Following the "otter thread", which is now getting nowhere, I thought perhaps we should think about where angling is going for the next generation. All agree there are problems (especially river quality etc.), but nobody has any suggestions other than, somebody is to blame and somebody must do something. Who and How?
Thinking long term, here's a few very radical ideas I'm chucking about in my head - many of you won't like them, but lets try and think of positives for the future without getting abusive in any way.
1) Otters are here to stay and the public will never allow us to cull in any way. Stillwaters that have problems will have to fence and accept the cost and we shall have to fish inside fences - if that's what we want. Some research may come up with acceptable methods to discourage otters from waters?
2) The EA should do away with the split licence (migratory and non migratory), EA are there to protect and improve all waters and should not discriminate between species, I've always felt the migratory licence is purely an excuse to squeeze a bit more cash from rich salmon anglers. That doesn't stand today.
Possible argument for different still or running water licences?
3) Anglers will have to accept we share waterways with all other outdoor sports, that is how it will be, we are no longer special guardians of the waters, Canoes, kayaks, sailing boats, swimmers, jet skis, water skis and all other users.
4) Every single person who uses a water requires a licence from the EA (or whatever body it becomes), this will be the same cost as a fishing licence and all revenue goes towards water quality and improvements. Any of the above sports require a national licence, whether a day ticket to paddle down the Wye or a season ticket to go water jet skiing on a reservoir.
Although only we probably appreciate what goes on underneath the water surface, if every canoeist is paying for good water, they will soon start to pay attention if they see pollution etc.
There's a start, just some basic bare bones thoughts for the long term. I doubt it will happen in my remaining fishing years, but I think that anglers battles will start to be lost against other causes and maybe we should be thinking ahead with ideas rather than clinging onto a sinking ship and moaning like hell.
Thinking long term, here's a few very radical ideas I'm chucking about in my head - many of you won't like them, but lets try and think of positives for the future without getting abusive in any way.
1) Otters are here to stay and the public will never allow us to cull in any way. Stillwaters that have problems will have to fence and accept the cost and we shall have to fish inside fences - if that's what we want. Some research may come up with acceptable methods to discourage otters from waters?
2) The EA should do away with the split licence (migratory and non migratory), EA are there to protect and improve all waters and should not discriminate between species, I've always felt the migratory licence is purely an excuse to squeeze a bit more cash from rich salmon anglers. That doesn't stand today.
Possible argument for different still or running water licences?
3) Anglers will have to accept we share waterways with all other outdoor sports, that is how it will be, we are no longer special guardians of the waters, Canoes, kayaks, sailing boats, swimmers, jet skis, water skis and all other users.
4) Every single person who uses a water requires a licence from the EA (or whatever body it becomes), this will be the same cost as a fishing licence and all revenue goes towards water quality and improvements. Any of the above sports require a national licence, whether a day ticket to paddle down the Wye or a season ticket to go water jet skiing on a reservoir.
Although only we probably appreciate what goes on underneath the water surface, if every canoeist is paying for good water, they will soon start to pay attention if they see pollution etc.
There's a start, just some basic bare bones thoughts for the long term. I doubt it will happen in my remaining fishing years, but I think that anglers battles will start to be lost against other causes and maybe we should be thinking ahead with ideas rather than clinging onto a sinking ship and moaning like hell.