chav professor
Well-known member
The pike you speak of is a tragedy but I fail to see the connection with the CS, perhaps it wouldn't have happened if ALL waters were closed.
The situation we have at the moment is pathetic, there have always been and will always be "anglers" that don't care or are ignorant of how to look after fish be that by leaving them alone to do what they do or after catching a fish bad angling practice will I am afraid always be with us.
The three month blanket ban is not a blanket ban is it? it only covers rivers in SOME areas, it is also mostly unenforceable only small sections of river can be covered during the CS and I am afraid that despite your good actions and relationship with your local EA it is just a drop in the ocean compared to what goes on in other areas, anglers on the bank are the eyes of the EA and clubs, when the cats away....
I also don't understand how the CS is "moral" when stillwaters are open to any sort of abuse such as the pike fishing you mentioned above. as for the CS being supported by sufficient number of anglers, where do you get that from? the recent survey carried out was filled in by a minority of the anglers in this country and how many of those supporting the CS fished rivers?
To say its wrong to fish rivers during the CS but ok to fish stillwaters is hypocritical, if anglers are so supportive of the CS they should impose restraint upon themselves and not fish for course fish anywhere that is moral.
Do a straw poll on here... it will be the same as ever... give or take 5% it will be 50:50.... frustrating isn't it.... but no consensus of opinion exists supporting it appeal.
Its just a bit of forum tennis....
As for relationship with the E.A.? You have to work hard to establish that relationship... Dogged determination and consistency in reporting in the apparent face that on the outset it looks like nothing is happening. You get a ref. number - wether they are duty bound, I don't know? But I always get a follow up phone call...
Fishing in the close season? Its not exactly crime of the century... I don't expect teams of EA SWAT teams to descend from the sky - all i expect is that something is done... As I have stated before.. a few get caught and it quickly dies a death.