Entry forms will be available to apply for this new event from 15th July – 15th August, available on the Angling Trust website at www.anglingtrust.net, or alternatively email; sandra.drew@anglingtrust.net or telephone Sandra Drew, Competitions & Events Manager, Angling Trust on 0115 9061 301..  Please note:  Entries will only be accepted by postal applications.

This Championship is open to anyone 17 years and above with an entry fee of £40.00 per pair, with optional pools available on the day of £10 per angler.  This year to support the pilot of the Championship it is not necessary to have individual membership of the Angling Trust, or to be a Friend of Canal & River Trust. 

This Championship will also carry a prize pot for the top three pairs of; 1st pair £1,250, 2nd pair £750, 3rd pair £500 (Subject to entries and sponsorship).

As well as the Pairs Championship there will also be an open junior section run in conjunction with the main event on the same day at Market Drayton on the Shropshire Union Canal open to anyone aged 12 – 16 years of age on the day of the match. This event will be free to enter, and all junior competitors must be accompanied by a responsible adult.  Entry forms will be available for this event via the Angling Trust at; www.anglingtrust.net or alternatively email; sandra.drew@anglingtrust.net or telephone Angling Trust on 0115 9061 301.  The deadline for Junior entries is 15th August.

John Ellis, National Fisheries and Angling Manager of the Canal & River Trust said
“We are delighted to be working in partnership with Angling Trust and Hodnet Angling club to host this pilot event. I am confident that the angling community will support the event and make it a huge success.”

David Kent, Director and Chair of Competitions of the Angling Trust stated
"Following the success of the Stillwater and RiverFest events Angling Trust Competitions Group has been looking to run a top canal event to add to its already large portfolio of competitions. We have also had for some years a desire to re-introduce a pairs event.  The opportunity of working with the Canal & River Trust to deliver these targets came just at the right time. It will also further enhance the already close relationship between the two organisations. I am confident that the pilot this year will be a real success and pave the way for a countrywide Canal Pairs event from 2015."

Source: Angling Trust Fishing News

Drennan Team England consisted of;  Will Raison, Sean Ashby, Alan Scotthorne, Callum Dicks, Lee Kerry, Simon Willsmore, Mark Downes and Mark Addy (Joint Managers).

The European Championship was held on 28th and 29th June on the Hensies Pommeroeul Canal, Bernissart, Belgium with 24 nations competing. England knew they had to get things right from the start if they were going to be contenders for the medals this year which needed them to locate the bream early on.

Mark Downes and Mark Addy (Joint Managers) stated “It was an extremely difficult venue where the difference was sheer concentration and patience that saw England "steal" the gold medal at the 24th hour in the World Championship.  After a reasonable 1st day on 5th with 35 points, England knew they needed a low 20 points to have a chance of scooping their 5th European Title.  With 15 minutes to go it was Will Raison who hooked and landed a 4 lb bream, his only fish apart from 4 small perch, followed by Sean Ashby doing exactly the same, a 3 lb bream to go with his single perch. Both finished 3rd in their sections joined by Callum Dicks 3rd , Alan Scotthorne 6th and Simon Willsmore 8th for 23 points, totalling 59 over the 2 days.”

“The team have worked brilliantly this week and we are all over the moon to win the Championship and bring home gold.”

In runners up position was Russia who put in another outstanding performance and only one point behind England to take silver, with Italy taking bronze. England were out of contention in the individual medal states with Mike Thinnes from Luxembourg taking the gold medal win, Diego Da Silva from France in silver medal position and Roman Pokorny Jr from the Czech Republic in third to take bronze.  

Dick Clegg, OBE, Angling Trust International Manager said “An absolutely fantastic performance by Drennan Team England to win in Belgium which highlights the versitality of the squad after last years World Championship win in Poland. To be crowned champions at both European and World level is something special and I applaud the management and the squad on such a tremendous achievement. I know I am still on my favourite soapbox when I say it's about time our countries sporting bodies recognised our anglers and put some of the millions of pounds raised by lotteries into what is without doubt the most successful of English sports.”

Top 5 Team results
1st England Gold - 59 points
2nd Russia - 60 points
3rd Italy - 67 points
4th Netherlands -71 points
5th Czech Republic - 85 points

Top 5 Individual results
1st Mike Thinnes, Luxembourg - 3 points
2nd Diego Da Silva, France - 4 points
3rd Roman Pokorny Jr, Czech Republic - 4 points
4th Yury Siptsov, Russia – 5 points
5th Jozsef Varga, Hungary – 5 points

England Placings
6th Will Raison – 5 points
11th Callum Dicks – 9 points
16th Alan Scotthorne – 11 points
18th Sean Ashby – 11 points
111th Simon Willsmore – 32 points (fished 1 day)
116th Lee Kerry – 39 points (fished  1 day)

The Angling Trust would like to offer their congratulations to the England team for their superb outstanding performance in Belgium to be crowned World Champions, and to also offer their appreciation to the team sponsors Drennan International for their continued support and sponsorship.

Source: Angling Trust Fishing News

Product Description:

We tested out the following lures from Payo:

• Aegis 110 lure (yellow head, silver shad)
• Toeshot 120 lure (black back, chrome and gold)
• Toeshot 120 lure (blue back, chrome and silver)

Click to enlarge images

"Since we (House of Bruar) introduced these lures last season, they have been responsible for many salmon captures from as far apart as Loch Lomond, Loch Ness and particularly closer to home on the Rivers Tay and Tummel. A suspending lure, it is best fished by casting square to the current and retrieving the lure slowly. Takes are aggressive and for whatever reason, the fish seem to respond really well to these lure. The colours are particularly attractive to early season salmon."

Review:

The first thing to mention about these lures from Payo is they look superb, really life like, juts like a small bait fishing waiting to be snapped up by a hungry predator.

The finish on these baits is very good, with vibrant, really accurate looking colours. Everything looks so realistic from the eyes, the gills and the scales. Under the surface of the water, the lures truly mimic the movement and look of a small bait fish. They shine and glint superbly in the water and move realistically.

The small diving lip at the head of the lure helps bring it down nicely in the water, while the three treble hooks appear very strong and sharp. In terms of weight, although the lures are on the light side, we found that they cast a reasonable distance quite easily.

To conclude, we found these Hybrid Metalica Lures an excellent product, well made and extremely realistic. Well worth a try!!

Score:

Prices and where to buy:

The Payo Hybrid Metalica Lures are available to buy online at www.houseofbruar.com/shop-payo

• Price - £7.95 per lure
• Available in various styles and colours

The match, which is sponsored by the Thames Tideway Tunnel project, has a first prize of £500 and is expected to attract some of the top river anglers in the area. It is being held on the gravel foreshore downstream of Kew Bridge, an area that has thrown up some big bags of bream, roach and dace in club competitions in recent years.

As well as providing an exciting contest the match will also be helpful in assessing the health of the tidal Thames now that the once problematic sewage works upstream at Mogden has had a multi million pound upgrade. TideFest is a celebration of the recreational importance of London’s River and will involve a range of other activities designed to get people out and enjoying what the Thames Tideway has to offer. TideFest is a partner of Totally Thames – formerly the Mayor’s Thames Festival.

Match Details
50 peg Thames Tideway Angling Competition with £500 First Prize plus pools and trophy

Date and Time: Sunday September 28th.  8am - 1pm

Draw: 7am Strand on the Green, Kew Bridge London W4 3RE

Tickets: £5 , cheques made payable to the Angling Trust, with proceeds to the young persons angling charity Get Hooked on Fishing

Contact: Ron’s Tackle, 465 Upper Richmond Rd West, London SW14 7PU Tel: 020 8876 4897.

Or email sandra.drew@anglingtrust.net

The groups involved in organising TideFest include the London Wildlife Trust, Thames Angler’s Conservancy, Thames 21, The River Thames Society and the Angling Trust. Other activities planned include foreshore walks, river dipping, sailing, kayaking and walks along the Wandle Way and possibly some young persons angling tuition on the River Wandle. 

TideFest has been warmly welcomed and the match is expected to quickly sell out when tickets go on sale next week.

Sky TV presenter and Thames specialist Keith Arthur backed the event saying: "I have fished the full tidal river for 40 years and it continues to improve despite regular pollutions, something the Tideway Tunnel will eliminate. Unfortunately I won't be able to attend on the day but those who do can expect bream to 8lb and more, possibly on the stick float too, a couple of rod lengths out. This section of river has produced carp to 38lb, barbel in double figures and huge bags of dace and roach. I confidently predict there will also be rainbow and sea trout caught, especially if there is extra water on the river. It will be a genuine eye-opener."

Dave Harvey, Chairman of TAC said: "The tidal Thames can be a fantastic fishery with Bream, Roach, Dace regularly being caught along with many other species. Add in sea fish such as small Flounder and Bass and this match will be a very special event. With the Tideway Tunnel now at the planning stage, it will give us a glimpse of just how good the river will become.
Fishing a tidal river is a challenge and TAC members are really looking forward to it."

Angling Trust Campaign Chief Martin Salter added:
“Following the success of last year’s RiverFest the Angling Trust is delighted to be continuing attract match anglers back to river fishing whilst at the same time highlighting the importance of cleaning up London’s river. We’ve got a great cash prize for the winner and will also be raising money to support the fantastic work of Get Hooked on Fishing that does so much to help youngsters get into our sport.”

Source: Angling Trust Fishing News

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.

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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