The popular small lake in St George’s Park in Bristol is in desperate need of repair and maintenance and is due to be drained early this year to allow this work to be carried out.

However, anglers and concerned members of the public were outraged to hear that the large population of fish in the lake were to be killed following a decision made by the council and Local Neighbourhood Partnership.

John Cheyne, the Angling Trust's National Regions Manager, quickly made contact with both the council and the neighbourhood partnership and having discussed the situation at length, Bristol City Council has now given an assurance that they will relocate healthy fish taken from the water instead of killing them.

John Cheyne said: “Common sense has prevailed and we are delighted that healthy fish will be saved. The lake is in need of work and there have been problems associated with angling in such a small and busy park, however that is no reason to simply exterminate the healthy fish.

"We have been delighted by the response from Rob Acton Campbell of the Local Neighbourhood Partnership since we approached him. We will help in every way we can with the relocating of the fish and the rejuvenation of the lake going forward."

The Angling Trust is now in negotiation to ensure fish stocks are re-established once the work on the lake is complete and will be liaising with the council to ensure angling within Bristol parks is given the priority it deserves.

Source: Angling Trust Fishing News

In doing this, they maintain the high quality stock which their fly fishing customers can expect.

The lakes are kept fully stocked leading up to the event (over-stocked if anything) and fully re-stocked immediately afterwards with a full range of sizes and types (Rainbow / Blue / Brown / Gold etc).

In summer, Kilnsey Park Estate run the event with fly-only sessions followed by any-method sessions. In the winter they just hold any-method sessions, as there would be a risk of bad weather disrupting fly sessions.

Any Method Event February 2016

Format

Run over three days with one session per day.

The lakes will be restocked during the event on days 2 and 3.

Dates & Times;

Monday 22nd February 2016 – 7am to 2pm
Tuesday 23rd February 2016 – 7am to 3pm
Wednesday 24th February 2016 – 7am to 3pm

Prices

£30 per ticket*

* This does not include free processing or include any loyalty card stamps.

Pay on the day

Processing

Gutting service available at 30p per fish
Filleting service available at £1 per fish

Booking

To book please email Stuart at stuart@kilnseypark.co.uk.

Any Method Rules

• Bag Limit: 25 fish, any size, any colour (brown, gold etc.)
• No fish to be returned to the water.
• No ground baiting / swim feeders etc
• Ticket holders only on the lakeside – no spectators
• Cancellations must be made at least 2 weeks prior to the event

Source: Kilnsey Park Estate

The new venues are the Warwickshire Avon at Warwick and Stratford, the Thames at Clanfield and Culham and the Tidal Trent from Laughterton to Dunham. 

“The competition just keeps evolving and I’m delighted with the response we’ve had from anglers all over the country since the first RiverFest in 2013,” said Angling Trust Ambassador and competition creator Dave Harrell.

“We’ve looked closely at all the qualifying venues and listened to what anglers have asked for in terms of new venues. I would point out though that we haven’t closed the door for the future on any venues we have used previously. We just felt it was time for a few changes.”   

As it currently stands, subject to all tickets being sold, RiverFest 2016 will see 10 main prizes in the final ranging from £500 for 10th place, up to £12,000 to the winner. Section prizes of £250 will also be paid out every six pegs on both of the final days. There will also be a teams of three competition run alongside the main event, made up of the three anglers who get through from each of the 24 qualifying matches.

Last year’s winner, Tom Lane said: “It’s the competition that all river anglers want to win and I’ll be going all out to try and become the first angler to win it twice. Hopefully, I’ll make it to the final again for starters!” 

Applications for the 60 peg qualifiers will be invited towards the end of March, with an entry period of three weeks. A computerised random draw will then be made to establish who fishes where.

The final will take place on the River Wye at Hereford over the weekend of 19th/20th November and the same venue has been booked as a reserve weekend on 26th/ 26th November.
Spectators will be welcome to watch the final, free of charge and there will be a bookmaker present on both days for competitors and public to have a flutter.

QUALIFYING DATES AND VENUES:

1. SAT JUNE 18th  - RIVER CALDER, MIRFIELD
2. SAT JUNE 25th – RIVER SWALE, MORTON
3. SUN JULY 3rd - BRISTOL AVON, NEWBRIDGE TO SALTFORD
4. SUN JULY 10th – RIVER TYNE, CORBRIDGE TO WYLAM
5. SUN JULY 24th – RIVER TRENT, LAUGHTERTON TO DUNHAM
6. SAT JULY 30th – RIVER WEAVER, NORTHWICH
7. SAT AUGUST 6th – RIVER SOAR, SUTTON BONNINGTON
8. SAT AUGUST 13th –RIVER TRENT, NEWARK DYKE
9. SUN AUGUST 14th – RIVER YARE, LANGLEY
10. SUN AUGUST 21st – RIVER TEES, BOWESFIELD TO YARM
11. SAT AUGUST 27th – RIVER DON, SPROTBOROUGH
12. SUN AUGUST 28th – RIVER NENE, ORTON
13. SAT SEPTEMBER 3rd – RIVER SEVERN, BEWDLEY
14. SAT SEPTEMBER 10th  - RIVER TRENT, HOLME MARSH
15. SUN SEPTEMBER 18th – RIVER WYE, BREINTON TO EIGN
16. SAT SEPTEMBER 24th  - RIVER SEVERN, BRIDGNORTH
17. SUN SEPTEMBER 25th – RIVER THAMES, CLANFIELD
18. SUN OCTOBER 2nd – RIVER TRENT, BURTON
19. SAT OCTOBER 8th – RIVER THAMES, CULHAM
20. SUN OCTOBER 9th – RIVER MEDWAY, BARMING
21. SUN OCTOBER 16th – WARWICKSHIRE AVON, STRATFORD  
22. SUN OCTOBER 23rd – RIVER SEVERN, SHREWSBURY 
23. SAT OCTOBER 29th - YORKS OUSE, HUNTERS LODGE TO LINTON
24. SUN OCTOBER 30th – WARWICKSHIRE AVON, WARWICK

FINAL - 19/20 NOVEMBER – RIVER WYE AT HEREFORD
RESERVE FINAL DATES - 26/27 NOVEMBER

Source: Angling Trust Fishing News

The U18s Youth World Championships are due to be staged at Coruche, Santa Justa, in Portugal from 6th – 7h August 2016, and a team is required to represent the Angling Trust and team sponsors, Sensas  for the under 18s.  Last year saw Sensas Team England U18s dominate their event held on the Smederevo Steelworks canal in Serbia to take team gold.

Where and when

The Angling Trust Sensas Team England youth assessment trial for the under 18s will take place on Saturday 9th April 2016 at The Willows Fishery in St Albans.  Applicants must have been under 18 years of age on 31st December 2015 to apply.

Applicants who are invited along must impress the Angling Trust Sensas U18s England Manager, Steve Sanders, who will be looking for talented anglers who have the ability to fish under pressure and to international rules.  Anglers must be proficient at big waggler fishing at 40 – 50 mtrs range, pole fishing for carp, barbel and mullet, and whip fishing for bleak.

All competitors will be fishing to full international rules. 

How to apply

Anyone wishing to apply for the assessment trial must complete an England youth assessment trial form by contacting Sandra Drew, Competitions & Events Manager at the Angling Trust.  Email: sandra.drew@anglingtrust.net, or telephone: 0115 9061 301. 

Completed forms must be returned by no later than 6th March  2016.

Application forms have automatically been sent to anyone who applied for the assessment trial last year.    

Dick Clegg, OBE, International Events Manager said:

“Because of the new age limits issued by FIPSed for the youth groups it will be the last trial for an under 18's  squad.  From 2017 we will see this category increased to under 20's which will give anglers selected for this   year’s team a chance to trial for a further two years before moving up to under the 25's. The new youth groups will become Under 15's Under 20's and Under 25's from 2017.

We should also see a slight competition rule change in 2017 with the under 20's becoming a 4 hour match and the pole limit being increased to13 mtrs provided my recommendation to the technical committee is accepted.  The rules for the other age groups to remain unchanged.”

Source: Angling Trust Fishing News

The U18s Youth World Championships are due to be staged at Coruche, Santa Justa, in Portugal from 6th – 7h August 2016, and a team is required to represent the Angling Trust and team sponsors, Sensas  for the under 18s.  Last year saw Sensas Team England U18s dominate their event held on the Smederevo Steelworks canal in Serbia to take team gold.

Where and when

The Angling Trust Sensas Team England youth assessment trial for the under 18s will take place on Saturday 9th April 2016 at The Willows Fishery in St Albans.  Applicants must have been under 18 years of age on 31st December 2015 to apply.

Applicants who are invited along must impress the Angling Trust Sensas U18s England Manager, Steve Sanders, who will be looking for talented anglers who have the ability to fish under pressure and to international rules.  Anglers must be proficient at big waggler fishing at 40 – 50 mtrs range, pole fishing for carp, barbel and mullet, and whip fishing for bleak.

All competitors will be fishing to full international rules. 

How to apply

Anyone wishing to apply for the assessment trial must complete an England youth assessment trial form by contacting Sandra Drew, Competitions & Events Manager at the Angling Trust.  Email: sandra.drew@anglingtrust.net, or telephone: 0115 9061 301. 

Completed forms must be returned by no later than 6th March  2016.

Application forms have automatically been sent to anyone who applied for the assessment trial last year.    

Dick Clegg, OBE, International Events Manager said:

“Because of the new age limits issued by FIPSed for the youth groups it will be the last trial for an under 18's  squad.  From 2017 we will see this category increased to under 20's which will give anglers selected for this   year’s team a chance to trial for a further two years before moving up to under the 25's. The new youth groups will become Under 15's Under 20's and Under 25's from 2017.

We should also see a slight competition rule change in 2017 with the under 20's becoming a 4 hour match and the pole limit being increased to13 mtrs provided my recommendation to the technical committee is accepted.  The rules for the other age groups to remain unchanged.”

Source: Angling Trust Fishing News

The Feeder Team are:

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

Eddie Bridon and Will Freeman will also be travelling and working with the squad this year.

Tom Pickering said: “There are no changes this year as lads have been magnificent in recent years, and with winning the event over the last two years we will be trying to win three on the trot. Apart from the South Africa Carp team, there is not a team that have done this.

"There have been other major championships on this canal so we do know a little bit about it. I think it will be a good fishing match, which is exactly what we want.

"The England Feeder Team would like to thank the Angling Trust, Preston Innovations and Sensas for their support as we could not do what we do without them.”

Dick Clegg, OBE, International Events Manager, said: “Since Tom was appointed manager of the England Feeder Team they have become number one in the official FIPSed world rankings due in no small part to the professional way he has approached these Championships.

"It has not come as a surprise to me that he has decided to take the same squad to Serbia after the team's successes over the last two years and I dearly hope that they can retain their title and make it an unprecedented three golds in a row. I would like to join Tom in thanking Preston Innovations and Sensas for their continued financial support of the Angling Trust's Feeder Team.”

Source: Angling Trust Fishing News

Committed to reducing rural crime of all kinds, Mr Tipping’s trip to a fishing pool in South Muskham, near Newark, was all about discussing with local anglers what they can do to help the police protect fish and fisheries.

The Commissioner was keen to raise awareness of the value and importance of anglers passing information about criminal activity – including wildlife crime – to the police, agencies and partnerships such as the cross-border Operation Traverse.

“Nottinghamshire Police already works closely with Lincolnshire Police and Operation Traverse – teamwork which is greatly assisted by up-to-date intelligence from the angling fraternities,” he said.

“Anglers and members of the local communities who know the rivers and fishing spots well are ideally placed to keep us in the picture. By reporting incidents to the police they become a vital cog in the wheel that tackles offenders and prevents crime.”

Operation Traverse is a multi-partnership operation that includes a growing number of police forces, the Angling Trust and Environment Agency. It helps to raise awareness of fish theft, wider related criminality and organised crime as well as encouraging a coordinated response to poaching.

Kevin Pearson, the Angling Trust’s Midlands Regional Enforcement Manager, said: “We're really pleased to be working in partnership with Nottinghamshire Police and the Environment Agency to tackle poaching, rod licence evasion and angling-related crime. Having the support of Police and Crime Commissioner Paddy Tipping is a significant move forward as it demonstrates to the angling and rural communities that their concerns are being taken seriously.

'We must understand that policing is intelligence-led - meaning that it is essential for anglers to report all incidents to the Environment Agency and police. Only then will the true extent of our problems be quantified and offenders brought to book.

“It is vitally important that we all contribute to Operation Traverse by calling the Environment Agency on 0800 80 70 60 for suspected rod licence offences, or the police on 101 to report criminal offences including fishing without permission and the theft of fish, or 999 if a crime is in progress. Ask for a call reference number and request feedback.”

Dilip Sarkar MBE, Angling Trust’s National Enforcement Manager, said: “Operation Traverse remains an extremely important initiative and we are delighted to welcome Nottinghamshire Police aboard as a formal partner. We have listened to the concerns of anglers in that force area, particularly in respect of the river Trent, and now need to work together to support the Environment Agency and police in protecting fish and fisheries.”

Nottinghamshire Police has its own angler liaison officer: Special Constable Haddon Smith, who joined Commissioner Tipping at South Muskham. Acting as point of contact with anglers and water bailiffs in the Sherwood area, he also goes on patrol with them.

Source: Angling Trust Fishing News

Several thousand outfalls were given ‘temporary’ deemed consents at the time of privatisation of the water industry in 1989 (see note 1), because there were no legal permits for these discharges at all. The Environment Agency is now trying to draw up bespoke environmental permits so that they can take enforcement action against water companies in the event that discharges from the remaining poorly-regulated sewage outfalls pollute rivers, lakes or coastal waters.

However, in order to draft modern permits which will help them meet water quality standards, the Environment Agency require information from water companies concerning the frequency and content of their discharges.

The information received shows a very patchy response from the water companies with some, such as Anglian Water, United Utilities and Yorkshire Water, not having made much progress at all, whilst Wessex Water and South West Water have made the most progress. The delay in progress is because companies have repeatedly failed to provide the information required by the Environment Agency.

The water companies have been given a deadline by the Environment Agency of the end of January 2016 to provide full information about these discharges. If they fail to meet the deadline, the Angling Trust and Fish Legal plan to use their newly secured right to request environmental information directly from the water companies (see note 5) to find out exactly how much raw sewage is being discharged from the remaining 1,968 sewage outfalls and how regularly.

Mark Lloyd, Chief Executive of the Angling Trust & Fish Legal, said: “We will be watching closely to see if any companies fail to meet the Agency’s January deadline. It is simply unacceptable that these huge companies have failed to provide the necessary information a quarter of a century after these supposedly temporary consents were granted by Parliament.

"Anglers, swimmers and watersports enthusiasts have a right to know what is polluting their waters and we expect the Environment Agency to be regulating the industry properly.”

Source: Fish Legal Fishing News

The event on Saturday was organised by the Canal & River Trust, the charity that cares for 2,000 miles of the nation’s historic waterways, in partnership with Burton Mutual Angling Association. 

Around 50 local people headed down to the canal by Hillfield Playing Fields to have a go at one of the nation’s best loved pastimes. The day was a useful opportunity for Burton Mutual to recruit new members and also formed part of the Trust’s work to get more people fishing on the nation’s canals and rivers.

Qualified coaches were on-hand throughout the morning to show people the basics of fishing and share their knowledge with both beginners and more experienced anglers.  

In the afternoon a family match took place with youngsters pairing up with an adult to try their hands at catching the largest weight of fish. The winners were Holly Nicholls and her mum with a combined weight of 1lb 12oz. Holly also won the prize for the biggest fish with a perch weighing in at 14oz.  Michel Smith & John Harper came second in the pairs match with a combined weight of 14oz. Third place was shared between Hayden Nicholls and his dad Carl and William Harvey and his dad Paul with both pairs catching 10oz.

Becca Dent angling development manager for the Canal & River Trust said; “We had a great day on Saturday and it was lovely to see lots of new faces on the canal, trying something new and, most importantly, having fun.

“Some kids that came along had never held a fishing rod before but they left completely addicted so hopefully we’ll see some of them back on the canal in the future – in fact the local angling club signed up 15 new junior members which is brilliant.

“This is exactly the kind of event we want to run with angling clubs across the county as part of our efforts to get more people fishing and we’d love to hear from other clubs that are keen to work together in this way.

President of Burton Mutual, Dave Clark said; “It was a great day. A lot of keen coaches and helpers put in a lot of time and effort which certainly paid off and we are very grateful to all of them. To me the greatest part was when you saw the faces of the children actually catching a fish and being so proud.

The Trust and Burton Mutual Angling Association would like to thank Stretton Parish Council for the use of their facilities.

Source: Canal & River Trust Fishing News

The committee meetings are attended by programme makers and editors from household favourites such as Countryfile and The Archers, current affairs programmes such as Costing The Earth and Farming Today and from the many BBC radio and TV news channels.

This appointment will not only provide an opportunity to highlight issues of concern to Britain’s three million anglers, such as the plight of marine and freshwater fish stocks, but also to get more coverage of angling on the many BBC TV, Radio and Digital channels. His appointment coincides with the first broadcast of The Big Fish on BBC2 at 8pm on Sunday evenings, which is the first prime time BBC series about fishing since the widely acclaimed ‘Passion for Angling’ a generation ago.

The Committee comprises 21 members including the Chief Executive of the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority, the Former Private Secretary to HRH The Prince of Wales, a Professor of Animal Welfare from Cambridge University, and the Policy Director of the Soil Association. It meets three times a year in Bristol.

Mark Lloyd said: “I am delighted to have this opportunity to represent fish and fishing at the heart of decision-making around the BBC’s rural, environmental and news output. For too long, angling has been virtually invisible on our national broadcaster’s many channels. I want to see it recognised for the vital role it plays in our nation’s culture and communities, and embraced by the BBC. Many of the issues affecting fishing are not only of interest to the huge community of anglers, but to millions of other people who care about the state of the marine and freshwater environment. It’s very welcome to see a new BBC2 series The Big Fish, which, I’m sure, will help our efforts to recruit new anglers. However, I will be pressing the programme-makers to make sure that this is not just a one-off and that angling gets a fair deal on national TV for years to come.”

Source: Angling Trust Fishing News