The Canal & River Trust charity, which cares for 2,000 miles of waterways, is working alongside the Angling Trust and Hodnet Angling Club to host this major championship along “the Shroppie” around Market Drayton on Saturday 19 August – the largest single one day event in the angling calendar.

A total of 490 competitors will be congregating at various points along a 15 mile stretch of towpath, hoping to hook success from the hidden depths of the beautiful rural waterway. It is the first time the competition has been hosted entirely on the Shropshire Union Canal and with some 49 teams, each fielding ten anglers, plus a number of advance practice matches, the contest is set to give a major boost to the local economy.

This month will be the pinnacle of the fishing year for Canal & River Trust national fisheries & angling manager John Ellis and his small team. Their work involves managing £40 million of fish stocks across the canal network, organising agreements with over 250 angling clubs and encouraging more people, especially youngsters, to take up the sport.

John said: “This 2017 competition promises to be a fantastic event both for the anglers and for Shropshire. For anyone thinking of getting into fishing, it is an ideal time to check out what’s involved in the sport. The Canal & River Trust ensures our canals are brimming with wildlife, including in urban areas where more people can enjoy it. They’re home to more than 20 native species of fish including roach perch, gudgeon, bream and eels. Fishing is really fun and it’s cheap to get going. You don’t need much to start - just a rod, some bait, angling licence, permit and a nice spot to fish. It’s a great way to spend a day.

“Spectators are welcome at the competition to pick up a few angling tips as they walk along the towpath but it’s important everyone takes care and respects the wishes of the competitors. We thank everyone for their patience. It can get rather crowded with boaters on the water and walkers on the narrow pathway, so it’s particularly vital to ‘Share the Space’ and be considerate to other users.

“Once you get the angling bug, there are dozens of competitions up and down the country where you can test out your skills. This 102nd championship is the pinnacle of that competition world, with the nation’s best anglers pitting their wits to be crowned national champions. We are hoping for fine weather and looking forward to some great catches.”

Over 50 volunteers and angling club officials will be helping to marshal and organise the competition. The winning team will be the club with the greatest number of points at the end of the contest. Prizes include coveted trophies and medals for the top three teams and most successful individual who catches the highest weight of fish.

The national championship has a long and distinguished history dating back to the first All England angling contest in 1906. The National Federation of Anglers was established in 1903 and the sport grew hugely in popularity. However it wasn’t until 1937 that a canal was selected as the venue for the national competition and then for a second time in 1963. Since then a total of 66 national angling championships have taken place on canals, hosting matches in six different divisions.

Andre Grandjean, Chairman of the Angling Trust’s Coarse Competition Committee, added: “We are excited to be working with Canal & River Trust and Hodnet AC for our blue riband event of the year.  The ‘Shroppie’ is in excellent form at the moment and we are anticipating a very competitive match.”

For more information about the National Angling Championship or getting started in fishing along a canal, visit www.canalrivertrust.org.uk/enjoy-the-waterways/fishing or join the discussion on Facebook www.facebook.com/Canalrivertrustangling

Source: Canal and River Trust Fishing News

The Canal & River Trust charity, which cares for 2,000 miles of waterways, will be working alongside the Angling Trust and Hodnet Angling Club to host this major championship along “the Shroppie” in Market Drayton on Saturday 19 August – the largest single one day event in the angling calendar. Up to 500 of the UK’s best anglers will be congregating along a 15 mile stretch of towpath, hoping to hook success from the hidden depths of the beautiful rural waterway. It is the first time the competition has been hosted entirely on the Shropshire Union Canal and with some 50 teams, each fielding ten anglers, plus a number of advance practice matches, the contest promises to give a major boost to the local economy.

Dozens of volunteers and angling club officials will be helping to marshal and organise the competition. The winning team will be the club with the greatest number of points at the end of the contest. Prizes include coveted trophies and medals for the top three teams and most successful individual with the highest weight.

The national championship has a long and distinguished history dating back to the first All England angling contest in 1906. The National Federation of Anglers was established in 1903 and the sport grew hugely in popularity. However it wasn’t until 1937 that a canal was selected as the venue for the national competition and then for a second time in 1963. Since then a total of 66 national angling championships have taken place on canals, hosting matches in six different divisions.

This August will be the pinnacle of the fishing year for Canal & River Trust national angling and fisheries manager John Ellis and his small team. Their work involves managing £40 million of fish stocks across the canal network, organising agreements with over 250 angling clubs and encouraging more people, especially youngsters, to take up the sport.

He said: “This 2017 competition promises to be a fantastic event both for the anglers and for Shropshire. There will be about a dozen practice events before the big day. If you factor in the money spent on accommodation, food, drink and fishing tackle, the payback for the county is considerable. Our canals are brimming with wildlife, even in urban areas. They are home to more than 20 native species of fish including pike, perch, roach, bream and dace. Fishing is a really fun sport and it’s cheap to get into. You don’t need much to get going - just a rod, some bait, angling licence, permit and a nice spot to fish. It’s a great way to spend a day. Once you get the angling bug, there are dozens of competitions up and down the country where you can test out your skills. This 102nd championship is the pinnacle of that competition world, with the nation’s best anglers pitting their wits to be crowned national champions. We are all looking forward to a spirited and closely-fought competition.”

Andre Grandjean, Chairman of the Angling Trust’s Coarse Competition Committee, added: “We are extremely excited to be working with Canal & River Trust and Hodnet AC for our blue riband event of the year.  The ‘Shroppie’ is in very good form at the moment and we are looking forward to a very competitive match.”

For more information about the National Angling Championship, practice matches or getting started in fishing along a canal, visit www.canalrivertrust.org.uk/enjoy-the-waterways/fishing or join the discussion on Facebook www.facebook.com/Canalrivertrustangling

Source: Canal & River Trust

The Green Park Conference Centre
100 Longwater Avenue Green Park, Reading RG2 6GP

Tea and Coffee served from 6.40pm

Meeting begins 7.00pm

In association with the Environment Agency

This meeting is open to all anglers and fishery

This meeting is free to attend and open to all. It is aimed at ALL freshwater anglers, Coarse and Game. It is a key opportunity to hear about the work of the Environment Agency and Angling Trust and is a chance to tell us what YOU think our priorities should be. Plus updates from key organisations in your area.

It looks like being a fascinating meeting, so if you love angling and live within reach of the venue, make sure you attend.

If there is a specific question you would like to ask at the meeting please let us know well in advance by emailing ian.shepherd@anglingtrust.net

REGISTER HERE

Source: Angling Trust

They now have 2 dedicated competition lakes which are also perfect for people to come down and catch loads of fish from.  Canals 1 and 2 have been joined to create a new over 16's Carp Lake.  This lake is quite tricky but holds 190 stunning carp.  The Top Lake is now home to all our Ghost Carp and LOADS of other carp which will keep the runs coming day and night. 

FLE have also built a brand new Kingfisher Pond which has a 15 metre coaching platform and is perfect for juniors and adults to come and try fishing for the first time.  It is free for juniors to fish this pond and just £5 for adults so why not bring someone to FLE and introduce them to the sport.

The last 12 months have been very tough for us at FLE but they are so pleased to be back open and able to welcome you back to the fishery.

Please check out the website at www.flefishing.net for all the info and also like their Facebook page www.facebook.com/flefishing.com.  

Since opening the Carp Lake has done 7 x 20lb plus fish in the last three weeks and FLE have also seen a near match record on the first Open Match of the season when young Aiden fished his first ever match with us and bagged 230lb!  They have had loads of families down enjoying the great fishing and they hope to see you soon.

Source: FLE

Salmon & Trout Conservation Scotland (S&TCS) is mounting a concerted campaign aimed at restoring what was formerly the finest sea trout fishery in Scotland. Sea trout stocks in Loch Maree collapsed in 1988, one year after the start of salmon farming in Loch Ewe, the sea loch into which Loch Maree drains via the River Ewe.

The launch of the S&TCS campaign was marked last week by a Parliamentary reception at Holyrood at which the new S&TCS film The demise of Loch Maree, once the world’s finest sea trout fishery was premiered. The film is a powerful and graphic illustration of how a poorly sited salmon farm can have a devastating impact on what was previously a prolific and entirely sustainable wild fishery.

The film and full story may be viewed at http://www.salmon-trout.org/stcs-launches-campaign-to-restore-iconic-sea-trout-fishery-to-its-former-glory/news/426

Source: Salmon & Trout Conservation

The NAS is the brainchild of three everyday guys that feel anglers in the North deserve an angling show they can attend - without having to drive 4 hours south to get there.

The support from their visitors has been fantastic since the launch in March '13 and they feel this is why more and more of the market leaders and angling manufacturers are joining them in Manchester each year!

The Northern Angling Show is one of the biggest angling exhibitions in Europe.

For further details and to purchase tickets, please visit the NAS website at www.northernanglingshow.co.uk

NEW TEMPLE MEMBER BANKS NEMO AT 40LB...
The last few weeks has seen anglers bagging plenty of early season fish on Temple which has included 8 thirties, and the word was that a forty is due out any time. New member Sam Doherty fishing his very first day session on Temple took the honours and bagged Nemo at 40lb on the nose. Weighed and witnessed by Bury Hill supremo Matt White, Sam was fishing peg 15 catching on a 16mm Sticky Baits Krill boilie which he fished to the mid water to the left hand side of the island.

With the activity on Temple building, Sam also lost a nice fish during his short day session as did the angler on peg 12 who lost two!

STUNNING 36LB 15OZ TEMPLE MIRROR...
Temple regular Adam Rogers banked a stunning 36lb 15oz mirror from peg 12 on a 15mm single Cell Wafter, which he fished over a few freebies from close to the island margins. Thought to be one of the original Big Italians, the fish is in great condition.

NEW TEMPLE MEMBER BANKS STUNNING 32LB MIRROR...
New Temple member Joshua Knight bagged his first Temple thirty on his first trip. Fishing peg 2, Joshua fished an 18mm Source boilie towards the island point catching a stunning 32lb 8oz mirror over 4/5 free offerings.

CRACKING 3OLB MIRROR BANKED TWICE IN AS MANY WEEKS...
Mick Warren beat his Temple duck with a stunning 31lb 10oz mirror after a long wait. Fishing peg 5, Mick was fishing Cell and a small pop up to the island using a blowback rig, snowman style.

Second time out in as many weeks, Barry Spencer managed a stunning 30lb 8oz lump of a mirror which he caught on double fake corn fished over a bed of hemp from peg 9.

CRACKING 30LB COMMON...
Fishing a day session, Brian Nicholls was rewarded with a stunning 30lb 2oz common. Witnessed and weighed by Bury Hill Fishery manager Chris, Brian fished an 18mm Cell bottom bait which he fished to the mid water.

STUNNING 30LB SCALEY MIRROR...
Joe Concanon caught a stunning 30lb scaley mirror from peg 14 catching on 18mm Cell bottom baits close to the island margins.

Source: Bury Hill Fisheries

The Feeder team are to remain the same as last year's line up as;

Tom Pickering (manager)
Glenn Lawrence (coach)
Steve Ringer
Phil Ringer
Mick Vials
Rob Wootton
Dean Barlow
Adam Wakelin

Tom Pickering, England Feeder manager said "There are no changes this year as all the lads have worked well and done a great job over the last few years.  We will all be working hard for a podium place this year, and it would be great to beat our silver team medal place win last year on the Novisad canal in Serbia."

The England Feeder team would like to thank Preston Innovations for their sponsorship and continued support, and the Angling Trust would like to wish all the team the very best in the World Championships this year.

Source: Angling Trust Fishing News

The U20s Youth World Championships are due to be staged at Innascarra, Southern Ireland on 12th/13th August 2017, and a team is required to represent the Angling Trust and team sponsors, Sensas for the under 20s.

Where and When

The Angling Trust Sensas Team England youth assessment trial for the under 20s will take place at Shatterford Lakes, near Birmingham on Saturday 1st April 2017.

Applicants must have been under 20 years of age on 31st December 2016 to apply and be individual members of the Angling Trust.

Applicants who are invited along must impress the Angling Trust Sensas U20s England Manager, Steve Sanders who will be looking for talented anglers who have the ability to fish under pressure and to international rules.  Rules are available on the FIPSed website at; http://www.fips-ed.com.  The venue will be mainly pole fishing with the possibility of some slider and whip fishing.

How to apply 

Anyone wishing to apply for the assessment trial MUST complete an England youth assessment trial form by contacting Sandra Johnson, Competitions & Events Manager at the Angling Trust.  Email; sandra.johnson@anglingtrust.net or telephone; 0115 822 4519.

Completed forms must be returned by no later than Friday 3rd March 2017

Application forms will be automatically sent to anyone who applied for the assessment trial last year.

Source: Angling Trust Fishing News

Applications for tickets will open on 13 March 2017 from 9.00am via the Angling Trust new online booking system at a cost of £40 per pair per qualifier.

Prize money for the 2017 competition final, which is subject to entry, could total up to £16,000 between the top four pairs.

John Ellis, national fisheries and angling manager for the Canal & River Trust comments: “The aim of the competition is to inspire match anglers to experience the great fishing that can be found on their local canal.  

“The 2016 event was a great success and proved really popular with anglers from across the country and I’m expecting 2017 event to be just as big a success.”

David Kent, Chair of Angling Trust Competitions said; “The 2016 event was our biggest yet and it was great to see club and open anglers from across the country of all ages taking part. Canal fishing is a great branch of the sport and I’m sure this year’s championship will help inspire even more people to get involved and give it a try.”

The dates, venues and host clubs for the qualifiers and the final are listed below:

• Saturday 1st July -  Leeds & Liverpool Canal, Liverpool & District Angling Society
• Saturday 15th July - Forth & Clyde Canal, Scottish Federation for Coarse Angling
• Sunday 16th July - Basingstoke Canal, Basingstoke Canal Angling Association
• Saturday 29th July - Grand Union Canal (Aylesbury Arm), The Tring Anglers 
• Sunday 30th July - Newry Canal, Edenderry Angling club
• Saturday 5th August - Shropshire Union Canal Soudley, Hodnet Angling Club
• Sunday 13th August – Shropshire Union Bretton to Audlem, Hodnet Angling Club
• Sunday 20th August - Kennet & Avon Canal, Reading & District Angling Association
• Monday 28th August - Aire & Calder Canal, Boothferry Joint Angling Committee
• Saturday 2nd September - New Junction Canal, Doncaster Angling Association
• Sunday 3rd September -Trent & Mersey Canal, Pride of Derby Angling Association
• Sunday 10th September - Gloucester & Sharpness Canal, Winget Angling Club  
• Sunday 24th September - Staffordshire & Worcestershire Canal, Wombourne Wolverhampton Angling Association
• Saturday 30th September - Grand Union Canal, Northampton Nene Angling Club
• Saturday 7th October - Llangollen Canal, Whixall Hodnet Angling Club
• Sunday 8th October - Trent & Mersey Canal Middlewich, Middlewich Angling Club                   

Grand Final and National Junior Canal Championship:

• Saturday 21st October – Erewash Canal, Long Eaton Victoria Angling Society

To find out more about the Canal Pairs Championships go to www.anglingtrust.net 

Source: Canal and River Trust