MPs met with Mark Lloyd and Martin Salter of the Angling Trust in the House of Commons this week to re-establish the All Party Parliamentary Group on Angling in the new Parliament which was elected at the General Election on May 7th. The Conservative MP for Broxbourne in Hertfordshire, Charles Walker, was elected Chairman for the second time.

The group was first set up by Martin Salter in 2005 and he was followed as Chairman by Charles Walker MP when Mr Salter retired from politics in 2010. For the last three years the post was filled by George Hollingbery MP who has been promoted to the government whips office and, as a result, is no longer eligible to stand. The angling MPs come together to receive regular briefings from the Angling Trust and others and raise issues of concern on the floor of the Commons and directly with ministers. In the last Parliament they were particularly active in pressing ministers to take action to conserve bass stocks.

Among the issues raised with the politicians at the meeting were the plans for a new bass minimum landing size, the need to reform inshore netting regulations, the impact of tidal lagoons on fish passage, the poor state of salmon stocks and the need to ensure that the Environment Agency has sufficient resources to look after our rivers.

At the end of the meeting Charles Walker was presented with honorary membership of Reading & District Angling Association (RDAA) by Martin Salter in thanks for all he has done to support and promote angling in his time in Parliament. As well as being National Campaigns Coordinator for the Angling Trust Mr Salter is president of RDAA.

Charles Walker said :

"It's important that the Nation's most popular outdoor pastime has advocates in Parliament, particularly when anglers are in the forefront of campaigns for a healthier environment and cleaner rivers. I'm delighted to be back in the chair and following in the footsteps of my friends and predecessors Martin Salter and George Hollingbery. Although I'm better known as a fly fisherman I love my trips down to the Kennet and Avon and I'm looking forward to joining up with the guys from Reading & District for some more winter piking on their fabulous waters"

Angling Trust CEO Mark Lloyd added:

"We are very grateful to all the MPs who are involved in the Parliamentary Group for Angling.  Their support for the many issues affecting fish stocks and fishing is invaluable to the Angling Trust as we have seen over the past year on bass in particular and other issues which we have raised on behalf of our membership.  Charles Walker is a highly energetic and committed Chairman of the group and we welcome the fact that all the major parties are represented.  This level of input to the parliamentary process is yet another benefit of having a single unified representative organisation for all anglers."

Source: Angling Trust Fishing News

The penultimate qualifier for the grand final of Fish ‘O’ Mania to be held at Cudmore Fisheries on Saturday 18th July 2015 was held at Partridge Lakes, near Warrington on Saturday 20th June.

This venue is considered by many to be one of the most picturesque and extremely well managed and hospitable venues in the country and has played host to many qualifiers over the years.

Cloudy and drizzly conditions greeted the 180 competitors that had booked in for this event and although the conditions were damp, it was expected that they would improve during the day.

The lakes in use were Covey 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 along with Holbar, Willow, Ribbon, Marsh and Spey, all of which were well stocked and pegged for this match to give the competitors as much room as possible.

Due to the ups and downs with the weather over the past weeks, changes in pressure, temperatures etc. many of the fish had not spawned properly and weights were not expected to be very high with 80 lbs expected to win.  As is normal with any predictions, they never work out.

The eventual winner and 15th qualifier was Connor Barlow, an electrician from Manchester, (Daiwa/Guru), with a weight of 154 lbs 11 ozs, which put paid to the low winning weight predictions.

Drawn on Ribbon peg 8, one of the smaller lakes at this venue and stocked with mainly F1’s, he set his stall out to fish shallow at 11 metres as tight to the far bank reeds as he could. Using caster as feed and hook bait, he got through 4 pints of caster during the match, with his biggest fish approximately 4 lbs.

In second place, drawn on Holbar peg 16 with a weight of 101 lbs 14 ozs was Andy Bailey (Daiwa Dons), a Sales Representative from Doncaster.  Initially starting on the bomb and pellet and then changing to the short pole he caught a mixed bag of carp, F1’s, barbel, skimmers and roach with his biggest fish being an 8 lb Mirror.

Third place went to Wayne Kearney, (Tricast Rochdale), a joiner form Manchester with 93 lbs 11 ozs. Using groundbait and maggot down the edge he caught carp and F1’s with his biggest fish around 6 lb.

In fourth place with 91 lbs 11 ozs was Stu Conroy form Covey 1 peg 4, with Grant Albutt in fifth place from Covey 6 peg 166 with 85 lbs 9 ozs.

The final Fish ‘O’ Mania qualifier for this year heads to Garbolino Lindholme Lakes, Epworth, Doncaster on Wednesday 24th June.

Source: Angling Trust Fishing News

The BRFC met at Fishmongers’ Hall, London, on 8th June 2015.

Present were: Mike Heylin OBE (Chairman), Nick Simmonds (Secretary), Oliver Crimmen (Scientific Advisor, Natural History Museum), Nigel Hewlett (Scientific Advisor, Environment Agency) and Andrew Nellist (Angling Trust - freshwater specialist).

The following claims were ratified by the committee as new or equal records:

Sea Fish:
Species: White sea bream (Diplodus sargus)    
Record weight: 2lb 9oz 5dr (1.170kg)    
Captor's name: Steve Mullins    
Date & venue: 10th Jan 2015 - St Catherine's Breakwater, Jersey 
Previous record: 2lb 6oz 14dr

Coarse Fish:
Species: Crucian carp (Carassius carrasius)
Record weight: 4lb 9oz (2.070kg) (Equal record)    
Captor's name: Peter Cardozo    
Date & venue: 2nd May 2015 - Johnson's Lake, Marsh Farm, Surrey
Previous record: 4lb 9oz

Species: Crucian carp (Carassius carrasius)
Record weight: 4lb 10oz (2.098kg) (New record)   
Captor's name:  Michael James   
Date & venue: 4th May 2015 - Surrey Stillwater
Previous record: 4lb 9oz

Species: Crucian carp (Carassius carrasius)
Record weight: 4lb 10oz (2.098kg) (Equal record)
Captor's name: Stephen Frapwell  
Date & venue: 10th May 2015 - Johnson's Lake, Marsh Farm, Surrey   
Previous record: 4lb 10oz

Notes from the meeting:

• The members of the Committee expressed regret at the untimely loss of Keith Speer, who died unexpectedly in February this year. Keith had been a member of the BRFC since 2012 and had made a significant and valued contribution to the affairs of the Committee during his tenure. Keith's presence, with his great good humour and well-considered judgement is much missed.
   
• One consequence of Keith's passing is that the Committee would like to recruit an experienced freshwater angling specialist to strengthen the freshwater sub-group. Initial expressions of interest should be made to the BRFC Secretary, Nick Simmonds, by email to admin@britishrecordfish.net
   
• The Committee would like to make it clear that the BRFC does not undertake scales checks. We may be able to assist in facilitating scales tests from time to time. The BRFC does not make any charge for facilitating scales checks. Any charge payable is that levied by the testing authority.
   
• The Committee considered the question of records being held jointly by more than one angler. The Committee is happy to consider claims for the capture of a fish at an equal weight to the current record for the species and, in instances when the claim is ratified, to award an equal record certificate to the captor.
  
  The Committee has recently had a situation where three anglers made claims for record captures of the same species within a few days of each other. In cases where multiple claims are made, claims will be dealt with in the order in which the claims are lodged with BRFC.
  

The Committee would also like to remind readers that in the event of the capture of a potential record fish, the captor should first contact the British Record (rod-caught) Fish Committee without delay.

Captors of potential record fish should contact the Secretary, Nick Simmonds, at the Angling Trust, on 01568 620447 or by email at admin@britishrecordfish.net

Nick will record the details of the capture and advise the claimant on progressing the claim.

More information about what to do if you catch a record fish can be found in the BRFC web pages at www.anglingtrust.net/brfc

Notes for editors:
The official British Records List and procedures are available on the Angling Trust website at www.anglingtrust.net/brfc or from the Secretary.

The initial telephone contact point of the BRFC remains at the Angling Trust Head Office on 01568 620447 and email enquiries may be directed to the Secretary Nick Simmonds at admin@britishrecordfish.net

The next meeting of the full committee is scheduled for December 2015. As previously the committee will continue to consider all claims as and when they arise and to keep captors informed as to progress.

Aims and Objectives of the BRFC
The Committee exists to recognise and publish record weights of both fresh and salt water fish caught on rod and line by fair angling methods in the waters of England, Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland, The Isle of Man and the Channel Islands, and aims:

• To provide an adjudicating body to which marine and freshwater anglers may submit claims for record fish taken by fair rod and line angling.
  
• To investigate all such record claims to the fullest possible extent and maintain a permanent record of such investigations.
  
• To establish and maintain accurately a list of British fish, marine and freshwater, of record size and to publish this list frequently and make it readily available to all interested persons.

The activities of the Committee are voluntary, and claims are considered and adjudicated upon, only on the basis that the Committee shall be under no obligation whatsoever to claimants, that its decisions shall be final, and it shall not be obliged to give reasons for its decisions.

For further information please contact:

Nick Simmonds - Secretary
British Record (rod caught) Fish Committee
c/o The Angling Trust
Eastwood House
6 Rainbow Street
Leominster
Herefordshire HR6 8DQ

Tel: 01568 620447 / 0844 7700616
Email: admin@britishrecordfish.net

Source: Angling Trust Fishing News

Yet more fisheries are set to benefit as the Angling Trust announces today (8th June) that an additional £50,000 is up for grabs later this summer as part of the hugely successful 'Fishery Improvement Fund'. The funding comes from the Environment Agency's rod licence sales.

Building on the success of the first round of funding earlier this year, the Fund will again be offering awards of up to £5,000 per project. This time, proposals are invited under two strands of the National Angling Strategy 'Fishing for Life' - either 'getting kids into fishing' or 'protecting fish stocks from predation'.

As before, clubs and organisations need not be Angling Trust members or Angling Trust-affiliated to be eligible to apply and proposals from commercial fisheries are also welcomed. Clubs and fisheries that were unsuccessful in Round 1, but have a continuing need for funding in these two areas, are welcome to apply again.

Eligibility criteria and details of how to apply will be available to view and download from the Angling Trust's dedicated Fishery Improvement Fund web page www.anglingtrust.net/improvementfund from Friday 12th June.

Applications should be emailed to reach the Angling Trust by the close of business on Monday 13th July 2015, and successful organisations must be able to spend the award by no later than the end of August.

In addition the Angling Trust will be running a series of workshops from Monday 22nd June to Thursday 25th June around the country to help clubs and organisations with the process and to provide pointers on what we would expect to see on a successful application. Details of these free events and how to book a place will be posted on the Angling Trust website soon.

Sarah Chare, head of fisheries at the Environment Agency, said: "The Fishery Improvement Fund is just one way the Environment Agency uses rod licence money to work with partners to benefit angling.  The first phase saw some really good projects given money: from new fish refuges and revitalising disused stretches of river to improving access and creating new angling venues.  I'm now looking forward to seeing great results from the second round, especially those which encourage young people to give fishing a go."

Mark Lloyd, Chief Executive, Angling Trust said: "Angling's response to the first round was phenomenal and clearly demonstrates the huge demand for improved facilities and habitats at our fishing waters. This time around, we are looking to support two priority areas for anglers: getting more kids into fishing and sustaining their enthusiasm, and protecting fish stocks from predation. If you are interested in applying, or are looking for general tips on finding funding for your club or fishery, please do try and come to our workshops at the end of June."

Source: Angling Trust Fishing News

The Angling Trust is now inviting applications from young coarse anglers to enter the 2015/16 England Talent Pathway programme. Talent Pathway events will begin in June and will take place throughout the country providing opportunities in the North, Midlands and Southern regions.

The ten month programme will provide anglers aged 13-17 with the opportunity to enter a high performance training programme, working with some of the best anglers this country has ever produced. Participants will learn how to become better anglers and at the same time will develop an understanding of the skills and attributes required to fish at international level.

Anglers will have the chance to showcase their skills in a series of coaching sessions, then pit their wits against anglers from other areas of the country.

This will happen under the watchful eye of Sensas Team England U18 manager Steve Sanders, with the aim being to get invited to trials for a place in the FIPS-ed World Championships team in 2016.

The 2015 Sensas Team England U18 squad will be made up of three anglers who have participated and progressed through the England Talent Pathway.

The opportunity to work with England's finest anglers such as Des Shipp, Lee Kerry, Matt Godfrey, Joe Roberts, Callum Dicks among others is definitely an opportunity not to be missed.

Ben Thompson, Angling Trust Talent Development Manager said: "The programme is really gathering momentum and we are excited about the progress being made. In previous Talent Pathways anglers have entered the programme as club anglers and gone on to become fully fledged internationals. Not only that, every angler that enters the programme improves their skills and becomes a better angler.

For those anglers who aspire to fish for England I can think of no better way than to achieve their goal, and for those anglers who just want to become better anglers, the programme will accelerate their learning and undoubtedly help them become the best angler they can be."

Lee Kerry, Drennan Team England Team member said: "The talent pathway is a fantastic opportunity for young anglers to develop their angling skills, with some of the best in the business involved to mentor participants.

Our aim as coaches is to ensure that all those taking part improve their current level of angling, and continue to progress beyond the programme to become the best they can be. I have no doubt these anglers will become part of our international teams in the future".

The Angling Trust England Talent Pathway identifies anglers aged 13-17 showing potential. Anglers enter a training programme designed to develop understanding of tactics and techniques required for international style angling.

There are Northern, Midlands and Southern squads in both game and coarse angling and a sea angling programme will be launched in the South for 2014/15.

Anglers interested in getting involved should visit www.anglingtrust.net/talentpathwaycoarse for more information and details of how to apply.

There is a small entry fee of £5 for each event and all participants must be individual members of Angling Trust.

Angling Trust membership is FREE for anyone under 18 years of age and is available online at www.anglingtrust.net/join

Source: Angling Trust Fishing News

A prestigious national angling competition is coming to South Yorkshire as Kiveton Waters, which sits alongside the Chesterfield Canal, hosts a qualifier for the 2015 Stillwater Championships.

The Championships, organised jointly by the Canal & River Trust, the charity that cares for 2,000 miles of the nation’s waterways, and Angling Trust will see anglers battle it out on some of the country’s top fisheries

The Kiveton qualifier, taking place on Saturday 30th May, will give local anglers the opportunity to enter the Championships and be in with a chance of winning a share of the final’s £7,000 prize pot.  

The Championships will consist of 10 qualifying rounds taking place on some of the Canal & River Trust’s top Stillwater fisheries. Each qualifier will see 4 anglers go through to a 40 peg final held at Blythe Waters Fishery, near Solihull, on 17th October 2015.

John Ellis, National Fisheries & Angling Manager for the Canal & River Trust said; “This is a really exciting opportunity for anglers living in South Yorkshire to take their place in a major national competition. It’s a chance for people to enjoy some great match angling and, who knows, possibly win them the right to compete in the national final. Places are booking fast so I’d encourage anyone wishing to take part to get in touch as soon as possible.” 

David Kent Competitions Chair from the Angling Trust said; “It is vital that we provide as much opportunity as possible for anglers to compete on different venues. Kiveton is very different from all the others used for this Championship and so calls for some completely different skills and techniques – it promises to be a fascinating event.”

Entry is £25 per qualifier and tickets are available from www.anglingtrust.net/competitions

Source: Canal & River Trust

Despite the continuing easterly winds, April continues to produce some cracking thirties from both Temple and the Old Lake. Interestingly, most of these fish have been caught during the day, whilst many have put on a huge amount of weight over the winter months and are now at record weights.

Traditionally May is the month of the thirties, so expect to see more thirties reported over the coming weeks and possibly a few surprises with a couple of Temple’s fish almost certainly over the magical 40lb mark.

Phil Kingsbury had a brilliant session last week catching not one, but two stunning Temple thirties during a short session. A 30 lb plus common, which was followed by a truly stunning 35 lb plus mirror (see photos below). Phil caught the common from swim 4 and the mirror from swim 14 casting to the island. Both fish where caught on 15mm Dynamite Monster Tiger nut boilies presented with a small pva bag of crumbed Tiger nut boilie on a running lead, a short length of Gardener 15lb Sly Skin and a size 6 Gardener covert Talon tip wide Gape hook.

Another angler to get amongst the thirties last week was David Wilson who landed a mint 32 lb 2 oz common (see photo below) and another of 21 lb 8 oz during a one-day session fishing the margins either side of peg 12 with home-made boilies and loose feeding sweet corn.

Another thirty to fall to a day session angler on Temple was a lovely 32 lb 8 oz mirror (see photo below), which was caught by Clive Elson from swim 15 on a Mainline Cell wafter. This fish was caught at around 25 lb last September, so it shows how much weight the young Temple fish are putting on. Clive also had a 20 lb 8 oz common on an overnighter a couple of days later on the same tactics from swim 7.

Turning to the Old Lake, Kirk Nodding was over the moon to end his 3-year quest for both an Old Lake mirror and common over 30lbs after landing this Old Lake warrior at 32 lb 6 oz (see photo below). Fishing the middle of the front bank, Kirk tempted this stunning big mirror just before sunrise with the help of his fishing pal Gavin Raines. Interestingly this is not the Old Lake’s famous ‘Shoulders’ but a new unknown thirty. Congratulations Kirk, now to smash up Temple!

Night fishing on the Old Lake and Temple can only be fished by members of our 'Specimen Carp Club'. We still have a few places available for 2015 for anyone wanting to join, please contact us for further details. Any previous members who still have to rejoin should do so as quickly as possible.

Source: Bury Hill Fisheries

With the outcome of the General Election on a knife edge and polling just a few days away, the Angling Trust has completed a review of what the main political parties are offering to do for fish and fishing. A trawl through the manifestos of the Conservative, Labour, LibDem, UKIP and Green parties has revealed strengths and weaknesses in them all.

Last month the Angling Trust published a comprehensive Manifesto for Angling and invited the five main parties to sign up and comment. Labour was the first to sign and Shadow Fisheries Minister Angela Smith said:
"Labour is proud to have a strong tradition of support for Angling.  We recognise not only the economic contribution that anglers makes but also the role they play up and down the country in working to improve our water and marine environment. The manifesto for angling contains some positive ideas for how the next Labour Government can both improve our natural environment and support Britain's most popular sport. We worked constructively with the Angling Trust when Labour was last in Government and we look forward to doing so again."

However, Labour's own environmental policy is one of the weaker on offer and their own manifesto makes almost no reference to fish or fishing.

The Conservatives have been keen to point out their record in government with new controls on cormorants and support for angling projects. They did agree, following a meeting between the Trust and the Prime Minister, to include a promise   to deliver a sustainable bass fishery. The Tories are also committed to concluding important projects like the Thames Tideway Tunnel to improve water quality.

Whilst they've yet to sign up to the Manifesto for Angling the Conservatives' most prominent angling MP and Chairman of the All Party Parliamentary Angling Group George Hollingbery said:
"Angling is one of the biggest participant activities in the UK and important to the country at many different levels.  The Angling Manifesto hits all the right notes:  we know how beneficial angling can be to those that are involved and should encourage more people to pick up a rod; with so many people involved already, we know that a number of areas of government policy should always recognise this very large interest group; and we know that angling is a force for good when it comes to the environment and the health of our streams, rivers, lakes and oceans."

As expected the LibDem and Green manifestos are strong on the need for greater environmental protection with commitments to reduce water abstractions through wider water metering and construction of new reservoirs. However, neither party has anything to say about angling and has not yet responded to the Angling Trust's manifesto.

UKIP has the most comprehensive manifesto section on fishing of all the political parties but is exclusively focussed on the marine environment with strong support for continued exploitation of sea fish stocks by the UK commercial sector. They support measures to conserve bass stocks but oppose the three fish bag limit on recreational sea anglers. UKIP have acknowledged, but are yet to respond formally to the Manifesto for Angling.

Angling Trust Chief Executive Mark Lloyd said:
"We are pleased to have secured strong responses from both Labour and Conservative parties ahead of what will be a finely balanced election result. This means that anglers can be pretty confident that we will continue to receive good support from whoever is the major party in the next government. However, there is still a long way to go before we can get all politicians to recognise just how important it is for the nation’s 3 million anglers to look probably look after the rivers, streams, lakes and coastal fisheries upon which our sport depends."

Source: Angling Trust Fishing News

UK Fisherman is delighted to bring you a round up of the latest from the world of angling, including fishing match results and news from w/e 3rd May 2015, courtesy of the Canal & River Trust.

Etheridge as Ever

Another huge turnout of 86 saw the Kennet & Avon Canal a difficult venue to master on the Kings Arms to Pound Lane sections at Semington, Wiltshire. Some struggled, which is inevitable at this time of the year, whilst some had a cracking day’s sport. Individual winner was Garbolino Blackmore Vale Gold’s Gary Etheridge. Gary was at Pound Lane where he presented single red pinkie over groundbait over to a far bank tree. The two feet deep area produced a glut of skimmers, some going over the one pound mark, in his 20-12-0. Runner-up Nathanial Johnson (PI Thatchers) was opposite rushes on the Kings Arms length where chopped worm and caster accounted for a few bream plus skimmers in his 18-8-0. On the team front Drennan Bordon posted a fantastic return, easily winning on 80 points with PI Thatchers the runners-up on 68 points. Drennan Bordon is the team to catch in this league as they are currently on top with a thirteen points advantage over PI Thatchers.

Bagshaw Bags up!

At the halfway stage in the 56-entry Milton Keynes Spring League on the Manor Fields to Mill Road length of the Grand Union Canal at Milton Keynes Browning Northampton Blue hold a slender lead over Preston Innovations Black Horse White. This latest round saw skimmers galore with Ian Bagshaw including the odd better bream, in his 14-9-0 from the opening peg on the Manor Fields section. The opening peg on the Phelps length also produced the goods for Bryn Wignall (Maver Milton Keynes Green) as he built up his 12-11-0 skimmer haul.

More skimmers for Passmore!

Round Two of the Gloucester Canal Spring League saw the 68 competitors face up to a tricky Gloucester Canal match course from Rea to Pilot. The venue is fishing patchily with the occasional shoal of feeding bream and skimmers accounting for the pick of the weights, - like most canals at this time of the year nets of roach are hard to find. Topping this latest round was Paul Passmore (Devizes White) who found a good head of skimmers scouring around peg 179 at Rea. Paul netted an excellent 24-5-0 to feeder fished maggot, well ahead of the rest including Paul Hemburrow (Sensas Nomads Green) who fished similarly at the next peg to pick up 15-12-0 of fringe skimmers. The best of the rest came from Tanker Bay on the Pilot section and whilst Sensas Thyer’s posted the best team card of the day it is Daiwa Gordon League Veterans that top a very close league table with 8 points.

Frosty Reception on the Newry!

Following four consecutive frosts then torrential rain conditions were pretty dreadful for canal fans on the Newry Canal. The ‘town’ section was tough going but some very decent returns came from the periphery of the town. Matt Crowl (Harrogate) soon had the small roach ‘lined up’ to his pinkie over small nuggets of crumb attack, ending with a very creditable 9-13-0 Exactly 2 lbs behind was Philip Jackson (Lurgan) with more small roach in his 7-13-0 followed by more satisfying scores from the placed anglers.

First Class from Ben Garbett

Dudley, West Midlands based postman delivered a first class effort to top the individual scores in the latest of the Angling Trust/Canal & River Trust qualifying heats on the Grand Union Canal at Stoke Bruerne, Towcester Northamptonshire, on Sunday. Being Bank Holiday the excellent turnout of 80 had a bit more boat traffic than usual but the weights were still good and the expected skimmers certainly ruled the roost. Ben drew not for from the White Hart on A section where he worked with large red maggot and pinkies to net four bream to 2 lb 8 ozs plus skimmers and small roach from his shallow swim for 13-1-0. Runner-up was Daventry’s Tony Hulme with one bream and skimmers, also from A section, in his 8-6-0. Tony Marshall (Shakespeare Superteam) was the best score from B section with his third place skimmer bag of 6-13-0.

The latest Canal & River Trust match results from the weekend……

Angling Trust/Canal & River Trust Pairs Championships, Grand Union Canal, Stoke Bruerne, Towcester, Northamptonshire, Sunday, Individuals: Ben Garbett (Wolverhampton AA Van den Eynde) 13-1-0; Tony Hulme (Woodford Halse AC) 8-6-0; Tony Marshall (Shakespeare Superteam) 6-13-0; Mark Mines (Woodford Halse AC) and Steve Brookes (Bennetts Bait and Tackle) both 6-3-0; Barry Oliver (Maver Image) 6-1-0.

Qualifying Pairs: Tony Hulme/Mark Mines (both Woodford Halse AC) 78 points; Martin Colver/Alan Robinson (both Browning Northants) 72; Peter Laughton/Andrew Webster (both Irthlingborough AC) 71; Ben Garbett/Ian Hingley (both Wolverhampton AA Van den Eynde) 66; Barry Oliver/Steve Clarke (both Maver Image) 66.

Blackfords Progressive, Calf Heath Reservoir, Calf Heath, Gailey, Staffordshire, Saturday, D. Nicholls (Walsall) 64-10-0; Matt Derry (Kamasan Starlets) 45-0-0; C. Hammond (Maver Gold/Old Ghost) 36-5-0.

Canal Kings, Birmingham Navigations Canal, Soho Loop, Winson Green, Birmingham, West Midlands, Saturday, Simon Mottram (Drennan North West/ABC Baits) 6-5-12; P. Whitehouse (Canal Kings) 4-13-0; Tony Bowen (Canal Kings) 4-12-0; Paul Murrin (Browning Lifestyle) 4-11-0.

Canal Kings, Birmingham Navigations Canal, Soho Loop, Winson Green, Birmingham, West Midlands, Sunday, Norman Wilson (Good Intent AS) 7-8-12; Simon Mottram (Drennan North West/ABC Baits) 6-1-0; Gary Owen (Good Intent AS) 5-10-7; Tony Bowen (Canal Kings) 4-11-0.

Gloucester Canal Spring League, Round Two, Gloucester Canal, Rea to Pilot sections, Sunday, Paul Passmore (Devizes White) 24-5-0; Paul Hemburrow (Sensas Nomads Green) 15-12-0; M. Bromsgrove (Sensas Thyer’s) 13-8-0; Adam Carter (Devizes White) 12-5-0; Shaun Bryant (Devizes Red) 11-11-0; Liam Bradell (Thatchers Red) 10-7-0.

Teams: Sensas Thyer’s 15; Devizes Red 26; Maver Lobby’s Black 28; Daiwa Gordon League Veterans 29; Thatchers Red 31; Garbolino Blackmore Vale 33.

League to Date: Daiwa Gordon League Veterans 8; Garbolino Blackmore Vale 9; Sensas WB Clarke 10; Stroud AC12; Thatchers Red 12; Sensas Thyer’s 13.

Newry Canal May Day Festival, Newry, Saturday, Matt Crowl (Harrogate) 9-13-0; Philip Jackson (Lurgan) 7-13-0; Kevin Maguire (Newry) 7-3-0; Johnny McKinley (Lurgan) 6-8-0; Geoff Quinn (South Armagh) 6-3-0.

*Northampton Nene AC, Grand Union Canal, Yardley Gobion, Northamptonshire, Sunday, Chris Howard (Northampton Nene AC) 16-4-0; Tosh Saunders (Northampton Nene AC) 9-0-0; Barry Oliver (Northampton Nene AC) 8-14-0.

Halesowen Royal British Legion, Staffs-Worcs Canal, Castlecroft, Wolverhampton, West Midlands, Sunday, S. Waite (Halesowen RBL) 49-12-0; M. Knight (Halesowen RBL) 21-5-0; P. Whitehouse (Halesowen RBL) 20-8-0.

Izaak Walton (Stafford) Anglers’ Association, Staffs-Worcs Canal, Farmdown Road, Stafford, Saturday, Alan Round (Browning Lifestyle) 4-5-1; Dennis Sumner (Bilston Angling Centre) 2-0-11; Nigel Clayton (Browning Lifestyle) 1-14-8.

*Little Harrowden AC, Grand Union Canal, Heyford, Jim Broadbent (Little Harrowden AC) 19-12-0; Dave Chamberlain (Little Harrowden AC) 14-3-0; Mick Dudley (Little Harrowden AC) 5-6-0.

*Milton Keynes Angling Association Spring League, Round Two, Grand Union Canal, Manor Fields to Mill Road, Milton Keynes, Ian Bagshaw (Maver Milton Keynes Green) 14-9-0; Bryn Wignall (Maver Milton Keynes Green) 12-11-0; Lee Newson (Black Horse Black) 9-5-8; James Mead (Maver Milton Keynes Black) 9-0-8; Tom Boyce (Tackle hub Silver) 8-14-0.

Teams: Preston InnovationsBlack Horse Black 43; Maver Milton Keynes Green 40; Browning Northampton Blue 39; Browning Northampton Black 38; Browning Northampton Gold 38.

League to Date: Browning Northampton Blue 76; Preston Innovations Black Horse White 74; Maver Milton Keynes Green 71; Preston Innovations Black Horse Black 68; GoneFishin’ 68.

*Sensas Kennet and Avon Spring League, Round Two, Kennet and Avon Canal, Kings Arms to Pound Lane, Semington, Wiltshire, Sunday, Gary Etheridge (Garbolino Blackmore Vale Gold) 20-12-0; Nathanial Johnson (PI Thatchers) 18-8-0; Tony Scott (Sensas Wiltshire Angling Green) 15-2-0; Steve Barnett (Drennan Bordon) 13-1-0; Steve Saunders (Sensas Nomads) 13-9-0; Rich Rosinski (Sensas A4) 13-6-0.

Teams: Drennan Bordon 80; PI Thatchers 68; Devizes Black 65; Daiwa Gordon League, PI Blackhorse and Devizes White all 62.

League to Date: Drennan Bordon 144; PI Thatchers 131; Devizes White 122; Garbolino Blackmore Vale Gold 120; Devizes Black 119; Cotswold Matrix Talismen B 116.

Sportsman Angling Club Open, Walsall Canal, Ocker Hill, Tipton, West Midlands, Saturday, Gary Atkins (Sportsman AC) 8-11-0; Dave Arnold (Sportsman AC) 5-11-0; Tony Foster (Middy Dams & Lock) 3-11-0

Stirrup Cup, Birmingham-Fazeley Canal, Curdworth, Birmingham, West Midlands, Sunday, Pete Hatton (ZLT) 6-13-0; Alan Newman (Stirrup Cup) 6-5-2; Sam Lewis (Three Em’s) 3-8-11.

Wolverhampton AA, Staffs-Worcs Canal, Four Ashes, Staffordshire, Sunday, Steve Dudley (Browning Lifestyle) 5-2-5; Simon Nickless (Saints) 4-14-7; Martin Owen (Browning Lifestyle) 4-13-9; Paul Turner (Wolverhampton AA Van den Eynde) 4-10-6.

Wolverhampton Over 60’s Club, Staffs-Worcs Canal, Cross Keys, Penkridge, Staffordshire, Barry Astbury (Pelsall Old Boys) 5-7-6; Tony Keeling (Team Eclipse) 4-6-8; Stuart Brailsford (Bridgtown Social AC) 4-6-2.

*Contest results listed with an asterisk are from the previous week(end).

Round Three of the Sensas Kennet & Avon Spring League will be held on Marlborough’s water at Farmers, Brimslade and Wolfhall on Sunday, May 17th.

Erewash Update……

This week I am more than a bit pleased to bring you a heart warming story from the Erewash Canal, a very important part of the Midlands canal fishing network. This canal is 11.75 miles long and runs from Langley Mill to Trent Lock, passing Cotmanhay, Ilkeston, Sandiacre and Long Eaton through its dozen or so locks.

In 2012 everything changed with a disastrous pollution with a huge fire at a nearby recycling firm at Stanton By Dale. Such was the severity of the incident up to 60 fire fighters were on the site at one time and firemen were there continuously for nine consecutive days. The Environment Agency and the Canal & River Trust spent two weeks at the site. The ‘rescue’ figure stood at around 100,000 fish. However many more perished as the water being used to put the fire out and damping down began to take the oxygen out of the canal. Many more thousands of fish were lost, some lengths were a virtual complete wipeout. The Environment Agency and the Canal & River Trust jumped in with a well thought out plan of action. The canal has had several stockings of new fish introduced as they became available. The last couple of restockings took place in October 2014 and the latest as recent as March this year.

Fish are still being introduced to the Erewash Canal and with a lot of help from the Canal & River Trust, the Environment Agency, the controlling angling clubs and Mother Nature itself the canal is well on the mend and that is fabulous news for the match, pleasure and carp anglers that fish this water course. A prime example of the ‘recovery’ came in a recent contest when over 16 lbs of bream won. We all know one catch will never make a summer but this is hugely encouraging for all concerned. It may not be too long before the Erewash Canal will hold another National Championships, the venue is ideal, very central and has lots of access points.

This Weeks Teasers

When and where was the first ever Division Two National Angling Championship held? It was actually fished on two venues if you need a clue.

Who sponsored the 1989 National Angling Championships on the River Severn?

Teaser Answers

The unanswered Teaser ‘name the angler that has fished in all six divisions of the National Championships?’ This one has stumped everyone, - the answer was the late Keith Ford who used to run matches on the River Yare, Norfolk for many a year.

Angling Nostagia…….

A little bit of nostalgia that also ties up with the National Angling Championships this year on the Gloucester Canal. The first ever time the Gloucester Canal, in fact the first ever time the National was on any canal, was in 1937 when fifty-six teams of twelve contested the event. The team event was won by Groves and Whitnall, their accumulative team weight being 23-15-6. The individual winner of that particular National was H. Jones, fishing for County Palatine; he won with a weight of 9-9-8. How times have changed, I guess most sections will be won with possibly a bit more than that this year.

Wiltshire Next in Line for CRT Pairs…..

Canal anglers all over the country are giving the Angling Trust/Canal & River Trust Pairs competition a massive thumbs up. Following the undoubted success of the River Fest the Pairs event, the brainchild of the Canal & River Trust is not far behind. It is not for me to say but is there a swing back to more natural venues?

Three of the Angling Trust/Canal & River Trust pairs have already been completed and after a short break the next one will be on the Kennet and Avon Canal, at Devizes on Sunday, May 24th.  I am more than pleased to report that the competition is really catching on fast and there is a heavy demand for tickets for this round. There will be 50 pegs on the Devizes Angling Association’s water at Seend Park and 50 on Avon Angling Club’s Semington stretch at Melksham. Day tickets are available but they must be purchased before fishing from the local tackle shops, NOT on the bank. Day tickets can also be purchased, prior to fishing, from the Spar Shop on Bath Road, Devizes. Competitors are also advised that the match sections are closed to competitors from midnight on Sunday 17th May until the date of the competition.

The advice is to get on quick to avoid disappointment; if you have not already booked on, is £20 per person (£40 per pair) with an extra pool on the day of £10 per person. The top five pairs will go through to the October final. Remember, you do not have to be an Angling Trust member to fish any of the qualifiers but membership is essential to fish the Grand Final. Please note that previous qualifiers can enter; in the event of a qualifier being a sell-out (50 pairs) non-qualifiers will have priority when booking on. Entry forms via:

www.anglingtrust.net/competitions or E Mail: sandra.drew@anglingtrust.net

As sure as eggs are eggs skimmers are almost certain to make a large impact in this qualifying round of the Angling Trust/Canal & River Trust pairs competition. Catches are on the up and up and a weight of around 20 lbs of all skimmers from 6 oz to 2 lb, with the occasional bigger bream, is always on the cards at this very popular venue. The venue also offers a good selection of roach plus some very decent perch and tench. There is the odd carp at Seend Park but they are huge solitary fish and anglers are often saying goodbye to them shortly after they have been hooked! Bait wise it could be one of punched bread, pinkie and big maggot or chopped worm and caster, - it could even be a combination of all those baits.

Pairs Final Bound

Current qualifiers in an ever growing list for the Angling Trust/Canal and River Trust pairs final are: Steve Brookes/Dave Mawby (both Drennan Leicester); Dave McCall (Shakespeare Superteam)/Steve Broome (Bilston Angling Centre); Roger Marlow/Dean Guess (both Drennan Leicester), Tony Barker/Mick Hatchard (both Shakespeare Superteam) plus Sam Merry (Bait-Tech)/Rob Wootton (Shimano Dynamite Baits). Simon Mottram (Drennan North West/ABC Baits)/Simon Preece (Browning Lifestyle); Steve Dudley (Browning Lifestyle)/Simon Nickless (Saints); Dave Richards/Carl Westwood (both Four Ashes AC); Dave Lloyd/Richard Guest ( both Maver Midlands); Tony Hulme/Mark Mines (both Woodford Halse AC); Martin Colver/Alan Robinson (both Browning Northants); Peter Laughton/Andrew Webster (both Irthlingborough AC); Ben Garbett/Ian Hingley (both Wolverhampton AA Van den Eynde); Barry Oliver/Steve Clark (both Maver Image).

The entry for the final is already looking very strong and in the weeks leading up to the final you may well see an impartial form guide and a list of starting prices from your anglers friend and top bookmaker Phil Yaboots!!

Stillwater Final Bound

Finalists in the Angling Trust/Canal & River Trust Individual final so far are: Brian Ashley (Telford); Geoff Ringer (Ringer Baits); Andrew Ashington (Birmingham); Stephen Openshaw (Lingmere Fisheries).

Pairs Qualifying Dates

The full list of remaining qualifiers in the Angling Trust/Canal & River Trust pairs  canal competition are: Sunday 24th May Kennet & Avon Canal, Devizes, Wiltshire; Sunday 21st June Gloucester Canal; Saturday 11th July Aire & Calder Canal; Sunday 26th July River Lea Navigation Rammey Marsh Lock to below Enfield Lock; Saturday 15th August Rochdale Canal; Saturday 5th September Staffs-Worcs Canal, Penkridge, Staffordshire; Sunday 20th September Beeston Canal, Nottingham; Sunday 27th September Leeds-Liverpool Canal; Saturday 24th October Grand Final Birmingham-Fazeley Canal, Minworth, Birmingham. A 50-peg Junior Canal Championships will also held on the Birmingham-Fazeley Canal on Saturday 24th October. Entry forms available from: www.anglingtrust.net/competitions or E Mail: sandra.drew@anglingtrust.net

Please note the change of venue, to the original list for the qualifier on Sunday 26th      July.

Please note that the  stretches of canal used in these Angling Trust/Canal & River Trust pairs championship are closed to the competitors for the week (starting Sunday midnight) prior to the event.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                

Carp Carnival Entries?

Another Angling Trust/Canal & River Trust tournament that might grab your eye is the Stillwater Championships, 2015. Remaining dates and venues are: Sunday 10th May Blythe Waters; Wednesday 20th May Boddington Reservoir; Saturday 30th May Kiveton Waters; Sunday 28th June Earlswood Lakes; Wednesday 15th July Boddington Reservoir; Saturday 25th July Earlswood Lakes; Sunday 2nd August Clattercote Reservoir; Saturday 22nd August Blythe Waters; Saturday 19th September Blythe Waters.

Four anglers qualify from each of the 40-peg qualifiers making for a 40-peg Grand Final at Blythe Waters on Saturday 17th October.

Entry is £25 per qualifier, - there is an Application Form and a check list of entries available on www.anglingtrust.net/competitions The check list, per qualifier can be accessed via the button in the left hand bottom corner on the respective web page.

Battle of Naseby…

We have all heard of the tale about waiting an age for a bus then two come along at once, - the same could apply to Canal & River Trust’s Naseby Reservoir, Northamptonshire with 30 lb carp only this time three have come along in recent weeks. Simon Watkinson and Simon Crowe both had one but the latest was caught by 13 year old schoolboy James Bowskill from Loddington in the same county. Young James is the envy of all his mates as he landed a terrific 32 lb mirror on a squid and octopus boilie with a cranberry pop-up. Day tickets £6 one rod, £10 for two. Longer stays call Harry on 07904 493417.

Source: Canal & River Trust

The second qualifying match in a prestigious new national angling competition, aimed at encouraging people to rediscover their nearby waterways took take place on the Shropshire Union Canal on Sunday 26 April.

The winners were Simon Mottram (Drennan North West/ABC Baits) and Simon Preece (Browning) who both achieved a perfect 100 point score, a feat that most observers thought virtually impossible given the strength of the line up.

The Canal Pairs Championship is being organised by the Canal & River Trust, the charity that cares for 2,000 miles of the nation’s historic waterways, together with the Angling Trust and is aimed at encouraging local anglers.

Hosted by the Hodnet Angling Club, the competition took place on the canal between Goldstone and Soudley near Market Drayton. The match is the second of 11 regional heats with the top five pairs from each match going through to the final in October.

Simon Mottram, who was first taught to fish as a youngster on the Llangollen Canal by the Canal & River Trust’s National Fisheries & Angling Manager John Ellis, powered to victory with a weight of 14 lbs 4 oz, with five chub included in the catch.

The battle for the four remaining qualifying places was truly titanic and there was excitement and disappointment in equal measure when the results were announced.

Remaining qualifiers are Steve Dudley / Simon Nickless (81 points), Dave Richard / Carl Westwood (80 points), Dave Lloyd / Richard Guest (80 points) with Tony Foster / Graham Neary taking the final qualifying spot (79 points). Tony and Graham just pipped Steve Cope and Mel Wood who also scored 79 points but with a slightly lower combined weight.

The competition saw pairs of anglers score points based on the weight of fish they caught. As well as being invited to compete in the national final the winning pair received a £200 cash prize. In the national final, pairs will be competing for a top prize of up to £4,000.

John Ellis, national fisheries & angling manager for the Canal And River Trust, said ‘This qualifier summed up what canal match fishing is all about, some brilliant individual performances, desperately close results, plenty of fish caught including a specimen 6 lb chub and the wonderful surroundings of the Shropshire Union Canal.”

Competition and Events Manager for the Angling Trust, Sandra Drew, said: “ This qualifier was a sell out, which is a fantastic response from anglers who continue to support fishing on canals, and it will go from strength to strength.”

The next two qualifying round are on Sunday 3rd May on the Grand Union at Northampton and on the Kennet & Avon on 24th May. There are still a few places available, for more details and to reserve your place call Angling Trust on 0115 9061301

The Championship final will take place on the Birmingham & Fazeley Canal in the Midlands on 24th October. 

For more information about fishing on your nearest canal or river go to www.canalrivertrust.org.uk/see-and-do/fishing

Source: Canal & River Trust