The Angling Trust are writing to members and supporters to draw your attention to the campaign they are running against plans that could see a marked increase in trespass, damage and disturbance to vital fish spawning grounds on smaller rivers and streams.

The Angling Trust and Fish Legal have already responded to the proposals in the current consultation on the reform of Bathing Water Regulations and written directly to ministers in both DEFRA and the Welsh Government.

The Angling Trust need anglers to act now to stop a massive loophole in the proposed new regulations which could see canoes, kayaks, rowing boats and even powered craft designated as ‘bathers’, disturbing fish and fishing on small rivers where currently no navigation is allowed.

The public consultation ends on 23rd December, so they are asking for your help to get writing NOW!

All the details of the campaign, including their template email to DEFRA which includes responses to the consultation, can be found here. A Facebook post from the Angling Trust, which can be reshared, can be found here.

It would be very helpful if you could undertake the actions, and help them maximise the response from the angling community.

Many thanks for your support.

Kind regards,
Jamie Cook
CEO Angling Trust

Source: Angling Trust

An unusual, orange-hued pike was recently caught in Lake Hajnal, Hungary. A photo of this rare fish, posted in a popular angling group, quickly went viral.

Members marveled at the sight, with many noting they had never seen a pike with such coloration before.
István Földi – who shared the photograph – revealed that the “golden fish” was caught in late June by Gézáné Vajda at Lake Hajnal, a five-hectare fishing spot in Szabolcs-Szatmár-Bereg County.
This golden pike came as a complete surprise, as it bit on bait intended for carp.
“I was using a method rig with halibut micro pellets in the feeder, and the bait was a piece of rubber corn. This beautiful pike took it at 9 a.m.” Földi shared with us.
The lake spans about fourty meters in width and stretches for 1,500 meters in length.
Its banks are lined with reeds, cattails, and fallen trees, providing ideal cover for pike and giving the lake a backwater feel.
“I never imagined such a color variation existed in pike. It was a once-in-a-lifetime experience! We’ve searched for similar catches worldwide but found nothing like it. Could it be that this small lake alone holds such wonders?” Földi mused.
Weighing in at 6.25 kilograms, this remarkable predator was photographed once and then released back into the water.

“I’ve never seen a pike with this xanthoristic trait before,” commented Zoltán Sallai, a board member of the Hungarian Ichthyological Society.
Sallai explained that this unique specimen exhibits a complete lack of melanin.
In fish skin, pigment cells produce four main colors: pearlescent guanine, brownish-black melanin, red erythrophyll, and yellow xanthophyll.
Genetic mutations can lead to over- or under-production of one or more of these pigments.
In this case, the yellow xanthophyll pigment is overproduced, resulting in what is known as xanthorism – making this an extraordinary xanthoristic pike.

Source: Pál Juha, Fishing Journalist www.pecaverzum.hu

Autumn is here and that can mean only one thing ... the Angling Trust Annual Raffle is back!

Their ever popular annual fundraiser has 20 prizes on offer including £2,000 worth of Daiwa tackle of your choice, £500 of Korda tackle and a £350 Preston Innovations bundle!

Tickets are still just £2 and you can buy them online now!

The full breakdown of the fantastic prizes for 2024 are:

• 1st Prize £2,000 RRP Daiwa tackle of the winner's choice.
  
• 2nd Prize £500 RRP Korda tackle of the winner's choice.
  
• 3rd Prize £350 RRP Preston Innovations bundle.
•  4th Prize £300 Angling Direct gift card.
  
• 5th Prize £270 RRP Korum bundle.
  
• 6th Prize £250 Orvis gift card.
  
• 7th Prize £250 RRP Matrix tackle of the winner's choice.
•  8th Prize £200 Go Outdoors gift card courtesy of The Insurance Emporium.
  
• 9th Prize £150 RRP Avid Carp bundle.
  
• 10th Prize £70 RRP Fox Rage Street Fighter Utility Vest.
  
• 11th-20th Prize £50 Fishing Megastore vouchers.

Source: Angling Trust

On 19 October 2024, young people with ancestral connections to around 35 different countries will gather on the Shropshire Union Canal between Norbury Junction and Cheswardine to take part in a global angling event.

Hosted by national charity Canal & River Trust and sponsored by Daiwa, the world’s biggest specialist in coarse, carp, sea and game fishing products, the Daiwa Global Communities Celebration brings young people from all backgrounds together. The communities represented include Australia, Canada, Germany, Hong Kong, India, Kurdistan, Montserrat, Poland, South Africa and Ukraine amongst others, alongside teams representing the home nations communities. Around 225 young people are expected to take part in the biggest event of its kind. The event is a legacy from the 2022 Birmingham Commonwealth Games.

There will be an opening ceremony held at around 9.15am on the day of the celebration, with members of each global community invited to carry a national flag.

The celebration is being organised as part of the charity’s Let’s Fish programme, which is being supported with funds raised by players of People’s Postcode Lottery and aims to create new anglers with a regular fishing habit. The programme uses fishing activities to help improve health and wellbeing and connect communities, making them stronger and more resilient.

John Ellis, national fisheries & angling manager at the Canal & River Trust, comments: “It’s fantastic to see so many communities represented at this Global Celebration, highlighting that fishing is a truly inclusive and accessible sport. As Let's Fish! reaches even more communities we hope to see the number of overseas countries represented grow.

“Our Let’s Fish! events have introduced thousands of young people to the sport and offer a chance for young people to fish alongside others, make new friends, and discover a new community. The support from players of People’s Postcode Lottery has enabled us to host these events that play such an important role in connecting young people from all backgrounds with the natural world.

“This is just one of the ways our 250-year-old canal network benefits communities today. But the canals are centuries-old and, as damaging floods and storms become more common, anglers can see first-hand how parts of the network are suffering. It’s more important than ever to get involved and help us keep canals open and alive today, tomorrow, and for future generations.”

The Global Celebration is open to anyone aged seven to 20 years old with a parent, grandparent, or great-grandparent with ancestral connections with the nation they wish to represent, who will participate in four age categories to be crowned champion.

The countries represented include: Australia, Bangladesh, Canada, Czech Republic, El Salvador, England, Estonia, France, Germany, Gibraltar, Grenada, Hong Kong, Hungary, India, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Kurdistan, Latvia, Montserrat, Mozambique, New Zealand, Netherlands, Pakistan, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Scotland, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Trinidad & Tobago, Turkey, Uganda, Ukraine, USA, and Wales.

Laura Chow, head of charities at People's Postcode Lottery, said: “The Let’s Fish! programme has introduced young people to the joy of fishing and brought about a wonderful sense of community. It's fantastic that funding raised by players supports the Canal & River Trust, encouraging more people to spend time by the water and feel healthier and happier. Thanks to players across Britain, over £1.4 billion has been raised for thousands of charities and good causes.”

For more information on the Daiwa Global Communities Celebration, please visit: Global Communities Fishing Celebration | Canal & River Trust (canalrivertrust.org.uk)

To support the Trust’s campaign to Keep Canals Alive, together with all the activities that take place on them, visit: Keep Canals Alive | Canal & River Trust (canalrivertrust.org.uk)

To find out more about People’s Postcode Lottery, please visit: www.postcodelottery.co.uk/good-causes.

Source: Canal and River Trust

Event: Hooked On Hospice Care
Venue: Sally Walsh’s Dam, Hemsworth, WF9 5JB
Date: Saturday 31st August 2024
Entry fee: £20pp
Sign up link: https://www.trybooking.com/uk/CZIS

Hooked on Hospice Care is a charity fishing match, in aid of The Prince of Wales Hospice.

It is open to all, not matter of angling ability. It’s all about having fun on the bank while raising much needed funds for the Hospice.

Kindly sponsored by Conky’s Tackle Base

Sign up: https://www.trybooking.com/uk/CZIS

Blackthorn Fishery in Oswestry, Shropshire was the location of a fantastic display of angling skills last week as an angler caught the largest carp in the venue’s Pines lake. Despite the horrific weather caused by Storm Isha and Storm Jocelyn, the lake record was smashed by angler Matt Bullas.

Matt's impressive haul of 14 carp across 2 sessions included, “Big C”, the previous lake record of 31lb 9oz and a carp named “The Scorpion”, which set the new lake record at 35lb 5oz. Matt then went on to break his own record by landing one of the largest carp in the main lake at Blackthorn Fishery “Big J” weighing in at a whopping 44lb 12oz, as well as “Bullseye”at 33lb 5oz.

. Staying in the private lodge on the lake exclusive Pines Lake at Blackthorn Fishery, Matt challenged himself to better his previous Personal Best of 28lb, but at the start of the week he couldn’t have imagined how it would turn out. Over the course of his 4-day session Matt caught 11 carp including 4 over 30lb. Matt’s haul also included a Treble Take. Combining both sessions Matt landed a total of 14 fish included the 3 x 30+ Carp and a 40+.

To achieve this impressive series of catches, Matt used Fox Rods and Reels, Delkim Alarms and Korda Terminal Tackle, and aside from that, just line and bait.

For this winter session, all of Matt’s fish were taken on The Bait Room popups fished over a lightly baited area of boilie crumb and pellet. Matt’s Fox Rods and Reels and Delkim Alarms were certainly put through their paces as well as his Korda terminal tackle using a Tom Dove style solid PVA bag rig during this red letter session!

On how he managed to achieve this very memorable haul. Matt comments, “I have found that consistency is key. Watching the water for any signs of activity, whether it be feeding or showing fish is first on my angling approach, but in winter this type of activity can be very subtle or sometimes can’t be seen, so targeting the deeper water is a good start when looking for a bite. Baiting tight and light in the colder temperatures is also a tactic I’m keen to follow at the start of my sessions.

“I fully intended to have a successful few days when I started my angling sessions but I couldn’t have dreamed that it would work out so well for me. Not only did I catch the previous lake record but I went one better and set the new record. Most people fish a lifetime trying to get something like this in Carp angling and never succeed. I’m delighted to have this experience at Blackthorn Fishery as it really is a great location for carp fishing combined with a relaxing holiday in a tranquil environment.

Charlie Hughes Owner of Blackthorn Fishery commented, “It was great to see Matt having such a productive session on the Pines and Main Lake, particularly as he fished through such stormy conditions. We are excited to be part of his angling journey and look forward to following his catch reports this year.

“I don’t think it will be long before we see him back on the bank enjoying his carp angling journey.”

Looking to the future Matt’s goal is to continue smashing his own personal records and looking out for even bigger carp to catch.

There's just one week left!

If you haven't purchased your Christmas raffle tickets yet the countdown is on! The raffle closes at 8pm on Sunday 17th December so don't miss out! Tickets are still just £2 and you can buy them online today!

If you haven't purchased your Christmas raffle tickets yet the countdown is on! The raffle closes at 8pm on Sunday 17th December so don't miss out! Tickets are still just £2 and you can buy them online today!

With 24 prizes up for grabs there's something for every angler including £2,000 worth of Daiwa tackle of your choice, £500 of Korda tackle and a £300 Angling Direct gift card! If you have already purchased - thank you for your support.

The full breakdown of the fantastic prizes for 2023 are:

• 1st Prize £2,000 RRP Daiwa tackle of the winner's choice.
  
• 2nd Prize £500 RRP Korda tackle of the winner's choice.
  
• 3rd Prize £300 Angling Direct gift card.
  
• 4th Prize £264 RRP Korum tackle bundle.
  
• 5th Prize £250 Orvis gift card.
  
• 6th Prize £250 RRP Avid Carp Revolve system.
  
• 7th Prize £250 RRP Matrix tackle of the winner's choice.
•  8th Prize £250 RRP Preston Innovations tackle of the winner's choice.
  
• 9th Prize £250 RRP Nash tackle Siren Alarms set.
  
• 10th Prize £250 RRP Day's guided barbel fishing on the River Wye provided by Weihai Julia.
  
• 11th Prize £200 RRP Day's guided tench fishing on Farnham Angling Society waters guided by Duncan Charman courtesy of the Insurance Emporium.
  
• 12th Prize £180 RRP Zerofit Head to Toe Baselayer Bundle.
  
• 13th Prize £90 RRP Fox Rage Street Fighter Rucksack.
  
• 14th Prize £65 RRP Fox International Edges Medium Loaded Tackle Box.
  
• 15th−24th Prize £50 Fishing Megastore vouchers.

Buy tickets online here

A final huge thank you to all of Angling Trust's wonderful supporters in the angling trade, without whom this raffle wouldn't be possible. Money raised from this raffle, and all of their other fundraising events throughout the year, is ploughed back into the Angling Trust to support their work. Good luck if you choose to take part.

Source: Angling Trust

The Angling Trust provides members the opportunity to vote on a number of voluntary director roles with individuals serving a three-year term as part of the Angling Trust board.

There were three vacancies this year, the first a specialist role focused on welfare and safety. This is a critical role of the National Governing Body (NGB) in every sport which requires specialist knowledge and experience. The membership voted Brendan Tonks on to the board to fulfil this role.

There were two further vacancies with an excellent shortlist of candidates. The membership voted for Bev Clifford and Neville Fickling to join the board. Neville will be serving his second term having been voted on to the board initially in 2020. Bev is a new addition to the Angling Trust board.

Finally, the Angling Trust board wished to thank Tim Macpherson as he stepped down from his third term as a volunteer on the Angling Trust board. Tim provided specialist insight into the sea angling community and chaired the Marine Advisory Group of anglers from across the country. Tim will be made an Honorary Vice President in recognition of his commitment and support.

Source: Angling Trust

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