a third blank on the trot!
Maybe you could argue that picky fish force us to be better anglers. Fly fishing has been a revelation on waters peppered with lures, while groundbaiting, popped-up baits and even night fishing have also helped me avoid blanks.
The real magic bullet, however, is to find venues and spots that haven’t been relentlessly fished. Easier said than done when the options are limited by Covid rules, or you live in an area with quite underwhelming pike fishing.
My results speak for themselves in terms of sheer desperation! Perhaps three-quarters of my pike have been caught on a fly rod after increasingly long walks from popular swims. Meanwhile, it’s also telling that I’ve really struggled on standard deadbaits. Or, at least, the only times I still seem to catch much are when the weather is horrendous or I stay on the bank into darkness!
Another cold day on the canal, where I have failed spectacularly so far
One thing you can say about pike is that on any venue with deep margins they will still feed close to the bank if you can only find ‘bite o’clock’. Just don’t expect them to feed at sociable hours or send line spilling of the reel like a runaway train.
The incredibly feeble bite my last double gave is symptomatic of this new school of pike fishing – to succeed, you need to cast away your assumptions, walk further and fish smarter than ever before.
Bait 'exports' in jeopardy after Brexit
ANGLERS planning a fishing trip to a European country may be prohibited from taking their own bait under new EU-UK trade agreement guidelines.
Under the legislation, which came into force at the start of last month, popular baits derived from animal products, such as boilies, pellets and groundbaits, will require a European Health Certificate (EHC) before they can be moved between EU states.
At present, the EHC for exporting fishing bait falls into the same category as animal feed, which requires expensive testing and certification from a vet to attain. In response to the legislation, the Angling Trust has joined forces with manufacturers Dynamite Baits and Mainline to quiz the European Commission for clarification.
Mark Owen, the Trust’s Head of Freshwater, said:
“The current position will undoubtedly impact anglers purchasing bait in England to go fishing in Europe once Covid travel restrictions are lifted, as they would need to produce an EHC if challenged.
“We have retained active engagement with the EU Commission through our membership of the European Anglers Alliance and are pressing them to facilitate a change of EHC classification.”
Boilies will be one of the baits impacted under the restrictions
Why big river roach are back! - How all rivers can benefit from a redfin restoration
THE recent capture of the season’s biggest roach by Simon Daley has highlighted the fantastic river fishing available down on the Hampshire Avon. This surge in redfin sport on the iconic river can largely be accredited to the work of the Avon Roach Project (ARP).
The ARP has rewritten the science when it comes to river restoration and stocking
Last month, we caught up with project Co-founder Trevor Harrop, who explained how the river has been transformed since they started.
“We love seeing roach catches like this on the Avon again, and it may even be one of our original stocked fish,” he said.
“A 3lb roach would usually be around 15 years-old, but you get some that seem to shoot ahead of the rest, and the clean nature of this fish suggests that it could be a bit younger because usually when they get old, they start to lift scales.”
“These large fish have always been in the Avon, but before we started our work they would usually be mixed in with shoals of chub or other species. Now that the river is brimming with roach of all sizes again, they are shoaling together.”
Simon Daley with the season’s biggest roach at 3lb 8oz
But how was this success achieved? Trevor revealed how the ARP has almost rewritten science when it comes to river restoration and stocking.
“We wanted to maintain the genetic purity of roach stocks within the river, which is why by using manmade spawning boards we collect our stock from the already resident fish. While at the start we were only finding small numbers of fish spawning, there would always be some bigger specimens there. It’s the genes of these fish that we have reared on.”
Trevor stocking roach into the Hampshire Avon
The incredible findings from the river’s rejuvenation are detailed in a new Avon Roach Project book, and among the most fascinating of these was the revelation that in 9 out of 11 years the roach spawned across the whole river on exactly the same date - April 24! Trevor is hoping that the book will inspire others to follow their lead in restoring river roach stocks. One man keen to replicate the success on his local water is Dr Mark Everard, who has already placed spawning boards in the Bristol Avon.
“The heroic acts of the ARP are going to be hard to repeat but that doesn’t mean there aren’t things we can’t all do to help,” he said.
“It starts with habitat management, because a lot of our rivers are badly damaged. Historic engineering has destroyed parts of the habitat on the Bristol Avon and this vandalism has made it harder for fish stocks to be self-sustaining. They need adequate food, safety from predators and somewhere to spawn, but I’ve seen rivers stripped bare of vegetation. They are often treated more like drains than rivers.”
Efforts are also underway to return Norfolk’s River Wensum to its former glory. The Wensum Working Group’s Tim Ellis said:
“Historically, the Wensum produced very large roach, and a lot of them too. But anglers’ records clearly show that they have badly declined in numbers and size. The Group, and others, have been trying to find the reasons for this, and to address them. Wensum anglers have been trialling fry refuges, as well as restoring existing or derelict ditch mouths and taking other measures to help the survival of young roach populations, such as planting riparian trees to provide cover.
The Wensum produced some phenomenal roach catches in the 70s
The Wensum historically has produced some very big roach too
“Overall, the chances of us replicating everything the ARP have done is small but hopefully we can achieve something by taking measures to nurture the river environment. This will include limiting barriers to fish movement, improving water quality and pushing for management of predators.”
The late John Wilson highlighted the Wensum’s roach potential
Read more about the fascinating Avon Roach Project by purchasing their new book here.
Fears mount for ‘Britain’s Best Canal’
The Aire & Calder Navigation in West Yorkshire is regarded as one of the best canals for fishing in Britain, but anglers are now fearing for its future.
Widespread fish deaths have been reported, as well as plummeting match weights, and venue regulars believe that these are strongly linked to the emergence of a huge sand barge on the popular waterway over recent months, which they say is destroying the aquatic environment.
The Aire & Calder Navigation in West Yorkshire is regarded as one of the best canals for fishing in Britain, but anglers are now fearing for its future
Capable of carrying 400 tonnes of grit sand, ‘The Farndale H’ began appearing on the canal in late September, which is when the alleged problems began to emerge.
Colin Finney, who runs the Aire Tackle shop, told us of the damage he’s witnessed.
“The barge has been going up and down the canal for a few months. We estimate that five tonnes of fish have been lost,” he said.
“It chugs along, leaving a trail of dead fish that’ve been chopped up and sucked into its engine cooling system. The seagulls follow it as it passes, mopping up the fish like they do with trawlers out at sea.”
“The barge has been going up and down the canal for a few months”
More possible evidence of the damage being caused can be found in pre-lockdown match results. In areas of the canal where 65lb catches of roach won matches last year, a mere 1lb 12oz won one contest. But it’s not just the fish that are allegedly suffering.
“We’ve got otters, kingfishers, herons and other creatures on the canal,” Colin added.
“This barge will have an impact on them too and before we know it, they’ll all be lost as well. Something has to be done.”
Angling Times contacted the Canal & River Trust, which owns the canal, about the reported fish deaths.
A spokesperson for the CRT told us:
“We’re investigating reports of fish in distress and a small number of carcasses along the Aire & Calder. The reports and evidence are inconclusive and could be a result of a number of causes. We’re doing our best to establish the cause of any incidents and will take any action that we believe is necessary.”
Angling Times contacted the barge owner for comment, but they are yet to respond.
Why our ‘dirty rivers’ are fishing so well...
THE state of England’s rivers was laid bare in 2020, with a series of damning Government reports revealing that the vast majority of our waterways fail to meet European ecological standards.
Why is the poor state of our rivers not showing in angler’s catch reports?
Indeed, they were deemed to be the dirtiest across the whole continent, with not a single river, lake or coastal water in the country being rated as ‘chemically good’.
You might think that this would result in meagre catches and stunted fish growth, but the reality couldn’t be more different. Over the past few months, bumper bags of prime silverfish have been winning river matches up and down the country, and in the specimen fishing world the story is the same. Immense barbel, chub, roach, perch and dace are all being banked this season from running water venues that appear – on the surface at least – to be in rude health.
In a bid to understand how the two apparently contradictory situations can co-exist, and how our supposedly polluted waterways are places in which coarse fish can not only survive, but also thrive, we asked the experts at the Environment Agency. The answer, it seems, lies not in the amount of pollution, but its type.
Heidi Stone, the EA’s Fisheries Partnerships Manager, told us:
“Some pollutants are obviously highly toxic and pose a massive threat to fish stocks, while other, organic, pollutants can actually lead to increased levels of invertebrates, resulting in more food for fish.
“Just because a river fails to meet water quality standards doesn’t necessarily make it toxic or dirty. It could be nutrient-rich and home to certain species that are thriving – it just hasn’t met all the required criteria.”
Some organic pollutants can actually lead to increased levels of invertebrates, resulting in more food for fish
This was a view largely echoed by fish expert Dr Paul Garner who revealed that not only is there a wide range of pollutants in our rivers, not all of which are harmful, but that certain species are better armed to deal with them than others.
“Just about everything we humans do, from flushing the loo or washing the car, right the way through to farming, creates pollutants that sooner or later will enter a river. The result is a really complex mix of chemicals in our rivers that impact the ecosystem in different ways. Some might affect the plants, while others influence the invertebrates, or stimulate algal growth – all of which have a knock-on effect on the fish.
“Most coarse fish are tolerant of low-level pollution, particularly organic pollution, which – as has already been mentioned – can stimulate growth of organisms in a river. However, there comes a point where you go past this and start having problems, such as those posed by low dissolved oxygen levels.
“But other pollutants can impact the fish in different ways, and not just in terms of water quality. Take soil entering a river because of run-off from intensively farmed land, for example. This could settle on the riverbed and cause siltation, which would affect species like barbel and dace that need clean gravels for spawning.”
Paul also revealed how the most susceptible and fragile of species when it comes to pollutants are typically salmonids such as trout, salmon and grayling, but that some of our coarse fish are far more hardy when it comes to dealing with apparently dirty rivers.
“Fish that are more ‘generalist’, in that they eat a wide diet, spawn on whatever substrate is available, and mature at a young age, will be less affected. Roach fall into this category, as well as chub to a lesser extent. Those with a more selective diet and spawning habitat, such as barbel and bream, are more likely to suffer.”
However, Paul was keen to add a note of warning that, although fish populations currently appear to be healthy in many rivers, the long-term situation might be very different.
“Just because there are lots of roach in, say, the River Trent, at the moment, it doesn’t mean that they’ll be there for future generations. With a bigger population comes ever more pollution, so for now we’ve got to make hay while the sun shines,” he added.
For now we’ve got to make hay while the sun shines!
Fish weights and records - Rob Hughes
With the New Year now well underway, many of us will be setting ourselves targets. ‘Go more often’, ‘win more matches’ or ‘catch a new PB’ will be popular goals, while the more ambitious among us may harbour even loftier aspirations such as ‘win a Drennan Cup weekly award’, ‘qualify for a big-money match’ or even ‘try to catch a British record’!
On that note it was interesting to see the recent news from the BRFC regarding the records claims from the end of 2020. Five were submitted, three were accepted, and two rejected. Well done to the new record-holders. In freshwater, the crucian carp record of 4lb 10oz was equalled by Craig Smithson and accepted by the committee. The potential record perch of 6lb 4oz was, however, temporarily rejected on a weight issue. A ‘more precise scales test’ was requested by the committee, as they couldn’t agree on an accurate weight.
I rarely weigh fish these days unless they are especially meaningful or particularly big. I’ve no interest if a carp I might catch is 24lb 6oz or 28lb 2oz. I have, however, got a small set of digital pocket scales for my perch and dace fishing, but they don’t weigh ounces properly – they weigh them decimally, so half-a-pound is recorded as 0.5 on the display. Crazy! You’d think that the manufacturers would get that bit right.
One thing’s for sure, before I head out for my next session targeting dace, I’ll have to invest in a slightly more dependable set of scales. Unlike with 20lb-odd carp, I will have every interest in whether that big dace I dream of catching weighs 15oz or 1lb!
The bigger the fish, the less ounces matter – and vice-versa, of course!
Fishing safe at Cotswold Water Park
NATURAL England has assured anglers that fishing will continue at Cotswold Water Park despite its new status as a Site of Special Scientific Interest.
The announcement was welcomed by anglers who had concerns for fishing on the park’s 177 lakes.
Dan Garner of South Cerney AC told us:
“NE told us the SSSI status won’t make any difference to fishing and fears about a closed season being enforced have also been put to bed.”
Fishing will continue on the Cotswold Water Park despite the new SSSI status
Boost to upper Severn barbel stocks
THE River Severn above Shrewsbury has been stocked with 250 baby barbel in what’s thought to be the first official stocking of the species on the upper river.
The River Severn above Shrewsbury has been stocked with 250 baby barbel
The 12ins-long, dye-marked fish were introduced into Rowley & Fenemere AA’s stretch of the river at Leaton, and further stockings are planned at the location under a three-year partnership between the EA and the club.
RFAA chairman, Max Taylor, said:
“These fish will help enhance future populations of the species in the upper Severn. The initial stocking may seem small, but it represents roughly half the number of barbel put in the river by Angling Times in the 1950s, which kickstarted the Severn barbel boom. To be able to replicate that work is fantastic.”
l The club is keen to track the progress of the fish, so If you catch a dye-marked barbel, call Max on 07977 048270.
Rare tiger carp sold for whopping £2500!
AN EXTREMELY rare strain of carp that’s believed to be the first of its kind in the UK has fetched £2,500 in an online auction.
The colourful 13lb mirror, which has been nicknamed the Tiger Carp for its distinctive black stripes, was snapped up by Todber Manor Fisheries co-owner Linda Candy after renowned fish farmer Mark Simmonds advertised its sale.
An opening bid of £500 kicked off proceedings, but it wasn’t long before fishery owners across the nation were making offers left, right and centre to claim ownership of the unique fish.
It’s understood that Linda purchased the carp as a surprise for her husband John. It will be delivered to the fishery in February.
Gudgeon group off to a flyer!
A FACEBOOK group initially created as a bit of fun to show appreciation for gudgeon has attracted 2,000 followers in just a few weeks!
YouTuber Carl Smith created The Gudgeon Society to show his appreciation for the mini-species, but never imagined it would prove so popular. To get involved, log on to facebook.com/groups/gobiohunters
The Gudgeon Society celebrates one of Britain’s best mini-species
"A reality check is overdue on the price of fishing. It’s amazing value" - Dom Garnett
Complaining about the cost of living was a national obsession well before any pandemic, but you do wonder sometimes when it comes to the value of fishing.
Yes, it can cost a bomb if you want to join a carp syndicate or fly fish the chalkstreams. And yes, many of us instantly double the cost by accumulating enough tackle for three people. But is the cost of going fishing really so terrible?
I had to chuckle wryly to myself the other day as regulars at a day-ticket lake moaned about parting with eight quid. The last time I went to a fourth tier football match I paid three times that amount just for a seat, and still had to fork out for a pint and a match day programme.
My last day-ticket fishing session was a case in point. I was fishing a pretty rural lake and all I needed to get bites for pretty much the whole of an enjoyable morning was a pint of maggots and a few worms from the compost heap.
I have no desire to stir up a hornet’s nest here, but perhaps a reality check is overdue on the price of fishing.
Our sport offers incredible value for money. Thirty quid for an annual licence is not even 60p a week, and kids are free. Yearly club tickets can be had for well under £50 in most areas. So why do some of us still talk of daylight robbery? Do these people never take the wife to the pictures or pick up the tab on a family meal out?
Thirty quid for an annual licence is not even 60p a week
Coarse and carp anglers, I have to say, are especially curmudgeonly on this score. As an all-rounder I quite regularly pay £20-£50 for a day’s fly fishing on a beautiful river or lake (I really should work harder on my Z-list celebrity status to get more freebies!).
Is the same fee really so unthinkable just because I happen to be casting a stick float or feeder?
In an era where the country creaks with debt and jobs are uncertain, it’s inevitable that people start to sigh about the price of everything from bacon baps to city centre parking.
Yes, there is real hardship out there and it can be brutal on families. But could it be that a huge part of angling’s massive Covid-era resurgence is the incredible value our sport offers? Perhaps it’s time we asked an honest question or two, therefore. Yes, the price tag of a day’s fishing can vary from “a fiver if I catch you” to three figures; but what’s the true value of a day’s fishing?
What price those few hours of anticipation, relaxation and excitement?
Far from being a rip off, our sport is an absolute steal.
What’s the true value of a day’s fishing?
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.”
Mirfield AC in Yorkshire used the first lockdown to create 25 platforms on a stretch of canal
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
No fishing in England during new lockdown
Fishing in England is banned under new lockdown laws
Angling has been banned in England despite high-level government representations from the Angling Trust.
Fishing can still continue, with tight restrictions, in Scotland and Wales, but Downing Street looks set to keep anglers away from English waters for at least six weeks.
Before the decision was made, the Angling Trust wrote to sports minister Oliver Dowden setting out how angling could continue safely. Key points included angling’s solitary nature, the fact the majority of the population live within five miles of a waterway and that allowing angling would reduce pressure on other public spaces.
The Angling Trust continues to put the case for angling to government
Trust campaign manager Martin Salter told us:
“We made our arguments and we disagreed with the government’s decision, but it was not entirely unexpected. I suspect they felt the need to give the public a serious wake-up call, and sadly fishing has been caught up in that.
He added:
“At every twist and turn from last March right through last year we’ve kept making the case that angling isn’t a problem, and we did that successfully. This time around we are obviously concerned with infection rates higher than back in March and higher than when we locked down. We had a feeling that this might be a lot more challenging.”
Mr Salter said the trust is preparing an updated version of its When We Fish Again proposal, which paved the way for angling’s resumption last spring.
He said:
“Anglers can rest assured when we judge there’s a reasonable likelihood of success we will push for angling to be one of the first activities allowed to resume. And this time with the benefit of a whole lot of experience.
“With a few notable examples of idiocy, the angling community has responded responsibly to our calls. The vast majority are acutely aware of the need to act sensibly and be ambassadors for the sport we all love.”
The Angling Trust is preparing an updated version of its When We Fish Again proposal, which paved the way for angling’s resumption last spring
Fishing TV star helps raise £20,000 for kids meals
MONSTER Carp TV star Ali Hamidi has helped provide 80,000 free meals for kids following a fundraising competition that generated a whopping £20,000 for the worthy cause.
Run in partnership with FareShare UK, the campaign offered prize bundles of Mainline bait, a 48-hour fishing retreat in Essex and a personal visit from Ali and his TV co-star Tom Dove.
Ali said:
“I can’t thank enough everyone in our fishing community who took part in helping to prevent our nation’s kids from going hungry. Next time I’d love to do something bigger and provide 500,000 meals.”
MONSTER Carp TV star Ali Hamidi has helped provide 80,000 free meals for kids
Is this the biggest ever barbel to be caught on the pole?
MATCH angler Brent Wilkes landed possibly the largest barbel ever taken on a pole when he netted this 14lb 14oz brute during a five-hour contest.
Brent’s 14lb 4oz barbel – best ever on a pole?
The 32-year-old told us his hollow elastic was ‘stretched to breaking point’ throughout the tense 15-minute battle on a flooded Bidford AC stretch of the Warwickshire Avon – which ultimately forced him to get off his box and travel downriver to keep himself in the fight!
He said:
“It was so powerful I had no choice but to head downstream with my pole and net in hand. I’d been snapped off by a barbel early on in the match so I was determined not to lose this one!”
The battle dragged on for 15 minutes…
With just a couple of minutes to go until the final whistle, Brent finally shuffled his prize into his 20ins net where he realised just how big it was.
“During the fight it only looked to be about 8lb, but when I saw its head and tail sticking out either side of the net I knew I had a true barbel of a lifetime,” he added.
“I’ve had carp and pike over 20lb on the pole before although this barbel gave me the best scrap – my arms were aching for hours afterwards!
“I’d have thought 5lb-6lb would’ve won the match judging by the conditions, but a boulder in my peg created an area of slack water where I reckoned I could have banked a big bream or barbel.
“Luckily the tactic paid off and the barbel added to a few roach I’d caught for me to take the win with 15lb 14oz.”
Brent’s new barbel best fell to a whole lobworm fished via a pole feeder rig over a bed of casters, chopped worm and groundbait.
NEW 100k fund to boost angling participation
A BUMPER new £100k ‘Get Fishing Fund’ has been created to help support new and returning anglers, and the good news is that you can apply for a slice of the cash to help your club.
The Get Fishing Fund will help support new and returning anglers
The new initiative, announced by the Environment Agency and Angling Trust, has been created using extra cash from 2020’s boom in rod licence sales.
Grants of up to £500 are available for small-scale projects, while larger ones can apply for up to £5,000. Funding can go towards any events that aim to boost angling participation and can cover the costs of tackle and bait, as well as associated resources such as storage facilities.
Graeme Storey, Fisheries Manager for the EA, hopes that the fund will help even more newcomers enter the sport and continue the momentum gathered this year.
“We’re always looking for ways to support angling,” he said,
“and (overall) the Agency has invested £1.5m of the additional income from this year’s licence sales back into projects to improve fisheries.
“The increased interest in fishing over the summer proves that people are not only rediscovering angling, but more people are trying it for the first time. We want to see this continue and hope that the projects will encourage more people to try fishing.”
A few months back Angling Times spoke to Bryan Dray of Wellingborough and District AS, who along with other club members, runs a lot of junior events. We asked him where he wanted to see the additional rod licence money invested. Unsurprisingly, providing coaching events was top of his agenda, so he was understandably delighted with the new fund’s creation.
“It’s brilliant news” he said.
“Finding funds is difficult, particularly between now and Easter, so having this cash available is a real boost, especially at club level. One of our biggest difficulties is storing equipment securely, so knowing the fund can help is fantastic. We’ll definitely be applying.”
To apply for funding visit: grants.anglingtrust.net
Are newcomers missing out on vital skills?
SCROLL back 30 years or so and trotting a stick float, casting accurately and knowing how to feed properly were just three of the core skills people had to master before they could truly call themselves an angler.
Along this challenging journey the foundations for a life in fishing were laid, but are these vital skills being lost on today’s newcomers who make commercials or day-ticket carp lakes their first port of call?
There is a real art to catching consistently on a river
Some old-school anglers, such as carper Nick Helleur, certainly believe so. As one of the most respected people in carp fishing Nick, who turns 50 next year, recently starred on the Thinking Tackle Podcast, where he waxed lyrical about how much angling has changed in recent years.
“I was brought up being told that you ‘cast it out and reel it in’” he said.
“Nowadays, people have bait boats and poles. Learning the skill of casting in a wind or under a bush at range, for example, is falling by the wayside.
“A lot of people are one-trick ponies. Anglers should be able to trot a stick float and set up any rig you care to mention. They should be able to fish for any species without a guide or help. They should be able to go and do it – that’s the joy of angling”
“A lot of people are one-trick ponies”
With a strong correlation between rising rod licence sales and busy day-ticket fisheries this year, it would seem that a lot of newcomers are skipping the challenges of learning to fish natural waters, as Nick suggests. But is that a bad thing? Match legend Tommy Pickering doesn’t think so.
“Does it really matter?” he said.
“I know it concerns some anglers, but a newcomer doesn’t know any different. Commercials are convenient, comfortable, and have all the facilities you need. When people my age grew up, we had no commercials, just rivers and stillwaters where the fishing could be very difficult.”
In Tommy’s mind, the most important thing is that there are new people coming into fishing, full stop.
“The most important advice I can give to a newcomer is to enjoy it,” he added.
“Make sure to ask for advice, too, be it from your local tackle shop or having a coaching day. If you’re catching fish, it’s much more enjoyable, and you’re more likely to stick with it.”
“The most important advice I can give to a newcomer is to enjoy it”
Bob Roberts, one of Britain’s best all-rounders, is of a similar mind to Tommy, although he believes there are certain things that those growing up solely fishing commercials will miss out on.
“The subtlety required in catching roach, dace and skimmers on a natural venue is something that anglers who have grown up on commercials will lack, as well as knowledge of a wide range of techniques, but this is too much to take in,” he told us.
“With the rise of the internet and social media, everything is instant and people expect fishing to be the same. Commercials give people the chance to catch in comfort, with relatively little effort and expenditure. I think they’re brilliant and regularly have catches on them that I would have given my right arm for when I was a newcomer.”
Bob believes the quality of fishing on offer at day-ticket waters will help encourage people to keep fishing, but also isn’t worried that other aspects of angling will die out.
“Take beans on toast. There’s nothing wrong with it, but if you have it every day, you’ll quickly get bored and start adding new flavours or trying different things.
“Fishing is no different. People will eventually want to try something different and will no doubt develop curiosities for fishing a river or canal, even the sea.
“Day-ticket fisheries are having a fantastic impact on fishing and I’m so pleased to see new anglers on the bank. The positive repercussions of the work these fisheries are doing are being felt throughout angling.”
People will eventually want to try something different and will no doubt develop curiosities for fishing a river or canal, even the sea
Former cop to battle poachers as head of Angling Trust project
A retired police officer who once tackled a man armed with a shotgun has been hired to lead a team of 500 volunteer bailiffs fighting poaching and unlicensed fishing.
Nino Brancato served in the police for more than 30 years but has now joined the Angling Trust as its national enforcement support manager.
Nino Brancato served in the police for more than 30 years but has now joined the Angling Trust as its national enforcement support manager
He will lead the 500-strong Voluntary Bailiff Service and the Building Bridges project which works with migrant anglers.
“I’m really looking forward to working with the Angling Trust’s Fisheries Enforcement Support Service and building on the great partnership we have with the Environment Agency,” said Nino.
“Our 500 volunteer bailiffs, led by a dedicated team of regional enforcement managers, and our Building Bridges team, provide quality intelligence which supports the work undertaken by the EA’s fisheries officers and police.”
The former detective inspector received a Higher Chief Constable’s Commendation for disarming a murder suspect who was wielding a pump-action shotgun.
Mark Owen, the Angling Trust’s head of freshwater, said:
“Having someone of Nino’s experience and seniority is a great asset to both the Angling Trust and fishing.”
The EA’s Graham Storey added:
“We’re working hard to crack down on illegal fishing, working in partnership with the Angling Trust, the police and others. With the skills and experience Nino brings to the role, we are confident that we will further reduce illegal fishing.”
The Fisheries Enforcement Support Service is funded by licence sales and includes the Voluntary Bailiff Service, which began as a pilot five years ago and now boasts 500 members. Nino replaces Dilip Sarkar, who left the Trust earlier this year.
The Fisheries Enforcement Support Service is funded by licence sales