Top rod on the day by a narrow margin was Charles Simpson from Sheffield with a weight of 29.980 kgs.  Fishing the pellet waggler at distance from permanent peg 93, Charles caught 10 carp up to 5 kgs.

In second place on permanent peg 97, and just over a kilo behind the winner was Paul Cooke from Leicester with a weight of 28.760 kgs.  Fishing a similar method to the winner, Paul landed 9 carp up 5 kgs.  Third place went to Geoff Ringer from Ravensthorpe, Northampton, on permanent peg 95, with a weight of 22.060 kgs, again using the pellet waggler.

The three qualifiers going through to the grand final at Blythe waters on 20th September are from ‘A’ Section – Paul Knapman from Rugby with a weight of 16.880 kgs made up of 4 carp and a tench caught on paste tight to the walkway boards.  ‘B’ Section – Charles Simpson 29.980 kgs, and  ‘C’ Section – Jamie Hughes (Maver) from The Wirral, Merseyside with 10. 880 kgs, all silver fish (roach and hybrids) caught at 10 metres.

The next qualifier moves to Kiveton Waters in Sheffield on Wednesday 2nd July.  There are tickets still available for this qualifier.  If any Angling Trust individual members would like a ticket please contact the Competitions department at the Angling Trust on 0115 9061 301.

Source: Angling Trust Fishing News

Woodacott Holiday Park and Fishing Lakes Review: Tricia Burley, June 2014

Having visited Woodacott Holiday Park & Fishery twice a year for the past 5 years, we were apprehensive when we found out that it was under new ownership this time. However we needn't have worried, the new owner Dean Marks (who had a project featured on Grand Designs) has made a fantastic start to upgrading what were "tired" facilities. The fishing remains awesome, with carp being caught every day from a couple of pounds up to 20 plus. Beautiful Roach and Rudd up to 2lbs are being hauled out with the aid of small pellets or small cubes of meat. I even caught a large Rudd on a piece of sausage meat out of my lunchtime sausage roll (I kid you not).

With the permission of the owner we used a keep net. On Sunday morning, 3 of us targeted Roach and Rudd, just using luncheon meat and in 2 and 1/2 hours we caught over 70lb of fish and 4 Carp which we did not count.

The Holiday Park facilities are being upgraded with disabled facilities being added. There are 6 Lodges/Bungalows, sleeping up to 8 people, ideal for groups of anglers or families and camping and touring facilities too. There is a swimming pool on site and later this year a restaurant and bar are opening, with a shop planned in the future.

I can't recommend this place enough, the facilities are amazing and the owner is the friendliest person you could meet. Can't wait to go back in September. One of those 20lb plus carp has my name on it.

Score:

The Angling Trust and Environment Agency are urging anglers to renew their rod licence or risk appearing on a new list identifying people who have been caught fishing illegally published on the Angling Trust's website.

The list gives the names, ages and addresses of offenders, plus details of the offence and the fine. May saw the courts clamp down on more than 150 offenders, handing down a total of almost £40,000 in penalties.

Paul Lidgett, Environment Agency fisheries manager, said: "We hope that the publication of this prosecution list will send a clear message to licence dodgers who are cheating angling. The Environment Agency relies on the income from rod licences to continue the important work we do to protect and improve the nation's fisheries. If you are caught fishing without a rod licence you risk a fine and a criminal record. There is no excuse - it's quick and easy to buy a rod licence, costs just £27 for a whole year and is available on the Post Office website."

Every penny from rod licence sales is reinvested in the environment, including a whole range of projects bringing improved facilities for anglers, protecting stocks from illegal fishing, plus fish restocking, invasive species eradication, and working with partners to encourage people to take-up fishing for the first time.

Mark Lloyd, the Angling Trust's Chief Executive, said: "We are happy to help with this initiative. All law-abiding anglers pay for the Environment Agency's fisheries service which does a great job improving fish stocks and funding angling development projects. We support the Environment Agency taking a tough line with those who cheat on their fellow anglers. We hope this list will be helpful to clubs and fisheries in identifying licence cheats. Every angler fishing in freshwater must buy a licence."

Anglers are reminded that the coarse fishing close season applies to all rivers and streams between 15th March and 15th June. However, most still waters and canals do not have a closed season so all anglers in England need a valid Environment Agency rod licence. Rod licences are valid from 1st April to 31st March and fishing without one can lead to a substantial fine.

Annual rod licences for trout and coarse fishing cost £5 for 12 to 16 year olds, £18 for senior and disabled concessions and £27 for non-concessions. Children under 12 can fish for free. Buying a licence online from the Post Office website saves time and administration costs, which means more of the funds can be spent on improving fish stocks and fishing.

Last year, Environment Agency officials checked more than 80,000 licences and prosecuted more than 2,700 licence cheats. Between them, they were ordered to pay fines in excess of £335,000. To help crack down on unlicensed anglers the Environment Agency urges anyone to report illegal activity by calling 0800 80 70 60.

The Prosecution List is published around the middle of each month with the previous month's prosecutions. This data is provided periodically by the Environment Agency, and only refers to prosecutions of anglers that were conducted by courts in England in the month stated.

Anglers can also buy a rod licence by calling the Environment Agency on 0844 800 5386 or by visiting any Post Office branch. We are aware of on-line third party providers who offer to buy the rod licence for you. They charge up to £20 for this service and do not purchase the licence on your behalf immediately. You could unwittingly go fishing without a licence, be liable for prosecution and pay £47 for a £27 licence.

Alternatively, you can buy your licence through the Angling Trust's mobile-configured website. Whether at home or on the move, anglers can use this new website to get details of thousands of fisheries, tackle shops, clubs and coaches, plus all the latest angling weather and river levels.

Source: Angling Trust Fishing News

We would like to meet as many different people from the world of angling and help to support as much angling participation as possible throughout the region.

The development road shows will offer you the opportunity to:

• Access support for you or your angling organisations.
• Access continued professional development and training for licensed coaches.
• Meet key Angling Trust development staff and our key funding partners.
• Understand the Angling Trust participation targets.
• Bring together the angling community for the benefit and sustainability of our great sport.

If you are a club member, tackle shop, angling club, commercial fishery, volunteer or licensed angling coach there will be something that interests you at the "Angling Trust Development Road Show".

We look forward to welcoming you.

Dean Asplin
Angling Trust Development Officer, South West Region

Some feedback from the Swindon Road show...
"A big well done to Angling Trust Dean Asplin a great road show in Swindon today!"

"Thanks Dean for The CAST awards & Development road show"

"Road show was well run and informative thanks"

CORNWALL
Date: 12th July 2014

Time: 9am - 12pm CAST skills award training - Open to Level 2 coaches only. You will need to register; there is a fee of £25 for this course, payable on the day.
12:30pm - 4:00pm Angling development presentations - Open to everyone free of charge.

Venue: Snowland Fisheries, Parr, Cornwall, PL24 2AE

Cost: £25 per level 2 coaches for morning CAST training session. Free to everyone for the afternoon presentations.
PLEASE LET US KNOW IF YOU ARE INTENDING TO COME BY CONTACTING DEAN ASPLIN: dean.asplin@anglingtrust.net or 07854 239731

Further information:
Level 2 Coaches will need to complete the registration form by clicking here and return to Dean Asplin: dean.asplin@anglingtrust.net

Places will be allocated on a first come first served basis and will be in demand so to avoid disappointment please respond promptly.

Cornwall Road Show Agenda:
09:00 Welcome and introduction - CAST Jo Hyde
09:15 - 12:00 Angling Skills award training - CAST Jo Hyde
12:30 - 12:45 Welcome and Introduction - Road show Dean Asplin
12:45 - 13:45 AT South West Development Officer

• My role
• How the WSP fits locally
• ClubMark
• Talent Pathway
• E.A. messages Dean Asplin & Matthew Sheppard

13:45 - 14:15 AT Coaching Development Manager  Ben Snook
14:15 - 14:30 Tea/Coffee Break  All
14:30 - 15:00 Baywater anglers Martin Green
15:00 - 15:30 Active Cornwall
15:30 - 16:00 Q & A - AT SW Forum All
16:00 - Depart

For further information please contact the Angling Trust South West development officer Dean Asplin on 07854 239731 or dean.asplin@anglingtrust.net.

Source: Angling Trust Fishing News

Under Mike’s chairmanship, the Angling Trust has, for the first time, united anglers of all disciplines (game, coarse and sea) into a single organisation to promote fishing in all its forms and to campaign to protect and improve fish stocks.  Eleven organisations have been wound up over the past five years to form the Angling Trust, many of which had more than 100 years’ history as separate bodies.  The Trust now turns over in excess of £2 million a year and, with its legal arm Fish Legal, employs 45 staff and is supported by hundreds of volunteers.  It has a growing membership of 17,500 individual anglers and 1,600 angling clubs, fisheries, trade members, consultative associations and charter boats.

Mike’s roles in angling are not limited to the Angling Trust and Fish Legal; he has been the Secretary of Boxmoor & District Angling Society In Hemel Hempstead for over twenty years, secretary of the Colne Valley Fisheries Consultative for more than ten years, is Chair of Hertfordshire Angling Development, secretary of the Fish Welfare Group, secretary of the Predation Action Group, board member of the Angling Trades Association, ran the Dacorum Angling Project for disadvantaged youngsters for some years, was past membership secretary of the Specialist Anglers’ Conservation Group and secretary of the Specialist Anglers Alliance.

Mike Heylin OBE, Director of the Angling Trust, said: “I am so proud that angling has again been recognised today.  I have felt humbled and honoured to be able to put something back into a sport I have loved all my life.  As a pretty incapable angler I was fortunate enough to be able to bring other skills to the game and hopefully have made secure what I had dreamt about since the days of Peter Tombleson and the NAC: a unified voice for anglers and their fisheries.  I would like to thank all those, including many no longer with us, who made what we have today possible.”

Mark Lloyd, Chief Executive of the Angling Trust & Fish Legal said: “I couldn’t be more delighted that Mike has been honoured by the nation for all he has done for angling over several decades as a volunteer.  He has given so much of his time to protect and improve fish and fishing and has done so with immense enthusiasm, determination and kindness that has touched thousands of anglers.  I am very grateful to Mike for the unwavering support he has given me over the past five years, which included some tough times in the early days of the organisation, and for all the hard work he has put in to make this organisation the success that it is.  He is without doubt one of the most kind and generous people I have ever had the privilege of meeting.”

Source: Angling Trust Fishing News

The EFRA report itself is much more balanced, recognising that dredging has only limited benefit and that it would not have prevented the Somerset Levels flooding.
The report quotes extensively a report by the Chartered Institute of Water and Environmental Management (CIWEM), which was supported by the Blueprint for Water coalition including the Angling Trust, and cast doubt on the effectiveness of dredging apart from in particular situations.

The EFRA committee conclusion on dredging in the report was that it “can be beneficial in certain circumstances and as part of a portfolio of measures, but it should not be seen as an all-purpose solution.”

However, Anne McIntosh MP, the Chair of the EFRA Committee, is quoted in the press release as saying:

“We have repeatedly called on the Government to increase revenue funding so that necessary dredging and watercourse maintenance can be carried out.”

The press release goes on to say:

“The Committee calls for fully funded plans to address the current backlog of dredging and watercourse maintenance.”

The report also fails even to mention run-off from agricultural land, which is a major cause of flooding and the source of most of the silt that accumulates in rivers.  Modern agriculture, with large machines operating at times of the year when the ground is saturated, causes soils to become compacted.  This reduces their ability to soak up rainfall and water washes off the surface carrying soil, fertiliser, pesticides and other pollutants into watercourses.  Agriculture now rivals sewage as the main cause of pollution in rivers.

Mark Lloyd, Chief Executive of the Angling Trust & Fish Legal said:

“The press release issued by EFRA has muddied the waters in this debate by perpetuating the myth that dredging is the solution to flooding.  It may have a role to play in a few particular situations, as part of a suite of measures, but generally it is a pointless waste of money and can actually make flooding worse.  If we are to reduce the risk of flooding we need to take urgent and widespread action to change land use practices to stop water washing off compacted fields which causes flooding and pollution on a vast scale.  This debate has focussed far too much on how to prevent farmers’ fields flooding when it should be discussing how to prevent farmers’ fields causing flooding.”

Source: Angling Trust Fishing News

It was last year’s Fish ‘O’ Mania grand final winner Jamie Hughes who secured his place in yet another major final this year and the possibility of a back to back result.   Drawn on peg 6 on Skylark, Jamie fished pellet shallow to put together his winning weight of 133 lbs 7 oz with his biggest carp going to 12 lbs.

It was a very close run thing for second and third place,  with Dale Shepherd from Havercroft near Wakefield drawn on peg 18 also on Skylark, fished pellet shallow over a bed of pellet down to the boards for carp averaging 6 lbs to give him 96 lbs 5 oz total and second place.  It was Robert Morris a Builder from Bassingham in Lincolnshire who had to settle for the third spot, drawn on peg 18 on Partridge he put together an all carp haul with fish going to 16 lbs to finish his day with only 2 ozs separating him and second place to finish with 96 lbs 3 oz.

Keith Pentland a regular Woodlands angler draw peg 15 on Partridge took the fourth place with carp to 12 lbs to give him 83 lbs 10 oz of carp to worm over hemp total.  Fifth spot went to Carl Henrick his 80 lbs 14oz from peg 30 on Kestrel on pellet alternating between banded pellet on the bomb   and pole with pellet shallow down the margins.

The last Fish ‘O’ Mania qualifier of 2014 will take place on Wednesday 25th June at Garbolino Lindholme Lakes, Doncaster with a last place up for grabs into the grand final.

Source: Angling Trust Fishing News

The idea is the brainchild of Dick Clegg, OBE who has been at the helm of the England’s coarse match fishing since 1984.  Dick stated; “It's just a simple idea based on giving aspiring international anglers a further insight into the world of  FIPSed Championships. Unfortunately we, the Angling Trust, and indeed the rest of England’s match organisers, do not run competitions based on the rules laid out by the Worlds International governing body FIPSed.  With this in mind, I would like to see a programme developed that would allow anglers to receive instruction and coaching that would further their knowledge of  how these competitions are run.  England has a tremendous record in World Championship competitions and to maintain this I believe we need to use all this experience by creating an academy for all of our teams. This event would be an extra level added to the Talent Pathway already up and running within the Angling Trust.”

“We have the world's best coaches qualified not just as level 2's, but they are the most successful in world angling and with this in mind Steve Sanders and Joe Roberts will be in attendance at the academy launch on the Middle Level.  Instead of just watching the anglers both Steve and Joe will give instruction on
groundbait, rigs, presentation and all aspects of rules relating to World Championship fishing.  I am also expecting Dave Brooks our Ladies team manager and John Weeden our Disabled team manager to be in attendance to pass on their own experiences.”

The Middle Level Drain is an ideal water to launch this scheme and could be a future World Championship venue providing all the FIPSed criteria is met.  There are a limited number of places available, so interested anglers should register their names along with a short CV to Sandra Drew, Competitions & Events Manager at the Angling Trust as soon as possible. 
Email; sandra.drew@anglingtrust.net, telephone; 0115 9061 301.  Anyone who would like to apply must have individual membership of the Angling Trust. 

All the ladies who attended the assessment day at Thorne last year are invited and only need to register their names as they have already supplied their CV's.  The Veterans who attended the Trent assessment should do the same, but the Angling Trust would also like to see a number of  Veterans who are 60 years of age before December 31st this year also apply.   

The Veterans, Disabled and Ladies international teams are still unsponsored so anyone selected for these teams will have to pay the costs of competing themselves. This should not stop those aspiring to make the grade from taking part as the idea of this academy is compile a list of potential internationals by giving them a more in-depth look into FIPSed match rules. 

Steve Sanders has asked the under 18 international team members to participate and some members of the Disabled team will make up the numbers.

The day will consist of a 4/5 hour assessment during which time the coaches will be  answering questions and giving instruction to the anglers. As per FIPSed rules only float fishing will be allowed i.e. by rod and line (waggler or slider), or by pole which will be limited to 11.5 metres.

Each participant will have to provide their own equipment and bait. Bloodworm and joker will be allowed and a limit of 500 ml joker and a small packet of  bloodworm hook bait imposed. There will be a maximum of 12 litres of groundbait, and anyone wishing to order bloodworm and joker should contact Steve Sanders on 07798 845511. Other natural baits such as maggots, casters, pinkies, squats and worms can be used with a total bait limit of 2 litres and this to include the 500 ml of jokers. 

It is hoped that a second academy meeting will be held later in the year around the end of September, or early October.

Source: Angling Trust Fishing News

Crucian carp have been a key species for anglers for as long as any of us can remember and there are few sights as beautiful in angling as seeing the golden flank of a fat crucian coming to the net. Over the past thirty years however many of the farm and village ponds that were a key habitat for crucians have disappeared and the stocking of a wide range of other carp species has led to inter-breeding and hybridisation of many crucian populations.

If we want crucian carp to be around for the next generation of anglers to catch, then we need to act now.

The primary objectives of the project are to:-

• Promote the conservation of the species and its habitat
• Encourage the development of well managed crucian fisheries

Martin Salter, Angling Trust Campaigns Coordinator and one of the National Crucian Conservation Project team members said:
"We are delighted to have been given a chance to bang the drum for crucians at the Angling Trust's annual coarse fish conference and have decided to combine this with the formal launch of the project. We are receiving pledges of support from all over the country for the cause of crucian conservation and it is clear that many anglers want to be part of a crucian revival which is music to our ears."

Coarse Fish Conference
This years Coarse Fish Conference, being held on May 28th at the South Street Arts Centre in Reading, is aimed at coarse anglers, fishing clubs and riparian owners, to provide inspiration and practical guidance to improve coarse fish stocks in rivers and stillwaters.

The Conference will host the launch of the new National Crucian Conservation Project and will include presentation by members of the group explaining how ordinary anglers and angling clubs can get involved on the ground in helping to protect and promote the species.

The conference will also concentrate heavily on advising clubs, fishery owners and anglers about how habitat improvement can improve fish stocks and create a healthier and improved fishing environment through the new DEFRA backed "Catchment Based Approach". The presentations will cover both rivers and stillwaters and there will be plenty of time for Q&A session so that attendees can get involved and ask questions.

The Conference is booking fast and there are only limited places still available, so if you are interested in coming along just log on to the Angling Trust website using the link below for more information and online booking details.

To book please go to Coarse Fish Conference 2014 booking

Source: Angling Trust Fishing News

Following the dominance of the middle pegs on Lake 1 in 2013, anglers drawing there were very optimistic and generally, as it turned out, with good reason.  Adam Rumble, Maver Midlands, drew peg 11 and caught carp from the off on the pellet waggler. His biggest fish went close to 15 lbs in a total catch of 125 lbs 14 ozs. He fed around 2 pints of 8 mm pellets to keep the fish interested.     Runner –up with 97 lbs was Darren Hall from Selby fishing for Sensas North.  Like Adam he caught carp to 15 lbs from peg 20 on Lake,  but all on the method feeder with dead reds on the hook.

Local rod Darren Wayte who fishes for Team Army captured third place with a magnificent 93 lbs 2 ozs from peg 36 on Lake 5. Darren took carp to 8 lbs plus one 8 ozs roach on the pellet waggler.  Fourth and fifth saw two excellent weights from Lizard pool .  Fourth was Derby angler Ady Lindsay who put 91 lbs 8 ozs on the scales from peg 9 and fifth was Liam o’Donaghue from peg 40. Both caught some big fish down the edge 

All eyes will be upon Hayfield Lakes, Doncaster this Saturday 19th April for the next Fish ‘O’ Mania qualifier.

Source: Angling Trust Fishing News