The £65,000 Fund will make awards of up to £5,000 to eligible organisations for buying equipment, to make habitat improvements or for projects that get people fishing and support the aims of the National Angling Strategy ‘Fishing for Life’.

Importantly, applications to the Fund from commercial fisheries are welcome and clubs and organisations do not need to be members or be Angling Trust affiliated to apply.

Potential applicants are invited to visit the National Angling Strategy page at the Angling Trust website, where they can download a copy of the application form, eligibility criteria and additional guidance.

Applications must be posted or emailed to reach the Angling Trust by Tuesday 17th February 2015, and successful organisations must be able to spend the award by no later than the end of March.

Sarah Chare, Head of Fisheries at the Environment Agency, said:

“This fund is just one way we spend rod licence income with partners to support anglers.  I am looking forward to see the great results these projects will bring.”

Mark Lloyd, Chief Executive, Angling Trust said:

“I am delighted that these funds are being made available from rod licence sales to help angling clubs and commercial fisheries improve their facilities for the benefit of fish and fishing.  Because of unavoidable delays to the announcement of the fund, we urge applicants to get in touch as soon as possible.  We will work very hard to respond rapidly after the deadline for applications so that people can get on with spending the money in preparation for the new season.”

Source: Angling Trust Fishing News

To help restore fish numbers, specialist fish contractors, MEM Fisheries, transferred fish from the Aylesbury Basin at the end of the canal and also from Westbrook Mere, a popular carp fishing lake in Hemel Hempstead. The fish were caught using large nets, placed in special bins filled with clean water and transported by trailer to the canal.

John Ellis, national fisheries and angling manager at the Canal & River Trust, said: “Back in 2013 pollution entered the canal near the village of Buckland killing a vast number of fish and affecting the fishery along a two mile stretch of the canal.  Thankfully we have now been able to restock the canal by relocating fish from the canal basin and those donated from the Boxmoor & District Angling Society who

Dick Pilkinton, from Tring Anglers, said: “Our fishery was massively affected when the canal became polluted and it got to the point when there was a huge part of the canal that couldn’t be fished. On average it would take eight years for the fish population to recover on its own so I’m delighted we have managed to speed this process up and once again fish this part of the canal.”

Mike Heylin OBE, secretary to the Boxmoor & District Angling Society, said: “This lake is principally a carp fishery so when we heard that the canal needed some extra fish we  offered the Trust and Tring Anglers the opportunity to take some roach and bream as really we had too many  in this water. Having too many fish in a small lake can be bad for fish health and growth so we wanted to reduce the numbers whilst also helping to restore stocks in our local canal.  By donating these fish also means our carp will flourish and should grow on well now.”

Source: Canal & River Trust

The Angling Trust has been working closely with competition creator Dave Harrell to grow the popular event still further, starting with more qualifying venues. These include, for the first time, rivers like the Tyne, Medway and middle Nene and also new sections of the Severn, Thames and Trent. With the competition now in its third year, the prize pot has grown substantially and the Angling Trust is also currently seeking a main title sponsor to boost the payouts still further.  

As it currently stands, subject to all tickets being sold, there will be 10 main prizes in the final ranging from £500 for 10th place, up to £12,000 to the winner. Section prizes of £250 will also be paid out every six pegs on both of the final days. Another change will see a new team prize. The teams will be made up of the three anglers who get through from each of the 24 qualifying matches with £450 paid to the winning team.  

"We've said all along that it is our intention to keep growing this fantastic competition," said Angling Trust Ambassador Dave Harrell. "These latest changes will allow an additional 240 anglers to take part and the prize money will grow considerably as a result. I am personally delighted with how the competition is developing and I’m looking forward to seeing it all unfold again from June. We've got some great new venues as well as established favourites and we'll have an additional 12 anglers in the final this time. It's going to be a great competition!"

Angling Trust will introduce a new entry process for 2015 with anglers invited to apply for their tickets from 23rd March. There will be a 3 week window in which applications can be made which will be followed by a random computerised draw to determine ticket allocation. Any remaining tickets will then go on general sale.  Further updates of the entry process will be available shortly at www.anglingtrust.net

Ben Thompson of the Angling Trust said; “The competition is growing year on year and the demand for 2014 was incredible. We want to ensure as many of our members as possible have the opportunity to compete without the new developments affecting the quality or integrity of the competition. In light of the competitions' growing popularity, changes to the booking process for 2015 are important and we will provide clear and concise guidance prior to launching this year’s competition.”

The final will take place on the River Wye at Hereford over the weekend of 14th/15th November and an additional section below the old river bridge will be included for the first time. Spectators will be welcome to watch the final, free of charge and there will be a bookmaker present on both days for competitors and public to have a flutter.

QUALIFIER VENUES AND DATES

   1) Sat 20th June – River Calder, Mirfield
   2) Sat 27th June – River Swale, Morton
   3) Sun 5th July – Bristol Avon, Newbridge to Saltford
   4) Sun 12th July – River Trent, Newark Dyke
   5) Sun 19th July – River Tyne, Corbridge to Wylam
  *6) Sat 25th July – River Trent, Holme Marsh
   7) Sat 1st August – River Weaver, Northwich
   8) Sat 8th August – River Soar, Sutton Bonnington
   9) Sun 16th August – River Yare, Langley
  10) Sat 22nd August – River Tees, Bowsfield to Yarm
 *11) Sun 23rd August – River Nene, Orton
  12) Sat 29th August – River Don, Sprotborough
 *13) Sat 5th September – River Severn, Bewdley
  14) Sun 6th September – Great Ouse, Littleport
  15) Sun 13th September – River Wye, Breinton to Eign
  16) Sat 19th September – River Severn, Bridgnorth
  17) Sun 27th September – River Trent, Burton
  18) Sat 3rd October – River Thames, Medley
  19) Sat 10th October – River Severn, Upton
 *20) Sun 11th October – River Medway, Barming
  21) Sat 17th October – Warwickshire Avon, Eckington
 *22) Sun 18th October – River Severn, Shrewsbuy
  23) Sat 24th October – Yorkshire Ouse, Hunters Lodge to Linton-on-Ouse
  24) Sun 1st November – River Nene, March
    
*NEW VENUES

Final
14th/15th November – River Wye, Hereford
1st Reserve Weekend  21st/22nd November – River Wye, Hereford

Source: Angling Trust Fishing News

View the Video

The National Crucian Conservation Project group was launched in 2014 following widespread concerns about the loss of crucian habitat and the threat to the species through hybridisation caused by inappropriate stocking practices. It aims to: "Promote the conservation of the species and its habitat and to encourage the development of well managed crucian fisheries."

Plans include:

• A regional network of growing on centres to increase the availability of wild crucian stocks to compliment increased crucian stockings
• A ‘pure’ crucian accreditation scheme
• Factsheets on creating and managing waters, avoiding hybridisation and a crucian ID guide
• Courses or events for fishery owners and managers

The video, which features scenes from Catching the Impossible, was filmed at waters belonging to Newbury and Godalming angling associations and shows crucians from the Environment Agency's fish farm at Calverton being stocked into new waters that will be developed as future Crucian fisheries.

Angling Artist Chris Turnbull, one of the projects founding members said:

"In what seems like almost no time at all the National Crucian Conservation Project has really taken off and is attracting great support from clubs and private fisheries all around the country. People are waking up to the fact that crucian carp are a fabulous species that needs all the help it can get. Just two years ago we could see a time when  crucians might be on the verge of disappearing altogether, whereas today more, new, bespoke crucian fisheries are being created. Not only does this offer hope for a bright future for crucians, it also shows anglers can be a strong force for conservation when they put their minds to it."

Angling Trust Campaign Chief Martin Salter added:

"It's been great to have the support and assistance from the guys at Fishing Britain and to be able to use quality footage from renowned wildlife film maker Hugh Miles in our quest to create better prospects for this wonderful little fish. We hope that many more angling clubs and fishery owners will be inspired to create more diverse stillwater  fisheries rather than simply stocking to the rafters with king carp and all manner of ghastly hybrids and ornamentals."

Source: Angling Trust Fishing News

The strength of feeling on this subject has once again been illustrated in the Angling Trust's current angling survey, which is still open until October 31st, and in regular representations to both the Trust and carp fishing magazines and organisations.

The Trust has been very encouraged by the willingness of Sarah Chare, the new Head of Fisheries at the EA, to consider this and other possible reforms of the rod licence regime. Any changes could not be implemented until April 2016 at the earliest however, because of the constraints of the commercial rod licence contract.

The Angling Trust believes that the current arrangements need to change as they don't seem fair to carp and other specimen anglers using three rods, but being charged for four. On the other hand any changes must not reduce the funds available to the EA for the restocking of waters, tackling fish health issues and delivering fisheries improvement and habitat restoration works, particularly at a time when the government is cutting grant funding to the Agency.

Other issues under discussion will include the possibility of abolishing the junior licence in order to encourage more youngsters to take up fishing and introducing a 365 day rolling licence rather than the current 31st March end date.

Angling Trust Campaigns Chief Martin Salter said:

"Even tench and barbel anglers like myself, who usually fish with either one or two rods at a time, would sometimes like to use a third rod to switch quickly to a new method or to stalk a fish showing in the margins or well away from our baited areas. Whilst many anglers I know won't buy two separate licences at the moment, they would be happy to pay a fair price to occasionally use a third rod. Personally, I wouldn't mind paying a bit more for my own licence if it meant that more juniors under 16 could fish for free, because anything that attracts youngsters into our sport has to be good for the future of angling."

The moves by the Angling Trust and the Environment Agency have been welcomed by leading figures in the carp world.

Simon Crow, editor of Carp-Talk with over twenty years' experience working in the carp fishing trade, added:

"The majority of fisheries up and down the country allow carp anglers to use a maximum of three rods. It therefore seems a waste that we need to buy two two-rod licences to cater for this. It would be so much more user friendly if a single rod licence was introduced to cater for this."

Mark Lloyd, Chief Executive of the Angling Trust & Fish Legal said:

"We welcome the willingness of Sarah Chare to listen to the views of the angling community and to consider carefully taking action to make the licence system fairer for carp and specimen anglers. One of the most important parts of the Angling Trust's job is to represent the views of anglers to the Environment Agency and government. We need to find a workable way forward that is fairer to carp and specimen anglers without impacting significantly on the funds that pay for the vital work of the Agency's fisheries department."

Sarah Chare, Deputy Director of Fisheries, Biodiversity and Geomorphology from the Environment Agency added:

"The Environment Agency is starting a review of rod licence arrangements that will not come into effect until April 2016. This review may also affect the cost of rod licences, which have remained at the same level for the last 5 years. As part of this review we are talking with the Angling Trust and other partners to understand the views of the angling groups they represent. Within government rules we will be seeking the fairest deal for anglers that secures the best future for angling through the services the Environment Agency delivers both directly and through the partners we fund."

Source: Angling Trust Fishing News

The new licence will be available for just £29.50 a year (£19.50 for under 22s) for coaches who have either a UKCC Level 1 or Level 2 angling coach qualification.  The new licence also includes public liability insurance worth £59.99, along with all the benefits of Angling Trust membership, worth £25.

The Angling Trust is the only organisation which offers angling coaches a Licence to Practise scheme, which proves to parents, young people, funding organisations and others that coaches are appropriately qualified and regularly engage in training to maintain the highest possible coaching standards. 

All coaches licensed by the Angling Trust will also be encouraged to engage in continuous professional development (CPD) events over the course of the 3 year Licence.  A coach attending no CPD events will be referred to as a ‘Licensed Coach’; those who attend more than 3 CPD events over a 3-year period will be recognised as ‘Advanced Licensed Coaches’. 

The Angling Trust has established a number of Coaching Specialisms and these will also count as CPD events as described above.  Further information and courses will be launched in the near future.  A new web site with an online booking form will also be available from spring 2015.

Mark Lloyd, Chief Executive of the Angling Trust & Fish Legal said:

“Recent court cases have highlighted the need for every sector in society to ensure that young people and vulnerable adults are protected when they are being coached without supervision from their parents.  This new licensing scheme offers a really affordable way for qualified coaches to demonstrate that they are quality assured.”

Ben Snook, the Angling Trust’s Coach Development Manager said:

“We want all qualified coaches to get a licence so that we can guarantee high standards of coaching within a really simple system that everyone can understand.  It’s vitally important that parents and their children have the confidence to learn to fish with someone who has an official licence from the National Governing Body for angling.  We have cut the cost of the licence dramatically to make it more affordable and it now offers unbelievably good value for money.”

Source: Angling Trust Fishing News

Each programme will see the contestants travelling to a different country with very distinct climates, landscapes and habitats. In each location they’ll be tested using a wide range of techniques and will face challenges which combine their own experience and talents with newly learnt skills. Over the course of the series, the competitors will be eliminated leaving the others to move onto the next country and the next set of challenges.

So who is brave enough to swap the Thames for the Zambezi? Or trade Lake Windermere for an alligator-infested swamp, or the coast of Wales for the shores of Central America?

The production team are currently looking for a diverse range of fishing fanatics from all over the UK to take part of the series and push their fishing skills to the extreme…

The talent search is open to non-professional anglers aged 18 and over and resident in the UK. Anyone interested applying to take part should contact: thebigfish@bbc.co.uk or call the team on 0117 974 2349

*Please note The Big Fish is a working title only.

The match was won by local angler Nick Burton at peg 28, the famous ‘Stump’ peg with 26 bream for a 121-10-0 total. Nick used open-end feeder tactics and fed two pints of casters plus 1/2kg of chopped worms with lobworm on the hook.  Next door at peg 27, Brian Rigby had exactly the same amount of bream, but fell short of qualifying by just 8oz after weighing 121-2-0 on the same tactics as the winner.

On the other side of the winner, at peg 29, another local angler Ian Shepherd finished third overall with 12 bream for 62-14-0.  More big weights followed with Scott Geens on 59-2-0 from peg 60 and Steve Hemingray with 41-0-0 from peg 53.

The incredible match didn’t just centre around bream catches either as B zone was won by Simon Deakin with 21-8-0, a catch made up largely of one carp weighing 21-6-0!

Top 5 Results
1. Nick Burton 121-10-0
2. Brian Rigby 121-2-0
3. Ian Shepherd 62-14-0
4. Scott Geens 59-2-0
5. Steve Hemingray 41-0-0

Qualifiers for the RiverFest final
Nick Burton
Simon Deakin
Scott Geens

Two qualifying matches now remain to decide the six anglers who will join the 54 others in the big money November final.  The next match takes place on the Yorkshire Ouse on Saturday 25th October.

Source: Angling Trust Fishing News

• Major draining of 200-year-old London canal for critical safety repairs
• 7.5million gallons, the equivalent to nearly 300,000 baths of water and 14 Olympic swimming pools
• Over 500 fish were rescued, including several 25lb carp and around 350 rare European Eels

The Regent's Canal has been drained between Johnson Lock and Limehouse Basin in east London to allow specialist brick-layers to repair large, 2-3ft-wide voids which have developed in the canal wall.  Works are expected to start this week and the area will remain empty for ten weeks, re-opening ahead of Christmas.

Over 500 fish were rescued and relocated upstream, including carp, bream and perch and around 350 European Eels.  A team of two sent an electric current into the water to encourage the fish not to swim and then scooped them out with nets. 

Born in the Sargasso Sea, the eels travel for three years to the Thames Estuary to spend up to 25 years of their life in London canals before returning to breed.

John Ellis, national fisheries and angling manager at Canal & River Trust, says: “The Regent’s Canal is an important habitat for the protected European Eel and the Trust takes our responsibility to care for the fish in our waterways very seriously.  The electric current does not harm the fish at all and it makes it much easier for us to move them to safety.  The essential works to improve the brickwork of the Regent’s will not affect their habitat once the canal is refilled.”

In November, the Canal & River Trust will begin a major overhaul of its waterways as part of a five-month, multi-million pound maintenance programme to canals and rivers across England and Wales.  As part of this, next month the public will be given the rare chance to go behind-the-scenes and venture into the bottom of the Regent’s canal, giving them the opportunity to see up close some of the finest examples of working industrial heritage in the world.

The essential maintenance will include the replacement of worn-out lock gates and repairs to aqueducts, reservoirs and tunnels. The works will also provide thousands of visitors the rare chance to go behind-the-scenes and venture into the bottom of drained lock chambers.

Richard Parry, chief executive of the Canal & River Trust, says: “The Canal & River Trust cares for a remarkable 2,000 mile network of historic waterways, ensuring they work as they were designed to 200 years ago. The Regent's Canal drainage and repair work is just one of many projects we undertake which also give the public a rare glimpse beneath the surface of our waterways and a chance to appreciate the work we do to care for these national treasures.”

The charity carries out a year round programme of works to maintain and repair 2,000 miles of canals and rivers so they can be enjoyed by the 33,000 boaters that use the network and 12 million towpath visitors each year.  Many of the biggest projects are carried out during the winter months to minimise the impact on waterway users.

Source: Canal and River Trust

Scottish Water admitted to failing to properly maintain the sulphuric acid tank in accordance with recommended practice. The cause of the spill was identified as the severe corrosion of a bolt securing a container holding this toxic substance. The concentrated acid is used by Scottish Water as part of the water treatment process and is highly toxic to fish. The escape of the acid caused extensive damage to the ecology of the River Devon and many dead trout, perch and sticklebacks were observed on the margins of the River Devon as far as 6km downstream of the spill.

Robert Younger of Fish Legal said:

"This appalling pollution incident caused substantial loss of fishing to the anglers of the Devon Angling Association, and Fish Legal will do everything in its power to ensure that Scottish Water takes full responsibility for paying for all the damage caused. This was a careless incident by Scottish Water that could and should have been avoided."

David Mudie of the Devon Angling Association said:

"The 2011 pollution spill caused the total destruction of the native brown trout population over 6 kilometres of the river Devon and even now trout numbers are a shadow of their pre-incident levels. The Association's members have now suffered a substantial loss of fishing opportunity over a number of years and we sincerely hope that Scottish Water address our losses as soon as possible"

William Rundle, Head Solicitor of Fish Legal, said:

“Fish Legal has a long and proud history of successfully representing its members who have suffered the terrible effects of pollution, and will seek to do so again here for the Devon Angling Association. We hope that by securing compensation for the Devon Angling Association we can help it restore its fishery, whilst also serving as a deterrent to future ‘would-be’ polluters. As a not-for-profit membership association we depend on our member clubs, riparian owners and other fishery members’ support in order to do this work for them, but with Fish Legal membership these members can be assured of our determination to get the best result possible for them in their time of need.”

Source: Angling Trust Fishing News