Displaying items by tag: fishing

Earlier in the year a phone conversation had me on the edge of my seat, during a visit to Northern France some friends had found a venue that seem to fit the requirements we looked for in a new venue. What was needed was for some anglers to go over and test fish the venue and was I up for it, was I ever!

From the description it sounded like my type of water, very lightly fished as far as the Carp are concerned and very little known about its potential. My friends were very excited about the venue and couldn’t wait to get back to fish it, having found the water on Google Earth I had to agree, it seemed to be everything we looked for, having arms and bays as well as little creeks to provide the intrigue and challenge we required.

A few phone calls and Paul Johnson a friends and Carp fishing stalwart agreed to join me, having caught many big fish from French waters Paul knows what is required, we had hoped that Rod Bird (Birdy) would also be joining us but things didn’t work out so it was just Paul and myself. After liaising with the local Mason de Peche everything was in place and we were ready to go. Our friends had gone out the week before us and had been fortunate enough to have caught fish to 52lbs so we were really buzzing.

At last the 18th April arrived and with Pauls X Trail loaded to the gunnels we made for the ferry arriving at the port a little before 7am, even the drizzle couldn’t dampen our enthusiasm. We travelled courtesy of Brittany Ferries and I have to say that we were very impressed with good food and hospitality we had an extremely comfortable crossing. As Paul had been at work until 11pm on Friday night and we had made a very early start we had the use of a cabin which was clean and comfortable with excellent facilities. This allowed a few hours sleep and a nice hot shower before the we arrived in France.

After a short, by French standards, uneventful drive we pulled into the small village in Northern France and found the little hotel where we were to meet up with Frederick from the local Mason de Peche. We found Frederick waiting for us in the hotel in the small local town, after a nice cold beer we got down to business. Several areas had been identified as having potential so with permits and maps in hand we followed Frederick on the short drive to the lake. After looking at several spots we elected to fish an arm that narrowed under a bridge before opening out into the main lake again. But what a lake this was, it was exactly as it had been described absolutely beautiful, virtually untouched virgin Carp water buried deep in the French county side, heaven.

Unfortunately it was still drizzling so getting the gear sorted was a bit of a damp job but who cares we have 10 days Carp fishing ahead of us on a totally unspoilt water with unknown potential, nothing could put us down. The Federation de Peche had very kindly provided us with the use of a boat for the duration and while we got the bivvies up the boat was rowed round to our chosen swim. With the gear sorted we set about getting some rods out, as time was now getting on and with the light going we opted for PVA bags for the night and to have a proper look around in the morning. As we could park the car right behind us life was a lot easier than it might have been and we didn’t need to have everything in the bivvies. After a good meal it was time to sit back, relax and enjoy the atmosphere. Total tranquillity surrounded us, frogs croaked in the rushes and birds sang in the trees as the light melted into darkness and in the margins the Bream and Roach cavorted in their annual sexual rituals. Away in the darkness the odd fish could be heard to roll and splash but we could not tell what they were on this moonless night. We would have no moon until the last couple of days when a new moon would rise, is that good or bad? Some think it’s good to have no moon others think it make little difference, I’m unconvinced either way.

After a hearty breakfast we sorted out the sounder and the electric outboard and spent the next few hours getting to know our swim, Frederick had told us yesterday that the lake was the highest they had ever known it so all depths were well above normal. The massive influx of new water also meant that the lake was very coloured, depths varied from 7ft in the margin to 27ft at the deepest with bars, gullies and plateaus everywhere these along with the marginal features such as overhanging bushes and fallen trees gave plenty of marks to try our luck. With spots chosen and markers in place we baited with beds of particles and boilies, a tactic that has always stood us in good stead on these types of waters in the past, now with baits in position we could relax a little. We knew it wasn’t going to be easy but that didn’t seem to matter our surroundings and the lake seemed to overcome all.

As we settled back with a nice coffee Sebastian from the Federation de Peche arrived bringing us large laminated maps of the lake along with other bits of information. What a lovely guy his wife has just given birth to their first child and he has dragged out to brings us maps etc and check everything is OK, now that’s what I call service. Congratulations on the birth of your daughter Sebastian.

Over the next six days we worked hard at our fishing trying everything we could think of, we caught a number of the double figured Commons but the bigger fish eluded us. These Commons are absolutely pristine and scale perfect, most having never been caught before fight like absolute demons. When that buzzer sounded you had no idea what was on the other end, they were all one toners and when you picked up the rod it slammed round into a battle curve that would have done bigger fish credit.

Over these six days the weather proves to be very erratic with temperatures ranging from 10c to 26.6c during the daytime with a strong northerly blowing straight into us for most of the time. On the Sunday morning I placed a marker at the waters edge, by the Friday the water level had dropped nearly 3ft, the waters edge was now some 15ft from my marker.

On the Thursday the wind swung round and was now blowing away from us and all signs of fish had disappeared so after much deliberation we made the decision to move to a new spot about 1.5k around the lake into a large bay. After breakfast on Friday morning the big upheaval began, we loaded the boat and the rest of the gear went back into the motor, as Paul set of down the lake in the boat I checked the site and made sure we left no rubbish (the one thing we had noticed was that there seemed to be no rats) before setting off around the road. Andy Judd and Pete Truckle arrived at the lake on the Friday and would be fishing for a week they were to start on another lake in the area.

Once again we could get the motor right to the swim which was a bonus as when we picked the spot we thought we would have to boat the gear in, although this nearly proved to be a major problem, more later.

Quickly getting sorted, it was out in the boat to suss out the new area, 7ft in the margin quickly dropping to 17ft and then gradually to 24ft with some deeper areas dropping to 28ft. The main features found were the occasional bar rising maybe a couple of feet off the bottom, deep margins and the numerous tree stumps. Again we baited with beds of particles and boilies, concentrating 4 rods in the deeper water and bars with the other 4 rods being fished in the shallower water and margins. The weather continued to be very erratic with Monday being a day of torrential rain. This brings us to the problem Tuesday morning brought more rain with the sun re-appearing later in the afternoon. With the drive back to the ferry in the morning we decide to start getting sorted and pack up what we could Paul left to get rid of the rubbish bags at the local drop off but was quickly back. He could not get out even with the 4 wheel drive the torrential rain had made it impossible, Paul only had normal road tyres on and not all terrain and they just would not grip. Eventually I suggested trying it in reverse which got him a lot further up and with me shoving for all I’m worth we managed to get out, so the motor stayed out on the hard standing for the night. Later Andy Judd dropped round for a chat, they had pulled off the lake they started on and were now about .75k further round the lake.

Wednesday morning saw us boating the gear along the lake to the motor and hauling it up a very steep incline. We had promised Andy and Pete any water we had left so Andy came round to collect it and very kindly gave us a hand with the gear, thanks mate.

We had again fished hard over our final 5 days but no more Carp were caught although as we packed up on the Wednesday morning we had a couple of very nice fish roll by our markers, what would another night have brought? Over the course of the 12 days we were out there we spoke to some local Carp anglers who confirmed that fish to 25k plus have been caught from the lake a fact further confirmed by the guys from the Federation de Peche.

One thing is for sure we will be going back, this is a cracking venue in a lovely location with its full potential still to be realised. This is certainly my type of water, this venue has everything needed, a reasonable head of fish with the potential of some very big fish and it is challenging, what more could you want. I occasionally fish commercial waters but much prefer this type of venue, maybe it’s the pioneering spirit, the unknown!

Our thanks to Sebastian, Frederick and everyone at the Federation de Peche for making us so welcome, we feel privileged to have been given the opportunity to fish such a cracking venue.

See you on the bank sometime, somewhere!

Tight Lines, Ralph
It’s just nice to be here a fish is a bonus.

Legislation regarding Crayfish in England and Wales: Save a species and stay legal! UK Fisherman are constantly being asked about the legalities surrounding Crayfish and trapping them. We hope the following, courtesy of the South West Crayfish Project helps.

White-clawed Crayfish

It is illegal to take white-clawed crayfish from the wild or offer for sale without a licence.  EU Habitats Directive and UK Wildlife and Countryside Act, 1981 (as amended) legislation

It is illegal to handle native crayfish in England without a licence from Natural England.

It is illegal to trap any species of crayfish without licensing from the Environment Agency.

Non-native Crayfish

It is illegal to release, or allow to escape, any non-native species into the wild in the UK except under licence.  Wildife and Countryside Act 1981, (as amended)

It is illegal to keep any crayfish in England and Wales, except under licence (with specific exemption areas for signal crayfish, refer to DEFRA - Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs).  The Prohibition of Keeping of Live Fish (Crayfish) Order 1996 (as amended), made under the Import of Live Fish (England and Wales) Act 1980,

It is illegal to trap any species of crayfish without licensing from the Environment Agency.

It is illegal to release crayfish without a licence, or allowing them to escape

It is illegal to trap, trade or farm any species of crayfish commercially without licence. The Prohibition of Keeping of Live Fish (Crayfish) Order 1996

Any person farming crayfish must register their business with The Fish Health Inspectorate, CEFAS - Centre for the Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science.
Recent cases of otters drowning in illegal crayfish traps have been recorded. Traps with an entrance greater than 95mm internal diameter must be fitted with an otter guard. National Crayfish Byelaw 2005.

Fish Stocking

The movement of fish within all inland waters in England and Wales is regulated by the Environment Agency.  Section 30 of the Salmon and Freshwater Fisheries Act 1975

Regulation is important as crayfish plague can be transported on fish scales and damp equipment during fish stocking.  The introduction of large fish into river systems can also disturb the balance of freshwater communities and result in an increased predation of juvenile white-clawed crayfish.

Suppliers

North American signal crayfish are the only species that can be trapped and traded commercially.  All persons farming or holding non-native crayfish must have a licence and be registered with The Fish Health Inspectorate, CEFAS.  The Prohibition of Keeping of Live Fish (Crayfish) Order 1996 (as amended)

Some areas may not require licences to keep North American signal crayfish.  Please refer to: www.defra.gov.uk/fish/freshwater/pdf/licreq.pdf

It is illegal to trap any species of crayfish without licensing from the Environment Agency.

Restaurants and Markets

Hotels, restaurants and fish markets do not require a licence to hold crayfish if all crayfish held is for direct human consumption only.

It is illegal to release crayfish without a licence, or allowing them to escape

Waterside Management

In areas where angling clubs manage waterways, such as river banks, it may be possible to manage and enhance the habitat to benefit both native crayfish and target fish species, such as brown trout.

Contact the Environment Agency for consent to any in-channel or bank side work.  To check whether the site is subject to any special designations, contact Natural England.



References and sourcing

Search for crayfish legislation:

www.environment-agency.gov.uk/
www.defra.gov.uk/
www.cefas.co.uk/

Document: Crayfish and River Users: The Wildlife Trusts and Environment Agency.
www.environment-agency.gov.uk/static/documents/crayfish_and_river_users_pdf.pdf

Further information wildlife and fish species (including crayfish):
www.environment-agency.gov.uk/homeandleisure/recreation/fishing/31491.aspx

For further information on the South West Crayfish Project:
www.bristolzoo.org.uk/resources/documents/Conservation%20pages/projects/Foundation_Crayfish_insert.pdf

In a ground-breaking Decision, over three years in the making, the Information Commissioner has overwhelmingly endorsed Fish Legal’s case that hitherto secret and redacted Environmental Risk Assessments of pyrethroid sheep dip must be disclosed in full.

Although currently suspended from the market, pyrethroid sheep dips have been responsible for huge damage to invertebrate and fisheries in upland streams and rivers across the UK.

In his Decision (FER0137609), the Commissioner has ruled that the Veterinary Medicines Directorate, part of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA):

- did not deal with Fish Legal’s request for information according to the law;
- did not deal with Fish Legal’s request within legal time limits;
- unlawfully withheld information relating to emissions to the environment;
- unlawfully refused to disclose information in order to protect the commercial confidentiality of sheep dip manufacturers;
- was not entitled to refuse to disclose information to protect manufacturers’ intellectual property rights;
- was not entitled to refuse to disclose information on grounds that it was the subject of internal communications

Guy Linley-Adams, Head of Legal at Fish Legal said:
“We believe this decision now drives a coach and horses straight through the cosy licensing procedure for all veterinary medicines and pesticides in the UK.

If residues of these or any other pesticides can find their way into the wider environment, they are to be considered as ‘emissions’ under European law. This has the effect of lifting the cloak of commercial confidentiality that has for so long shrouded the licensing of pesticides in the UK.

Public authorities cannot by law keep secret environmental information relating to emissions to protect manufacturers’ commercial confidentiality.

Over the three years this has taken, we have always believed that this would be the Commissioner’s decision.”

Fish Legal, acting on behalf of anglers across the UK, believes that the risk to the aquatic environment of the use of synthetic pyrethroid dips in real farm situations is just too great and now calls on the Government to make the current temporary suspension permanent.

Mark Lloyd, Chief Executive of Fish Legal and the Angling Trust said:
“Fish Legal, and the Anglers’ Conservation Association before it, has battled for years on behalf of our members to win access to this information, which is vitally important to the investigation and assessment of environmental damage from these pesticides.”

A full copy of the Decision is available from guy.linleyadams@fishlegal.net

Cranbrook and District Angling Club is offering a reward of £7,500 for information that leads to the arrest and conviction of poachers that have netted and stolen specimen fish and left other fish to die on the bank on one of their club waters.

The reward money includes:

• £500 put forward by our friends at Linton Angling Society
• £500 by Carp-Talk magazine
• £500 by Chris Lodgson at Mid Kent Fisheries
• £5000 by Angling Times magazine

It is hoped that other angling clubs in the South East will join them in offering a reward; we are all at risk from these sorts of criminals.

Other clubs or fishery owners that wish to pledge a reward or anybody wishing to pass on information regarding this matter should please contact Kevin Webb, Cranbrook and District Angling Club Secretary, at info@cranbrookanglingclub.co.uk

All information received will be treated in strictest confidence and will be handed over to the Police, the Environment Agency and the Angling Trust.

Lac du Logerie is an exciting new French carp fishing venue opening in April 2010. Their 11 acre lake offers superb fishing for large, excellent quality carp in a spectacular yet intimate environment. Lac du Logerie is located in the Vienne region of France and is approximately 4 hours drive from Le Havre with the average weight of carp around 21lbs and a large number of 30 - 35lb fast growing mirrors and commons.
	Address: La Puye, Vienne region, France
	Species: mirror carp, common carp
	Tel: 0033 549 47 53 05
	Prices: visit website for packages and prices
	Website: lacdulogerie.com

One and a half hours east of Vancouver, on the edge of the Canadian Rockies, is the Town of Chilliwack. Because of its fertile agricultural land, miners heading for the gold rush in the Fraser River canyon, settled the area in the mid nineteenth century. Today the region has become famous for a treasure of a different kind, the mighty white sturgeon and an incredible abundance of salmon.

Devasted by commercial fishing and dam programs in the once great sturgeon rivers of the US, the angler seeking a virtually guaranteed trophy photo of one these prehistoric creatures, should head to the Fraser River, British Columbia. Here they are strictly protected and can be found in both large numbers and impressive size. Sturgeon take a long time to reach maturity, twenty to twenty five years infact, so it is vital they are looked after.

Also, they will only spawn every four to seven years. The upsides are that they law eggs in vast numbers and can live to an enviable age of 150 years.

Arriving in mid October I was concerned about the onset of a Canadian winter and how it might make fishing uncomfortable. As it turned out the temperature for much of my week there was 60-74f. Whilst snow blanketed Toronto further east, the deflecting effect of the Rocky Mountain range and the temperate maritime climate of the Vancouver region combined to give me an added bonus to the fishing.

I was booked in at the Rhombus Hotel, the meeting point for anglers and their guides every morning. I was to fish four days, two for salmon and two for sturgeon. On my first day I was collected by Mike Barnes, a genial giant with a lumberjack's handshake. The huge pick-up truck towed the jet boat to the launch point just a mile or so away. The launch area is a bit of a free for all as keen guides and ever keener anglers are eager to start fishing.

We positioned ourselves at the mouth of the Harrison River which flows into the Fraser. Two rods were rigged with spoons set on downriggers in the hope of a King (Chinook) Salmon. These fish are immense, in both size and power.
They have been caught up to 100lb in the Fraser River, although the average is around 30lb. Sadly we did not manage to boat one of these mighty fish, two escaped from the barbless hook but we did manage a fair few chum salmon, prevelant at this time of year, sharp toothed, mean, aggressive and powerful in their own right. Sitting quietly in the boat, with salmon leaping all around us and eagles circling overhead, this was a truly memorable first day.

Day two was a sturgeon day. My guide was Matt Molloy, a slim, friendly fisherholic. Matt keeps a photo album on his boat which would make any fly angler green with envy. Inside are pictures of huge steelhead caught in winter and pristine, wild rainbows of impressive size caught further up in the Rockies, all on the fly. His tales of black widow spiders frequenting the banks of his hidden lakes, made me think that perhaps the winter steelhead might be the better option personally. Either that or use a float tube!

Stout rods, multipliers and heavy leads to keep the bait static in the fast current were now the armoury. A mesh bag of salmon eggs dipped in a secret formula was the menu du jour. We didn't have to wait long before the ratchet started to click and a sturgeon slowly moved off with the bait. My strike was met with solid resistance as the rod hooped over and line worked its way off the spool. The line rose in the water and the fish created a knee wobbling swirl just beneath the surface. After a ten minute tussle, my first ever sturgeon was ready to be brought into the boat. Estimated at around 50-60lb, this wasn't a big fish by Fraser River standards but I was more than pleased. The fish is unlike anything else that swims, a total throwback to a prehistoric time. Tiny eyes, huge barbules, and armour plating along its lateral line and the centre of the back. Another 4 sturgeon at regular intervals took us into the afternoon. Then it happened, what we were waiting for, the big one. This time, when the hook was set, the rod was nearly wrenched from my arms. Lined poured off the reel at an unstoppable pace, a huge displacement of water silenced us both. Then, in a second, the line went solid. The fish had found one of the many submerged trees, dragged into the water by floods. I felt distraught. Judging by the movement of water created by the fish, Matt reckoned it could have been 10ft plus.

We fished on and was rewarded by four more sturgeon, including a wonderful fish measuring 6' 6" (sturgeon are measured, not weighed here prior to release). Stories of monster sturgeon hooked in the Fraser canyon but completely impossible to move, now seemed much more believable.

By the end of the day my groin was feeling more than a little sore. Matt reserves the butt pad for the monsters and makes you feel like a big girl if you request one on anything else. This is Canada.

Day three was a flyfishing for salmon day. Once again, the Harrison River played host to guide Glenn, originally from L.A. and myself. If you ever want to practise your casting as well as guarantee catching salmon on the fly, there can be few places finer. As with all fishing here, it is done with barbless hooks. On one cast I managed to hook three consecutive salmon.
Each one escaped. You are actually standing in amongst the salmon, there are that many. Once every two years they also get a run of pink salmon to add to the bounty. This river system is too incredible to describe.

My final days fishing was to be with Matt again, heading downstream this time. The use of a electronic equipment enable fishing locations to be found and recorded and are invaluable when paying customers need their fill of sturgeon. Matt's use of this equipment was invaluable. Surprisingly, for such a massive waterway, we were only fishing in water averaging depths of around 16ft. The eggs and secret formula were once again irresistible to the sturgeon. I notched up ten good sized sturgeon before Matt decided, for the last hour, to try another mark. One that had produced some big fish in the past but had not come up with the goods recently.

The sun was dipping between the mountains, still bathing us in warmth, the air was completely still as Matt picked up three very large fish on the sounder. Almost shaking with hope rather than anticipation, would we get one last chance at a big girl?

We launched the baits and settled down, transfixed on the rod tips and not muttering a sound. We did not want to risk disturbing the fish by any vibration through the aluminium hull. No more than five minutes had passed when the right hand rod nodded then pulled over. Once again the hook set was met with huge resistance. The line rose as the fish surged towards the surface. It cleared the water with an acrobatic leap, silhouetted against the setting sun it was an unforgettable sight. I gave everything, not wanting the fish to find a sunken tree. It was all I could think about. Matt was grinning and seeing a different side to me as I gave no quarter. I lost track of time throughout the tug of war and when the fish finally succumbed, the feeling of relief suddenly lurched into jubilation. Matt had been on his mobile to a friend and his partner who were fishing nearby. They motored over to us and helped with measuring, weighing and photographs. I could barely lift its head! It measured 7ft 2". Each year, fish much larger than mine are caught but that doesn't matter to me. I got what I came for, and then some. Nineteen sturgeon in two days and more salmon than I could count.

I have been forunate in that I have fished in many places around the world, so far this tops the lot.

You're getting ready for you carp fishing expedition to France.  Now all you need to know is what you should take along with you.  Of course you know the obvious like the bait and tackle.  What some fishermen do not realise is the essential items needed for carp fishing in France.

Yes there are some very important items that are on the “must take with me” list.  Knowing what they will ensure that you’re well prepared to catch that big carp while fishing in France.  Of course every angler should take into consideration the health and care of the fish.

The Must Take List

1. A good quality un-hooking mat. 
   With care for the carp in mind the use of a un-hooking mat becomes essential for fishing in France.  The ground itself can damage the fish’s eyes, scales or even break bones. 
   
   Using a un-hooking mat with handles you can carry the fish back to the water and release it with care. 
   
   
2. 50 inch landing net. 
   A good landing net should have a 50” mouth or opening.  This will allow you to easily get the carp into the net.  Landing the fish with a big net will also lessen the stress on the fish.  Proper use of the net is a must, especially for fishing in France.  Always grab the net halfway down the handle.  It allows for better control and there is a less chance that the landing net handle will break.  With better control you will be able ensure that you don’t bump the net into the fish’s head thus causing more damage then necessary.
   
   
3. Klinik carp care antiseptic. 
   Using the antiseptic will give your catch a head start recovery.  This is very important when it comes to the proper care of your catch.  One shot after removing the hook will sterilize the wound.  Klinik also speeds up the natural healing process.  One bottle has enough antiseptic to treat 300 carp.
   
   
4. Good variety of bait.
   This is important for obvious reasons.  If you’re using a single type of bait and get nothing, you’re going to want to change.  Well if you don’t have what is needed to get the big ones to bite you're in for long fishing trip.  So, always carry a variety of carp bait.
   
   
5. Marker rod. 
   You want to know where to place your bait.  Sure there are the obvious places like overhanging trees and weed beds but what about the sand bars and rock beds.  You need to know where these areas are and a target is nice to have.  With the use of a marker rod while fishing in France you will have this much needed target.  Just place your bait near it and your sure to bring them in.
   
   
6. PVA bags, netting and string. 
   A favorite among many carp fishing is the PVA bag.  This method can be red hot if done properly.  There are many anglers who will spend hours preparing their bags prior to the carp fishing trip.  Using PVA bags can be successful for you while the rest of the anglers on the lake are left with nothing.
   
   
7. Catapult. 
   A catapult is great for short distance baiting and making a good spread of bait around your hook. They are not so useful at long distances, so you may want to consider a spod rod. This will bring the carp near your hook and hopefully improve your catch. 

There are of course other items that you might want to bring along with you on your carp fishing trip to France.  The biggest thing to keep in mind is the care of the fish prior to releasing it back into the water.  Always take care of the fish and they can increase your fishing experience for years to come.

The Angling Trust and its partners in the Our Rivers Coalition met with Environment Minister Huw Irranca-Davies by the Thames on Wednesday ahead of the publication of controversial plans for the UK’s waterways.

Earlier this year, a report revealed that three quarters of rivers in England and Wales are failing European targets on environmental quality. But in the majority of cases the Environment Agency’s official plans – due to be published next month - fail to set out action to tackle the problems such as pollution from fertilisers and over abstraction, which threaten river wildlife.

The Our Rivers Campaign was set up by the Angling Trust, the Association of Rivers Trusts, the RSPB and WWF UK, to help encourage people who know and care about their local river to fill the gaps in understanding.

In an attempt to persuade him to make last minute changes to the plans, campaigners met with Mr Irranca-Davies by the bank of the Thames to hand over a map of all the rivers adopted by supporters, river action groups and MPs during the campaign.

Mark Lloyd, chief executive of the Angling Trust said “The Water Framework Directive presented the Environment Agency with a once-in-a-generation opportunity to transform our rivers and the way that they we manage water, and the land around it.

"But the draft plans are lacking in ambition, they fail to capture the knowledge of anglers and others who have an intimate knowledge of their rivers and much of the information in them is simply incorrect. These new plans don’t even offer a vision of what we would like to achieve, let alone how we might achieve it. If Government fails to make significant changes before the plans are published, they will have blown it. Anglers are dismayed”.
 
“The problems are plain to see – pollution killing fish and causing algae and weed to choke our water ways, river beds drying up, invasive species like signal crayfish destroying riverbank ecosystems and more besides,” said RSPB conservation director Mark Avery.
“These plans are supposed to provide a blueprint for bringing the standard of our rivers up to an acceptable level, but there is so much vital information missing it’s difficult to have confidence in them. The whole publication is like a crossword with most of the clues missing – and unless changes are made now we will never get the solutions that our ailing rivers so desperately need.”
Arlin Rickard, director of the Association of Rivers Trusts, said: “Our members were asked to feed into these plans with positive proposals for how to deal with the many environmental problems our rivers are struggling against.

“But despite our extensive knowledge of local rivers gained through many years of dedicated conservation work along their banks, many of our suggestions have failed to appear in the final plans which are limited in their vision. We are doing all we can to help the Government meet its 2015 water target but currently there is a lack of clarity as to how the work on the ground will be funded or delivered.”

Anglers have reacted with dismay to the news that Severn Trent Water is to close Draycote Reservoir to all angling until further notice. Severn Trent claims that the closure is due to the planned redevelopment of the visitors’ centre at the reservoir, but planning permission has not yet been agreed for the work. The company is not restricting access to other users during the period of the works; sailing, birdwatching and walking will all still be allowed.

Anglers are very concerned that when the work is finished, the Company will stop angling on large parts of the reservoir, as they did at Foremark Reservoir early in 2009, for what were widely regarded as spurious ‘health and safety’ reasons.

Thousands of anglers fish the reservoir each year and they are furious that this decision was made without consultation – mirroring what happened at Foremark. Severn Trent makes much of the fact on its web site that it has a CAREAG (Conservation, Access, Recreation & Education Advisory Group) with which it is meant to consult, but this group was not advised of the plans until they were finalised. The Angling Trust is calling on the Company to admit that it has failed in its corporate responsibility to the community.

Angling Trust Chief Executive Mark Lloyd said: “As the National Governing Body for angling, we are outraged that this huge water company is banning all angling without any consultation, not even with its loyal customers. Our research shows that many more people would go fishing if there were more access to waters. Anything which reduces access is therefore bad news, and disastrous for people living near the reservoir who rely on it for their fishing as well as those hotels and B&Bs which supply overnight accommodation to anglers visiting the water.”
The Angling Trust is writing to Tony Wray, the Chief Executive of Severn Trent demanding a meeting to discuss the situation and the Company’s future attitude to angling. The Trust will also be asking the Government why there is no organisation with responsibility for regulating water companies’ responsibilities with regard to provision of recreation.

The Angling Trust works alongside the Angling Development Board which is funded by Sport England to grow and sustain participation in angling. The disastrous decision at Draycote will impact on the two organisations’ work in this area and will decrease the social and economic benefits of such a major fishery to the local community. Anglers travel from all over the country to fish Draycote and the ban means that they will no longer be spending money in the area around the reservoir.

Many anglers have achieved instructors’ or coaching qualifications or awards such as STANIC and C25 dating back five or more years and which are no longer adequate to become a licensed coach. A scheme launched by the Angling Development Board (ADB) gives these anglers the chance to upgrade to the modern coaching qualification compatible with other sports and the UK Coaching Certificate.

Jackie Sheldon, Senior Development Manager for the ADB explains;

‘Through the UKCC Source Group and our Coach Steering Group, the ADB has developed ‘bridging packs’ which will enable these instructors to meet requirements for becoming ADB licensed coaches and will be accepted by Local Authorities, County Sports Partnerships and schools throughout England and eventually the UK.’

‘We are expecting at least 80 applications for this opportunity and hope it will encourage many lapsed coaches into being more active and getting involved in all the new angling initiatives starting around the country.’

Anyone holding an angling qualification or award other than the 1st4sport Certificate in Coaching Angling can apply using the ‘Recognised Prior Learning’ (RPL) forms on the Angling Trust – ADB website where the process is explained.  It usually includes one day of additional training plus a two-day assessment. The cost of the upgrade has been reduced to £80 by funding secured by the ADB and many applicants will also be eligible for grants, sponsorship and bursaries to offset this cost.  Help is available on this from the ADB office or its Regional staff.