Bits of news

Paul shrugs off record hoax

A picture and story that appeared in Angling Times claiming to be a new British record 57lb pike has been exposed as a hoax, writes STUART EARP.

And top Oxfordshire pike expert Paul Gustafson, who lives in Abingdon, was caught up in the scam as it was a photograph of his 35lb pike caught ten years ago that was ‘doctored’ on a computer and sent to the paper purporting to be the new record............

'Blackmail' claim over Fish O' Mania entry plan

The new Angling Trust has been acussed of conducting a campaign described as “blatant blackmail” by some anglers following a shock announcement that only rod men and women who are paid up members of the Governing Body will be granted the opportunity of gaining a ticket to the sport's biggest cash prize event Fish o' Mania.

In addition it appears fishery owners who wish to stage one of the 16 qualifying rounds in 2011 may have to fork out sums of up to £400 for the privilege. The Trust's £20 annual subscription on top of the ticket fee will hike the cost of fishing the tournament to at least £40 and that is with out any financial consideration of travelling, fishing bait supplies and possibly overnight accommodation that could hoist total out of pocket expenses to a three figure sum in this rather lopsided opportunity for perhaps 2000 hopefuls to get their hands on just one substantial cash prize.................


Angry anglers to fight fish cull

Fishermen who are strongly opposed to a planed cull of fish at a lake in Bristol have threatened to chain themselves to the entrance gates.

Henleaze Lake in an old quarry is shared between an exclusive swimming club and the anglers........

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10lb Farmoor rainbow

Trout anglers fishing Farmoor I last week had some good rewards, one banking 11 fish to 8lbs on various flies (small lures and nymphs).

Farmoor II is still fishing exceptionally well. Best fish of the week was a cracking 10.8.0 rainbow to Mike Roberts, of Didcot. He took the fish on a small hopper only ten feet from the bank. Rod average for the week is 3.8.0........


Terrific Thames is back on song

The Thames was in cracking form for the third round of the Oxford Winter League fished by 64 anglers between Radley and Abingdon.

With wet weather changing the river after weeks of low, clear and almost static conditions, this was a 'proper' match, with all bar one section won with over 11lb, and bream, tench, chub, roach and perch all feeding well..............


Environment Agency demands tougher fines for polluters

Agency calls on courts to hand out stronger penalties for waste and pollution criminals

Higher fines are needed to stop repeats of pollution incidents such as the cyanide poisoning of the River Trent last month that wiped out thousands of fish, says the UK's environment watchdog.

The number of cases of serious pollution in England and Wales dropped 13 per cent from 827 in 2008 to 723 in 2007 but still averages more than two a day.........

Nice to see your news item back again Ian. The Fish O'mania bit was interesting.

---------- Post added at 09:41 ---------- Previous post was at 09:35 ----------

Nice to see the article was in an evening paper local to me. Roy Webster and FM's own Chris Bishop do angling pieces every Wednesday in my local/regional paper The Eastern Daily Press (EDP). These can be quite informative especially if you are thinking of coming to Norfolk to fish, especially on the Broads for the Pike.

Fish plan spawned ecological disaster

A CAMBRIDGE multi-millionaire's attempts to create a private fishery ended in an ecological disaster.

Paul Thwaites, former chief executive of Ashwell Property Group which is part of the cb1 Station development, wanted a private fishery on his £5.5 million estate in Scotland.

But work on it led to one of the worst pollution incidents ever recorded by the Scottish Environment Protection Agency.............


Brent Cross regeneration would see river cleaned up, says developer

Developers are promising to rejuvenate and reroute the waterway within the development area, cleaning up pollutants and turning it into a central feature for the extended mall.

Plans will see the riverbed cleaned up and reed beds put in to help take out pollutants and keep the water clean....................


A wealth of silver at Thorpe Abbotts lake

Smaller commercials have been providing the best sport, with Thorpe Abbotts upper lake providing nice bags of silver fish dominated by healthy 1lb skimmers.

On the farthest bank not far out off the ledge, bread punch has packed in up to 20lb of crucians.

Carp ticket members there have had some thumping specimens too off the point. The lower lake has had chub to 4lb talking baits on the drop and plenty of rudd to maggot. Fishing within 6ft of the bank close to willows where they hang around has been the top method and there have plenty of tench to 2lb showing as well...........


Junior angler wins the day

Annalise Edwards , age 14 ,of Bron y dre, Cardigan , a long time member and junior champion of Cardigan Sea Angling club, competed in the ‘Junior and Youth’ qualifiers competition recently.

This took place on Borth beach near Aberystwyth, on the 10th October, where she bagged a fine brace of Bass and several Flounder to give her third place in the well attended match.............

fisho tickets were available to memebers of the nfa now its the angling trusts job running matches yes they should be members to get a ticket.

The one about the EA calling for higher penalties is nothing short of disgraceful hypocrisy on their part. All they are doing is attempting to look tough in response to Mark Williams petition and the criticism from anglers thay they are letting the polluters off.

It is the legal department of the EA that makes the decision on which court a polluter will face...... lower (Magistrates) or higher (Crown Court) Lower the max fine is 20k plus costs. Higher an unlimited fine and possible gaol for the convicted CRIMINAL.

Overwhelmingly, they chose to put the polluters before the lower courts.
The determination of which court and possible severity of the punishment the court will handout to the CRIMINALS, is within their own hands!

Put more before the higher courts and it's likely the punishment will be higher.

Continue putting them through the lower courts knowing it's capped at 20k the punishment will be lower.

Fresh hope for Britain’s fish stocks

Recreational sea anglers, who contribute £1 billion a year to the UK economy, want a retreat from irresponsible commercial fishing

Sir, Contrary to Mark Whiteside’s view (“Here’s the catch”, letter, Nov 4), that by not acting on scientific advice politicians threaten a grim future for our fisheries, we are seeing early signs that new ideas may just be starting to take hold. Marine protected zones around the English coast hold promise of closing some areas to commercial fishing to enable proper management and study not only of the fish in them but also of the whole marine ecology. These, plus the new inshore fisheries and conservation authorities (replacing the 1880s-style sea fisheries committees), hold some promise of future commonsense fishery management for our inshore waters.

Recreational sea anglers, who contribute £1 billion a year to the UK economy, want a retreat from the irresponsible commercial fishing that started in 1970s and so badly damaged sea beds and fish stocks, to the detriment of commercial and recreational fishing.

We are not naive. Only constant watch and an adversarial, not a cosy, relationship with our politicians will really push through these changes.

Michael Heylin
Chairman, Angling Trust

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Fishery news

ROSSLYNLEE TROUT FISHERY, near Penicuik: Anglers have been getting off to good starts in the mornings when the fish are taking an assortment of lures including Yellow Dancers, Damsels, Black Fritz and Cat's Whiskers. Many fish of 4-6lb have been caught on these flies. Des Gray had two for 12lb on a Yellow Dancer, Fraser Allan had two for 10lb 4oz on a Goldhead Damsel and a Black Fritz and a Yellow Dancer gained Mr Brown four fish for a total weight of 17lb 10oz...........


Protected zones will help to save Britain's marine wildlife

An exotic underwater world of seahorses, sharks and corals that surrounds the coast of Britain is to be given greater protection under new legislation coming into force this week.

The long-awaited Marine Act will allow conservation groups to map sites of nature preservation for the first time. Future legislation to be enforced in these marine conservation zones will see an end to damaging practices such as scallop dredging and trawler fishing.

Currently there is only one small piece of coastline in Britain that is heavily protected – the sea around Lundy Island, off Devon. As a result, species such as spiny sea-horses, found in Studland Bay in Dorset, and basking sharks, seen in Britain's coastal waters in the summer, have been under serious threat........


BROWN WATER AND GOLD TROUT - ALL IN A DAY'S FISHING!

LAST week was an eventful one at Kingennie, with the weather not so good and the water very brown from all the rain.
Some good fish were still being caught. The specimen pool was giving up some big fish, and Mr McCabe had a 15lb trout caught on a bunny leech, closely followed by Mr Small with a 13 lb specimen.

Average size caught by most anglers was in the six t
ADVERTISEMENT
o 10 pound range, using lures. The Woodside pool has given bait anglers a good deal of pleasure during the week, with fish up to 2lb-plus being caught, worms and power bait helping anglers get their bag limit.........

THAMESMEAD: Club is angling for more children to join up

A CLUB set up to keep young lads out of trouble and give them a new hobby, is flourishing in Thamesmead.

The fishing club was set up by Gallions Housing Association’s neighbourhood wardens and now boasts more than 40 members including families and girls.

Phil Briggs one of the club founders said: “We used to have mainly boys coming along but now there are lots of families here.........

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Try Modney Bridge for winter venue

KLAA: MIDDLE Level: A few anglers on the level during the week, but the weekend wind and rain made sure the anglers stayed in the warm.
Ten Mile Bank (TMB): A hard week on the Ouse, but the winter venue of Modney Bridge now starting to show roach, skimmers and the odd tench and perch around the bridge.

Nets to lower double-figures reported during the week, but no reports were received for the weekend.........


Fishery consultant's reservoir work polluted important Perthshire salmon spawn

SEPA, Scotland's environment watchdog, is reminding anyone carrying out work in or near a watercourse to ensure they take steps to protect the environment before starting. The warning comes after a fishery consultant pled guilty at Perth Sheriff Court to allowing work to be carried out at a reservoir in Perthshire which resulted in serious pollution to the River Earn.

Richard Philp had pled guilty on 6 October 2009 to carrying on a controlled activity liable to cause pollution of the water environment at the reservoir of Whitehouse of Dunira Estate without authorisation under the Water Environment (Controlled Activities) (Scotland) Regulations 2005. Sentencing was deferred for reports on the 3rd November..............


Tales of a Fisherman with Steve Butler: Get caught in the DDAPS net

DARTFORD & District Angling and Preservation Society's (DDAPS') new website is being rolled out at the moment after many painstaking weeks of writing, photo-taking and preparation.

The site (Dartford and District Angling and Preservation Society) is looking for pictures of catches from the club's lakes and rivers. If you have anything of interest or catch reports, then please contact the webmaster via the website.

THE ENGLAND pair, Billy Flowers and Jamie Londers, were denied first place at the World Carp Championships because the match was extended to 73 hours due to the clocks being put back.

Having led from the start, they were just beaten into a silver medal position in the last 20 minutes by the South African pairing by a margin of under 5kgs only.

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Fishing ends on a high at Sutton Bingham

ANGLERS at Suttong Bingham reservoir ended this year’s fishing on a high after netting excellent catches in the season’s closing weeks.

Fishing at Sutton Bingham, Wessex Water’s largest reservoir near Yeovil, picked up when lower water temperatures encouraged more fish to feed.

The reservoir was open for brown and rainbow trout fishing from March to October when anglers had the opportunity to fish from the bank or boats.............


At last! Raymond lands the big one

Angler Raymond Harris has waited longer than most fishermen would for a bite. Nine years, to be exact.
But then, he was waiting for a particular fish – a 20lb mirror carp in Diss Mere.

On Sunday he was rewarded for his patience when he landed a 23lb 8oz specimen – the biggest, as far as he knows, that has been pulled from the water.

“I had a 19-pounder a couple of weeks ago but I always knew there were bigger fish in there,” said Harris.

“I have been chasing a 20-pounder in the Mere for the last nine years........

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£2m a day fines from EU, unless sewage is sorted out

THE Assembly Government has been warned it could face fines of up to £2m a day unless major pollution problems affecting the Burry Inlet in Carmarthenshire are dealt with.

European Commission officials are insisting that urgent action is taken to improve a situation that has led to the end of cockle gathering and a moratorium on thousands of new homes being built.

Yesterday a crisis meeting was held in Llanelli to discuss the way forward.........


Protected river polluted with slurry

More than six kilometers of the River Witham was polluted with pig effluent killing about 450 brown trout and several protected native white-clawed crayfish when slurry backed up in a drainage system and overflowed from a damaged manhole.

Grantham Magistrates’ Court was told today (Thurs) that the river downstream of Colsterworth is protected under the EC Freshwater Fish Directive designed to protect waters suitable for sustaining fish populations.

Mrs Anne-Lise McDonald prosecuting told them it will not be known for some time the full impact on the crayfish population, which is protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981. White-clawed crayfish are also included on the IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) Red Data List for endangered and threatened species

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New figures reveal biggest threats to rivers in England and Wales say Our Rivers campaign

Over use of fertilisers, demand for drinking water and poor town planning are putting our river wildlife in danger, new figures reveal.

Anglers, conservationists and river enthusiasts have called on the Government to take action after a new survey exposed the top three threats to waterways in England and Wales.

Earlier this year the RSPB, the WWF, the Angling Trust and the Association of Rivers Trusts joined forces to form the Our Rivers campaign - Homepage - Our Rivers. Feedback from the campaign’s many supporters across the UK in the six months since it launched indicate that the three biggest threats to rivers are: Chemical and sediment pollution from agriculture, over abstraction by water companies, and run-off water from urban areas...........


Trust gets to work after river calamity

WHEN the Angling Trust was formed early this year many anglers were reluctant to join, blaming what they considered an exorbitant membership fee of £20 per year.
Since then hardly a week goes by without at least one letter in the angling press moaning about this fee with the usual complaint of "What do I get out of it"?

Well, one of the answers came recently, in a tragic way.

A 30-mile stretch of the River Trent suffered a massive pollution where all aquatic life such as fish, invertebrates and other creatures and insects were wiped out at a stroke.........

The bad one said:

It is the legal department of the EA that makes the decision on which court a polluter will face...... lower (Magistrates) or higher (Crown Court) Lower the max fine is 20k plus costs. Higher an unlimited fine and possible gaol for the convicted CRIMINAL.

Click to expand...

Isnt one reason that the dreaded DPP become involved in higher court cases? A higher standard of proof is required...?

And of course costs are higher for all concerned... EA budgets may then be challenged...

Angry angler chains himself to rails at protest over cull of carp

A freshwater swimming club’s plan to cull hundreds of fish to improve water clarity at a lake has sparked fury from anglers - with one of them chained to the railings today.

The fishermen share Henleaze Lake, in Bristol, with the outdoor swimmers, who want the number of fish cut to reduce algae which clouds the water.

But the Environment Agency (which advised on the cull due to be carried out by a private firm) said there was thought to be a “spat” between the two groups using the lake............


Hitchin angler lands monster catfish

ANGLER Sean Kinnear has the proof when he tells the tale about the huge fish that didn't get away.

Mr Kinnear, 27, of Burford Way, Hitchin, was fishing on the River Ebro in Spain last week when there was a fierce tug on his line as the sun was setting.

Fifteen minutes later he was weighed down by the size of the huge catfish that was staring him in the face - all 133lbs 6ozs of the beast and he has the picture to prove it.............


Fisherman Dean Brougham tells of lucky escape after shark attack

Novice spear fisherman Dean Brougham had just got into the water off the coast of South Australia yesterday when he felt something tugging at his leg.

At first the 24-year-old gardener thought it was one of his mates having a laugh as they enjoyed a dip in the ocean under the warm Spring sunshine. But when Mr Brougham turned around he saw what every ocean dweller dreads the most: the face of a ferocious shark staring straight back at him.

"I came up, as soon as I got to the surface I felt someone, something pulling my leg and I thought it was just someone being a smart a**e and I turned around and just saw the big face looking at me," he recalled earlier today from his hospital bed where he was being treated for shark wounds to his ankle..........


Commercial fishing threatens survival of albatross, conservationists warn

Albatrosses and other birds are facing extinction as they become tangled in commercial fishing gear, conservation organisations warned today.

Thirty-seven species of seabird are at risk and 18 of these species, including albatrosses, are under threat of extinction, the RSPB and BirdLife International warned.

The birds take bait from hooks, get caught in the fishing lines and drown.

The conservation groups are calling for action as scientists gather for fisheries talks in Recife, Brazil, today to agree on quotas for the Atlantic and Mediterranean stocks of tuna and swordfish.

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Bristol Channel ray fishery starts MSC assessment

THE North Devon Fishermen’s Association (NDFA) have entered their Bristol Channel ray fishery for assessment under the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) standard.

NDFA fishermen have been catching ray in the Bristol Channel using otter trawls for more than 30 years. Catches have been stable in recent years with total landings from the NDFA fleet – which comprises 28 vessels, 16 over 10 metres, and 12 under 10 metres – averaging around 600-700 tonnes each year. In 2008, the fleet landed 550 tonnes of rays.

John Butterwith, Chief Executive of the NDFA said: “The Bristol Channel ray fishery is the largest in the country, and Appledore is the single most important port for landings. Ray has been accounting for 70% of landings, and with our voluntary no fishing area of 300 square km imposed for six months of the year, and a voluntary self imposed minimum landing size. We see MSC certification as a positive endorsement to our efforts to supply ray from a sustainable fishery..........


Conservation group win funding boost

THE Scottish Sea Angling Conservation Network (SSACN) have been awarded a funding package worth £52,000 to help support their data gathering on species of sharks, skates and rays found in Scottish waters, many of which, they say, are at risk.



The funding has been offered by Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) and the Argyll and the Islands LEADER Programme and will be used to employ a shark project officer who will work with SSACN to further develop the Scottish Shark Tagging Programme (SSTP - SSACN – Tagsharks) whose objectives are to:

· Record data on shark, skate and ray species

· Increase public awareness

· Highlight the need for species protection

· Encourage use of “codes of best practice”

· Showcase conservation methods and efforts.........


Tyne marine life rescued before home is to be buried by tunnel spoil

FIVE days of fishing have rescued marine life from a dock which will be filled in with spoil from the building of the new Tyne Tunnel.

The 300ft long, 3,000-tonne cutter suction dredger, Vesalius, was moved into position yesterday off Jarrow to start the six-week job of creating the underwater stretch of the tunnel trench..........


Now, a social networking tool for natural historians

Researchers at London's Natural History Museum have created a social networking tool called 'Scratchpads' where natural historians can get together and share their data.

Vincent Smith, Simon Rycroft, David Roberts and colleagues created the data-publishing framework for groups of people to create their own natural history-based social networks.

Users create a virtual workbench to study aspects of an organism much as Darwin did during his lifetime, and anyone can get involved..........

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£70,000 bill as Marsden fish pass takes shape at River Colne

THE course of true love will soon be smoother for the trout of Marsden – at a cost of £70,000.

Work is well under way on a “fish pass” to enable them to spawn above a weir on the River Colne.

The big construction project is being undertaken by Kirklees Council and the Environment Agency.

But it will cost £70,000 to get the work done.

The pass, which would be the first in Kirklees, will enable the trout to bypass a fast-flowing weir and reach calmer waters where they can spawn.........



Algae threat to rare fish in Llyn Padarn

A RARE fish may have to be moved from a North Wales lake unless a problem with algae is resolved.

Oxygen levels in Llyn Padarn at Llanberis may become critically low endangering survival of the rare arctic char.

Environment Agency Wales (EAW) officials have drawn up plans to remove the fish and re-stock the lake if that is necessary.

A spokesman said: "We are continuing to take oxygen, temperature, pH and other chemical measurements on a monthly basis to build a full picture of what is happening in the lake...........


Lincolnshire pork company's fridge maintenance caused fish kill from ammonia

Ammonia from refrigeration units at Ruskington, near Sleaford escaped into a stream during maintenance work causing the death of more than 100 fish, Grantham Magistrates’ Court was told on the 23rd October.

Adams Pork Products Limited was fined £10,000 and ordered to pay £4,393 costs after the court heard that the company had supplied a container of water to contractors who needed to bubble ammonia gas through water while working on refrigeration units at the site, and the contents were subsequently lost.

The liquid containing ammonia ended up in the stream, a tributary of Ruskington Beck, and polluted 2.5km of watercourse, seriously affecting its biology. Mrs Miriam Tordoff, prosecuting, said that a member of the public reported the sighting of dead fish to the Environment Agency...........

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Police hook Sawley youngsters into fishing

YOUNGSTERS in Sawley have been getting hooked on a new hobby as part of Derbyshire Police's Operation Relentless.

Officers from Sawley Safer Neighbourhood Policing Team have been working with young people to introduce a fishing project.

PCSO Paul Boss said: "Our idea was to set up a fishing project that would kit out ten 11 to 17-year-olds so that they could enjoy fishing at weekends and during school holidays.

"We worked very closely with Richard Dingsdale, owner of Fishing Synergy at Tamworth Road, Sawley, who gave us a fantastic discount on all of the equipment we required.''

Three fishing project weekend dates took place as taster sessions.

Fish discovered at sewage works

Eighteen fish have been discovered living in a tank at a sewage works in West Yorkshire.

The fish were found last week during a routine inspection of a sewage settlement tank in South Elmsall.

Lurking just below the surface were chub, bream, trout and roach - all of which appeared to be in good health...........


Thousands of dead fish discovered

Up to 10,000 dead fish, mainly perch, were found in the Farmoor Reservoir water intake on the River Thames, the Environment Agency (EA) said.

Thames Water, which operates the reservoir, said the incident posed "no risk to the drinking water supply".

An agency spokesman said it was not yet known what had killed the fish. He said officers were at the site and water samples were being analysed...........


Ling have been North sea species of week

WHEN boats have been able to go out, ling have been the most prominent species from the wrecks and hard ground, with fish between 6lb and 8lbs being taken.

The Hartlepool boat “Famous” skippered by Dave Lumley and fishing an inshore wreck, had a good number of ling and only two cod, but the anglers aboard had something of a shock when a 12ft Porbeagle Shark appeared alongside the boat and then circled them for more than five minutes!


Naworth fishery produces a fine specimen

FISH of the week on the stillwater trout scene came from the Naworth Trout fishery at Brampton.

It was caught by Carlisle angler D McKnight, weighing 21lb, and was taken on a Black Fritz.

He also landed six other rainbows to 10lb, all released.

Higham Trout Fishery near Ponteland produced a cracking 18lb 9oz rainbow caught by Andrew Sears of Felton on a Black Fritz in the specimen lake........


Mixed fortunes in salmon 'extra-time'

THE three week salmon fishing season extension is now over and, as far as I know, there have been mixed results with both sea-liced fresh fish and an assortment of kippers caught.
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On the Inverness Angling Club stretch some 17 fish were taken ranging from grilse of around three pounds to sizeable salmon running into the teens. Quite a high percentage of the fish were bars of silver.

With only a handful of anglers taking advantage of the extension, it's interesting to surmise just how many fish would have been caught had there been no restriction on the number of rods allowed out.............

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Angling revival hit by tide and cold

It was billed as the great revival of River Thurne match fishing.

Unfortunately, a massive spring tide surging inland and plunging over-night temperatures that put paid to prospects of spectacular catches in the first open competition along the once-famous Potter Heigham/Martham match length for more than 20 years, writes Roy Webster.

Anglers, who spent much of last week testing the river's potential, caught quality nets of roach until Friday. But with the moon on full the tides began to build up, probably forcing more than a hint of saline up river..........


'Stop the poaching' says Blaenau Ffestiniog angling group

ANGLERS have expressed their frustrations at poaching in the area and have accused the authorities of “failing” to enforce the law.

However, Environment Agency Wales said they have received few ‘if any’ reports of poaching in the area.

The Cambrian Angling Association (CAA), which is based in Blaenau Ffestiniog, has recently met police and Environment Agency Wales to discuss continued poaching within fisheries in the area.............


Anglers in deep water after fishing without a licence

Three men who were caught by Environment Agency officers after fishing without a licence have been ordered to pay a combined total of over £650 in fines and £225 in costs

On Friday 6 November, Swindon Magistrates’ Court heard that the three separate incidents all took place on 2 August 2009 at Mouldon Hill Lake, Swindon, Wiltshire. The fishermen involved were unable to show valid rod licences to Environment Agency bailiffs present at the lake..................


Early Christmas stocking for River Trent

Stretches of the River Trent and Tame that were badly affected by recent pollution incidents will get an early Christmas stocking of thousands of baby fish this winter.

Over the next few months, the Environment Agency’s Calverton Fish Farm, near Nottingham, will be providing tens of thousands of young fish including chub, dace, barbel, roach and bream.

Many of the fish are destined for a new home in the River Trent both downstream of Stoke on Trent and close to Burton on Trent. These fish will help to re-populate a stretch of the river that was badly affected by last month’s cyanide pollution..............

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Bridson bags a quality sized cod.

THE Royal Marines Sea Angling Association recently held an invitation match and offered places to civilian associates and family members.

The match was fished aboard local charter boat Rose Anne operated by Skipper Mike Baker.

Over 60 bass were caught as well as a magnificent 21lb cod, caught by the secretary's oldest son, Mike Bridson.

The fish took a live sand eel over an inshore wreck and had been caught before as it still had the hook and line attached where it had beaten the last angler who caught it.


Flexible approach nails 5lb 5oz perch

Hugh Lamerton had a ‘gut feeling’ to thank for catching this huge 5lb 5oz perch from a Hertfordshire stillwater last week.

After spending the first hour of his session fishing maggot feeders at long range without any success, the 56-year-old decided to start baiting a new area much closer in with groundbait and chopped worm free offerings.

His first cast to the spot produced an aborted take, but not long after he received another much more positive indication which led to him banking a new personal best................


Trio of Fen pike seal £1,000 Champs win

Runs were hard to come by in the 2009 British Pike Championships, but one man who had no trouble getting among the fish was Paul Lenton, who after agonisingly missing out on first place last year by 2oz, comfortably won this time with 33lb.

A combination of crystal-clear water and bright sunshine made for far from ideal conditions for the 230-plus predator anglers who converged on Whittlesey AA’s waters to pit their wits against the Fenland pike...........

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Tees a fine source for some bream

IT has been a much better week on the Tees for bream with catches of over 25lb from areas around Stockton and Yarm.

On the Tyne, sport has been encouraging with David Hall of Matfen taking his best ever haul of chub from the river, five fish to 3lb 8oz, as well as quality dace from a swim near Hexham using caster.

Tyne anglers need to fish with caution as water levels can rise quickly at this time of the year, as illustrated last week when Alan Stevens of Dumpling Hall saw his keep net of fish swept away and out to sea by a rapidly rising river before he could weigh in during the Steve Roberts charity match.........


Reprint of the Famous Book "The Complete Guide to the Salmon River," by George Douglas

In the 1990's, author, George Douglas published The Complete Guide to the Salmon River, a comprehensive guide to New York State's Salmon River, a tributary of Lake Ontario that receives magnificent runs of salmon, steelhead and brown trout. Copies flew off the shelves and the book quickly became tough to find, because it is a wealth of information covering every inch of the Salmon River.

The book is packed with valuable information such as where to park, specific locations from which to cast from and an array of techniques that will produce a splash of action for each hole on the river. The river is approximately thirteen miles long and has multiple holes, slots, shoots and runs--and this book covers all them leaving no stone unturned. The title also has impressive chapters on preparation for fishing the river and the history and future of the fishery...........

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Keith Arthur: It makes sense!

The media, and even the public, seem these days to always make a negative out of any subject rather than take a positive line. The latest ¬ and remember, this is my opinion ¬ revolves around the decision by the organisers to make applications for Fish O’Mania tickets available only to members of the organising body, namely the Angling Trust.

Of course the Angling Trust will benefit by people joining just to enter the event but the knock-on effect of that is that all anglers will benefit by joining and it may, although I doubt it, encourage others to join too............

REEL BIG THRILL FOR JACK, 15

A LAD of 15 has caught a monster 66lb catfish after trying for two years.

Jack Smith was ecstatic when he landed the beast. He said last night: “I’m *absolutely thrilled – this is the catch of a lifetime!”


The fanatical angler, from Ipswich, Suffolk, had nearly given up after trying for so long to hook the massive specimen in a lake just *outside Stowmarket.....


Plea to protect crayfish

The people of Sheffield are being asked to help protect a crayfish species from a deadly fungal infection.

The white-clawed crayfish in the city's waterways are unable to fight off the highly infectious crayfish plague.

River users are being urged to help stop the spread of the infection, which can be moved from one area to another on damp boots, pets and fishing gear.


Young Teessiders bitten by the angling bug

HOOKED - a group of young Teessiders have netted certificates, and tackle, for completing a 10-week angling course at Hemlington Lake.

The course was organised by the Friends of Hemlington Lake, and the Hooked on Fishing scheme, an organisation that teaches angling skills to young people in the Teesside area.

Eleven youngsters aged 8-13 took part, and learned about fish anatomy, fishing seasons, angling tactics, environmental issues connected with angling, fish welfare, different types of angling, and the use and maintenance of fishing tackle...........


Angling for our British heroes

Remembrance Sunday saw the angling fraternity coming together again to support another worthy cause.
The Help for Heroes/British Legion Poppy Appeal fundraising match took place at Lakeside fishery at Ranskill.

The morning saw the first proper hard frost of the Autumn/Winter season and this was followed at the time of the draw by prolonged showers, driven along by an increasing and biting northerly wind.........


Winter is coming but rivers are warming up

WITH winter slowly creeping up on us, I’m pleased to report that local anglers are turning their attention to the rivers and are being duly rewarded.

Chub sport on the River Tyne has slowly been increasing over the last few years.

That fact was borne out last week when Matfen’s Dave Hall fished a stretch of the river near Hexham and took five chub to 3lb 8ozs......

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McMenamin lands bumper Boulmer haul

MICHAEL McMenamin this week took a personal best cod of 12lb 6oz from Boulmer, the best of a five-fish 20lb bag.

Paul Gallon took a personal best cod of 11lb 8oz on his second cast from the Craster area, the best of a three-fish bag. Mal McIntyre, fishing at Marden rocks, had a struggle on his hands to get his catch a conger eel of 10lb ashore, then into the bag for weighing before releasing it.

Steven Surtees took a beautiful coloured cod of 9lb 4oz from Newbiggin in a three fish bag of 12lb in Bedlington Stations match..........


Willis Worms to give club match anglers the chance to win £50,000

In a first of its kind scheme, Willis Worms are set to launch a new scheme that not only gives club match anglers a chance to win £50,000 in prize money, but also provides all anglers with reduced price deals on their multitude of bait.

On December 8th 2009 the company is launching a new club entitled the Willis Worms Angling Bait Club (the ABC). The £50 annual membership to the club will serve two purposes: it will allow the angler an average of 33 percent off bait and goods bought online from Willis Worms.

Full details of the enormous, ABC-members only £50,000 prize value match will be revealed very shortly


Calling anglers... chance to net Ure own bit of heaven

Forget novelty socks, bait boxes and "Gone Fishing" ephemera, the perfect Christmas present for the angler in your life has just come onto the market.
Two plots of land with fishing rights on the River Ure are up for sale and you'll have to really splash out if you want to net them.

The grass paddocks, which sit either side of North Bridge in Ripon, have been valued at between £10,000 and £15,000 each..........

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Fraser on Fishing: I was trout of luck on Loch Fad but still hooked a pike

IT WAS only a few short weeks ago that I was last on Loch Fad on the Isle of Bute.
But, when I was asked to go again to support a fundraiser for the Scottish ladies' and youth team, it would have taken more than wild horses to stop me.

On arrival a number of anglers were tying up, looking forward to the fishing and some friendly banter...........

Diesel spill: Fish found dead

SPECIALIST contractors have been working over the weekend to counteract the effects of the diesel spillage which has polluted two Calder Valley rivers.
On Friday small numbers of dead fish in Walsden Water and the River Calder were reported to the Environment Agency following the spillage of around 2,000 gallons of diesel, believed to be from a company in the Walsden area. The EA has classified the spill as category one - its most serious - largely because it has resulted in a film of oil over at least 15km of water...........

Angler Jamie's eel of a catch

THERE'S a really big eel on the end of my reel!
Angler Jamie Redfern couldn't believe his eyes when he netted a slippery catch with huge eel appeal.
The mammoth wriggler stretched longer than Jamie's arm, and weighed eight pounds exactly - just three pounds and two ounces below the world record for the heaviest eel, which has stood since 1978.........

POISONED FISH FEARS

Fisheries are on red alert after a heartbroken venue owner claimed that her lake was deliberately poisoned in a bid to destroy her livelihood.

More than £50,000 worth of fish died at the Kingfisher Lakes in Wisbech St Mary, Cambs, less than an hour after a silver car was seen making a brief late-night visit.


Owner Florence Bliss found hundreds of fish gasping for air, bleeding from the gills and sporting exploding blisters..........


Anglers make charity catch

Friends of an angler who almost died after being struck by lightning held a fundraising fishing event to raise money for the air ambulance which saved him.
Brad Gifford was taking shelter from a torrential storm in July when he was struck by a bolt of lightning and set on fire...........

No fish to be taken to save Tay stocks

AFTER ONE of the poorest seasons for many years, salmon anglers on the Tay are to be asked to return all the fish they catch from the opening day of the season on January 15 until May 31.

Unless the action is supported by anglers, the Tay District Salmon Fisheries Board warns, “The continuing poor survival of grilse at sea and the poorer returns of spring fish means there is a real danger that spawning stocks could drop below critical levels.”............


Angler's capture of 4,600-pound great white shark part of research effort off Baja

The location is Guadalupe Island, 160 miles west of Baja California, a truly spectacular destination and one of the world's largest seasonal gathering places for adult great white sharks. That's where researcher Michael Domeier has been studying the apex predators, and using satellite tags to determine their migration patterns and other habits.

And it's where TV fishing personality Chris Fischer got to play the role of angler -- and literally come face to face with a 4,600-pound white shark -- during a monumental capture aboard his 126-foot mothership, named Ocean.........

Skate fear

A SPECIES of common skate could be the first to be fished to extinction because of a mistake in its classification 80 years ago.

The European common skate has long been recorded as being just one species, although it is actually two, a scientific journal reported yesterday.

Experts say the second type, known as the flapper and once plentiful in European waters, could soon be extinct.

French scientist Dr Samuel Iglesias said: "We need a huge reassessment of its status."


Cup battle for anglers

THE weekend started for Diss Angling Club with a lure match on the river Waveney at Brockdish for the Turner Cup on November 14.

With heavy rain falling four anglers set out for the bank hoping for fish or two. Bill Davies was the only angler to bank any fish, with a brace of two small fish for 6lb 8oz Davies won the cup. Colin Lea missed out on a chance for the win when he lost a fish of 6lb plus at the net.

The Sunday saw Diss compete in a team match on the Mere in Diss against Gipping Valley Angling Club. Twenty anglers in all settled around the banks of the Mere for the fight ahead...........


News from the sea and shore

THE annual general meeting of the Wyvern Division, now part of the Angling Trust, held at Exeter was poorly attended and only a handful of affiliated clubs were represented.

David Rowe, formerly the NFSA's development officer and now Wyvern Treasurer, said in his report: "The division no longer enjoys any financial support from the parent organisation. The annual grant has ceased since the NFSA was incorporated and there is little chance of it being re-instated.

"Wyvern delegates to the trust's marine committee meetings in London are financed by Wyvern, such is the parlous state of trust finances."........

Ian Cloke said:

"Wyvern delegates to the trust's marine committee meetings in London are financed by Wyvern, such is the parlous state of trust finances."........

Click to expand...

It has been quite a while since I last saw the word "parlous" used in a sentence.

We don't see the word plimsoll too often either

Mr. Cholmondeley-Corker (PaSC) said:

We don't see the word plimsoll too often either

Click to expand...

That depends Matt if you mean the sports shoe or the politician from down Steve Spillers way, good old Samuel Plimsoll.

I was thinking of the load line on a ship

Mr. Cholmondeley-Corker (PaSC) said:

I was thinking of the load line on a ship

Click to expand...

Yes, that was Samuel Plimsoll, the poiticitan from Bristol.

Battle over floating threat to River Kennet

A PLANT which can grow up to 20cms (or eight inches) a day is being cleared from river water in south Reading.

Contractors are working their way along the A33 from Madejski Stadium to Kennet Island clearing and infestation of the rampant plant Pennywort from the waters of the River Kennet.

It will be cleared by the end of next week and left to dry along the riverbank for a further week before being removed from the site and disposed of safely.

Environment Agency spokesman Narinder Sokhi said: "We received calls from fishermen and the public, the river is choked with Pennywort..............


Tasty double Bill as Hope Springs

ONE fishery on fire this week in the gloomy, cold andwet days of November was Seaham’s Sharpley Springs.

Some superb doubles were giving anglers the run-around, with screaming reels whetting the appetites of on-looking anglers.

Colder weather has brought big doubles to the surface, and Bill Hope from Sunderland used a Bloodworm to tempt a fine 17lb 1oz rainbow.

Ryan Barrow from Coxhoe returned a rainbow of 17lb 6oz caught on a Zonker in a catch of 12 trout..........


Moore lands record dover sole.

NIGEL Moore braved the elements last weekend and landed an Exmouth Sea Angling Association club record dover sole weighing in at 2lb 15oz.

It was caught off Branscombe beach using ledgered ragworm on a size 2 penel rig fished about 60 metres from the shore.


82lb carp raises bar | Coarse Fishing Catch Reports | Angling Times | Gofishing UK

The Benelux carp record has been broken by Peter Kuppens with his capture of this enormous 82lb 5oz common carp from a stillwater attached to the V-Channel in the north of Belgium.

Following a slow couple of months on the venue with only one fish to show for his efforts, the 43-year-old made a couple of changes to his approach, scaling down from 26mm to 20mm boilies and reducing his level of pre-baiting.

On his next session, Peter banked four carp, including a brace of forties to over 42lb, in just three hours, before returning home to stock up on bait and food........

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Pike mystery raises fears

ore allegations that some of the nation's biggest pike are suffering at the hands of careless anglers resurfaced in the Norfolk Broads this week following the discovery of the corpse of a 42 inch long specimen on the bank.

The fish when it was caught from the river Thurne near Martham Ferry on November 1 scaled 26lbs 6oz. It was spotted in the undergrowth behind the Thurne boat dyke flood bank, showing signs of early decay and was partly eaten by small rodents, believed to be rats.

Last month it was reported that two 40lb pike, and others of 30lb and 28lb, had succumbed to angling malpractice on the Boddington reservoir. Three of them were females ready to spawn in February and since then the more responsible anglers have admitted that they have witnessed treble hooks being ripped out of 20lb plus pike, ill equipped anglers fishing for pike without unhooking mats or forceps, frequent recapture of large pike from feeder streams used by spawning fish, illegal live baiting and night fishing by poachers..........

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Callington celebrate 40 years of fishing

CALLINGTON Sea Angling Club is celebrating 40 years of existence with an informal 'get-together' at a restaurant close to the town on Saturday November 28.

The organiser is Ron May (telephone 01579 382414) who will provide details.

In its hey-day the club organised many quality events, including an annual Open Shore Festival with fishing between Cremyl and Looe beach taking in the many beaches and rock headlands around the great arc of Whitsand Bay.....

Let's say 'hello' to fishing's new hero

If the nation’s anglers were asked to vote for their favourite fisherman, it’s highly unlikely that he’d make it into the top 10. In fact, his name probably wouldn’t get much of a mention, full stop. But that could be about to change.

In his role as TV presenter, biologist Jeremy Wade ¬ the Suffolk-born former motorcycle despatch rider, supply teacher, art tutor, translator, public relations consultant, dishwasher and author ¬ stands on the brink of angling stardom.

Make no mistake about it, the sport has discovered a new hero...........


Mere hosts top roving match for pike anglers

LOCAL pike anglers are reminded that on Sunday the annual roving match for the Barry Degg Shield is being staged at Scarborough Mere.
Entry is £10 all-in, payable at the 9am draw prior to fishing 10am to 3pm.

Organiser Mat Leeming has full details and can be contacted on daytime telephone number 365000 or in person at GB Angling tackle outlet on Victoria Road.

Next Monday heralds the start of the Brooklands Winter League which is being staged on a fortnightly basis until mid-march by the Contemptibles.

League places are currently fully booked but casual places for non- league riders become available occasionally which can be booked by contacting Malcolm Bogg on 585885 or myself on 353931. The draw for each match is scheduled for 8.45am sharp prior to fishing 9.30am to 2.30pm.

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Angling: Fish O'Mania competition for Angling Trust members only

The Angling Trust and Matchroom Sport announced last week that entries to Fish O'Mania 2010 will be open from 9am on January 18, 2010 for a three-week period.
The closing date for entries will be February 8, 2010 at 4pm. Tickets will be on sale at £23, an increase of 50p on 2009 to reflect higher peg fees.

Anglers wishing to register in this year's event will need to have a valid individual membership of the Angling Trust and have their membership card with them when they compete. ........

Norfolk's angling superstar John Wilson picks up MBE from Prince of Wales

Norfolk fisherman, broadcaster, and author John Wilson was at Buckingham Palace yesterdayto receive an MBE for services to angling.

Mr Wilson, who lives in Lenwade, Norfolk, has been making television angling programmes for the past 20 years and is best known for fronting Anglia TV's Go Fishing on ITV1.

He received his award from Prince Charles who he talked to about the fish near the royal's favourite Scottish retreat, Balmoral......


Game angling

THE tiger hunt continues at Derwent with more and more of these beautiful trout coming to the net.

These fish tend to like the deeper water but in this late stage of the season they are moving into shallower water and into the range of the anglers as they stock up their winter reserves. Late on Sunday, Mr Findlay presented his 3lb 1oz Tiger, the best of the season to date, to net £400 from the sweepstake.

Anglers are recording excellent catches with reports of up to 15 fish in four hours with Len Broxson taking the fish of the week at 6lb.........


ANGLING: News

THE Fishing For Everyone Ladies Fishing Club is organising a Grayling fishing trip for Saturday, January 16, on a private beat on the River Tweed.
This is the first such trip organised by the club and the day will be led by Hardy & Greys Academy member and owner of Tweedguide, Scotland's leading guiding company, Ron Mccombe.

A limited number of places are still available for this fun event.

If you would like to attend, contact club chairman Lucy Bowden at lucy@fishingforeveryone.com or visit the club website Fishing for Everyone - A web-site for keen anglers nibbling for a bite! for more information.

The Club are also organising a second Grayling trip (date and venue tbc)

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Angling

ALDIN GRANGE LAKES

0191 3846090

Trout have been taking readily with the Zonker the top pattern. Kevin Chicken caught six fine trout on a White Zonker fished with a slow retrieve. Bloodworm did the trick for George Malcolm landed eight good fish. Try Dawson's Olive, Minkies and a Sedgehog on the surface.The Xmas Match places are filling up contact the fishery to book on 07901 538587.

CAISTRON FISHERY

01434 609725

Anglers have had some fine sport with some big catches made. Mr K Young landed a massive 41 trout taken on Black Tadpole and Dawson's Olive. Mr Jameson landed 19 on a Pink Buzzer drifted round. J Robinson from North Shields took the best fish of the week at 8lb 8oz on a Daddy. Anglers have caught well at and just below the surface..............


8lb eel is shock for little known canal


A pike session on the little known Sheffield and Tinsley canal produced one of the shock captures of the year when Jamie Redfearn landed this huge 8lb eel.

Sheffield-based Jamie was targeting a shaded area underneath a suspension bridge at Tinsley Marina when the specimen, which could be up to 80 years old, picked up his 4ins brown trout deadbait shortly after 10.30am..............


Sea anglers find plenty of cod to catch in the Mersey

IT HAS been a week of rod- bending action for Southport and Liverpool sea anglers.

As I predicted last week, the cod would come – and they have. From the Mersey shore and boats fish have been caught, some in large numbers

Along with hard-fighting cod, there have been lots of good whiting.

Thornback rays also from the docks. Cod are mostly around three to four pound but one lucky angler, fishing on lugworm and squid tipped cocktail on 3/0 pennel rigs, Jimmy Taylor from Bootle connected with a large fish at Jaguar House...........

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Tunnel Barn chosen as venue for Supercup final

TUNNEL Barn Farm Fishery has been booked to host the prestigious Van den Eynde Supercup final for the first time.

The move by the organisers follows a run of poor results at JCB Lakes, which has hosted the final for the last decade.

The event, the biggest in the club match fishing calendar, will take place on Sunday, July 11, at the Shrewley water, and to accommodate the venue only 15 rather than the previous 21 teams will make the final. So the top five from each of three semi-finals will go through.............


All hands on deck on River Nairn

AT the beginning of the season past, the River Nairn Angling Association members put in a power of work improving pools and clearing the overgrown banks.

But when the new season gets under way, it looks as though they are going to have their work cut out for them again.

The recent flooding, especially the repeated flash floods, have wreaked havoc and undone a lot of the good work achieved earlier this year and, as a consequence, the association will have to call all hands to the pumps before fishing gets underway in 2010............

Fishermen urge EU to end dumping

Scottish fishermen are offering to change the way they fish to persuade the European Union to relax rules that require them to throw large amounts of high-quality fish back in the sea if their catch includes species not allowed under quotas.

For Scotland, the dumping of millions of pounds worth of North Sea fish every year is a long-running bone of contention in the annual negotiations over national fishing allocations.........


Dead pike discovery causes concern

ON the upper reaches of the River Thurne, the discovery of a dead 41in-long pike in the undergrowth at the back of the Martham boat dyke has again raised the spectre of careless angling killing predators that has haunted the sport for decades.

This specimen was caught on rod and line at the beginning of the month and weighed in at 26lb 6oz, writes Roy Webster.

Caister pike ace John Goble, who caught the Broads' biggest ever pike at 45lb 8oz from the upper River Thurne last season, declared he was horrified to see such a splendid fish tossed away but was unable to throw any light on the cause of death.............


BIG FISH COLUMN: Wind and rain welcomed on the rivers

The strong winds and heavy rain of last week may have been unpleasant to have been out in but as far as the local rivers are concerned the extra water was long overdue and very welcome.

Locally we did not suffer the flooding seen on some of the other southern rivers but we did get the benefit of a scouring push of water which has gone some way towards improving waterways which were in danger of becoming rather stagnant..............

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Ally living the Angling dream

ALLY Harvey is living every angler's dream after reeling in a silver medal at the World Shore Angling Championship for Clubs last week.

The Warnham angler was part of the Individuals Sea Angling Club (ISAC) who were granted the honour of representing the NFSA/Angling Trust at the championships held by the German Anglers Association in Kuhlungsborn near Rostock............

Ken Gunning for another record!

Stillwater report:The main lake at Warren fishery is still showing good numbers of carp all over the lake with one fish tipping the scales at 30lbs 2ozs and a couple of fish nudging the 30lbs mark and another two at 29lbs 6oz.

John Lynch recorded a personal best with a 23lbs 8oz common from the north bank as well as an 18lbs 8oz mirror on Friday. Junior Craig Gentry captured a fine 22lb common and a 19lb fish from the logs.

Brian McKenzie certainly enjoyed a good day on the north bank on a float. He fished worm taking three pike to 14lbs, as well as several large perch up to 2lbs................

Anglers hook rare fish – to rescue them

ANGLERS are deliberately targeting critically endangered species of fish that were once common around Scotland.
But their efforts to catch rare sharks, skates and rays are for scientific purposes. Sportsmen are helping tag the fish which are then tracked by scientists.

Spurdog, a type of dogfish shark, and the common skate, whose ancestors evolved more t
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han 400 million years ago, are critically endangered, the International Union for Conservation of Nature says...........


IT'S ALL IN THE BAIT YOU USE!

LAST week was one of mixed fortunes at Kingennie due to the weather conditions. However, some good fish were caught.


Jim Glens had a nice 11lb trout among his three fish total of 18lb. On the boat Mr Ferguson landed a 10 lb rainbow, while Mr Bailey and his friends had nine fish caught mainly on white nomad and green pea variants.

Other anglers commented that the fish were lying quite deep, but still catchable as returns of decent numbers of fish showed........


Why Act is such good news for angling

THE PASSING of the Marine and Coastal Access Act is great news as it is one of the most important, wide reaching pieces of environmental legislation to be passed in recent years.

It will shape the way our marine environment is managed for years to come.

This is the result of more than a decade of work including the Review of Marine Fisheries and Environmental Enforcement, the Review of Marine Nature Conservation and the Salmon and Freshwater Fisheries Review.

This is one of the most important pieces of coastal and environmental legislation passed in recent years..............


Season finale to be a tough one?

IT IS the final weekend of the season at Blithfield Reservoir and it looks like it is going to be a tough final few days.

Strong winds are forecast and with the rain we have already had, the low water levels are currently on their way up.

Normally, the extra water means more colour but that does not seem to be happening at the moment.

Rather like Foremark, there are few signs that the fish are chasing the fry in the margins. Instead, it seems that the shoals have stayed out in open water and are being picked off there.............