A strategy to get more people fishing and help projects that use fishing to provide support to people in need was launched at the Angling Summit in London today.

The new strategy, Fishing for Life, was launched by Fisheries Minister Richard Benyon to encourage more people to try angling. The Environment Agency and Angling Trust developed the strategy that builds on angling's proven ability to promote wellbeing, support local communities and contribute to the economy.

As part of the development of the strategy, two national surveys were carried out by research organisation Substance which involved more than 29,000 anglers and 780 organisations working in angling. The results of these surveys were presented at the Summit.

The Summit heard:

• how fishing is helping young people learn to concentrate, take responsibility and achieve better results at school;
• the benefits that people derived by disabilities, recovering war veterans and the mentally ill from learning how to fish, and how to meet their needs;
• the need for access to local waters so that people can regularly benefit from going fishing, and the possibilities for community groups to build angling into regeneration plans;
• the importance of healthy freshwater and marine fish stocks to the future of angling participation;
• the need to promote the benefits of angling to a wider audience.

The strategy will be delivered over the coming years by a wide range of organisations working together to develop plans to deliver the four elements of the strategy:

• Encouraging people to take up and continue fishing so it becomes a habit for life - getting the fishing habit;
• Recognition of angling's role in improving the nation's health, increasing educational attainment and reducing crime and anti social behaviour - transforming and changing lives;
• Improving people's lives by using angling as a catalyst for bringing people and society together - focus on people and places;
• Recognising that fish and fishing are at the heart of a better environment - hands up for the environment;

Fisheries Minister Richard Benyon said:
"As a keen angler myself, I am delighted to be involved with such a worthwhile project. Angling is a great sport for men and women of all ages - it's enjoyable and it gets you outside, enjoying our wonderful waterways and seas and getting all the health and wellbeing benefits from being outdoors."

Mark Lloyd, chief executive of the Angling Trust said:
"working on this strategy has been an inspirational experience for us all. There is so much fantastic work being done throughout the country to use fishing to transform people's lives and to protect wonderful watery places. Our job now is to use the strategy to make other people aware of angling's many benefits and to encourage organisations to work together locally and nationally. We are very grateful to the tens of thousands of anglers and the hundreds of angling organisations which have contributed to creation of this exciting new strategy."

Source: Angling Trust Fishing News

This year saw an increase of competitors taking part in the Angling Trust British Pike Final on the 20 Foot River, and Glassmoor Bank on Whittlesey AA’s waters with a total of 225 entrants. Difficult weather conditions greeted the competitors with an overnight frost, and rain settling in for most of the morning of the match.

Darryl Moore from Hinkley won the Championship title on Saturday 3rd November 2012 with two pike weighing 22lb and 14lb 4oz from peg 132 on the 20ft to give him an overall winning weight of 36lb 4oz. Runner up Tony Billson was only 2oz behind the winner with a total weight of 36lb 2oz and two pike caught of 17lb 14oz and 18lb 4oz from peg 296 on the 20ft, and managed to catch his last pike with only a minute remaining. In third place was Chris Preen of Bicester who caught one fish for 18lb 2oz on peg 286 on the 20ft.

Fish catches were slightly down on previous years, but the number of competitors made up for any disappointment showing that this Championship is going from strength to strength.

Wayne Gorrange and Stuart Parker from the British Pike Squad were in attendance for the presentations to invite the top 10 anglers from the British Pike Final to fish alongside the British Pike Squad early next year on their waters from Bedlam bridge to the three holes bridge on the 16ft, to offer coaching sessions and to introduce the individuals to their way of fishing.

Top 10 individual results
1st Darryl Moore, Hinckley – 36lb 4oz (two fish 22lb and 14lb 4oz) Peg 132 on 20ft
2nd Tony Billson, Essex – 36lb 2oz (two fish 17lb 14oz and 18lb 4oz) Peg 296 on 20ft
3rd Chris Preen, Bicester – 18lb 2oz (one fish) Peg 286 on 20ft
4th Dwayne Williams, Cambs – 16lb 8oz (one fish) Peg 65 on Glassmoor.
5th Barry Southgate, Chelmsford – 15lb (two fish 9lb 12oz and 5lb 4oz) Peg 99 on Glassmoor.
6th Kenneth Edgson, Notts – 12lb (one fish) Peg 69 on Glassmoor.
7th Mark Salter, Southampton – 10lb 8oz (two fish)
8th Barry Putnam, Kenilworth – 10lb 6oz
9th Wayne Lees, Oxford – 10lb 1oz (3 fish)
Joint 10th Pete Smith, Burnham on Slough - 10lb
Joint 10th Derek Northrop, Great Beddow – 10lb

Top Lady
Jean Lloyd, Mansfield – 2lb 4 oz (one fish)

Top Junior
Lucy McCourt

The Angling Trust would like to offer their appreciation and thanks to Ted and Ann Rowe, Event Organisers for all their hard work and also to Dave White and Whittlesey AA who worked very hard to ensure that all pegs were accessible on the day.

Source: Angling Trust Fishing News

The Bolton Co-Operative Angling Club has received £10,000 in compensation from a farmer who polluted their coarse fishery in 2010 thanks to the efforts of Fish Legal's expert lawyers.

In June 2010, thousands of carp, perch, roach and bream in the Hesketh Lodge, one of the club's lakes at Astley Bridge outside Bolton, were wiped out when silage liquor from storage facilities at nearby Harricroft Farm escaped into Astley Brook which fed into the anglers' prized fishery.

As members of Fish Legal, the Bolton Co-Operative Angling Club was able to obtain free legal representation, and approached Fish Legal after the pollution to help them claim for the cost of restocking and for their loss of amenity. Once presented with the threat of legal proceedings, the farmer's insurers reluctantly negotiated an out of court settlement. Fish Legal is delighted to agree a substantial pay-out for its member club and to send a strong deterrent to potential polluters in the future.

William Rundle, Fish Legal solicitor, said:
"Farmers are required by law to store silage liquor in secure facilities away from waterways precisely because it poses such a danger to aquatic life. Silage is essentially pickled grass used as a cattle feed through the winter months. Unfortunately, the liquor that drains off it is a highly noxious pollutant, more harmful than pig or cattle slurry and many times more potent than domestic sewage. In fact, DEFRA likens the polluting effect from just 100 tonnes of silage to the equivalent of the daily sewage output of a town of 25,000 people.

He went on:
"In this case, the silage liquor which poured into Hesketh Lodge caused oxygen levels to plummet and the fish in there quite literally suffocated. It just goes to show that farmers need to be extremely careful when it comes to storing silage because of the risk their operations pose to the environment. The cost of reparation when they fail to do so properly can be substantial. Angling clubs that are close to such facilities or other industry should join Fish Legal in case they suffer pollution in the future. We can then act for them free of charge to seek compensation for the damage to their fishery and loss of fishing - clubs cannot rely on the Environment Agency to do this for them, it simply isn't their job to provide the free service we do when obtaining compensation for member clubs."

Niven Peacock, Secretary for the Bolton Co-Operative Angling Club, said:
"Thanks to Fish Legal Bolton Co-op Angling Club now have compensation for the pollution incident and the club can get on with the task of re-stocking to get the lodge back to what it used to be and hopefully get our membership back as well."

Source: Fish Legal Fishing News

Tony Mair's ridiculous mission (his words, not ours) to catch a trout from every river in the UK has continued throughout 2012. You may think he's mad, we think he's an inspiration to angler's everywhere! Tony contacted us after the season closed on 30th September with some brief thoughts on the mission so far. Check out his website ... it's well worth a read.

My season has ended, as it should (for a Northern Hemisphere Troutman) on September 30th. The UK has had the crappiest Summer, and we flyfishers all have had to grin and bear it!

My ridiculous mission continues, and with six more Counties ‘netted’ I have the finishing line in my sights(!?)...I have Bedfordshire, Cheshire and Merseyside, still to capture.

The ’close season’ is one for optimism, for 2013 beckons and will be a spectacular year for us, so now we plot and plan! I hope you enjoy reading of my exploits this year.

Source: A Fisherman's Journey

Update: 1st October 2012
Due to a major pollution incident on the Erewash Canal in Derbyshire the National Angling Match due to take place on the 13 October along this stretch of waterway will be postponed until 2013.

A major fire broke out at the Stanton IronWorks site located alongside the canal in Stanton-by–Dale which has resulted in pollutants entering into the canal causing a sudden decline in oxygen levels. The Environment Agency and Canal & River Trust are on site carrying out an emergency fish rescue and are currently transferring the fish to unaffected areas further along the canal. Whilst the rescue has been a great success with over 5000lbs of fish being safely relocated elsewhere on the canal sadly there have been some fish deaths as a result of the pollution.

John Ellis, Fisheries & Angling Manager from the Canal & River Trust said “I am really sorry to disappoint anyone who was planning to come along but in light of this incident we have taken the difficult decision to postpone the fishing match. The pollution site is not far from the area where we were planning on holding the angling match and we need to allow the fish population time to naturally recover and re-populate areas of the waterway”

To help celebrate the launch of the new waterways charity, the Canal & River Trust, a National Angling Match is being held along the Erewash Canal in Derbyshire on Saturday 13 October from 10.30am to 3.30pm.

The match, which is open to anglers of all ages and abilities, is a chance for anglers from across the waterways to come together and compete against each other in this one off competition to celebrate our canal network.

Angling on Britain’s canals and rivers is more popular than ever with around 290 angling clubs established across the 2,000 mile network.

John Ellis National Fisheries & Angling Manager from the Canal & River Trust said “This match is a great opportunity for other anglers to compete with other club members and help celebrate the launch of the Canal & River Trust. The all day match is open to all keen anglers and clubs should be a competitive but fun day”

The match will be along a stretch of the Erewash canal from Ilkeston to Long Eaton which is a distance of about six miles and is home to a wide variety of fish. Anglers can expect to catch a variety of fish including Roach, Perch, Bream, Chub and Bonus Tench.

David Kent, Chair of the National Angling Advisor Group “We wanted to do something to get anglers involved in the launch of the Canal & River Trust and what better way than to hold a National Angling competition. We have 400 pegs available and I expect there to be a great response from the angling community so I urge anyone interested in coming along to arrive early to avoid disappointment”

The competition will be divided into three groups; under 16’s, teams of four and individual matches. Entry fees are £20 per team and £15 for individuals. To book your place in the competition please contact Alan Wright on 0115 9728041 or John Johnson on 07931 552691

Source: Canal & River Trust

This year’s Angling Trust Division One National Championship took place on the Bristol Avon between Chippenham and Keynsham on Saturday 18th August 2012. The river was about twelve inches above normal level and very coloured following some heavy rainfall.

The team event demonstrated the talent and strength of Team Daiwa Dorking who retained the title they won last year on the New Junction Canal. Without delving back into the history of the old NFA Nationals no one can remember this feat being achieved before. They had an outstanding score of 433 points out of a possible 510. Nine of the team finished in the top ten in their respective sections. The team are going from strength to strength following their successful win in the Angling Trust Winter League final held at Partridge Lakes last weekend.

Second place came from another fine team performance by Maver Image who scored 401 points and reputedly did not practice for this event. All their anglers finished in the top twenty in their sections. Third place went to the consistent Barnsley and District team with 387 points.

The top ten teams all won a place in the Preston Innovations World Club Classic weekend to be held on the last weekend of September on the Newark Dyke.

1) Daiwa Dorking 433 points
2) Maver Image 401 points
3) Barnsley and District 387 points
4) Garbolino RAF 375 points
5) Garbolino Blackmore Vale 373 points
6) Daiwa Gordon League 371 points
7) Starlets A.S. 370 points
8) Maver Bathampton 341 points
9) Browning Hotrods 323 points
10) SPRO Dorset Raiders 318 points

There were some excellent individual catches with many weights in excess of 5 kilograms. All the winning weights were made up of bream catches especially in Newbridge and Bathford sections of the river.

First individual was Steve Priddle fishing for SPRO Dorset Raiders. Steve drew peg E23 and after a quiet first hour caught 25 bream between 1.5 and 3 kilograms for a fantastic winning weight of 52.200 kg. He caught all his fish using a groundbait feeder in nine metres of water using worm as a hookbait.

Runner up on the day was Alan Brown fishing for Mosella Lostock Tackle. He was drawn next peg to the winner and used similar tactics for a weight of 35.680 kg. Third place went to Paul Cannon fishing for Hull works Sports Association on peg C2 with another bream weight of 30.550kg.

Top Ten Individuals:

1) Peg E23 Steve Priddle SPRO Dorset Raiders 52200kg
2) Peg E22 Alan Brown Mosella Lostock Tackle 35.680kg
3) Peg C2 Paul Cannon Hull Works Sports Ass 30.550kg
4) Peg C21 Dave Massey Sam’s Tackle Wigan 22.930kg
5) Peg E24 Graham Jones Yarm Angling Ltd 16.430kg
6) Peg B51 Steve Clegg Collins Green 15.150kg
7) Peg D49 Gary Miller Maver Image 14.340kg
8) Peg C22 George Robinson Scunthorpe and District 12.820kg
9) Peg C1 Andy Pollard Daiwas Gordon League 12.670kg
10) Peg D46 Aaron Goodchild Maldon A.S. 12.640kg

Silver medal section winners:

Section A Peg A50 Andrew Bush Team Mosella Selby 6.400kg
Section B Peg B51 Steve Clegg Collins Green 15.150kg
Section C Peg C2 Paul Cannon Hull Works Sports Ass 30.550kg
Section D Peg D49 Gary Miller Maver Image 14.430kg
Section E Peg 23 Steve Priddle SPRP Dorset Raiders 52.200kg
Section F Peg 37 Dave Norwood Scunthorpe and District 10.960kg
Section G Peg 51 Michael Bernsten Garbolino Blackmore Vale 4.600kg
Section H Peg H7 Jon Adkins Garbolino Blackmore Vale 6.120kg
Section J Peg J32 Rob Perkins Matrix Dynamite Trentmen 7.100kg
Section K Peg K 17 David Smiddy Yarm Angling Ltd 12.600kg

Source: Angling Trust Fishing News

Luton AC offers fantastic fishing for most species with Carp to 37lb+, Tench 8lb+, Bream 10lb+, Chub 7lb+, Zander 16lb+, Pike near 30lb, Perch 3lb+ and Roach and Rudd over 2lb. All of the clubs stillwaters including 12 miles of the Grand Union Canal are open all year round and alot offer secure parking close to the venue. Unlike some clubs Luton AC do not charge a premium for night fishing or fishing between March and June.

Luton Angling Club Weekly Report 12th August 2012

Please visit our Facebook Page at www.facebook.com/LutonAC (remember to 'Like' us please) for catch reports as they are received or follow us on twitter at www.twitter.com/LutonAC

All postal applications for renewals and new membership should be sent to Luton AC 4 Stratton Gardens, LUTON LU2 7DS and telephone enquiries to 01582 879382.

Luton AC are looking for reliable bailiffs to cover their canal sections from Pitstone near Tring through to Stoke Hammond near Milton Keynes, even if you can only do a small amount please contact Fergal at Luton AC 07552707393.

A reminder once again of the EA Hotline number should you suspect people are stealing fish from any of our waters 0800807060. The more calls that are received about possible incidents the more likely the EA are to increase patrols in the area concerned.

The Club have been kindly informed by the contractors that there will be road closures to install a new Gas Infrastructure main along the Fordfield Road, Flitwick. This passes our entrance to Beckerings Reservoir. We have been informed a full Diversionary route will be implemented, which will be via the A507 with works due to start 06-08-12. It is the intention that access will be granted at all times via the Millbrook end or the Flitwick end but, may change on a daily basis due to the nature of the works. As we find out more information, we will keep you informed. Temporary traffic lights in place and operational, some form of works have already started just after the cross roads.

Last season we received many of your fishing holiday snaps so please send them in again this year!

Craig Mason fished North House Lake and was rewarded when he landed the mirror known as The Wanderer at a spawned out 28lb 8oz. Also at North House lake Chris Dix landed an 18lb 7oz common, Garry Edwards a 20lb 8oz common and Ashley Irvine three commons of 20lb 2oz, 16lb 14oz and 16lb 4oz.

At Beckerings Reservoir Paul Angel managed a 19lb common and young Maisie Iles caught an 18lb 8oz mirror off the top.

The winner of our August 2012 photo competition which closes on 31st August 2012 will receive a terrific Starmer Baits bait package. It is open to anyone (members and non members) submitting a digital photo taken on any Luton AC controlled water and it can be of absolutely anything eg a sunset on the canal, a nice fish, wildlife etc. The photos submitted cannot be over a month old, the judges decision is final and no correspondance will be entered into regarding the result. So get snapping and forward your pictures to our usual email address catchreports@lutonac.org or send from your mobile to 07704462635.

We are pleased to announce a new photo competition purely for the predator angler sponsored by King of the Pond. It is open to anyone submitting a digital photo of a pike, zander, chub, perch, eel or catfish caught from a Luton AC controlled water. The photos must have been taken on or after 1st June 2012 and the closing date for entries is 31st March 2013. The judges decision is final and no correspondance will be entered into regarding the result.

The lucky winner will receive the following fantastic prize from King of the Pond:

x2 Rubber perch lures
x2 Rubber baby pike lures
x2 Predator rattles (black and red)
x2 25lb trace wire
x2 20lb trace wire
x2 15lb trace wire
x2 Packets of wire crimps
x2 Packets of single predator hooks
x2 Boxes of size 8 treble hooks
x2 Boxes of size 6 treble hooks
x1 Packet of size 8 rolling swivels
x1 Pair of rig scissors

PLease phone/text your catch reports from Luton AC waters to 07704462635 or email catchreports@lutonac.org and if you have pictures taken on your phone send picture messages to 07704462635. Remember to always use an unhooking mat when targetting specimen fish, keeping the fish as low to the ground as possible when taking photos.

Source: Luton Angling Club

The Angling Trust and Preston Innovations England Feeder Team Manager, Tom Pickering is looking for talented anglers to compete in a Feeder trial on Saturday 22nd September 2012.

The trial will take place at Larford Lakes & River Severn complex, Larford Lane, Larford, Near Stourport, Worcestershire. DY13 0SQ.

Anglers who wish to apply for the trial must be of open match standard, and MUST be able to cast 80 yards minimum with mono line and not braid. The trial will be fished to FIPS international rules.

The trial will help to select anglers to fish alongside the team from 2012. The trial is to show the management the angler’s skills, and whether they have the temperament, drive and desire to join the squad for the future.

If anyone is interested in taking part in the trial please supply a CV to include; full name, address, email address, date of birth, home and mobile contact telephone numbers, and the last 3 years of feeder fishing and any results and send to Sandra Drew, Competitions & Events Manager, Angling Trust, Strelley Hall, Strelley, Nottingham. NG8 6PE or email; sandra.drew@anglingtrust.net.

The closing date for all applications is by no later than 7th September.

Please note in order to take part in the trials you must also be an individual member of the Angling Trust.

Anyone successful to be invited for a trial will be contacted by email with further details.

Source: Angling Trust Fishing News

Angling's representative body, the Angling Trust, has secured anglers a voice at a national and local level in the Canal and River Trust (CRT), which is the new name for British Waterways since it became a charity on 1 July. The Trust warmly welcomes this new opportunity for one of the largest waterway user groups to have a say in the management of the canal and river network.

At a national level, Angling Trust Board Member David Kent has been nominated by the Trust to serve on the CRT's 30-strong Members Council, with representatives from most waterway-related activities, local government and a selection of NGOs.

The Trust has also encouraged anglers to put their names forward to serve on the thirteen Partnership Boards. So far, five of these have been successful, and there will be opportunities for new applicants to put themselves forward in the coming months and years.

Angling is represented in the following regions:

• North East.
  Eric Bootland who has a detailed knowledge of the big Yorkshire waterways;
• East Midlands.
  Glyn Williams, former Angling Development Board (ADB, now part of Angling Trust). National Coaching Development Manager. Glyn has a long time involvement with the Chesterfield Canal and the Witham and Fossdyke navigations;
• Central Shires.
  Brian Hull, formerly Education Officer with the ADB. Knows the Grand Union North and the River Soar very well.
• South East.
  Dick Pilkington, who for many years has worked tirelessly on the Grand Union South Consultative and knows all about the Tring Reservoirs;
• Kennet & Avon.
  Angling Trust Board Member Terry Fell, a retired Justice of the Peace, with a massive knowledge of the K & A system.

These appointments, alongside David Kent's national seat on the Members Council, will ensure that angling has a strong presence within the charity from the outset.

This is the most high profile example of the Government's push towards the Big Society. Therefore, one of the cornerstones of CRT's strategy is to encourage greater involvement from the wider community in the management and well-being of our waterways.

David Kent said: "I am delighted to be able to represent anglers on this new charity's Members Council. The canal and river network controlled by the charity extends to more than a thousand miles of bank and towpath, and our aim is to improve the opportunities for anglers to enjoy this fantastic resource to the full. Anglers and their clubs should contact me via the Angling Trust to let me know of any problems or suggestions they have to improve fishing on the canals. We will be working with our member clubs and consultatives to encourage knowledgeable anglers to volunteer to serve on the remaining local partnerships when vacancies arise."

Source: Angling Trust Fishing News

With nearly 30,000 anglers completing the National Angling Survey in less than a month, the Angling Trust and Environment Agency have today launched the second phase of the research, this time targeting organisations. Anyone who is involved in angling participation projects, angling clubs, fisheries, tackle shops and trade or who has worked with angling for wider social benefits is encouraged to take part.

The Angling Organisation Survey asks detailed questions of those running angling projects and will take about 20 minutes to complete. It aims to find out what techniques have been most successful in getting more people fishing more often, and where more support is needed for the growing number of organisations involved in angling participation and social projects. The survey remains open until the end of August and is hosted on the Angling Trust web site at www.anglingtrust.net/anglingorganisationsurvey

Angling Projects, Get Hooked on Fishing, Dreamstore, Fishing for Heroes, Fishing for Forces, Casting for Recovery and Fishing For Schools are all examples of highly successful programmes that are boosting angler numbers and also boosting health, wellbeing and community cohesion through angling. The number of people working in this sector at a local level has exploded in recent years; now there are hundreds of people working locally and nationally to increase angling participation and to use angling to improve people’s lives.

Along with the National Angling Survey, this research with angling organisations will help inform a National Angling Participation Plan (NAPP) for England and Wales, which is being co-ordinated by the Angling Trust, as the National Governing Body for angling in England. The Plan aims to encourage greater partnership working between many organisations taking part, and to create pathways for new anglers to follow so that when they leave one project they are able to take the next steps to taking up angling for life. The NAPP will also create an impressive overall picture of all the pieces in the angling jigsaw to potential funders.

More than 40 professionals from the angling world, including large national organisations such as the National Trust, the Canal and Rivers Trust and The Rivers Trust met up in Birmingham with staff and volunteers from bodies such as the Albrighton Trust, the Masonic Fishing Charity, the Wheelyboat Trust and the Community Angling Regeneration Project (CARP) at an event organised by the Angling Trust last week. At a very positive and constructive meeting, these experts provided important input to the development of the NAPP, which will be completed in the autumn.

Mark Lloyd, chief executive of the Angling Trust said: “We are delighted with the response to the individuals survey and also from the many people who gave up their time to support the event last week. There is so much fantastic work going on around the country to improve and increase angling, but far too often the hard work of volunteers and staff is not reported outside angling and so it doesn’t get the support it deserves. We want to shout about angling’s achievements from the rooftops, and this Plan will help us do that.”

Richard Wightman, Angling Manager at the Environment Agency said: “Holding such a positive, collaborative meeting as the one we had last week would have been unthinkable a decade ago. We might have got forty people in a room but there wasn’t the agreement or capacity to deliver ambitious programmes afterwards. Angling has achieved a huge amount in recent years through the dedication and co-operation of a wide range of organisations. The NAPP aims to continue that process and to develop a clear strategy for the future of angling for the next generation. We are very pleased to be able to support its development and look forward to seeing the final report in the autumn.”

Source: Angling Trust Fishing News