We all know the checking done is minimal compared with the number of venues.
I don't see why legislation can't be passed that puts the onus of licence checking onto clubs, tackle shops and fisheries. It's not ideal, but infinitely better than the ludicrous system we have now.
It would be simple to make the purchase of a club licence or day ticket illegal unless a valid EA licence is produced first. The EA could then spend their effort policing this system rather than trying to walk endless miles of bank with insufficient bailiffs, which they evidently can't do.
One downside is clubs that issue day tickets on the bank and then don't actually do it. For example I have fished Peterborough DAA stretches of the Nene for the last couple of years. Day tickets are allegedly available from the bailiff on the bank according to signs by the stiles and gates, but I've yet to be asked by a bailiff for club book or money. With the amount of holiday fisherman on this river during the summer the club must be losing a huge amount of income.
There must also be those locals that don't bother buying a club book because they know the chance of being asked to cough up a day ticket fee more than four times a year, which would equate to the season price, is less than negligible.