Just got to take up on Muffins post from the EA, what a load of Crap, I don't mean you Muffin.
The sentence itself says the fish move freely, as for spawning, well, fish don't always spawn in the same place's, so thats that argument out the window. If I own a section of river and let anglers fish it, and lets sayCakey own's another section and doesn't let anglers fish it, what has that got to do with the close season.
Angler's won't be catching his fish or walking his bank, the fact is there is no proof and will not be any until all rivers are fished during the closed season. Then and only then will any one have any idea.
There will be those who say, thats right fish the rivers all year, anglers will target big fish in spawn to claim records, well sorry, but how many fish are caught during the season with spawn. As for those targeting big fish, well it will be the Barbel Boy's, and it will be the Barbel Boy's saying keep the close season.
Stillwater's seem to be doing a hell of a lot better without the close season, I for one thought there would be damage to fish stock's and wildlife, wrong, the wildlife is better off with Anglers on the bank.
How did they get the evidence for the canals? there used to be a close season on them also,a point someone seems to have over looked.