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.”
West Midlands leads licence growth boom
THE WEST Midlands accounted for the biggest rise in newcomers to angling in 2020, new figures have shown.
At the end of November 2020, there were just over 151,000 full licence holders in that region, a rise of 17 per cent over 12 months, with the region of Greater Manchester and Merseyside showing the next biggest increase (up 16.4 per cent to 86,000), followed by Cumbria and Lancashire (up 15.5 per cent to 45,000).
The figures, released by the Environment Agency, revealed that a further 12 regions showed an increase in participation during that timeframe, helping to contribute to an overall rise of 108,000 in the number of rod licence holders.
The West Midlands remains the region with the most overall licence holders, followed by East Anglia (133,000) and Yorkshire (105,000).
The EA also revealed how the overall growth in sales has continued in the months leading up to Christmas, in spite of the Covid pandemic and unfavourable weather conditions.
A spokesperson for the Agency told us:
“Despite traditionally being a quieter time of year for fishing, in October, 36,851 people bought a fishing licence, and a further 18,928 licences were sold in November.”
Rod licence sales continue to boom!
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
The positives for fishing in Lockdown Three
The break from the bank doesn't have to be all negative. As we witnessed in the first lockdown, it could bring many benefits to fishing as a sport…
Club boom
Mirfield AC in Yorkshire used the first lockdown to create 25 platforms on a stretch of canal.
“You wouldn’t believe how many club books we sold off the back of just doing that,” said club president Martyn Highe.
“We’re going to use this lockdown to create 50 platforms on the River Calder and permanently peg a new stretch of canal we’ve acquired at Knottingley.”
Mirfield AC in Yorkshire used the first lockdown to create 25 platforms on a stretch of canal
Day-ticket improvements
Tony Bridgefoot, owner of Bluebell Lakes, said:
“I’ve been in this position several times before with flooding and I always try to take the positives from a negative situation. This lockdown will give us time to create permanent stock fencing so we don’t lose any fish to floods, and create better drainage to control the flow of water. It’ll also give me time to think about how I implement restrictions on angler numbers across the site, because last spring we had every swim occupied 24/7 and I don’t think it helped the stock or the natural surroundings.”
Bluebell will be using the time to build stock fencing and plan management of returning anglers
Trade catch-up
Fishing surged in 2020, leaving some manufacturers and shops unable to keep up with demand. This hiatus could see a welcome replenishment of stock.
The Angling Trust’s Martin Salter said:
“If we are going to have a lockdown it’s probably the best time of year for it. My contacts in the trade aren’t anywhere near as distressed as they were last spring.”
This lockdown could well have come at the best time of year for tackle shops
No fishing in England during new lockdown
Fishing in England is banned under new lockdown laws
Angling has been banned in England despite high-level government representations from the Angling Trust.
Fishing can still continue, with tight restrictions, in Scotland and Wales, but Downing Street looks set to keep anglers away from English waters for at least six weeks.
Before the decision was made, the Angling Trust wrote to sports minister Oliver Dowden setting out how angling could continue safely. Key points included angling’s solitary nature, the fact the majority of the population live within five miles of a waterway and that allowing angling would reduce pressure on other public spaces.
The Angling Trust continues to put the case for angling to government
Trust campaign manager Martin Salter told us:
“We made our arguments and we disagreed with the government’s decision, but it was not entirely unexpected. I suspect they felt the need to give the public a serious wake-up call, and sadly fishing has been caught up in that.
He added:
“At every twist and turn from last March right through last year we’ve kept making the case that angling isn’t a problem, and we did that successfully. This time around we are obviously concerned with infection rates higher than back in March and higher than when we locked down. We had a feeling that this might be a lot more challenging.”
Mr Salter said the trust is preparing an updated version of its When We Fish Again proposal, which paved the way for angling’s resumption last spring.
He said:
“Anglers can rest assured when we judge there’s a reasonable likelihood of success we will push for angling to be one of the first activities allowed to resume. And this time with the benefit of a whole lot of experience.
“With a few notable examples of idiocy, the angling community has responded responsibly to our calls. The vast majority are acutely aware of the need to act sensibly and be ambassadors for the sport we all love.”
The Angling Trust is preparing an updated version of its When We Fish Again proposal, which paved the way for angling’s resumption last spring
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
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.
Angling coaches honoured for 1,000+ hours free coaching
THREE angling coaches have been honoured for giving up over 1,000 hours of their free time to help anyone who wanted to go fishing during the pandemic.
Bryan Dray, Pat Byrne and Ian Halliwell, of Wellingborough and District Nene AC, finished runners-up at the Nene Valley Partnerships Volunteers Stars of the Year awards for services to the sport.
The coaches at Wellingborough and District Nene AC
“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.”
Fisheries set for busiest winter ever as licence sales soar...again!
THE BOOM in angling participation has shown no signs of slowing down this month, with many venues reporting unprecedented numbers of visitors for the time of year.
After angling’s busiest-ever summer, it was anticipated that numbers on the bank would tail off as temperatures started to fall, but reports suggest quite the opposite, with fisheries saying business is still booming.
Surrey’s Bury Hill Fishery is one of the venues enjoying a productive autumn, as staff member Ian Chennell revealed:
“I’d say there’s probably a 40 per cent increase on the usual numbers we’d experience at this time of year. We sold a lot of memberships for our carp and predator waters, and these anglers keep coming back.
“In particular, we’ve had a lot more people interested in catching pike and zander, so as the temperatures fall, we hope these guys will keep fishing for these winter species.”
A similar trend has been witnessed further north at East Yorkshire’s Starcarr Lakes.
“We’ve had unprecedented numbers on our banks” said fishery boss Shane Turrell.
“I expect things to drop off a bit more when it gets really cold and the bream begin to back off, but if only half the people come who are currently visiting, we’ll still be doing much better than usual.”
In addition to the continued surge in bankside numbers, the Environment Agency has reported yet another boom in rod licence sales, with 36,851 people buying or renewing their licence in October.
This suggests the influx of newcomers to the sport is continuing unabated. An EA spokesperson told us:
“Despite colder weather, we continue to see thousands of people buying licences. We hope this shows that the current popularity of fishing isn’t just a summer trend but the revival of a much-loved sport.”
People can’t get enough of fishing and now look set to hit the banks all winter too!
Call for kit donations to tackle mental health
THE FOUNDER of a newly-formed social club is appealing to the angling community for tackle donations in a drive to bring fishing to people struggling with poor mental health.
Tackling Minds is the brainchild of lifelong angler Dave Lyons, who’s started running free fishing sessions at Hollingworth Lake in Lancashire to provide incentives for those suffering from loneliness, addiction and homelessness.
He said:
“Having previously suffered with poor mental health I know exactly what people are going through, especially at a time like this, so I created Tackling Minds.
“Our aim is to gather enough fishing tackle to run a regular group and teach the wider community how influential fishing can be in life progression.”
Alongside his call-out for tackle, Dave is looking to expand on his team of volunteers and coaches. To donate your old and disused tackle or to volunteer your services, email your interest to Dave at fishing@tacklingminds.org.
Donated tackle will help teach those struggling with mental health to go fishing
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!
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