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
Is the EA failing our fisheries?
The man who helped launch the Voluntary Bailiff Service (VBS) has denounced it as “a pointless waste” of millions of pounds of public cash because, he says, the Environment Agency rarely acts on the intelligence gathered.
Dilip Sarkar resigned in frustration as the Angling Trust’s national enforcement support manager last summer after eight years in the post. He’s meeting junior Defra minister Rebecca Pow to seek an independent review into the allocation of £6m of rod-licence money.
Are our fisheries getting the protection rod licences pay for?
‘Wasted intelligence’
Dilip says the VBS, which began in 2012 and trains unpaid anglers to provide ‘eyes and ears’ on the bank, is a successful model copied by police forces to combat other areas of rural crime. But he claims the EA – which funds the scheme through rod-licence sales – has failed to act on reports, rendering the VBS toothless.
He said:
“Unless the EA delivers the required end result, which is co-operating, engaging and acting upon intelligence received, the whole thing – through no fault of either the Trust’s Fisheries Enforcement Support Service (FESS) or the VBS – is a pointless waste of substantial public funds. The EA must be called to account.”
Dilip Sarkar resigned in frustration as the Angling Trust’s national enforcement support manager last summer
Lockdown inaction
Dilip said his disappointment peaked during the first lockdown when the EA kept its fishery enforcement officers (FEOs) at home despite the Home Office calling for partner agencies to take pressure off police. With angling banned the VBS received reports of fisheries remaining open. He said:
“It was suggested to the EA that as their FEOs were at home, on full pay – not furloughed – they should be provided details of errant fisheries to contact and hopefully resolve these issues without the police service involved.
“The attitude of the Environment Agency was that the matter wasn’t its responsibility, and nor was it for the EA to become a ‘substitute for the police service’. This, frankly, beggared belief.”
During initial lockdown, 154 voluntary bailiffs completed 1,791 patrols and reported 255 incidents of illegal fishing, generating 91 intelligence logs. Dilip added:
“The EA’s dismal performance crystallised everything that’s wrong with the whole set-up.”
“During the first lockdown the EA kept its fishery enforcement officers at home”
Funding model
Between August 2015 and October 2020 the EA paid the Angling Trust just over £6m of rod-licence cash to run the National Angling Strategic Services (NASS) contract, of which the VBS is part. That money also covered the Trust’s Fisheries Enforcement Support Service (FESS), which uses paid staff to oversee the VBS network.
The EA said it estimates around £1.3m of rod-licence money has been spent directly on the VBS as part of the NASS between May 2012 and October 2020.
“Clearly, the total spent on VBS and FESS would be a substantial proportion of the overall cost [of the £6m awarded],” said Dilip.
“This is a great concern because the EA is not capitalising on the demonstrable benefits the FESS and VBS provide. The EA, despite financing the exercise, has consistently obstructed progress and failed to cooperate.”
The EA estimates around £1.3m of rod-licence money has been spent directly on the VBS
VBS resignations
The strained relationship between the VBS and EA has led to resignations from the Trust’s paid regional enforcement managers (REMs) and, Dilip claims, a downing of tools by many disillusioned volunteer bailiffs.
Chris Wood of Shrewsbury Anglers Club was a VBS area co-ordinator until resigning last year. He said:
“In four years I never once had a FEO attend an incident I’d reported. No matter how many reports you posted, you would never, ever get an officer to come out.”
Mr Wood praised the VBS concept and said he would return to the service if the EA issues were resolved.
A former Trust REM who resigned added:
“The FESS and VBS are a superb resource. The AT, VBS and angling public are doing their bit by reporting matters. The sad truth is the EA are institutionally hostile to the VBS and don’t see the benefit volunteers and their intelligence can bring. It’s time for the EA to resolve these issues or pass fisheries enforcement to an agency that will improve things for the benefit of all.”
“It’s time for the EA to resolve these issues or pass fisheries enforcement to an agency that will improve things”
AGENCY Response
We asked the EA if it was satisfied with the proportion of VBS-reported incidents its officers respond to.
“Yes,” said a spokesman.
“Incident response, patrols and operations as a result of intelligence analysis are separate issues. Intelligence logs from the trust are sent to the EA’s National Intelligence Team. Most of these are included within a monthly intelligence report, which is used to help influence where and when patrols are best deployed to combat the illegal activity reported. We could do more if we had more resources available.”
Trust CEO Jamie Cook said he wished he could have worked with Dilip to address his concerns, adding Mr Sarkar should be proud of what he created, making it
“all the more bizarre he should be seeking to trash his own work and argue the team he led was ineffective”.
He added:
“The Trust has pressed the EA at every level to increase its enforcement activity. During the last lockdown we wrote to Sir James Bevan [EA CEO] on this subject making it clear that we expect EA enforcement services to continue to operate alongside the country’s other frontline public and enforcement services.”
“The Trust has pressed the EA at every level to increase its enforcement activity”
Angling coaches in every store!
TACKLE giant Angling Direct has revealed an ambitious plan to train 80 members of staff to become professional angling coaches and work in the company’s stores around the country, offering free advice to anyone who enters.
The initiative, which will see the retailer partnering with the Angling Trust, is geared towards catering for the new wave of anglers who entered the sport last year.
Angling Direct marketing manager Oliver Harper said:
“In a few months’ time there will be an Angling Trust Level 1 coach in each of our 38 stores, which will add more of a community feel. We’ll be training staff across the brand, so alongside people on the shop floor, we’ll have people in our customer service team, as well as the media team who are qualified coaches and are able to offer professional advice.”
There will be an Angling Trust Level 1 coach in each of the 38 AD stores
Former detective on a mission to stamp out fishing crime - full interview
After 30 years in the police, former detective Nino Brancato has joined the Angling Trust as manager of its Fisheries Enforcement Support Service. We spoke to the 55-year-old about his hopes for tackling angling crime…
Nino Brancato receives a commendation from the then Thames Valley Police Chief Constable, Dame Sara Thornton, for helping to disarm a man wielding a pump-action shotgun.
What’s your association with fishing?
I haven’t fished for about 20 years, but I used to go with my father-in-law down in Devon to do a bit of sea fishing.
How did you come into this role?
It was advertised on the National Association of Retired Police Officers and I thought my skill set could be put to good use. The Angling Trust’s regional enforcement managers are all retired police officers and I felt I could help with a knowledge of how to get things done, networking and managing budgets.
Some anglers believe the police don’t take fish-related crime seriously. What was your impression during your time in the force?
First, that type of crime is under the radar – it’s very, very under-reported, and if you don’t report it then nothing will get done. It’s like moaning about parking on your road, but if you don’t report it to the council then they’ll never send a traffic warden. My message is ‘Report it, report it, report it’ – not by moaning on Facebook but by making a formal report. There are specific offences of fish theft and other offences such as criminal damage that the police can act on.
What challenges do you expect to face?
The challenge is supporting the Environment Agency and building on the numbers of current volunteers because we all know what’s going to happen to budgets. I see getting more volunteers as my overriding objective for the next year.
We’ll have years of limited budgets, so I’d rather step up to the plate and support the EA in its role to protect fisheries, rather than throw stones at it from the sidelines.
It seems angling is full of volunteers willing to support the sport…
Absolutely! There are a couple of things I’ve found since starting this role. The Fisheries Support Service is superb. There are very few non-government organisations that have got that kind of set-up, and the Building Bridges project is cutting edge when it comes to migrant integration. As well as dispelling myths and getting rid of discrimination it’s also bringing a whole new younger class of people into angling.
The Building Bridges (BB) initiative has made giant strides integrating migrant angling communities in England. This picture shows Nino at a BB meeting recently on the River Trent.
How important is the Voluntary Bailiff Scheme?
Very. Every time an angler goes out as a voluntary bailiff, even if they’ve nothing to report, that’s information the EA can use. If there are no problems being reported then resources can be diverted to where we are seeing issues. These bailiffs are our eyes and ears on the bank.
The number of voluntary bailiffs is often quoted as being 500 – is that accurate, and will you be looking to boost numbers?
The 500 figure was what was deemed manageable at the time, but we’re looking to increase that to 700 over the next two years. Normally we recruit once a year, but we’ll be going to a more rolling recruitment.
You had a distinguished police career, including receiving a commendation for disarming a man armed with a shotgun. Can you tell us more?
I joined the police at 19 and did 30 years’ service, including being seconded to units dealing with issues of national security. The incident with the shotgun was just 30 seconds of being in the right place at the right time. I’m more proud of the things I did to bring down burglary figures, which made a difference to people’s lives.
[Angling Times gently presses for more details on the shotgun incident] I was with a team of detectives investigating a murder of a care worker in the car park of a care home. At the time, the victim’s husband wasn’t a suspect but we went round to his home to bottom out his story. He was a serving police officer – a protection officer at Buckingham Palace – and he had a cache of illegal firearms. He pulled out the pump-action shotgun and three of us pounced on him to disarm him. This was back in 1997.
What skills are transferable from your police skills to this new role?
It’s about knowing how to process information, gathering intelligence and knowing how to record and detect crime. I’ve managed 40-strong teams 100 miles apart dealing with life-and-death decisions – you have to have an appetite for risk. My skill set will bring good investigation, good partnerships with the EA and police, and a knowledge of how to target resources.
Have you set yourself any targets?
It’s easy to set and achieve numbers, and I’m looking to increase the number of patrols and the amount of good-quality intelligence we can submit to the EA and police, but what I really want to see is a far more constructive collaboration with all the people who care about fish and fisheries.
Nino has wasted little time getting involved. Last month he was on a work party with Reading and District AA .
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
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
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
Anglers urged to help in fight to protect our waterways from pollution
THE Angling Trust is taking a stand against the growing threat of pollution in UK waterways with a new drive that aims to preserve not only our fishing, but also the health of the whole aquatic environment.
Named ‘Anglers Against Pollution’, the campaign is demanding better monitoring of our waters and proper enforcement of laws and regulations, leading to more efficient and stringent prosecution of those found guilty of large-scale pollutions.
The campaign is demanding better monitoring of our waters and proper enforcement of laws and regulations
It follows damaging recent assessments that revealed none of our waters meet European chemical pollution standards.
Britain’s anglers have a long history of striving to protect our rivers and stillwaters dating back to the creation of the Anglers Conservation Association in 1948, and the Trust is hoping that those within our sport will once again step up to the plate and put pressure on Government by signing the petition that was launched on October 15.
John Cheyne, National Regions Manager at the Trust, is spearheading the initiative, and he told us:
“The waters we fish are in crisis, suffering from all forms of pollution, from agricultural run-off to plastics, chemical pesticides and raw sewage. Time is no longer a luxury we can afford in the fight for our environment.”
The waters we fish are in crisis
The new campaign will not be seeking the creation of new legislation to tackle the growing pollution threat, as John believes that current laws are sufficient – they’re simply not being enforced properly.
“The Environment Agency has seen its budget cut by 50 per cent since 2010, so proper monitoring becomes a real challenge,” he added.
“When it does catch a perpetrator, they get off far too easily. Take water companies. The fine they face is often cheaper than the cost of fixing a pollution issue, so they simply take the hit and continue to offend.
“Now is the time to take a stand. Get behind our new campaign and let’s demand that our rivers, lakes and canals are clean and healthy places full of fish and abundant wildlife for us all to enjoy.”
£150,000 boost to community angling projects
COMMUNITY angling projects hit by Covid-19 will continue to provide vital support to minority groups thanks to a £150,000 boost of National Lottery money.
The cash, which has been awarded to the Angling Trust by Sport England’s Tackling Inequalities Fund, will ensure socio-economic groups, ethnic communities and people with disabilities and PTSD will be able to continue engaging with the sport they love as the pandemic continues.
Clive Copeland, Head of Participation at the Trust, said:
“The funding means that hundreds of people will be able to remain connected with the exceptional work funded projects provide.
“Our sport should be accessible regardless of ability, gender, income, race, demographic or place – but Covid-19 is preventing that. This award will mean that work can continue to allow angling for all.”
The news is music to the ears of community involvement charities like Get Hooked on Fishing, which specialises in creating opportunities for young adults through angling.
Its CEO, Sarah Collins, added:
“Rules on social distancing have had a big effect on some of our projects, but knowing there’s money available to help charities like ourselves get back on track is a huge boost.”
The cash has been awarded to the Angling Trust by Sport England’s Tackling Inequalities Fund
New bid to clean up our waters!
A NEW campaign has been launched to help tackle the growing issue of plastic and litter pollution along the UK’s waterways.
With rivers, canals and lakes witnessing more footfall and water users than ever following the lifting of lockdown, the sport’s governing body has now created the Anglers Against Litter initiative as part of the wider the Great British September Clean, which runs from now until 27 September.
The idea is for anglers to take five items of litter home after a session, or to spend five minutes collecting litter after fishing.
Dr Emily Smith, Angling Trust Environment Manager, explained:
“Although the rubbish may not be yours, picking it up can make a huge impact. It will stop it being blown into the water, where it can injure wildlife, or be swept downstream to the sea. It also sets an example to those around you.
“We’re asking anglers to encourage their club or fishery to organise a litter pick.”
Get Involved at: www.anglingtrust.net/get-involved/anglers-against-litter
Anglers collected all of this litter from the banks of the River Frome.
Will beavers be bad for angling?
Anglers and venue bosses need to wake up to the potential threat that a beaver reintroduction will bring, according to the Angling Trust and fishermen already affected by the rodents.
About 15 beaver families have this month been given a legal right to remain living wild on the River Otter in Devon following a five-year trial, and the prospect of UK-wide reintroduction looms large.
(Shutterstock image) - Beaver swimming
Surprise announcement
The decision to indefinitely extend the Devon trial was made in a surprise announcement by Defra (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs) last month, catching opposition voices unaware.
The Angling Trust had commissioned an independent report into the trial’s published findings and asked Environment Minister Rebecca Pow not to take any decision before it had been submitted, but the recent announcement has preempted it.
“We wrote to the secretary of state about our concerns that the fish-impact studies for the River Otter were flawed,” said Mark Owen, the Trust’s Head of Freshwater.
“We are saddened that the minister has decided to favour an introduced species over species already present and in need of more protection.”
(Shutterstock image) Beaver up-close
The impact on rivers
Beavers don’t typically eat fish, but by felling trees, damming rivers and burrowing into banks their impact on waterways can be huge. Dylan Roberts, who leads the fisheries department of the Game and Wildlife Conservation Trust, sits on the fisheries sub-group of the River Otter Beaver Trial.
He told Angling Times:
“This is about raising awareness that it’s not going to be all roses – it’s a major challenge.”
“We are not fans of beavers. They were here 500 years ago, but the landscape is completely different now. We have a much higher density of population and a highly managed landscape. Once they get up to significant numbers there’s going to be huge conflict between beavers and anglers and we have major concerns.
“The drive to reintroduce beavers has been ongoing for 20 years and there are a large number of enclosed beavers waiting for the day they can be set free.”
Dylan infront of a beaver dam
A question of management
Mr Roberts said he feared beavers would eventually be reintroduced nationally but stressed landowners must then have the right to control them.
“It’s got to be along the lines of how we deal with foxes,” he said.
“Landowners need to be able to call someone in to deal with them quickly rather than the other way, which would basically be the protection given to badgers and otters.”
In Scotland, where beavers have already been reintroduced, licences have been granted for their removal where they become problematic.
Mr Roberts added:
“There will be a big impact on fish and the aquatic environment and it’s a question of who manages and who pays for it.”
Trees cut by beavers in Scotland
Lakes will also bear brunt
Mark Owen explained how the problems won’t be confined to rivers. He said:
“I’ve been over to Austria to meet fishing associations on ex-gravel pits, similar to those over here. Beavers have removed the trees three metres from the bank, which causes a headache for the angling clubs because they have to clear up after them.
“Beavers will drop the tree on a stillwater, not because they want to make a dam, but because it increases secondary growth on the trunk and this is what they graze upon.
“If an animal like the beaver is reintroduced and allowed to go where it pleases then the responsibility for clearing up after it will fall squarely at the door of the landowners and angling clubs.
“Up in Scotland on Tayside, mature trees have just been ringed (gnawed but not toppled) by beavers and then they die off. These are big mature beeches.”
Trees used by beavers on a lake
Fish biomass changes
Beaver supporters point to increased fish biomass in rivers where they have been reintroduced, but Mr Owen said the stats can be deceptive.
“Studies on running water where beavers have been reintroduced show the biomass of fish can increase, but it’s not usually in species that are fished for” he said.
“For example, what we’ve found on the River Otter is that the minnow population has exploded.”
The case for the defence
In response, Mark Elliott, an angler who manages the River Otter Beaver Trial for Devon Wildlife Trust, said:
“Beavers have the potential to restore our rivers and make them function more naturally, enhancing water quality. For those of us involved with river restoration – and many of us are also anglers – it’s been exciting to see the huge potential beavers have to reverse some of the damage done by people.
“Beavers coppice trees in a localised and untidy way, creating dappled shade and introducing branches into the watercourses providing cover for trout. Beaver dams are made of sticks and silt, and behave differently from the concrete weirs that cause real obstacles for migratory fish.
“Dams are not built in the main river channels either, but in the smaller ditches and streams where their influence on fish and the flows downstream can be positive.”
(Shutterstock image) Should beavers be reintroduced to the UK?
Call to save bream stocks on the broads
ANGLERS are being urged to sign a petition against a proposal to build fish barriers on two integral parts of the Norfolk Broads river system.
The call comes after Natural England was granted a permit to block off spawning sites for fish at Hoveton Great Broad and Hudson’s Bay in order to improve water clarity and promote weed growth.
Despite formal objections against the development by EA fisheries staff, who’ve proven through fish surveys and tagging programmes that bream use both water bodies to spawn, the work is likely to go ahead if the proposal is left unchallenged.
The Angling Trust is supporting the Broads Angling Service Group’s decision to launch a petition calling for the plan to be reversed.
Martin Salter, the Trust’s Head of Policy, says:
“We’re urging anglers to get behind the campaign to protect the Norfolk Broads which is one of our most iconic angling locations.
“If this development goes ahead, it will be at the cost of wiping out a large proportion of the bream population that have happily lived in these waters since the Middle Ages.”
Hoveton Great Broad is one of the areas under threat. Picture credit: Broadsman101
Survey highlights benefits of angling to mental health
AS ANGLERS, we all know the difference that a good day’s fishing can have on our wellbeing, and now the director of a leading charity has become the latest to highlight the sport’s positive impact on mental health.
Dr Anthony Kousoulis, Director of the Mental Health Foundation, extolled the feelgood factor of fishing following a survey by the Angling Trust, in which 99 per cent of respondents stated that angling benefits their overall physical and emotional wellbeing.
Angling benefits overall physical and emotional wellbeing.
He said:
“Growing evidence suggests that spending time in ‘green’ and ‘blue’ spaces has a very positive effect on our mental health.
“It is important for people’s health that they can continue to pursue angling in a safe way both during and after the pandemic.”
With over 100,000 new people fishing since the end of lockdown, it seems that angling’s therapeutic benefits are appreciated more than ever!
Mental Health Foundation
Take a Friend Fishing - How to get youngsters fishing for the first time
ANGLERS across the nation have warmly welcomed the return of the immensely popular Take a Friend Fishing scheme.
‘Delighted’ and ‘proud’ are among the positive words we’ve received from readers in support of the decision by campaign leaders the Angling Trust and Environment Agency, which enables rod licence-holders to obtain a free licence for a friend.
But in the messages we received, one question regularly cropped up: ‘What is the best way to take someone fishing for the first time?’ It’s a tricky one to answer, so we enlisted the advice of Angling Trust ambassador Zenia Drury-Gregorek, an expert in getting kids into fishing, who reveals some of her secrets.
“I have two sons, Zaine (nine) and Zeejay (six), both of whom have fished since they were just a few years old,” she tells us.
“One of the key things to remember is not to force it. Zaine is a natural born angler, but Zeejay is a bit of a live wire and doesn’t have his big brother’s patience! If he doesn’t want to go, I’ll not push him and make it a battle – that would be an easy way to put him off before he’s even on the bank.”
Zenia got her sons fishing at an early age
Once they’re out the house, Zenia believes it’s all about making things short, simple and fun.
“Always start with short sessions. While we think nothing of sitting on the bank for five hours straight, to a small person an hour is a long time. Either go for quick sessions or have regular breaks for walks, wildlife spotting, or simple games.
“Kids love watching a float,” Zenia adds,
“so a short pole or whip is an ideal set-up to start with. You don’t get many tangles, and kids can focus on the magic of watching that float disappear.”
Kids love to watch a float
Quiet spells when the fish aren’t biting can quickly lead to boredom, but Zenia has a crafty way around these.
“Take lots of snacks! These keep children entertained while they wait for bites, and avoid the nightmare of a session being cut short because they’re hungry.
“Remember that size doesn’t matter to kids, so by targeting small fish you’re less likely to have long waits between bites.”
Keep sessions short, bring snacks and fish for bites to keep kids entertained on the bank
We can probably all admit that, as kids, our fish care wasn’t where it should have been, and Zenia believes it’s crucial to show correct practices right from the off.
“It’s down to us to show how important it is to look after our catch, so I’ll set an example by always using a net and unhooking mat. I’ll also teach kids how to use a disgorger, as well as how to place fish gently back into the water, not throw them back. These lessons will soon become good habits that will lead to a lifetime of quality fish care,” she says.
“Ultimately, though, the most important tip is to enjoy making memories as a family. Make the most of every catch, whatever species it is, and show kids just how much fun fishing can be.”
Even the toughest can love our sport
As you’ll no doubt be aware, a greatly extended Take a Friend Fishing scheme is about to kick off for the summer, and I can’t wait!
We’ve already enjoyed two weeks of TAFF in July, and that spell gave me the opportunity to test a theory that even the hardest nut can be cracked with a spot of gentle fishing.
And they don’t come much tougher than Mark ‘Billy’ Billingham MBE, a guy many of you will recognise from Channel 4’s SAS Who Dares Wins TV show.
Billy used to fish when he was younger, but his distinguished military career, body-guarding, and TV work over the last three decades has not given him a lot of time to enjoy our sport.
We’re both patrons of a military charity called Phoenix Heroes and planned to meet up to talk about promotion work. But he was also the perfect candidate for a quick trip to reintroduce him to fishing – TAFF isn’t just about taking kids to the bank.
Being former SAS, he lives near Hereford with the River Wye on his doorstep, so we headed to a beautiful stretch run by Angling Dreams, based in Ross-on-Wye.
He loved it. Like many of us, from whatever walk of life or career we chose to follow, life can be 100 miles an hour with not a lot of downtime. He said a few times that a trip to the river was exactly what he needed to just chill out and relax. We all know that feeling! There’s no question that he ‘got it’ and a return trip is definitely on the cards... exactly what TAFF is all about.
Rob Hughes and Mark Billingham with a Wye chub
Anglers call for new laws governing river access amid 'boat chaos'
BRITAIN’S rivers have been busier than ever over the past couple of months, and not just with anglers.
A new wave of kayakers, rafters and wild swimmers have all been making the most of the countryside, and who could blame them after months of being trapped indoors?
A new wave of people are increasing the footfall on our waterways
But the huge spike in post-lockdown footfall on our waterways is having a detrimental impact on the fragile ecology of some rivers, with the rise in bankside litter and disturbances caused to wildlife habitat sparking a debate about finding a solution to the growing problem.
Litter – like these gas canisters – has increased in the past few months.
Anglers have borne the brunt of the issue, and last week it emerged that bailiffs on the Royalty stretch of the Hampshire Avon were forcing canoeists and paddle boarders to exit the river at the head of the fishery and then walk to the next access point before re-entering the water, a journey of up to a mile that takes in Christchurch high street.
Nigel Gray, who runs Davis Tackle in the town, said:
“The problem seems to be mainly all the new people who have taken up these watersports lately. They’ve bought a canoe and think they can go where they want, but they can’t.”
It’s been a similar story on the River Wye, one of the country’s most popular angling – and canoeing – venues. Adam Fisher, owner of Angling Dreams which runs a host of fisheries on the river, said:
“It’s been carnage in places, with groups of lads going down the river in inflatable flamingos and bananas – it’s like being in Tenerife!
“The privateers are more to blame than the customers of registered canoe companies.
“You can buy an inflatable boat in Aldi these days, so these people buy one, and paddle downriver getting out wherever they want to have picnics and go to the toilet. They should be using the official access points.
“My main concern is the impact that they’ll have on the Wye Valley, which is a Special Area of Conservation, an SSSI and an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
“People come to the Wye to experience its peace and beauty, but the increased footfall is destroying this and it will have a long-term impact on the tourism industry.
“What’s more, anglers are stopping booking stretches because they know they’ll be so busy. It’s chaos and something needs to be done.”
Picnicking and barbecues are becoming common at river venues.
Adam, like many other business owners, is calling for the laws governing river access to be addressed, but as John Cheyne, National Regions Manager at the Angling Trust revealed, as things stand, the legal situation is far from clear.
“The law states that you can’t access a river that’s on someone’s land without permission, and if you do, its trespass,” he revealed.
“But trespassing comes under Civil Law, which means the police won’t get involved and it’s down to the landowner to prosecute. Most landowners aren’t willing to take the financial hit, and as a result, the swimmers and kayakers get away with it.”
The Trust are now pushing for Voluntary Access Agreements between water users, as John explained:
“These promote communication between water users and allow them to understand each other’s needs, and those of the river. This would protect spawning grounds of fish and animal habitat and also help to avoid conflict between anglers who are quite rightly frustrated at people using their waters for free, after they’ve paid for the right to fish them.”
There are, however, a few problems with such a solution, he added.
“Firstly, British Canoeing, the national governing body for the sport, have told their members not to sign up to Voluntary Access Agreements, as they want access 24/7, 365 days a year,” John revealed.
“Secondly, wild swimmers don’t have an official union, so they’re hard to get in touch with. But finally, and most worryingly, an Agriculture Bill is going through parliament with an amendment that gives the Right to Roam on our rivers. If this Bill passes, people will be free to use many of our waterways without fear of prosecution.
John’s main concern about the Bill is its one size fits all nature. On the Tidal Trent, for example, extra water users wouldn’t have too big an impact due to the size of the river and its historically busy nature. However, on smaller rivers and chalkstreams, the consequences could be catastrophic.
“You can’t treat all rivers the same, as we have so much variety in the UK, but this Bill doesn’t discriminate, and people will have the right to use large rivers right through to tiny ones,” added John.
It’s not just canoeists who have been on waters.
Canal angling on the up!
THE NATION’S canals witnessed a surge in popularity among anglers following lockdown, it was revealed this week.
The Canal and River Trust (CRT) said that since sport resumed on May 13, there had been a significant rise in fresh faces lining the banks and a 30 per cent year-on-year hike in sales of tickets for the Canal Pairs Championships qualifiers and Waterway Wanderers fishing permits.
The CRT’s National Fisheries and Angling Manager John Ellis said:
“It’s fantastic to see families and people of all ages taking an interest in canal fishing again and rediscovering what they have to offer. Many want to fish as close to home as possible and canals are perfect for this.
“The Canal Pairs Champs could see in excess of 200 participating anglers – which is a rarity in this arm of the sport. It’s an exciting time for canal fishing.”
The Angling Trust’s Let’s Fish campaign, which helps get families into fishing on canals for the very first time, is also now back up and running. Log onto the CRT’s website to book a free Let’s Fish session.
More anglers are heading to the nation’s canals
Take a Friend Fishing Scheme Extended
THE HUGELY popular Take a Friend Fishing (TAFF) initiative is being extended right through the summer months, Angling Times can exclusively reveal.
The scheme, run by the Angling Trust and Environment Agency, allows rod licence holders to take one person fishing free of charge, and ran for just over a fortnight last month.
Now, in an unprecedented move, it is being extended to run from August 14 to October 4 to accommodate the surge in angling participation following lockdown, and also to help nurture future generations of anglers.
Jamie Cook, chief executive of the Trust, is delighted by the news. He said:
“It’s a proactive step to grow participation, and we need to seize this opportunity which allows both experienced and new anglers, as well as those returning to the sport, the chance to share the experience and help their friends and families take that first step towards establishing a fishing habit.”
A raft of tackle companies have been quick to throw their weight behind the scheme.
Mat Woods, brand manager at Korum, is well aware of the long-term benefits the extension could bring:
“These remarkable times are providing an insight into how many anglers there could be. We’ve all dreamed of these numbers, and so our focus must now shift towards retaining them. Let’s forge ahead while we’ve got the wind in our sails, and let’s do it together!” he said.
These sentiments were echoed by Korda’s Ali Hamidi, who added:
“The sport deserves to thrive – the mental and physical benefits it brings are phenomenal – and we should all help others to get involved.”
Time to take a friend fishing!
First visit to the venue and a big match win!
There are those who swear that an intimate knowledge of a venue is a must for success, but Lee Kerry showed that’s not always the case by winning the latest Angling Trust RiverFest qualifier on the River Weaver – on his first visit to the North West waterway!
Lee Kerry knows a thing or two about catching bream (Southfield image)
Having booked on at the last minute, Lee weighed in 46-15-12 of bream and skimmers to cruise to victory from Kevin Hall on 25-7-0. Lee was helped by drawing a great peg, but good pegs don’t fish themselves.
“I don’t get the time in summer to fish RiverFest but I saw a few tickets for sale and had heard that the Weaver was fishing well, so fancied a go,” Lee says.
“I drew peg 2 on what’s called the old river, a good swim. It gets pleasure fished a lot, is wide and deep and a known bream area. There was a feeder and a pile of pellets in the peg when I got there, so that told me all I needed to know!”
Picking one line to fish the feeder at 30m, Lee used one as a negative swim with small baits and finely chopped worms through the feeder, the second being more positive with corn, 2mm pellets and rougher chopped worm fed. Kicking off on the negative line, he then moved on to the positive once he felt a few fish were about.
The rig that won
“The opening hour was slow, but I could see some bream rolling so I kept the faith and once I got a bite, things got better and better,” he continues.
“By resting and rotating the swims, I had a great three hours catching around 25 fish before things fizzled out in the last hour. From people walking about, though, it seemed that no-one else was catching that well in the match, but you never know on a river with bream – it’s possible to catch 50lb in an hour!”
Iconic river facing 'ecological disaster'
ONE of the country’s most popular rivers is facing the threat of ecological disaster, according to some experts.
Swathes of the River Wye, which borders Wales and England, turned a worrying shade of green at the start of the season following an intense algal bloom, exacerbated by increased phosphate inputs from the growing number of chicken farms which operate along its course.
One of the primary concerns of the Wye and Usk Foundation, which has highlighted the issue, is the effect the discoloration is having on the Wye’s aquatic plants, which provide essential habitat for the natural food that the river’s fish depend upon.
The Foundation’s CEO Simon Evans says:
“The impact of new poultry developments is not being considered. The result is a river, once voted the UK’s favourite, turning a putrid green every summer and having its ecology destroyed.”
Fish Legal, the body which acts on behalf of member clubs of the Angling Trust, has put the environment regulator Natural Resources Wales ‘on notice’ over the issue, under which the latter will be required to investigate the problem and ensure that the farms in question put in place proposals to prevent further damage occurring.
The River Wye has been turned green