Fishing in Lockdown 3 - what can you do?
Thanks to the hard work and lobbying of the Angling Trust, fishing is now permitted in the third England lockdown. The rules for anglers are, however, still significantly restricted to comply with the wider lockdown laws.
According to Sport England you can still go fishing as long as:
you are by yourself
with the people you live with
with your support bubble (if you’re legally permitted to form one)
in a childcare bubble where providing childcare
when on your own, with one person from another household while following social distancing.
You don’t travel outside of your local area in order to go fishing
You only go fishing once per day
See the full Sport England guidance here.
The Angling Trust are set to soon release their full guidance but have already made several key points anglers should follow, these are…
We are in a National Lockdown and this must be respected. The law requires a ‘reasonable excuse’ to leave your home or penalties will apply.
The Government has recognised that fishing can be seen as exercise, which is expressly permitted under the lockdown rules, although outdoor recreation is not.
Organised sporting gatherings are prohibited so no match fishing.
The exercise is limited to once a day so no overnight fishing whatsoever.
To remain within the law you should follow the Government’s guidance, and only fish locally. If you have no local fishing available then you will have to take your daily exercise in other ways. Full Government guidance on travel can be found here.
To keep up to date with the Angling Trust guidance visit their website here.
Anglers can now go fishing in lockdown 3
Angling Trust lobbying overturns fishing ban!
Angling Times understands that fishing is one of several outdoor, individual activities which will be allowed during Lockdown 3.0, following lobbying from senior members of the Angling Trust team to Government officials.
Keep an eye on the Angling Trust website today as they are set to release a statement soon with the full story and guidelines for safe and sensible fishing over the lockdown period.
We are thankful for the behind-the-scenes work which goes on, ensuring we can carry on fishing and benefit both our mental and physical wellbeing.
* It’s probably a good time to renew that membership (or take one out) to the Angling Trust!
Stay in touch with the Angling Trust website and Facebook page for the full details
Anglers unite to feed lake’s hungry carp
A GROUP of passionate anglers whose favourite fishing lake closed due to the pandemic have descended upon the venue with buckets of bait in an attempt to keep the fish fed during the prolonged period of inactivity.
Shearwater Lake, on Wiltshire’s Longleat Estate, shut its doors to anglers at the start of the March lockdown and it was feared the venue’s prized carp would starve when fishery staff were placed on the Government’s furlough scheme.
Jumping at the chance to intervene was fish farmer Mark Simmonds, whose actions have since inspired others to join in.
He said:
“I’ve supplied the estate’s fish stocks for years so I felt an obligation to help them out. So far I’ve dropped off three tons of Skrettings feed pellets at the fishery, which the estate has since supplemented with its own supply.”
The news of the ‘big feed’ quickly gained traction on social media, causing anglers and dog-walkers to descend on the fishery with buckets and bags full of boilies, pellets and bread to help out.
“As fishing still isn’t allowed, I’m sure all this extra food will be appreciated by the fish!” Mark added.
Legal threat to club that broke lockdown
MATCH anglers who held a competition during the current lockdown period have been warned they will lose their fishing rights if they do it again.
HanKat Angling Society flouted the rules on organised sporting events by staging a nine-peg event on the Dudley Canal on November 7.
The club advertised a follow-upmatch, before the Canal & Rivers Trust (CRT) warned them that the matches breach Covid restrictions. The CRT told the club
“Should you go ahead and organise further events we will escalate the matter to our legal team to see what the Trust would need to do in order to ensure compliance with law, including the termination of your club’s angling agreement.
This is something we hope we can avoid, as it would not put angling in a good light at this time and undo the work the fisheries team have been doing behind the scenes in fighting the case for angling to be allowed to continue.”
Jamie Cook, the CEO of the Angling Trust, said:
“It is vital that anglers continue to fish safely, locally and responsibly throughout this pandemic. The last thing we need to see is irresponsible actions like this that brings angling into disrepute and endangers the hard-won concessions we have achieved for us to keep fishing through the lockdown.”
HanKat Angling Society flouted the rules on organised sporting events by staging a nine-peg event on the Dudley Canal
Anglers given the green light to go fishing during second England lockdown
While outdoor sports like golf, tennis and basketball are prohibited, angling’s status as an outdoor recreation has allowed it to continue, with a handful of restrictions.
“Ministers have recognised the benefits that angling brings, not only in terms of health and well-being, but also in getting us out in the fresh air”
The Angling Trust, which has lobbied government on the benefits of the hobby, has produced guidance to anglers after picking through the latest regulations with legal advisers.
Those regulations are still in draft form but sources at the Trust are confident their interpretations of the law will stand up.
Martin Salter, the Trust’s campaigns manager, told us:
“We are delighted that ministers have recognised the benefits that angling brings, not only in terms of health and well-being, but also in getting us out in the fresh air where we love to be and not bunging up already-crowded public spaces.”
The former MP added:
“If the Government had wanted fisheries to close, as it has, inexplicably, with golf courses, then they would have said so. The Government clearly expects angling to continue.”
The only major blow for anglers is the temporary suspension of match fishing, which is caught in the ban on ‘sport below elite level’.
Mr Salter said:
“We are an outdoor recreation like bird watching. We’re only a sport when we are match fishing, which is why that has been banned.”
Match fishing will be banned under the new restrictions
Driving to venues, night fishing and day-ticket angling are still permitted, though Government guidance urges people to stay as local as possible for outdoor activities. Tackle shops must close, but can operate on a click-and-collect basis. Anglers from different homes can also only go fishing in pairs, rather than the previous ‘rule of six’.
Angling Trust chief executive Jamie Cook urged anglers to stay sensible and be aware that their actions will be closely monitored.
He said:
“We’re pleased that fishing can continue during lockdown, even with the restrictions in place. Angling has conducted itself safely and responsibly throughout this pandemic and the Trust is determined to ensure that our chosen form of outdoor recreation remains part of the solution rather than the problem. To do this anglers must continue to fish responsibly.”
“Anglers must continue to fish responsibly,” says Jamie Cook
Fishing Tackle and Bait Industry Booming Since Lockdown
BRITAIN’S tackle industry is thriving like never before as shops and manufacturers continue to benefit from the boost in newcomers to the sport after lockdown.
Many companies and small shops feared the worst back in the spring when fishing, like other sports, was curtailed as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic.
However, since restrictions were lifted in mid-May, a massive increase in demand for tackle and bait has helped companies more than make up the lost ground, with many experiencing unprecedented sales.
A few months ago we spoke to Dan Brydon of Norfolk’s Wensum Valley Angling and, at the time, he had serious concerns about the future of his business. But that’s all changed now, and he’s having to work 13-hour shifts just to keep up with orders.
“It’s been total carnage! Online orders have gone through the roof, and although we’re only doing ‘one in, one out’ in the shop, that’s also been very busy,” he tells us.
“A lot of people say that they’ve been clearing out the garage, found an old rod and want to get back into fishing, so lots of the stuff we’ve sold has been for beginners, but plenty of higher end tackle too.”
It’s a similar story with the sport’s manufacturers, as firms struggle to keep shelves stocked with the latest kit.
Daiwa’s UK marketing manager Stephen McCaveny says:
“The uptake in fishing took everybody by surprise, and our sales have been superb, with match feeder and carp tackle selling particularly well.”
The bait industry has also been booming, says Daryl Hodges, head of marketing for Dynamite Baits:
“We have had record week after record week and it shows no signs of slowing down. Sales are more than double for this time of year, and we’ve had to work around the clock for nine weeks to keep up.”
There has been a high demand for fishing tackle post lockdown
Thousands given to support fishing clubs
TWO angling clubs have received thousands of pounds of funding to help protect them from the financial fallout of the Covid-19 lockdown.
At the end of March the Government created the Community Emergency Fund using £20million of National Lottery money to help all kinds of sporting bodies survive the economic impact of the coronavirus crisis.
Dozens of cash-strapped clubs applied, and in May the first of these was awarded a much-needed cash injection. Now two more have benefitted – The Stoke on Trent Angling Society, which received £7,500, and Southwold & District Freshwater Angling Preservation Society was awarded £6,000. The latter will use the cash to cover rent costs on its waters as well as carry out essential maintenance work.
Club chairman Barry Read said:
“We were delighted to have had our bid for support accepted at what was a very worrying period for the Society. The lockdown came at a time that traditionally sees the highest level of income, along with the highest level of expenditure, in the club’s year.”
The Sport England fund is National Lottery funded
How angling benefited from lockdown...
Angling would be nothing without fish, and this period of lockdown has benefited them above all else.
After years of heavy angling pressure, the fish in many venues were given a break as well as plenty of free food (no hooks attached) by fishery owners. When anglers returned, they were met by free-biting, fighting-fit stocks, and this resulted in some astonishing catches. In the first week alone half-a-dozen double-figure tench to over 12lb were reported by specimen anglers, while matchmen and commercial venue fans also got in on the action, with bulging nets of 300lb-plus taken from venues as far apart as Viaduct Fishery in Somerset and Oaks Lakes in North Yorkshire.
We believe it makes a strong case for all busy day-ticket fisheries to consider imposing similar short angling breaks each year in order to boost the overall health of stocks. Ian Roper, head bailiff at the mega popular carp day-ticket complex, Linear Fisheries in Oxfordshire, follows such a protocol each year.
“What amazes me is how quickly the fish reset themselves when anglers aren’t around,” he tells us.
“They behave like natural fish again, coming into the edge and feeding in 2ft or 3ft of water. It’s about 18 to 24 hours after all anglers’ lines have been removed that they become fish again, not rabbits in cages.”
A lack of pressure meant venues returned in fine form
Anglers adapted
One of the biggest concerns facing anglers in the new dawn was how matches – both competitive fixtures and knock-ups between mates – could happen, given the restrictions on contact. But at Doncaster’s Hayfield Lakes, they soon found a solution, as team member Andy Kinder reveals.
The litter picker was used to avoid contact at Hayfield
“We use litter pickers to pass hand sanitiser to the anglers in their cars before letting them enter the fishery and ask them what bait they want at the same time. We’ll then pass it to them with the litter picker to avoid any contact.
“When the match organiser Graeme Wall and I conduct the draw, I use a cupping kit to reach into the van to take the money, before Graeme draws them a peg number and shows it,” Andy adds.
“With the new plastic money I can sanitise the cash before putting it into envelopes for the winners.”
Another use for a cupping kit
Many other commercials showed similar levels of forward thinking but it was the tackle shops that anglers most feared for. They needn’t have.
Tackle shops modernised
Humans are nothing if not resourceful, as Mickey Bartlett from St Ives Tackle in Cambridgeshire reveals.
“When fishing resumed, we opened up a click-and-collect service and since then business has been ridiculous. We’re taking more now than we were when the shop was open, which has given us a real boost.”
Other shops kept the tills ringing by offering bait and tackle delivery services for local anglers, among them Leigh Tackle and Bait. Gav Vernon, who works at the Wigan store, says:
“We made a lot of deliveries, including to a customer in his 70s who rang us to order some line, rigs and maggots. Ten minutes later, we were at his door.”
With online retail sales having hit an all-time high over the past few months, we believe that it’s imperative for those tackle shops who continue to rely on traditional sales channels to learn from these success stories and to modernise their methods of meeting customers’ demands accordingly.
Tackle shops adapted with a click and collect service during lockdown
The Trust stepped up
Just as tackle shops stepped up to the plate, so did the Angling Trust. Long regarded by many anglers as being out-of-touch and not strong enough on the big issues, under new CEO Jamie Cook it pushed its relentless When We Fish Again campaign, laying the foundations for our swift return to angling through strong lobbying and an impressive proposal to the Government.
Anglers responded by supporting the Trust like never before with around 1,500 new members since the campaign launched in April.
To maintain the support of its growing membership it must now apply the same relentless and efficient approach when tackling the other thorny issues facing angling.
The Trust were vital in making the voice of angling heard in parliament
Lapsed anglers returned
Possibly the most positive impact that lockdown had on fishing is the number of people who were introduced to, or returned to, the sport.
On May 11, the Monday after Boris’s Sunday speech revealing that outdoor exercise would be allowed for unlimited time, the Environment Agency sold 21,000 rod licences. On the same day last year it sold 4,000. Since May 10 when lockdown relaxation was announced it has sold nearly 200,000 licences, resulting in £5 million income.
Many fisheries saw an influx of people taking family members on to the banks for the first time. Similarly, many furloughed workers turned to angling as a new hobby.
The challenge now is to keep them fishing, both through fisheries offering discounted family tickets and clubs and fisheries getting involved with the Angling Trust’s successful Let’s Go Family Fishing days.
Licence sales have boomed!
Tackle shops prepare to re-open
FISHING’S gradual emergence from lockdown received another boost after tackle shops were given the thumbs-up to get back to business from June 15 – the day before the new river season begins!
Many outlets were facing an uncertain future after struggling to keep their tills ringing over the past two months, with only online sales or limited click-and-collect services to fall back on.
But following the latest announcement by Downing Street, shops will now be allowed to open fully in six days’ time, provided safety measures are implemented.
At Frames Tackle in London, which has been in business for 60 years, preparations for the restart are already underway.
“We’ve put lots of precautions in place to keep staff and customers safe, including the installation of hand sanitisers at the entrance, a one-way system for visitors to follow, and floor markers to maintain social distancing,” says boss David Frame.
“I’m expecting an extremely busy period, and the news is a massive boost that the industry needed.”
Similar precautions have been taken at Chiltern Tackle & Bait, Northants, where boss Andy Pell tells Angling Times:
“We began offering a click-and-collect service from the middle of May and sales went through the roof overnight. It’s going to go up another notch once we fully re-open!”
Tackle shops can get back to business on June 15th if social distancing measures are in place
Anglers celebrate after Government lifts ban on competitive fishing
THE final piece in the jigsaw of angling’s full return slotted into place this week after Government gave the green light for competitive fishing to return.
Pleasure anglers received consent to return to the banks three weeks ago, but social distancing guidelines banning big gatherings of people meant that many fishery regulars and matchmen were unable to follow suit.
This has now all changed, however, after the Angling Trust successfully argued that match fishing deserved special dispensation as entrants could socially distance at all times, including at the draw and weigh-in.
The news came as a huge relief for Britain’s commercial venue owners, and the reaction from anglers has been overwhelming, with many fisheries struggling to cope with the instant demand for pegs.
At Somerset’s Viaduct Fishery the phones started ringing off the hook as soon as the announcement was made. Manager Matt Long says:
“We expected anglers to get involved, but we didn’t anticipate selling every ticket for our first batch of matches within 10 minutes! It shows that lots of people are itching to get back.”
Euphoria aside, the welfare of visiting anglers remains a priority for venue owners, and safety protocols have been introduced.
Matt Long adds:
“Everyone’s pegs will be drawn for them. Entrants will be asked to keep away from the weighing-in area.”
Similar provisions have been made at Partridge Lakes in Warrington, where technology is set to play a role in making sure safety guidelines are followed.
Owner Barbara Ikin says:
“Anglers will book on and pay for their peg using an online system and all payouts will be done via bank transfer. It means that everyone can get back to match fishing and stay safe.”
The news has been welcomed by Britain’s top matchmen, among them former Fish O’Mania champion Andy May, although he was keen to sound a note of caution.
“I can’t wait for the buzz of competing again, but Covid-19 hasn’t gone away,” he says.
“It’s important we follow the rules at each fishery to make sure angling continues to be held in high regard by the public.”
The green light has been give to competitive fishing
Roped-off swims could be the new bankside norm
RIGHT now, all anglers need to practise social distancing on the bank – so when Angling Direct’s Swindon branch manager Kev Hewitt had an encounter that was far too close for comfort, he decided to take action.
Would you feel more comfortable behind a rope like this?
“I’d gone to Bluebell Lakes in Oundle, near Peterborough, for five days and was setting up when another angler walked straight in and stood next to me, probably less than a foot away,” Kev tells us.
“I’d only been there an hour and it made me feel very uncomfortable.
“To make sure that it didn’t happen again I grabbed an old ratchet strap and some bungees from my van and made a barrier behind my swim. I even put up a sign telling people to stay behind the rope.
“After that I never had a single person cross the line and I have been able to chat to other anglers from a safe distance.
“We are very privileged to be able to fish right now, so let’s not mess this up.”
Kev Hewitt’s cornered-off swim at Bluebell Lakes
Since fishing resumed in England on Wednesday, May 13, staff at the five-lake Bluebell complex have been keeping anglers safe by closing the on-site-tackle shop, collecting day-ticket money from them in their cars and enforcing a strict two-metre distancing policy on the bank.
They also see no harm in letting anglers adopt Kev’s approach.
“Anything that will help anglers stick to the 2m social distancing rule is backed by us,” says Bluebell staffman James Waller.
“We hope that common sense will prevail, but creating a barrier around your swim does remind anglers to adhere to the rules we’ve put in place.
“As anglers we have a responsibility to help prevent the spread of the virus, so it’s very important we stick to the protocols.”
Day ticket fishery installs pellet dispenser to reduce Covid-19 risk
A Devon fishery is helping to limit the risk of spreading Covid-19 over the tackle shop counter with the installation of an on-site pellet dispenser.
The large hopper on the new machine at Digger Lakes can hold up to 250kg of pellets at a time and will cost anglers £2 for just over 1kg.
Fishery manager Ben Gratwicke tells us:
“I’ve had the idea of having a pellet dispenser on site for a while but lockdown gave me the time to finally have one installed.
“Before the pandemic, If anglers wanted to buy our feed pellets we’d come round to their swims with a barrow-full, but with social distancing rules now in place it’s no longer safe.
“With most tackle shops remaining closed, the dispenser is a safe way for anglers to get good-quality bait, plus it’s quicker to obtain than mail order.
“It’s only been installed for a couple of days but it’s already proved to be a hit with our anglers.”
The dispenser is completely unmanned, and the risk of spreading the virus is low, because there are no buttons to press.
Just place your bait bucket under the chute, insert £1 coins into the slot and the pellets will come out.
£2 for a 1kg of pellets from Digger Lakes new pellet dispenser
Anglers raise money for NHS PPE
Members of the River Swale Fishing Facebook Group have raised £1,725 through an online raffle to help provide Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for key workers.
The group’s administrator Michael Hunter organised the raffle to help two men in his hometown near Leeds, who have given up their time in lockdown to make PPE.
Michael says:
“When I discovered that Nathan Bullough, a 3D printer, and Simon Brooks, a tailor, were making PPE and scrubs for NHS keyworkers, I knew I had to do something to help fund the materials they needed to make the equipment.
“I reached out to anglers and clubs to see if they’d be interested in donating prizes for a raffle and their generosity was overwhelming. As soon as the raffle went live, ticket sales went through the roof.”
Anglers put their hands in their pockets to buy £5 raffle tickets to aid the cause and to be in with a chance of winning prizes which included a Leeds and District ASA annual membership book, a Vortex Baits bundle and a Middy feeder package.
“The money we’ve raised will ensure Nathan and Simon can continue their work,” says Michael. “It shows what anglers can do when we work together.”
Complete visors ready to be shipped to hospital
Raffle organiser Michael Hunter
ANGLERS FLOCK TO ‘FISH’ VIRTUAL MATCH
A Fishery has engaged nearly 300 anglers in what’s believed to be the largest virtual fishing match to take place since lockdown began.
Weston Pools, in Oswestry, Shropshire, drew in 298 matchmen after venue owner Darren Humphreys invited anglers to participate on the fishery’s Facebook page.
Darren started the free-to-enter matches around five weeks ago but never imagined they’d get quite so big.
“What started off as an idea to keep our regulars entertained has gained massive popularity lately – which wouldn’t be a problem if we had enough pegs!” he said.
“With only 232 pegs on-site, we ended up having to run two virtual events to keep up with demand, but they both fished incredibly well with weights in excess of 220lb needed to win.
The matches have been great, giving rise to loads of banter from the anglers on social media and providing a welcome escape from the grim times we are enduring at the minute.”
Darren has now taken the matches to the next level and has created a virtual Weston Pools festival. If you’d like to participate and find out how the matches work, simply register your interest on the Weston Pools Facebook page.
The Weston Pools virtual fishing matches have proved to be very popular
Important steps fisheries and tackle shops have taken to keep customers safe
Bosses at Lindholme Lakes Country Park, near Doncaster, have introduced a range of new safety precautions for returning anglers.
The venue’s co-owner, Aaron Grantham, says:
“We’ve included two-metre distancing markers on the floor both inside and outside our on-site tackle shop, which will also now feature a one-way system like those seen in supermarkets.
“Hands-free sanitizer dispensers are located at the front of the shop, and we’ve installed protective plastic screens at the till areas, which now have more contactless payment machines.
“We will be encouraging anglers to pre-book their fishing and make any bait or tackle orders for the session beforehand. To begin with it will be pleasure fishing only, and so there must be a free peg between each angler.
“I made a video of all the changes and uploaded it to Facebook, and it received around 12,000 hits in just two days.” adds Aaron.
Lindholme Lakes 2m distancing floor markers
Lindholme have also installed protective screens
Meanwhile, a number of tackle shop owners have come up with proactive ways of kickstarting trade again, while still maintaining social distancing between staff and customers.
One of these, Kent’s Medway Tackle, has incorporated a delivery service within an eight-mile radius of the shop, which is free if customers spend over £20.
Owner Richard Taylor says:
“The point of the delivery service is to help keep the business rolling, but it’s mostly for the safety of our customers. People just need to give us a call, place an order, and every Wednesday or Saturday I’ll jump in the car to deliver it to their doorstep.”
Breathtaking lockdown artwork
THE lockdown was like torture for the angling community but it’s been business as usual for wildlife artist David Miller, who’s made the most of the free time to complete a trio of breathtaking sea bass artworks.
The 53-year-old from Pembrokeshire, whose stunning paintings of fish feature on the annual rod licences, has been hard at work over the last two months keeping up with commissions, but admits that painting has been a welcome distraction.
“I guess I’m an expert isolator having been an artist for years, although painting has been like therapy for me,” he tells us.
“The extra time has meant my imagination has been like a sanctuary, which has taken me back to favourite places and times spent off the coast of Pembrokeshire.”
Each of David’s artworks took around two weeks to craft and could sell for around £1,600.
To view more of David’s work, visit his website at www.davidmillerart.co.uk
David Miller’s sea bass artwork
Night Fishing - What is going on?
FISHING may be set to return in England on Wednesday but social media has been full of confusion in the last 24-hours, on whether the new guidelines permit anglers to fish at night.
Angling Times has this lunchtime spoken to Martin Salter, the Angling Trust's head of policy, who told us he expects clarification over night fishing to come from the government tomorrow.
He predicted night fishing would be prohibited but said the Trust would challenge the decision.
He told us:
"We fully believe it's an unintended consequence. If anything, it's safer to self-isolate alone at a lake at night and leads to less travel.
"It's a perverse outcome and we hope the government allows anglers to night fish very soon."
This news comes as the government is believed to be releasing guidance tomorrow, which will require people to return to their home each night. The obvious consequence of which, would be no night fishing.
We understand the Trust is frustrated by this latest lack of clarity and intend to resolve the issue for anglers.
The situation is constantly developing, but at present, it would be best advised to refrain from staying at venues overnight and keep up to date with the Angling Trust guidance before making any plans.
Night fishing could be banned under guidelines suggesting people should ‘return home each eachday’
Anglers to return to the banks on Wednesday! - Here are the new guidelines
LAST night anglers in England recieved the news we have all be waiting for - we can go fishing again!
Fishing will once again be a permitted outdoor activity in England from Wednesday 13th of May, under new guidelines set out by the UK government.
The new guidelines are in part a result of the hard work of the Angling Trust and their ‘When We Fish Again’ report to government. The report gained substantial support from MPs and anglers, with over 8000 emails sent to parliament.
Here is what we know so far about the new guidelines for anglers in England, based on reports from the Angling Trust…
Fishing permitted with members from same household
No limits on travel
All anglers must carry a valid Environment Agency rod licence
No fishing on rivers until June 16th
Two metres social distancing rules must be followed at all times, however, Angling Trust encourages fisheries to adopt pegging of at least 15 metres.
Angling Trust encourages all clubs, fisheries and anglers to follow their ‘Phase one - When We Fish Again’ proposals
Nothing in place that specifically blocks night fishing, however, the Trust is seeking clarification on this.
Tackle shops currently not to open to internal customers until June 1st at the earliest, however, the Trust are seeking government permission for shops to open earlier.
Shops urged to consider adopting click and collect or delivery systems.
Trust seeking guidance from government for onsite retail - currently only outdoor facilities may open.
Fisheries advised to follow the Trust’s guidance when providing day tickets and ensure adequate social distancing measures are in place. Consider online booking and avoid cash transactions when possible.
Decisions to open a fishery are ultimately down to the owners/fishery managers. Those in charge should not feel pressure to open, if they feel they cannot comply with social distancing rules.
These guidelines could well change within the next 48-hours as the specifics are looked at in more detail.
For more information visit the Angling Trust Support Hub.
Please note - fishing in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland is still prohibited.
We can get back on the bank but keep your distance from others
It's important we hold on to our dreams - Des Taylor
PEOPLE are constantly asking me what I’m doing with my time, now that I can’t go fishing.
Well, throughout this shutdown I’ve been feeling positive and doing positive things. Already I have rebooked my two cancelled trips – one to Holland after monster perch and the other a week in Texas after giant alligator garfish. Having something like that to look forward to with my mates really raises the spirits.
My wife Maggie, in turn, has rebooked a cancelled golfing trip with the girls to Portugal. When she’s away I always book a week’s fishing from my bivvy somewhere in the UK, so happy days for us both.
I think it’s important that we start planning for the future and hold on to our dreams. If one thing has come out of this shutdown it’s been a chance to look in the mirror and perhaps resolve to change something in our lives.
I hope that all you anglers who have been watching DVDs, downloads and YouTube, or reading books about fishing, will take some of this on board and not just return to sitting around a commercial two days a week.
Isn’t that what you have been doing for the past 10 years, and aren’t you getting a little bored with it?
The lockdown has certainly made me think about some of my friends that I haven’t been on the bank with for years – good friends and good company, but perhaps, in my eagerness to catch big fish on my own, I haven’t made the time for them that they deserve. That must change, because friends are more important than fish.
On the subject of angling films, it gave me a lift when my son-in-law sent me a photo of my granddaughter watching my own films that I released only a couple of weeks ago. I feel happy that in years to come she will be able to share some of the great memories fishing have given me with her friends and, later, maybe her husband, children and even her grandchildren. I like that.
Right now I’m busy getting my thousands of angling photographs into some kind of order, something I’ve been meaning to do for years. They are bringing me so much joy and highlighting so many things that I take for granted in this great sport of ours. Of course, there are the trophy photos of big fish, but the ones that bring the most smiles to my face are the dawn shots, the sun going down, the wildlife seen while I’m fishing and photos of new friends made in other parts of the country or indeed the world.
So many good times – and remember, there are so many still to come, so stay cheerful.
This is why it’s important to stay positive, fishing will be back soon.
Bottle that intense yearning to fish - Dom Garnett
There are infinitely more important concerns than fishing right now but when angling of any sort is off limits, the very thought of casting into your favourite swim seems like a delicious, forbidden pleasure.
Even just taking a ride along the canal near home (if you’re still allowed to by the time you read this!), you might be forgiven for feeling like a recovering alcoholic walking past Oddbins. Never mind an all-day session in the local hotspot, I’d give my left arm for just a solitary hour in a duff swim right now.
While a global pandemic will always be more important than filling a keepnet, a degree of frustration is understandable. Alarmingly, the reaction from our more vocal anglers has been rather like the classic five stages of grief, from denial – “Fishing is exercise, they can’t stop me!” to anger – “How dare they tell me what I can and can’t do?” – to bargaining – “If my neighbour can go cycling, why can’t I fish?”
Acceptance is now the only way forward. But weird as it sounds, rather than just grumbling and turning on Netflix, we should try to bottle that intense yearning to fish. Once things return to some shade of normality I believe we will treasure our freedom to get out on the bank like never before. Far from bringing bitterness, a forced absence from fishing should make us more grateful than ever for the riches we have. Because the plain truth is that we take so much of it for granted.
We just assume we can go fishing for whatever we like, whenever we like. We have one bad day at a fishery and decide that it’s rubbish. We get so fixated on catching massive fish or winning matches that we miss 101 other joys along the way. We whinge freely about problems A to Z, but spend far less breath celebrating all that is good in our sport, not least all the amazing work done for us by angling clubs, fisheries and volunteers.
Well, perhaps now, at long last, more of us might gain some perspective on what angling really means to us and our communities.
Never mind catching every fish in the lake or smashing PBs, just being out in the fresh air and going fishing in a safe, free country is a great privilege.
Regardless of what we catch, won’t that first session back feel amazing? We should make that first cast not only with happiness and relief, but a sense of deep gratitude and a renewed appreciation of just how good we really have it.
