Close Season

[johnnyfby]

Originally Posted by Jeff Woodhouse

My comments :-

Para 3 (' The Government ...') contains a lot of backtracking and cover up. The intention of the EA was to get rid of the close season for coarse fish once and for all. However, the 'representation' it speaks of in the last para came from the Barbel Society and the Specialist Anglers Society, or put another way, less than 2% of all anglers. The EA suddenly changed tack and removed their proposal.

I am currently intrigued by the quote 'Our view is that in the absence of scientific evidence, we must take a precautionary approach towards rivers, retaining the current close season.'

Strange how if there is no scientific evidence the EA takes a 'precautionary approach' EXCEPT where it concerns hydropower where, even though they still have no idea as to the damage Archimedes screws will cause to breeding areas they still plan on forging ahead granting permissions to develop these structures. These devices are likely to create more destruction to the future recruitment of fish than any angler fishing 12 months would cause.But hey, they're only being green and there could be a CBE or Knighthood in there sometime......

Another case of the minority cocking it up for the majority....

[Fred Bonney]

I think it's just another well recorded case, of the majority being apathetic!

[markg]

Originally Posted by sam vimes

Picking August because it supposededly has the highest temperatures seems just as arbitrary as the current closed season to me. At least March, April, May and into June attempts to cover the breeding period of many species of fish. Whether it actually does so, or even does any good, is moot.
I wish that August had the highest temperatures. The past several years this hasn't been the case.

True, but I would argue that fish suffer more stress around low oxygen levels than they do when spawning. In fact fish are at thier strongest during the spawning period, nature would intend it that way. How often do you hear of a hard fighting fish full of spawn. They feed well before spawning so that they are strong and recover quite quickly afterwards. However during low oxygen levels they suffer a lot of stress. These levels in the main come either in July or August and start at around 70f. I don't have the science to back that but, I bet it is not far off. For these reason I would argue a CS based around high temperatures oxygen levels would be a better one than based around spawning. Picking an exact period covering when this is most like to happen would have to be July/August but, I favor August as it is still just about the month when these conditions happen but, I agree that has been changing over the last few years.

[markg]

Another good reason for a August CS, fish are greedy around spawning period, ground bait is welcome(shame they don't get any on the rivers). The food thrown in by anglers gets snuffled up. It doesn't decompose to quickly in the cooler water; fish will move around and find it. In August the fish are lethargic, not feeding so much. The food decomposes quickly in the warm water. Sucks even more oxygen out of the water that fish need at this time. Fish are more susceptible to diseases at this time and who knows what toxins are released into the water from the decomposing ground bait...Is there science that relates to this.

Fish anywhere you like for 11 months of the year - give it rest for one month at a time when fish need it. It makes sense.

No replies to this argument, unusual thing on this forum.

[mol]

I'm sure any lake owner will tell you the time of year where fish, most commonly, turn up dead is in winter and spawning time. Perhaps that's the time when fish are naturally under the most stress as conditions are the most difficult for the fish?

From a completely selfish point of view I don't like catching fish post-spawning as they can look tatty. I think it's fairer for the fish to be left alone to feed in peace and get back into good condition before they're stressed anymore though being caught.

Finding UK species in alot of European countries that get far warmer than the UK in the height of summer I would suggest that fish can cope quite well with an English summer.

[Mr Cholmondeley-Corker (PaSC)]

LADS LADS LADS! Come on and just face some facts:

1. From the fish's' point of view there is NEVER a good time to be caught. It adds NOTHING to it's life other than some distress and at the minimum a minor injury. If the welfare of the fish is a major factor then the close season should be Jan to Dec inclusive every year. Furthermore, the EA should be stocking our rivers with fish, not for anglers to catch, but to maintain appropriate levels of fish stocks (and natural wildlife) as part of a balanced ecosystem.
2. The close season is there purely to make anglers feel better by 'helping' the fish in some way and to provide the perception that anglers care.
3. The fish are not there to be caught. We do not HAVE to go out and catch them - we do not have a god given right to do so.
4. If anglers REALLY cared about fish then they wouldn't go fishing for them in the first place. What anglers actually care about is having some fish there so that they can go and catch them for fun and self satisfaction to make themselves feel better.
5. Self interest is alive and kicking. Anglers think about anglers needs and the needs of angling only.

But what do you think?

[Fred Bonney]

That all looks like an opinion to me Corky, not one "fact"!

Nowt wrong with opinion, but don't dress them up as facts.

[Lord Paul of Sheffield]

Originally Posted by Fred Bonney

That all looks like an opinion to me Corky, not one "fact"!

Nowt wrong with opinion, but don't dress them up as facts.

Yes Corky

Don't dress opinion up as facts - you're not in the BS - join quickly then you can state whatever "facts" you like without any evidence

[Mr Cholmondeley-Corker (PaSC)]

Originally Posted by Fred Bonney

That all looks like an opinion to me Corky, not one "fact"!

Nowt wrong with opinion, but don't dress them up as facts.

Well it's only your opinion that they are not facts Fred, so don't dress up your opinion as a fact. In my opinion they are facts.

eg

1. FROM THE FISHES POINT OF VIEW is there ever a good time to be caught by an angler?

[Lord Paul of Sheffield]

Originally Posted by Mr Cholmondeley-Corker (PaSC)

Well it's only your opinion that they are not facts Fred, so don't dress up your opinion as a fact. In my opinion they are facts.

eg

1. FROM THE FISHES POINT OF VIEW is there ever a good time to be caught by an angler?

Is that a FACT Corky

here is a fact for you Barbel Society numbers are declining - I shouldn't really say that because I'm not a member of the BS but I know it a FACT