Agency under fire over river angling
Many
of our local anglers are devoted river anglers who are still reeling from
the demise of the River Witham and the River Trent, both of which the
Worksop and District Anglers’ Association (WDAA) have a vested interest.
It is only a decade ago that the WDAA could boast a one year waiting list
of clubs wishing to book matches on their famous Weir Field, Holme Marsh
and Winthorpe sections of the River Trent.
Likewise the Witham and District Joint Anglers Federation (W and DJAF),
to whom the WDAA are affiliated, could boast about staging the largest
events in the country with some matches catering for over 1,000 anglers.
Sadly, this no longer is the case and the size of the matches currently
being booked varies between 10 to 120 pegs maximum – and those matches
are very few and far between.
Former England team manager Dick Clegg OBE has joined the list of prominent
people who have criticised the Environment Agency (EA) for providing us
with super-clear rivers that are no longer suitable for staging international
events.
Dick recently slammed the EA in an article in one of the nation’s
best selling daily newspaper that has a circulation of over 3.5 million
sales.
Dick, who is the director of international events for the National Federation
of Anglers (NFA), said: “The recent World Youth Championships on
the River Arno in Italy produced stunning catches with the top three landing
more than 40kg (approximately 90lbs) each in two three-hour matches.”
“How is it that every other country in Europe has fish-filled rivers
while our EA claim that our rivers are super-clean and yet we can no longer
catch fish from them? The EA should be deeply embarrassed.”
Dr David Clarke, the EA’s head of fisheries, responded by saying:
“I recognise the concerns but, historically, we have not had many
rivers that fulfil championship criteria for factors such as depth and
uniformity.”
Rodney Coldron, the NFA’s media and publicity consultant refutes
this statement by drawing David Clarke’s attention to the Rivers
Witham, Trent, Welland, Nene and Thames, all of which have been used for
major events in the past.
The World Championships were staged on the Warwickshire Avon at Luddington
in 1981 and The European Championships were held on the Trent at Nottingham
in the year 2000.
But Coldron reminded the EA’s top man that at the European Championships
on the Trent, half of the world’s top anglers failed to have a bite
in a week of fishing, adding to Clegg’s argument that many rivers
are now not ideal for angling.
Moving on, there is another contentious issue that has arisen as a direct
result of the decline in our river fishing – the increase in anglers
moving from the rivers to man made holes in the ground.
Four times world champion, Bob Nudd MBE, jumped to the defence of the
EA after former Matchman of the Year Billy Makin, who runs Makins Fishery
at Wolvey near Coventry, had claimed that no-one who fishes man-made waters
should have to buy a rod licence.
Bob claimed in his angling column in another national newspaper that Billy
had come up with a cock-eyed plan!
The NFA also believes there should be a rod licence for everyone who goes
fishing, but emphasise the fact that the EA has to watch the mass exodus
of river anglers who now fish managed fisheries, most of whom feel they
should not have to buy a licence.
The answer is for the EA to improve river fishing, the lifeblood of our
sport, and then clubs and the trade would prosper again.
NFA president, Ken Ball, has written to the Department of the Environment,
Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) and in his argument he compares the huge
decline in the population of the common house sparrow in Britain, which
has halved to about seven million, with that of the decline in our river
fish.
“I have had little joy from the EA and now I am tackling DEFRA about
the problem” says Ken.
On a personal note, it is common knowledge that both the River Trent and
the Witham have produced some good individual weights over the years but
these are very isolated cases that are due to the fish shoals congregating
over an area of just three or four pegs on any one section, but the rest
are virtually barren.
Will we ever again see the days when the banks of both these rivers are
lined with anglers all catching fish? – I think not.
Angling is on the Increase
Angling
is becoming more popular – and that’s official.
According to a recent report by the Environment Agency, the sales of rod
licences for last year were 22 per cent higher than for the equivalent
period the year before.
The increase could be even greater once the figures for direct debit sales
have been included and the peak in sales over the bank Holiday period
is taken into account.
A number of reasons have been put forward for the increases.
An active licence promotion by the agency and a crackdown on licence evasion
are part of the story.
The greater availability of purpose-built, high quality still-water fisheries
has also been an important contributory factor.
And the halving in the price of junior licence has proved popular, with
33 per cent increase in sales.
The report confirms the huge opportunities that exist to bring more people
into the sport.
Market research carried out last year confirmed that although nine per
cent of the population in England and Wales had fished at least once in
freshwater locations over the last two years, a further eight per cent
were either ‘very interested’ or ‘quite interested’
in taking up angling.
Were all of them to do so, the number of anglers would almost double!
The positive news has been welcomed by Roger Smith, Chairman of the influential
Angling Trades Association (ATA).
“I am delighted by the finding of the recent reports. Angling brings
many important benefits to its participants by helping to forge friendships,
engendering interest in and respect for the environment, and providing
the ideal means of unwinding from the pressure of modern life.”
“The increase in angler numbers justifies the ATA’s concerted
campaigns to promote the sport to all.”
“There are not many other social activities where people from all
walks of life, backgrounds and ages are brought together for one common
goal. This is just one of the key benefits that our sport has on society
as a whole.”
The above two reports are by courtesy of the National Federation of Anglers.
Sherwood Farm Pairs
Sherwood
Forest Farm is to host a 10-match pairs event for anglers wishing to qualify
for the Skol Masters Final at White Acres in Cornwall later in the year.
The event is open to any pair of anglers and will be fished from 30th
March through to 1st June on Holmefield Lake, from which the best seven
results of the 10 matches will count towards the final result.
The top three pairs will then go forward to fish the final on the prestigious
fishery based in Cornwall, where the winners will receive a one off prize
of £25,000.
Entry to the event at Sherwood Forest Farm will cost £40 per pair,
plus pools on the day of each match and is limited to 54 anglers only
(27 pairs).
For further details contact Mick Langton on 01623 842617 or 0772 1316334.
Association News
Club
secretaries should note that the Association’s 2003 affiliation fee
of £10 is due to be paid no later than the date of the February
delegates meeting that is scheduled to take place on Thursday 6th February.
Pre-payments should be sent to the association secretary Derek Brown as
soon as possible.
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Yours in Sport Glyn |