Optimism for big summer of match fishing
Match organisers remain hopeful that the sport’s big events, including Fish ‘O’ Mania, Maver Match This and the Division 1 & 2 Nationals, will go ahead later this year.
Although nothing can be set in stone given the current lockdown situation and uncertainty surrounding the lifting of restrictions, Andre Grandjean, Chairman of the Angling Trust’s Coarse Competitions Committee, is optimistic for a summer of big events.
“Our plans are full steam ahead,” he said.
“By June and July, when most of our events are due, we’re expecting that things will be okay to go ahead.
“One concern people have had is how and where we’ll fit the qualifiers for these events in, but most of these don’t start again until after April, and we anticipate that by then these will go ahead as planned, in a Covid-safe way of course.”
Maver’s Andy Kinder is the man behind the mega-money Match This event that unfortunately was cancelled last year. This time though, he’s hoping that event can take place.
“We managed to do around seven qualifiers last year, which frees up a bit of space in the calendar this time round,” he said. “While there’s still a way to go, I hope that the event will go ahead as planned.”
“By June and July, when most of our events are due, we’re expecting that things will be okay to go ahead.”
Will there be another fishing boom in 2021?
BACK in March 2020, the short-term future of the angling industry looked uncertain due to the fallout from the Covid pandemic.
But following a huge upturn in the sector’s fortunes, which saw rod licence sales soar, fisheries busier than ever and tackle and bait companies struggling to keep up with demand, many fishing-related businesses are now investing heavily to ride the wave of the boom well into 2021.
More and more families have come to realise that fishing is a sport that can be enjoyed by all ages and abilities
An additional 50,000 people bought a licence during October and November – traditionally a quiet period – and the swelling numbers on the bank haven’t gone unnoticed by shops and fisheries.
Howard Kaye, who runs the tackle shop at Manor Farm Leisure Fisheries, has just opened his second shop, Manor Angling Plus, in Evesham, and has plans for a third, larger store to open up later this month.
“The unexpected boom in business this year has certainly helped put us in a good place,” he said.
“Signs are really good for the future. I think a lot of the new people buying licences will keep fishing and we’ll hopefully continue to prosper. The third store, set to open later this month, is a larger enterprise out near Twyford Farm. We have exciting plans for that place, which I can’t reveal just yet!”
Howard Kaye – two shops and a third planned!
Over in Bicester, Oxfordshire, Tackle Tavern – in business for just three years – has gone from strength to strength.
“We’ve increased our stock-holding capacity, and boosted our online presence, which has helped us to have a lucrative year,” Matty Morrell, the owner, told us.
“Even during lockdown we used the downtime to develop our website, and already we’re seeing the benefits of that.”
Tackle Tavern has already moved and expanded three times.
“We’re always looking to grow,” Matty added.
“Moving to an even larger facility is always on the cards if the spike in demand continues.”
It’s not just tackle shops that are preparing for a big year in 2021. At Makins Fishery in Warwickshire, the work taking place is geared to improving accessibility for the new breed of beginner and junior anglers who have emerged during the boom.
“We want to make things as easy as possible for people visiting the fishery, particularly with so many newcomers getting into fishing last year,” said staff member Reece Woolley.
“New access roads, car parks and a driveway are all being installed to make things more practical and appealing to customers, and we’re also digging out the lakes and de-silting them to make the fishing even better!”
Work in progress at Makins Fishery to improve access for the new breed of beginners and improvers
He added:
“After such a productive summer in 2020, we’re getting ready to kick on and are expecting 2021 to be just as good, if not even better!”
Some of the growth in participation in 2020 can be attributed to fishing restarting quickly after the first national lockdown and continuing all the way through the second, when other sports and activities remained off limits.
Angling Trust boss Jamie Cook, who led the battle to keep us on the banks, thinks the future is continuing to look rosy.
“We’re really excited for this year,” he told us.
“Our priority will be to continue our fight to keep fishing legal and one of the few permitted sports if we’re hit with another lockdown, but aside from that we’ve got lots planned to keep new and returning anglers enjoying their fishing.
“Our Get Fishing and Let’s Fish Campaigns will hopefully continue to boost participation, and we’ve also got a few initiatives in the pipeline to support the infrastructure laid down this year.”
Angling Trust boss Jamie Cook has promised to keep fighting for anglers this year
In addition, Jamie hopes to improve the Trust’s engagement with existing anglers.
“I want us to be in better touch with the sea fishing community, as well as with match anglers. I’ve spoken to a lot of the latter, from grassroots to elite level, and while we’re doing well with our large competitions there are still some areas in which we can improve.
“Overall, it’s fantastic to see that the industry is thriving. Hopefully we can all make 2021 another year to remember.”
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
Why river fishing is set for a boom - Rob Hughes
Obviously, with matches still currently off the agenda for many, there are a lot of anglers who can’t do what they would normally do.
Some commercial match fishing venues have taken the opportunity afforded by lockdown and the time of the year to close in order to undertake maintenance after what have been a ridiculously busy few months. Others are open just for pleasure fishing so it’s still possible to “sack up” even if it’s not in a competition environment.
It’s been interesting, looking at social media, to see how people have been getting their fishing fix during this recent mini-lockdown. Rivers seem to be getting a bit more traffic, and high-profile match anglers like
Des Shipp and Steve Ringer have been heading off to them in search of very different fishing to their norm.
Chub seem to be a real favourite among match anglers, and there’s good reason for that. They’re such obliging creatures. They really pull back and are always great fun on float tactics, in particular. Whether you’re fining down and catching nets of smaller ones or heading out after bigger specimens, it’s one of the best times of the whole year to have a go for them too.
Chub are definitely one of the go-to fish at the moment. It’s interesting to see that my local club, Frome Angling Association, is already organising some post-lockdown river matches. Could this new-found interest be a sign of things to come?
There’s no doubt that chub are an enjoyable species to fish for
“Buy it before it’s gone” warn retailers as angling’s surging popularity causes stock logjam
From the big chain retailers to small independent tackle shops, the message to anglers is clear this Christmas – if you see it in stock, buy it now!
Angling’s booming popularity this year has led to a clamour for tackle, causing delays in the supply chain and the need for some adjustment of expectations from buyers and sellers alike.
There has been a surge in demand for fishing tackle
There have been more than 300,000 new anglers on the banks since the spring lockdown was lifted, and an astonishing 36,000 rod licences were sold in the traditionally quieter month of October alone. This has led to increased pressure on tackle manufacturers and retailers who are also battling the continued worldwide fallout from the Covid-19 pandemic.
“My advice to people is if they see an item they want on the shelves then buy it now because you just don’t know when it will be back in stock,” said Dave Eve of independent shop Castaway Tackle in Oxfordshire.
His sentiments have been echoed by James Bigmore, director of large online retailer Total Fishing Tackle, who told us:
“If it’s in stock with your local retailer or with us, just buy it. If it’s a good-selling item and you know it’s had good reviews then pick it up, because there’s no guarantee when stuff will come back into stock at the moment.”
Lack of stock explained
When fishing was banned in March, few could have predicted the sport would rebound so positively from May.
The rush to buy tackle took retailers and manufacturers, who had been preparing for a bumpy year, largely by surprise. When the surge in demand came, the Chinese factories where the majority of tackle is produced were already playing catch-up after enforced closures earlier in the year. The ripple effect also meant shipping-container space became limited, and prices naturally rose.
“You’ve got to remember that this surge in angling popularity isn’t just in Britain,” said James.
“This boom has been worldwide. Everyone is fighting for shipping space, and companies are struggling to get stock.”
Flying hooks and long delays
One trade source told Angling Times that a large British tackle company had begun flying its hooks into the country to circumvent shipping bottlenecks during the initial lockdown, but air freight prices soon quadrupled as carriers saw the potential to cash in.
Dave Eve added:
“One tackle company has got a container of bedchairs and chairs coming in around now, but it’s all sold on back order and the next one isn’t coming until July.
“We’re seeing most orders coming back with 30 or 40 per cent of it out of stock, though that’s the fast-moving items like terminal tackle. Where before we might be ordering one trade pack of items, we’re now ordering two or three trade packs if we know it’s popular stuff that won’t perish. Talking to the sales reps, everyone is doing the same, so it’s creating even more demand.”
Changing buying habits
“What we’ve seen this year is that customers aren’t as brand loyal as they might once have been,” said James Bigmore.
“Because there’s not as much choice as before, where once they might have only been looking for a Trakker bivvy they may now be looking at the Fox alternative.”
He added:
“There aren’t quite as many deals around at the moment and prices will stay very stable. We’re quite a big clearance buyer because we’ve got the space and capacity to buy end-of-line stock, but there hasn’t been as much available this year.
“However, we’ve still bought clearance from firms like Nash, Daiwa and Shimano, and we will still have Black Friday and Christmas sales. It’s been a tough year for some people and I think customers expect those deals to still take place.”
Looking good for 2021
Despite the current logjams in the supply chain, the picture is improving. James continued:
“We’ve got stock arriving every day and it’s definitely been getting quicker in the last six to eight weeks.
“We’ve placed orders based on what we’ve seen this year and hopefully, by next spring and summer, supplies will be back to normal and it should be one of the best years in a long while for the fishing trade.”
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
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!
NEW match fishing league to raise thousands for UK charities
AN ANGLER from Kent has created a match fishing league in a drive to raise £10,000 for three charities – and he wants you to fish in it!
Ian Hardie, 54, from Maidstone, is calling for up to 80 anglers to take part in the Togetherness Charity League, which will be hosted at Kent’s Lavender Farm Fishery during October 2020.
The competition will consist of five matches and, aside from raising vital funds for three incredible causes, participating anglers will also have the chance to win cash prizes and Preston Innovations tackle items.
Ian tells us:
“The main objective of the Togetherness Charity League is to further support the NHS Covid-19 Appeal, the SSAFA Armed Forces Charity and the Abbey Physics Community Garden – which is a local mental health charity that I work for.
“Abbey Physics is close to my heart, but considering what’s happened over the last three months, I couldn’t stay idle and knew I had to do something to help fight Covid-19 and support our war veterans – just like Colonel Tom Moore.”
The money raised from entry fees will be split equally across each of the three charities, and Ian is already working towards securing further prizes from the tackle trade.
The Togetherness Charity League logo
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
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
You have to give credit to the Angling Trust - Rob Hughes
First things first – I want to say a big thank you for the messages you’ve sent me throughout the lockdown, and also for the personal stories about what fishing means to you. There’s no question that angling is so much more than just something that we do. It’s a part of us, and we’ve got it back. Well done to everyone who has behaved impeccably and followed the guidelines thus far. It’s up to us now.
I’d also like to say a thank you to two people in particular, both key members of the Angling Trust: Martin Salter, whose knowledge and understanding of the political world allowed us to get into the heart of Government, and Jamie Cook the new CEO whose ambition and drive took us there. I genuinely believe that without these two we would still be in the queue to get out of lockdown.
It’s fair to say that I’ve been a critic of the Trust in the past. I still am in certain quarters. I joined and stepped up to the plate as an Ambassador and Consultant (totally unpaid but with loads of grief attached to it, before anyone mentions anything about gravy trains) as I wanted to help. As a sport, angling should punch its weight but it never really has.
Now look at what’s just happened as a prime example of what can be done with good leadership. Whatever you thought of the Trust in the past, let’s give the new fella a chance. Forget the old and move forwards for the future of our sport.
Jamie Cook has done a great job so far
New fishing lake to be named after WW2 veteran Tom Moore
A TOP Midlands fishery is honouring WW2 veteran Tom Moore by naming one of its newest lakes after him!
The owners of Peterborough’s Float Fish Farm and Fishery have been making the most of lockdown time by building two new match and pleasure waters, then they sought suggestions from more than 5,000 of their Facebook followers to name them.
Michael Brooker, the fishery’s on-site tackle shop manager, tells us:
“We asked the question on our Facebook page and among the suggestions was Captain Tom, which we later elaborated into Captain Tom’s Pond.
“It just felt right! The other lakes on our fishery are all named after birds, so we decided to call the second water Nightingale after the hospitals which have been built in response to the Covid-19 pandemic.”
Tom has raised nearly £33 million for the NHS following his fundraising walk, achieved a UK number one in the music charts and been promoted to the rank of colonel by British Army officials.
The fishery owners are now trying to reach out to Tom to see if he could officially open the lakes when restrictions are lifted.
“Both Dale and Elaine Hudson, who own the fishery, are keen to get in contact with Tom to get a potential date booked, but that might be difficult considering he’s a national celebrity!” Michael adds.
The lakes are expected to be finished and open for day tickets and match bookings by the end of July – subject to Government guidelines.
For updates on the lakes and more information about the fishery, visit or follow it on Facebook.
Dale and Elaine Hudson owners of Float Fish Farm on the banks of Captain Tom’s Pond
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.”
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’
Sport England has come to the rescue - Rob Hughes
AT last some good news for angling, and in particular angling clubs and organisations.
Sport England has put together an emergency fund of 20 million quid to help out sports clubs and community projects that are having problems as a result of the lockdown.
Angling clubs qualify for this too and it helps with things like rent, insurance and utility bills. There, are of course, certain criteria that have to be met, but that goes for anyone applying. Far too often angling clubs either don’t know, or find out too late, about these things and miss the boat. That’s not the case at the moment. The money is there in the bank waiting to be spent, and grants of between £300 and £10,000 can be applied for.
There’s been a rise in the number of clubs and community venues that are potentially in trouble, especially those with small memberships. Rents and renewals are often due in the old closed season – now – and cash is king when there are bills to pay. If they lose waters through lack of funds they’ll get poached relentlessly and there will only be pieces to pick up once we’re through all this.
If you can, please support your club by joining. For those of you reading this who sit on club committees, now’s the time to get applying for those funds.
Full information on how to apply can be found in the Community Emergency Fund section on Sport England’s website.
Report submitted to get anglers fishing again
A report entitled ‘When We Fish Again’ has been submitted to Cabinet Office Minister Michael Gove and the Fisheries and Sports Ministers.
The report, compiled by the Angling Trust, sets out the means by which recreational fishing could be permitted and draws on experience in other European countries including Germany, Holland, Denmark, the Czech Republic and Norway. In these countries, angling has been allowed to continue under certain conditions during the pandemic. This has provided significant benefits to both wellbeing and the economy, without having a detrimental impact on their efforts to combat COVID-19.
In the report, the Trust recommends a phased or ‘traffic light’ approach to the lifting of the COVID-19 restrictions.
Phase one, calls for recreational angling on lakes, rivers and sea to be added to the list of permissible activities subject to these guidelines:
Angling to be undertaken on a solitary basis - social distancing in accordance with government guidelines must be maintained at all times.
Local fishing only – anglers must follow current government guidance on travel for the benefit of recreational activity.
All freshwater anglers must be in possession of the relevant EA Fishing licence
Sea angling from beach and shore to resume along with small scale private boat fishing.
No sharing of fishing tackle or any other items
No sharing of fishing positions (swims) except by members of the same household
No angler to fish within 15 metres of any other angler
No keepnets or competition fishing
Online and electronic day ticket payments to be made wherever possible
Onsite shared facilities such as cafes and clubhouses to remain closed
Fisheries unable to adhere to these guidelines should remain closed until further notice
Anyone displaying symptoms of COVID-19, or who shares a household with any individual displaying symptoms, should not go fishing and should continue to follow government advice on isolation.
The report has been backed by national angling and fisheries groups including the Canal & River Trust, Salmon & Trout Conservation, the Institute of Fisheries Management and representatives of the angling trade.
Chairman of the All Party Parliamentary Angling Group, Sir Charles Walker MP said:
“I have spoken directly to the Minister for Tourism and Sport, Nigel Huddleston MP, to ask that angling, and other outdoor activities suited to social distancing, once again be given the green light. I explained to the Minister that the Angling Trust has produced a fantastic and detailed template as to how we can return, in a safe and responsible fashion, to the sport we love. The Trust’s plan provides a sensible and pragmatic way forward.”
Newly appointed CEO of the Angling Trust, Jamie Cook, was a key contributor to the report and is keen to get angling to the front of the queue, he said:
“We have demonstrated that angling in the UK could be permitted as a safe, healthy, beneficial outdoor activity.
“There is a large amount of evidence of the benefits angling has on both physical and mental health – it is prescribed by a number of NHS trusts as a proven therapy for mental wellbeing, and numerous military charities and organisations to combat PTSD.
“Fishing transcends social and physical boundaries, engages able-bodied and disabled participants alike, and with the majority of the population living within five miles of a waterway it can safely and practically be achieved without significant travel.”
For more information or to read the report in full, visit https://www.anglingtrust.net.
Watch the full video here: “When We Fish Again”