FISHING FOR GOOD: A FIVE-YEAR VISION
HOW WE’RE GETTING MORE PEOPLE FISHING OUR FIGHT FOR CLEAN AND HEALTHY RIVERS
A VOICE FOR RECREATIONAL SEA ANGLERS
FISH LEGAL: MAKING POLLUTERS PAY COMPETITIONS HITTING THE GOLD STANDARD
“Nothing beats a great day fishing. I’d love people to know how therapeutic it is.”
DAVID SEAMAN
Anglers have a unique connection to the environment and have done more for conservation of our waters than almost any other independent stakeholder. Yet despite this, angling faces threats. Jamie Cook, Angling Trust & Fish Legal CEO, reports on our plan for angling over the next five years.
Angling has a rich heritage and delivers huge benefits to individuals, communities and the environment. We have a diverse community of participants but unlike most other sports we don’t have a single set of clearly defined rules or a consistent environment where our activities take place. Fishing is wonderfully accessible and varied with three unique disciplines and many subtle nuances which mean that an expert in one area can be a complete novice in another.
Anglers have a unique connection to the environment. Our ability to participate is dependent on access to healthy aquatic environments with strong ecosystems from which fishing is a positive dividend. As a result, anglers have done more for conservation and preservation of the environment than almost any other independent stakeholder.
Yet despite this, angling faces threats, as do the environments we depend upon and the fish we dream about. The community requires a voice on key issues and our collective scale is not reflected in our level of influence as anglers, so in 2023 the Angling Trust launched an ambitious new strategy, Fishing for Good, which seeks to change that.
Fishing For Good lays out a plan for angling and the community. It is designed to provide clarity of the role and priorities of the Angling Trust and how we are focused on delivering against the core pillars which define our pastime and will support growth, representation and visibility of fish, fishing and the environment. This is not a journey we are on alone and this publication shows how, by working together, anglers, clubs, fisheries, coaches, volunteers, partners and the angling trade can collaborate and deliver greater impact.
Ultimately, we have laid out a vision for all within angling, whether it is in saltwater or freshwater, game or coarse, for competition or pleasure. Through our pillars of success we are structured to embrace the incredible diversity of our sport and its participants across campaigns, advocacy, participation, competitions, advice and support. The challenges facing our environment, pastime and sport are perhaps more significant now than at any other time in our lifetimes. Fish Legal has used the law for over 70 years to protect members’ fishery interests from pollution,
over-abstraction and other impacts which can prove devastating to fragile water ecosystems. When you read this, we will have a criminal case against Southern Water awaiting trial. We will be judicially reviewing the Government and Environment Agency. We will be challenging industrial pollution from East Midlands Airport, and we will be leading the fight to protect the beautiful river Wye from decimating agricultural pollution. If that is not enough, we are protecting the public’s right to access environmental information held by water companies without which a myriad of NGOs and campaigning groups could not function effectively. If ever you wanted to know what difference your membership contribution makes I hope that list makes you feel extremely proud as you are helping us to make a genuine difference.
Fishing For Good is just the start and can provide a foundation for more people to go fishing more often in healthy, vibrant environments.
In the following pages you will read about the awesome Reel Education programme –creating desire in individuals across the country to try fishing through the National Curriculum who may never otherwise have considered giving fishing a try. You will hear how our participation team and network of coaches and volunteers have introduced nearly 40,000 people to angling this year and you will get a sense of how by working in collaboration the angling trade and the Angling Trust are uniting to deliver impact and results.
You will read about the success of Team England across multiple disciplines and the brands whose investment is helping our international teams to flourish. You will read about the continued success of our domestic coarse competitions programme, from Fish O Mania to RiverFest, from the Division 1 National to the record-breaking Junior, Cadets and Youth National. We are defining a gold standard in competition delivery for our members, and we have ambitions to replicate this success across game and sea angling events with the support of these communities.
You will learn about our ongoing campaigns work – the volunteer-led Water Quality Monitoring Network, our Anglers Against Pollution campaign and our
Anglers Against Litter initiative providing litter picking kits to clubs and fisheries.
You will read about the recognition we are driving for recreational sea angling –impacting fisheries management plans, providing sea anglers with a much-needed voice and driving positive change for fish stocks, ecosystems and the environment.
We will continue to harness the drive, passion and commitment of our community within this journey which will increase participation, safeguard access, deliver international success and create an effective, united representative body accountable for the delivery of this vision for fish, fishing and the environment.
For anglers – by anglers, Fish Legal and the Angling Trust place anglers and angling at the heart of everything we do.
I want to thank you for your individual support – I hope in the following pages you get a sense of how every penny is being focused on the fight for fish, fishing and the environment, we couldn’t have the impact we do without your support.
Best fishes
Jamie Cook
Fundraising is key to our work to protect our waters and get more people fishing – and 2023 has been another busy year! Thank you for all your support.
The year kicked off with the Great Fishing Prize Draw with fishing days with David Seaman and Passion for Angling stars Chris Yates and Hugh Miles up for grabs.
This was closely followed by our annual online auction featuring over 160 lots with everything from signed Jeremy Wade goodies to a special edition Angling Trust JW Young Classic Heritage Centrepin reel.
Next in the schedule was the Tench Masterclass Auction which gave eight winning bidders access to Mill Lane Fishery, Farnham Angling Society’s main specimen tench water.
Hot on the heels was the Ultimate Carp Social prize draw where four winners spent 48 hours in the company of four superstar carp anglers including Terry Hearn.
Most recently was the Broadlands Grayling Gathering auction which will see 10 winning bidders heading off to this spectacular venue at the end of October.
To complete the year, you can now purchase tickets for our fantastic Christmas Raffle with 24 prizes to be won including £2,000 of Daiwa tackle – and keep your eyes peeled for announcements about our next auction for places at an Orvis/Anglers Against Pollution hosted trout fishing event at their exclusive Kimbridge Beat in May.
And don’t worry if you weren’t a lucky winner this year – we’ll be running more fantastic prize draws and auctions throughout 2024 to raise funds for our vital campaigns to protect fish, fishing and the environment.
Not a member? Join today and receive great benefits
Our online auctions provide anglers with the chance to fish at some exceptional venues with people they might not normally get the chance to fish with.
Jo Leworthy was the winning bidder for a day’s crucian and tench fishing with our Head of Marketing, Membership and Communications John Cheyne
at Leamington Spa AA’s Snitterfield Reservoir.
They both caught fish throughout the day and managed bream, roach, perch, chub and rudd as well as tench and crucians. The highlight was this lovely, dark old crucian of around 2lb.
Look out for more online auctions throughout 2024.
You can support our work and promote our campaigns by buying our merchandise. All profits help to support our Anglers Against Pollution and Love Fishing Love Nature initiatives.
Anglers Against Pollution Supporter Pack – just £4.99
Our Supporter Pack includes an Enamel Supporters Badge, Waterproof Tackle Box Sticker and Car Sticker for just £4.99 with all profits directly going to support the Anglers Against Pollution campaign. These packs are being sold by tackle shops, including Angling Direct and Fishing Republic, at no profit to themselves and online through the Angling Trust website.
The Angling Trust Shop now includes T-Shirts, Hoodies, Polo Shirts, Caps and Sportswear in a range of colours for men, women, children and babies. Find out more at www.anglingtrust. net/shop/
and lots more!
Membership of the Angling Trust and Fish Legal supports our work to protect fishing and water environments and introduce our wonderful sport to the next generation of anglers. Membership also provides you with a range of discounts and benefits including:
l Money off day and season tickets
l Savings on fishing holidays
l Money off fishing tackle, baits and books
l Discounts with top high street brands
l Savings on products and services for clubs and fisheries
l Inclusive insurance for individuals, coaches, clubs, fisheries and federations
One of our offers is from Hunters Lodge Fishery (left) in the beautiful Lincolnshire Wolds, with three specimen carp lakes and a silver fish lake stocked with small carp, ide, rudd, bream, barbel, tench, roach and chub. You can find details of this and all the other discounts on the membership section of the Angling Trust website: www.anglingtrust.net/membership
Earlier this year, the Angling Trust launched its vision for fishing and the environment in its five-year strategic plan, Fishing for Good. Through the pillars of campaigning, participation, competitions and supporting grass roots clubs and fisheries, we aim to play a leading role in all things that will enrich and benefit fishing
Angling differs from most other sports. We don’t have one set of rules. We fish at widely differing venues. We can be an expert at sea fishing and a complete novice fishing on a river. But something every angler will already be aware of is the huge benefits our sport provides.
Our ability to take part in fishing often depends on access to healthy waters. As a result, anglers have a unique connection to the environment and have contributed immensely to the conservation of our lakes, rivers and coastal waters.
Yet despite this, angling and the environment face threats, as do the fish we love to catch. That’s why we launched our Fishing for Good strategy – to provide the angling community with a voice on the big issues that impact fishing and lay out a plan that will benefit angling.
Fishing For Good is designed to provide clarity of the role and priorities of the Angling Trust and how we are focused on delivering against the core pillars which define our pastime and will support growth, representation and visibility at all levels. By working together, we believe anglers, clubs, fisheries, coaches, volunteers, partners and investors can collaborate and deliver greater impact.
Ultimately this is a vision for all within angling, whether it is in saltwater or freshwater, game or coarse, for
competition or pleasure. We aim to embrace the incredible diversity of our sport and its participants across campaigns, advocacy, participation, competitions, advice and support.
This year’s Angler magazine devotes much of its pages to how we are working towards our strategic plan, including sections on:
l P romoting angling and the proven benefits to health and wellbeing.
l Fighting for fish, fishing and the environment, and combatting threats to our sport.
l Improving angling access and protecting our legal rights to fishing.
l Delivering the ‘gold standard’ in competitions and developing talent pathways.
l E nsuring good governance and supporting clubs.
Fishing For Good is just the start and can provide a foundation for more people to go fishing more often in healthy, vibrant environments. We aim to harness the drive, passion and commitment of the angling community which will increase participation, safeguard access, deliver international success and create an effective, united representative body accountable for the delivery of this vision.
Fishing for Good
Scan the QR code to read a full copy of “Fishing for Good”.
We will promote “Fishing for Good” to increase recognition for our sport and promote fishing as a fun activity with proven benefits for anglers and the environment.
We will fight for fish, fishing and the environment by campaigning to combat pollution, over-predation, abstraction and other threats to our sport.
We will promote the proven benefits of angling to the mental health and wellbeing of those who fish to the wider community as a whole.
We will improve angling access and create new, accessible opportunities for people to enjoy fishing within their communities.
We will protect the legal right to fish by combatting challenges to access, protecting anglers’ rights and challenge recreational and commercial overexploitation of fish and the environment.
We will support efforts to combat illegal fishing and fish theft or damaging fishing activities.
We will increase diversity, reach and promotion of angling across participation, habitat improvement, competitions and environmental volunteering.
We will deliver the “gold standard” in competitions and create opportunities for all from grassroots to elite participation.
We will deliver pathways to international success in national teams across all angling disciplines.
We will ensure good governance and safeguarding, and implement a sport-wide diversity, inclusion and equality strategy.
We will provide inspiration for all and establish role models and pathways to participation though coaches, volunteers and community leaders, both locally and nationally.
We will listen, learn and act, through advisory group structures, welcoming input and feedback from across all core pillars of activity.
The benefits of angling to physical health and mental wellbeing are well documented. It engages directly with local blue and green spaces so whether it’s out at sea, on the river, a canal or lake, we want everyone to have the opportunity to enjoy the benefits that angling offers. That’s why one of the key roles at the Angling Trust is to get more people fishing more often. James Roche, Angling Development Manager North & East, and James Peet, Angling Coach and a regular at our events in Yorkshire, explain what we do about getting more people fishing.
James Roche:
It’s important to remember that the Angling Trust is the National Governing Body for angling and a fundamental role is to promote, develop and grow the sport so more people are coming into the wonderful world of fishing.
Our Get Fishing campaign delivers a programme of events and activities to give people a chance to have a go at fishing, so we can strengthen angling as a sport and secure it for future generations.
The Get Fishing campaign is delivered by a variety of partners from national organisations and national charities all the way through to local angling clubs and fisheries. These events are held in a safe environment and a perfect place for families to get into fishing with all the equipment provided.
What we are trying to do is create lifelong anglers by giving them the skills they need
to go fishing on their own rather than someone that comes along to an event, fishes for 20 minutes and then doesn’t go fishing again. We’re looking to create an angling habit that will get more anglers on the bank more often.
James Peet:
There are three different awards that young anglers can receive as they get into the sport through our Get Fishing events – bronze, silver and gold.
The bronze award is the basics and all about getting people to put a maggot on a hook, catching their first fish and learning to unhook the fish safely.
For the silver award, we show them how to plumb up, how to use a disgorger correctly, talk to them about shots, when you might want to shallow up, and feed more or feed less.
Then the gold award is where you really get them up to speed and adequately trained to be able to fish on their own.
If people haven’t got that family member that goes fishing, then it’s very unlikely that they are going to be introduced to fishing. There are a lot of people that come to our events with their parents who have never been fishing before, but it gives them the confidence to have a go knowing that they’ve got a coach behind them to help them every step of the way.
At the Get Fishing team, we see on a daily basis the positive impacts that angling can have on people’s lives and their mental health and wellbeing. We’re constantly banging the drum with organisations like the National Academy for Social Prescribing and Sport England to make sure that angling is at the forefront of discussions when it comes to delivering activities that improve people’s lives.
The Get Fishing campaign is funded by a number of key organisations. Firstly, the Environment Agency through the National Angling Strategic Services contract which invests fishing licence income back into fishing.
Secondly, Sport England and as the National Governing Body we’re able to draw down funding to invest in their campaign to get more people fishing on a regular basis.
Thirdly, the Get Fishing campaign is sponsored by Angling Direct and Shakespeare who provide vital investment to make sure we’re able to create lots of resources to support events that angling clubs and fisheries are running. It also enables us to reach out to the non-angling community and talk to them about the fantastic events that are taking place all over the country.
And finally, the support we receive through Angling Trust membership is absolutely vital in us getting more new people into angling and we see over 30,000 people introduced to angling every year through a Get Fishing campaign. These are the next generation of anglers that are going to be visiting fisheries and joining angling clubs guaranteeing that the future of our sport is strong.
The Environment Agency funds the Angling Trust to provide more opportunities for people to go fishing and encourage sales of fishing rod licences. Money from fishing licence sales is spent on improving fisheries habitat and angling infrastructure. You need to buy a fishing licence before you go fishing.
Sport England recognise the Angling Trust as the national governing body in England. It funds the work we do to promote active lifestyles and to maintain a regular participation habit through the sport of angling and in partnership with other organisations to deliver the National Angling Strategy.
Angling Direct is the Exclusive Retail Partner of the Angling Trust’s ‘Get Fishing’ campaign to get more people fishing, more often. This partnership encourages more people to take up angling for the first time, to get back into the sport and brings the health and wellbeing benefits of fishing to a wider audience, across all age groups.
Shakespeare is the Exclusive Fishing Tackle Partner of the Angling Trust’s ‘Get Fishing’ campaign to get more people fishing, more often. There’s no fish like your first fish. Nobody knows that better than Shakespeare. For over 100 years, Shakespeare has been one of the most recognisable brands in fishing. As more and more newcomers discover the joy of fishing, Shakespeare will be there, providing the gear and inspiration to make sure that the next bite will never be the last.
Giving people the opportunity to try fishing is a key part of the Angling Trust’s work. Clive Copeland, Head of Participation, reports on the facts and figures behind another successful year from the Get Fishing team.
Investment through our contracts with the Environment Agency and Sport England, and generous sponsorship from our trade partners Angling Direct and Shakespeare, has provided the funding to enable us to continue our work to “get more people fishing more often”.
At the end of March 2023, we had successfully completed the first year of our long-term partnership with Sport England to help deliver their ‘Uniting the Movement’ vision to transform lives and communities through sport and physical activity.
The same month saw the final year of our National Angling Strategic Services 2 contract with the Environment Agency. The 2023-24 NASS delivery plan
was approved in April and is funded specifically as a one-year extension of the NASS 2 contract.
Together with the Angling Direct sponsorship, these contracts have enabled opportunities for people from all demographics to try fishing in coarse, game and sea disciplines through our overarching Get Fishing and We Fish as One campaigns.
Working with angling clubs, charities, community groups and fisheries, the Angling Trust supported 1,719 Get Fishing event days across the year. These community partners provide pathways for everyone to try fishing and a vital local infrastructure to allow participants to
continue their fishing journeys.
Of the 1,719 Get Fishing event days, 1,630 were in freshwater and 89 in saltwater with a total of 38,085 people taking part -35,985 at freshwater events and 2,100 at saltwater events. From the participant total, 7,617 people were female and 28,563 were under the age of 16.
We also secured a total of £225,000 from the Sport England Together fund in two tranches which was used to support 75 small organisations and community groups who work with the disabled or people from ethnically diverse and deprived communities. These groups are based in the following regions:
North East – 7
North West – 13
South West – 15
South East – 16
East – 16
West Midlands – 4
East Midlands – 4
In addition to this valuable investment, £200,000 from Environment Agency fishing licence income was reinvested through the Get Fishing Fund to provide bursaries to train angling coaches and fund projects that help get people fishing, ensuring the grassroots angling community can access the financial support they require to encourage new people into angling.
Over £10,000 from this fund was used to provide bursaries to support the training of 120 new angling coaches and a total of 113 community projects funded in the
following regions:
North East – 10
North West – 15
South West – 17
South East – 14
East – 16
West Midlands – 15
East Midlands – 18
Yorkshire – 8
Over the course of the 2022-23 academic year, over 17,000 primary school children took part in our Reel Education programme. In partnership with Shakespeare Tackle, this new, innovative primary school project is aimed at educating children on environmental issues around rivers and the sea, linked to the sport of angling. It connects directly with Key Stage 1, lower and upper Key Stage 2 and is in line with the national framework for learning.
The lesson content encompasses links with the local community facilities and is designed to engage children and their families with their local blue and green spaces. Reel Education is a free resource for schools where we provide all the materials and qualified staff to inform children about nature, the environment, litter, water conservation, pollution and is focused on fish and other wildlife as a dividend of a healthy environment.
In addition to the in-class work, young people get to experience angling related games delivered by qualified and licensed coaches who are also responsible for establishing links with local clubs and fisheries to provide opportunities for pupils to continue to enjoy fishing.
Reel Education uses resources written by teachers for teachers to provide angling-related lessons to primary school children in maths, art, and science. The Reel Education team engage pupils about the importance of our lakes, rivers and seas and introduce pupils to the health and wellbeing benefits of fishing. It is funded by our Exclusive Fishing Tackle Partner Shakespeare Fishing Tackle. In this article, Reel Education Initiators Chris Holden and Neil Wylie describe the success of the pilot project and their plans for this academic year.
The academic year 2022-23 was a full and exciting one for the Reel Education team. Following the success of the pilot project we ran over the final two terms of the previous year, it was agreed that Reel Education should be rolled out nationally. Buoyed by the enthusiasm from everyone involved in the pilot, we set about training as many coach deliverers as possible to help with the roll out.
The autumn school term began quietly with few bookings, but in December the schools started coming thick and fast across the country and the diary was filling up. With the help of the coach deliverers, we were taking multiple bookings each week from January onwards.
As spring pushed towards summer, we were having to put schools off to the next academic year as we didn’t have the capacity to visit all the schools who were interested, with many schools taking repeat bookings for the following school year. By the time schools broke up for their summer holidays, we felt a sense of pride when we announced that we had delivered the Reel Education programme to over 17,000 children across 62 schools and education events. Over one week in June, we delivered to over 2,500 children across the length of the country.
The year culminated with a Reel Education inter-school fishing match held at Partridge Lakes. Eleven schools accepted our invitation to take part in our first fishing match, with all in attendance catching. Most of them had not fished before, but had been inspired to give fishing a go following a Reel Education enrichment day at their schools. Teachers, pupils, and parents were invited to go along and be part of their school’s team and the fishing match was delivered with the help of our fantastic Level 2 coaches.
A key aim of Reel Education is that following a school visit, every pupil will have the opportunity to get out fishing locally and we provide links to local clubs and fisheries that are keen to engage with juniors and create anglers of the future.
We trained multiple coaches too in new areas of the country. However, we do still have some areas of the country that are lacking, so if you are interested in becoming a Reel Education coach deliverer, please email your interest to either Neil Wylie (South) or Chris Holden (North) on neil.wylie@ anglingtrust.net or chris.holden@ anglingtrust.net
An exciting new development in the project is our partnership working with Pro Stars Forest Sports Education in Gloucestershire and Get Hooked on Fishing at their Midlands base.
Pro Stars are a primary schools coaching company who will be trained as Reel Education coaches to deliver the programme to their network of schools. With support of a local tackle shop, pupils will be signposted to local Get Fishing events being run by charity Get Hooked on Fishing, who already run fantastic events throughout the country. All this partnership working creates even more opportunities for pupils to take up fishing. We were very appreciative of our Exclusive Fishing Tackle Partner Shakespeare throughout the last academic year for providing us with equipment which has lasted exceptionally well considering how many children have used the project. This year, in addition to angling-related lessons in maths, art and science, we are planning an additional in-class unit on the environment as we feel this is a key area that links with the Angling Trust’s environmental aims and teaches the children how they can all help their local environment.
Looking ahead to the rest of this academic year, we aim to deliver Reel Education in more schools and work with the participation team to promote their Get Fishing events to children across the UK. This will ensure that every pupil that receives the Reel Education Day will have access to a local angling event which will introduce them to angling and hopefully inspire more children to give fishing a go. Teachers, parents, and others associated with the school can now enquire about bookings directly through the Angling Trust’s Reel Education webpage.
This winter, Zerofit – The World’s Warmest Baselayer® - will keep you warmer than ever before with their award-winning collection of baselayers and accessories. Here’s six of the best for you to try!
Developed in Japan, the Heatrub Ultimate Baselayer has been independently tested at the Boken Institute in Osaka and proven to be five times warmer than a standard baselayer in temperatures as low as minus 10° Celsius, making it an essential piece of kit this cold season.
‘Heat Threads’ inside the garment are activated through movement, gently brushing against the skin to generate warmth instantly and unlike most baselayers, the Ultimate does not work on the basis of ‘compression for heat’ – so not only does it provide greater warmth, but anglers are also able to move, stretch and cast without restriction.
Zerofit’s pioneering baselayer technology also applies to their Heatrub Ultimate Leggings, which are made from the same material and work in the same way to keep your lower half as warm as the top, even in the depths of winter. Another incredible benefit of the Ultimate Leggings is that they retain heat, too. So as soon as you pull them on, the fibres on the inside of the product start to work and warm you up, but then there is no loss of heat for the duration of your session.
Available to purchase with or without a Fly, the Leggings are super soft and super stretchable, ensuring all anglers are accommodated for.
Zerofit’s pioneering baselayer technology also applies to their Heatrub Ultimate Socks, which feature the same material and fabric construction as the awardwinning Ultimate baselayer to keep anglers warm in temperatures as low as -10° Celsius. Like the Baselayer and Leggings, the Ultimate Socks utilise ‘Heat Threads’ inside to generate warmth instantly. They offer incredible comfort and the baselayer material has been independently tested and proven to be five times warmer than a standard model. And new for 2023/24, the ever-popular Ultimate Socks which have until now only been available in a calf-length version, can be purchased in a knee-length option too.
The Heatrub Move Baselayer has been independently tested and proven to be twice as warm as a standard model, making it perfect in temperatures of -5° Celsius thru 12° Celsius.The Move offers ‘Adaptable Warmth’, reacting to changing temperatures. It provides warmth at the start of your day or night’s fishing, but over time the polypropylene construction and hollow polyester shell work together to regulate body temperature, so you don’t overheat. The construction evaporates perspiration quickly, so the unpleasant, negative experience of ‘cold sweat’ on the body never materialises.
A firm favourite amongst the Zerofit angling community, the Heatrub Performance Move Hoodie is one of the most versatile products in the entire Zerofit family. It’s perfect for getting to and from your peg or favourite fishing spot, and absolutely ideal as an additional layer while in action.
Brand new for 2023/24, the Heatrub Move Leggings have been introduced to the Zerofit collection after calls from anglers to apply the same Adaptable Warmth technology that features in the Move baselayer to a set of leggings.
The Performance Move Hoodie features the same polypropylene construction and hollow polyester shell as the Move Baselayer, working together to regulate body temperature.
Polypropylene fibres retain more heat for a longer period of time, and the innovative insulating properties combined with its hydrophobic nature keeps the wearer dry and warm.
It also offers a slightly looser fit than the Move baselayer, making it supercomfortable to wear around the house too.
While the Ultimate Leggings are the complete go-to product for the coldest of days out on the bank, the new Move Leggings offer the same winning combination that the Move baselayer does making them ideal for the slightly milder conditions of early autumn and early spring.
Buy any Zerofit baselayer or leggings and get a FREE thermal hat worth £20!
Simply enter code:
when you checkout.
Wales is a haven for anglers seeking exciting adventures. From the rugged coastlines of the North to the tranquil rivers of the South, Wales offers a world of wonderful fishing experiences that go beyond the mere pursuit of fish. It’s no wonder Wales is often referred to as “God’s country”.
In this article, Ceri Thomas, Marketing Manager for Fishing In Wales, embarks on a fishing journey through Wales, exploring its breathtaking angling spots and uncovering the proven benefits of this ancient pastime.
Our fishing journey begins in the North where Wales showcases some of its most dramatic landscapes and diverse fishing opportunities.
Yr Eryri National Park: Where rivers and mountains converge Snowdonia, with its towering mountains and pristine lakes, is a true paradise for anglers. Its crystal-clear rivers, including the Afon Glaslyn, Afon Seiont and Afon Mawddach, are still strongholds of sewin, the sea trout. The many lakes, llynnoedd,
teem with wild brown trout and in some, rare arctic char. With hundreds to choose from, it is hard to narrow down a favourite as each one is truly unique, but the lakes of Llyn y Dywarchen, Bochlwyd and Nantlle are exceptionally scenic and should be on your bucket list.
Casting your line amid the breathtaking scenery of Yr Eryri is an experience that transcends the act of fishing itself. The soothing sound of rushing water and the challenge of landing a wild trout in these wilderness venues will provide an unparalleled sense of serenity and achievement.
Menai Strait:
For those who prefer sea angling, the Menai Strait offers a unique opportunity to catch a variety of species, including tope, bass, mackerel, and bull huss. The strong tidal currents in this narrow channel provide an exciting challenge for anglers while enjoying the stunning views of Anglesey and the historic town of Caernarfon, whether on the shore or in a charter boat. Fishing in the Menai Strait is also about immersing yourself in Welsh maritime heritage and natural beauty.
As we travel south on the main road, the A470, the mountains soften a touch and lose their towering, craggy aspect. We are now in the Cambrian Mountains, sometimes called the ‘’Green Desert of Wales’’. Mid Wales boasts its own unique charm and angling opportunities.
The Elan Valley Reservoirs: A fly fisher’s paradise
The Elan Valley Reservoirs, comprising several interconnected lakes, are a wellkept secret among fly anglers. These tranquil waters are full of free rising brown trout, making it a perfect spot for fly fishing enthusiasts. The backdrop of the Elan Valley’s rolling landscape and the impressive Victorian dams that regulate the flow of water create a serene and meditative atmosphere for anglers seeking solitude and a chance to test their skills.
The Severn and Wye rivers: Mid Wales meets tradition
Mid Wales is also home to the upper River Severn and the River Wye, plus its famed tributary the Irfon, where they wind through picturesque valleys and woodlands. Here, you can find a variety of fish species, including salmon, trout, grayling, barbel and chub. Anglers who appreciate tradition will find solace in these rivers, whether trotting a float on a crisp winter morning, or enjoying a summer sunset while watching the rod tip for a bite.
As our fishing journey takes us to the South of Wales and through the Bannau Brycheiniog (Brecon Beacons National Park) we discover a different kind of angling experience. Here, the rivers flow through lush valleys dominated by rolling hills, with the landscape dotted with picturesque villages and historical sites.
River Usk:
The River Usk, often regarded as one of the finest trout rivers in Britain, is a serene and captivating destination for anglers. Its clear waters are home to distinctive wild brown trout making it a favourite among fly-fishing enthusiasts. Casting your fly on the River Usk is like stepping into another world, where the gentle sounds of the river and the art of angling harmonise.
Our fishing journey through South Wales leads us to the captivating River Taff, a waterway with a rich history and a bounty of angling opportunities. Flowing through the heart of Cardiff and the surrounding valley, it is a haven for anglers seeking both urban convenience and natural beauty. The river is famous for its diverse fish populations, including brown trout, grayling, chub, and specimen barbel. Whether you’re a novice or an experienced angler, the Taff offers a welcoming environment to cast your line and test your skills.
As our fishing journey through Wales comes to an end, it’s clear that angling in this magnificent country is more than a pastime – it’s a profound experience. The proven benefits of angling extend far beyond the mere act of catching fish. It’s about connecting with nature, immersing yourself in rich history and culture, and finding peace in the rhythmic flow of water. Angling in God’s country is always a journey of discovery and a chance to fully recharge from the stresses of modern life.
Pollution presents a massive threat to our aquatic environment in both freshwater and saltwater. The work that the Angling Trust and Fish Legal have led since 1948 to protect fish, fishing and the environment and make polluters pay is perhaps more crucial now than ever before. Whether it is agricultural pollution, industrial pollution, or the massive levels of pollution from sewage, anglers need a voice to fight for the environment that we depend upon.
Stuart Singleton-White, the Angling Trust’s Head of Campaigns, Penny Gane, Head of Practice at Fish Legal, Hannah Rudd, Angling Trust Policy & Advocacy Manager, Feargal Sharkey, an Angling Trust Ambassador, and Mark Barrow, Underwater Film Maker, discuss what we do about pollution.
Feargal Sharkey:
The reality is there is not a single river in England that is not polluted. There are two main drivers for that, one being agriculture, the other the water industry. For me, it’s a combination of lack of political oversight for the last 30 years and a complete and utter failure
of regulation. Water companies have now abstracted in terms of interest and dividends almost £74 billion in value out of those companies. That is water billpayers’ money and we’ve ended up with rivers full of sewage. That doesn’t seem to me like a very fair trade. It’s a plague on the whole of the environment and every river in the country. Everyone involved in that process should be ashamed and held accountable.
Mark Barrow:
When I first started filming in rivers in the very late 80s, it wasn’t uncommon for me to get into the river and film shoals of grayling 300 to 400 strong and I would literally be surrounded by masses of them. Move forward to today and I am now filming grayling in pockets of 30 to 40.
The richness and diversity that we have in our freshwater environment is absolutely superb and a lot of people are so unaware of these amazing areas. Through my filming, if I can educate people about how important this environment is then I feel as if I’m doing my part in supporting the welfare of the rivers. Every time I get into a river it’s completely different and when you allow a river to take you on her journey you actually become part of something unique and magical. It is truly amazing. When you are stood on the riverbank and you’re looking at the water it just looks perfect. You then go into this alien world, and it is completely flipped on its head. Every time I get in a river, I come across pollution. Instead of moving forwards we are going backwards at an extremely fast rate. Seeing the rivers decline is disgraceful. It shouldn’t be like that. Areas where I used to film clean gravels have been smothered in algae this year and devoid of fish. We need to change because rivers aren’t just flowing water, they are living arteries. This decline can’t carry on and there are times I feel absolutely distraught because it shouldn’t be like this.
The most wonderful aspect about rivers is that if they are nurtured and cared for, they will recover. By joining the Angling Trust and supporting the Anglers Against Pollution campaign we can all come together to fight this important cause.
Fish Legal has existed in one form or another since 1948 and essentially what we do is take legal action on behalf of our angler members when their waters are polluted, or they face some other threat or environmental damage. We also take legal action against the government and its agencies when they fail to protect fisheries. We’re a small team of lawyers and experts in our field. We don’t take on cases for show and we often operate under the radar, but we’re always putting the interests of anglers first.
Legal action is expensive, and we are up against some very powerful well-resourced industries and opponents. Anglers coming together is the only way that we can fund the legal action that’s needed to make polluters pay.
When we go fishing and sit by rivers or still waters, it often looks pristine and glorious. But it’s often hiding a secret and that secret is pollution. Pollution is slowly deteriorating and damaging our rivers and still waters, changing the chemical makeup of our water, affecting the plant life, affecting the invertebrates and impacting on our fish. Pollution is a big issue and one that we’re campaigning hard on.
The Angling Trust are really doing two things. The first is we’re highlighting this issue to government, regulators, water companies, and to the farming lobby. We’re raising the issue of the impact they’re all having on our rivers. We are trying to change policy, and we are trying to make sure there’s the necessary funding and investment going in to protect our rivers.
The second is much more practical. At the moment the regulators, and particularly
the Environment Agency, have stopped monitoring the quality of our water so it’s not identifying the impact that pollution is having. We, and others, are stepping in through our Water Quality Monitoring Network, which many anglers and clubs are now supporting. Volunteers from angling clubs monitor the quality of our water on a regular basis and use that information to lobby for change and action.
The water quality monitoring kits test a range of different measures including phosphates and nitrates. Every angling club involved contributes towards the cost of a kit with the Angling Trust subsidising the rest of the costs. The more people who join the Angling Trust, the more angling club volunteers we can supply with testing kits and continue to increase that network across the country. Anglers joining the Angling Trust and Fish Legal make a direct contribution to us improving our water quality monitoring network and ultimately tackling pollution.
All rivers lead to the sea. The Angling Trust’s Anglers Against Pollution campaign continues to highlight the damage pollution is causing and raise the profile of anglers as guardians of our lakes, rivers and seas. We would like to thank all the sea anglers along the English coastline who have supported this project and spotlighted the pollution happening in their area. During the next 12 months we hope to launch an extension to our highly successful Water Quality Monitoring Network to enable sea anglers to join this popular, and desperately needed, citizen science initiative. Chemical pollution also threatens life in our seas and the Angling Trust are pushing the government to get a grip on this toxic cocktail of chemicals.
In addition to the impact of sewage pollution, plastics continue to cause severe harm to our marine environment. From cigarette butts and plastic bottles to microplastics and nanoplastics, our favourite fish are under attack from these manmade menaces. We are proud to support the Anglers National Line Recycling Scheme to provide more pipe bins for anglers along the English coastline to recycle their used fishing line and spools. The Angling Trust’s Anglers Against Litter campaign continues to go from strength to strength, and we strongly encourage all sea anglers and clubs to register their interest to receive free litter picking equipment and support Take 5 to protect our treasured seas.
The Water Quality Monitoring Network (WQMN) launched in May 2022 with the aims to engage anglers in better understanding the state of their waters, and to empower angling clubs to address the pollution blighting their waters. It also provides the Angling Trust with evidence to support its campaigning work, holding the government, regulators, and polluters to account. Kris Kent, Angling Trust Campaigns & Advocacy Manager who leads on WQMN, reports on a successful first 15 months.
Only in my wildest imagination did I envisage that what started out as a pilot project testing water samples on the River Severn and its tributaries would become the national network it is today, involving 560 volunteers from 227 clubs covering 172 rivers throughout England and Wales.
It was clear days after WQMN rolled out to the rest of the country last July
following the successful pilot project in the Midlands, angling clubs were concerned about the pollution impacting their waters. That concern was demonstrated by the enthusiasm with which they wanted to sign up to the project, and our targets for recruitment were smashed months ahead of forecast.
Volunteers test for and record a range of measures of concern to anglers and the fish
they seek. These measures include those nutrients – nitrate and phosphate – that contribute to enrichment, eutrophication, and the formation of algal blooms which have a detrimental impact on invertebrates and fish.
The results bear testament to the pollution crisis facing our rivers. Of the 2,999 samples recorded by the end of September 2023
l 1,153 samples exceeded the upper limit for Phosphate, 39%.
l 1,275 samples were 5 ppm or over for Nitrate, 43%.
l 785 samples exceeded both Phosphate and Nitrate limits, 26%.
Whilst one aim of the WQMN is to build a long-term view of the water quality of our rivers, the end game is to see an improvement in that water quality and rivers return to their natural state. It has been fantastic to see angling clubs using their WQMN results to start to challenge the Environment Agency, water companies, farmers and other polluters, demanding improvements to their waters.
On the Nidd in North Yorkshire, on the back of 163 poor WQMN results, a group of angling clubs have formed a broader community group, the Nidd Action Group (NAG), and is sharing results with local citizens, the Environment Agency, and others.
They have organised a community collaborative project working with the Yorkshire Dales River Trust,
the University of Leeds, the Bilton Conservation Group, and the Environment Agency to undertake a ‘tip to toe’ survey of the river Nidd and some major tributaries. It means 45 locations are being tested for E. coli, nutrient chemistry, and heavy metal concentrations in accredited laboratories.
The angling clubs anticipate that the results of this and other activities to raise community awareness and involvement in the water quality of their local river will influence local regulators and Yorkshire Water to address pollution cause, contribute to an acceleration of involvement with the Nidd community and local investment, and inform the development of a Nidd Catchment Plan, led by the Dales to Vale River Network.
In Kent, WQMN volunteers from several angling clubs and led by the Royal Tunbridge Wells Angling Society (RTWAs) have recorded over 215 samples and are working alongside other ecological groups and local landowners to monitor and improve the Medway and its tributaries.
The angling clubs knew there were issues but were truly shocked and saddened at what they found. This included extremely high phosphate, nitrate, ammonia, and E. coli levels. After coordinated testing and a lot of detective work, they isolated the main sources of pollution on the upper catchment to three wastewater treatment works, situated within three miles of each other, and
several combined sewer overflows (CSOs) discharging untreated sewage. They have proved that these are associated with Southern Water wastewater treatment works releasing untreated sewage into the rivers in a very ad hoc fashion. They also have evidence of herbicide misuse affecting the whole catchment with the once lush
weed beds, present only a very few years ago, all but gone. The main culprit is farming, but it is very hard to prove.
Ian Tucker, WQMN Coordinator and winner of this year’s WQMN Volunteer of the Year Award, said:
“Joining the Angling Trust’s WQMN has given our small band of dedicated volunteers the confidence, understanding, equipment, training, focus and support needed to try, with some success, to make a real difference.”
Meanwhile, Derek Reader, RTWAS Secretary, added:
“We are now very close to identifying the cause and effect of poor water quality and, through our contact with the EA, the local MP, and landowners, hope to be able to report further real progress soon.”
These are just two examples of the great work anglers are undertaking across the country to address the pollution crisis.
The Water Quality Monitoring Network is a key part of our Anglers Against Pollution campaign. More information can be found by scanning the QR code:
With the Office of Environmental Protection investigating Defra, Ofwat and the Environment Agency, and the Environment Agency and Defra investigating water companies in England, it is difficult to keep up with who is investigating who when it comes to sewage pollution in rivers, lakes and coastal waters.
Fish Legal has taken a fair few legal cases with anglers involving sewage pollution over the years. We often see common themes in members’ cases and where we can we’ll take strategic litigation to cut-through what we see as widespread regulatory failings.
We have done that with members on the Costa Beck in North Yorkshire.
There are some rivers where sewage spills have been identified as a reason why a waterbody will fail to meet its 2027 Water Framework Directive target of achieving good status.
Where those links have been found, we think the Environment Agency should have been reviewing permits to see if they’re being complied with or the controls need improving. Fish Legal has taken the Environment Agency and the government to court over it with Pickering Fishery Association.
Judgement pending at the time of writing, so watch this space…
In the last year alone, Fish Legal has secured over half-a-million pounds in damages for members - money that can be used to restore the waters where they fish. It has taken the Government and Environment Agency to court over its failure to review and enforce permits that control pollution, has challenged planners who have failed to consider risks to nearby fisheries and has begun the first private criminal prosecution against a water company in 20 years for pollution offences. With more cases ongoing than there is space to report, here are just a few…
Categories: Landmark National Case, Planning Threat
Scottish Creel Fishermen’s Federation
Fish Legal challenged the decision by the Scottish Government to refuse to sanction an inshore fisheries pilot designed to assess the comparative economic and environmental performance of fishing with low impact static gear compared with trawled fishing gear.
There has been increasing concern that inshore trawlers which target Nephrops, a large prawn, have a very high level of bycatch of commercial fish species and that this has contributed to the collapse of inshore fish populations on the west coast of Scotland over the last 30 years.
The pilot, which was planned for the Inner Sound of Skye, was an opportunity to see whether a policy to restrict the use of mobile or trawled gear in favour of static creel fishing would lead to a recovery of the inshore fishery.
Category: Aquaculture Impacts
Fish Legal works closely with the west coast district salmon fishery boards and trusts to support and enforce better regulation and management of damaging interactions between aquaculture and wild salmon populations. Formal responsibility for farm salmon and wild salmon interactions is being assumed by SEPA and consultations on this are underway with a new regime likely to be in place next year. In the meantime, wild salmon and farmed salmon interactions are being regulated by Environmental Management Plans (EMPs) negotiated as part of the planning consent process for aquaculture. A number of EMPs are in place and Fish Legal is assisting west coast boards in trying to enforce those ag reements to deliver genuine adaptive management to protect wild fish.
3. Clyde ins hore fishery
Category: Aquaculture Impacts
Fish Legal is an active member of the Clyde 2020 group convened to bring improvements to the Firth of Clyde. Despite clear scientific advice showing that the damaging Nephrops trawl fishery is suppressing the recovery of white fish populations the Scottish Government is refusing to restrict this fishery. Fish Legal is petitioning the Scottish Parliament calling on the Scottish Government to put in place the necessary measures to allow fish populations to recover.
4. River Faughan silt pollution
Category: Siltation
River Faughan Anglers Ltd Fish Legal has formally “notified” the Northern Ireland Environment Agency (NIEA) on behalf of its member the River Faughan Anglers after almost two years of sediment pollution caused by works on the new A6 road in Northern Ireland with little control or regulation or enforcement. NIEA has responded by saying it is now investigating the pollutions for the purposes of prosecution.
5. Corby Weir
Category: Barrier to Fish Passage
Yorkshire Fly Fishers’ Club
Fish Legal is advising the Yorkshire Fly Fishers’ Club on legal options to solve the barrier to fish migration – in particular Atlantic salmon – caused by Corby Weir on the River Eden near Wetheral.
6. Red House Gill, River Wear
Category: Siltation
Chester-le-Street Angling Club
Fish Legal acts for Chester-le-Street Angling Club in relation to sediment pollution on the River Wear. All rain falling on the car parks and roofs of an industrial and retail park on the outskirts of Durham is funnelled into the Red House Gill, a small tributary of the River Wear at Durham. This surface run-off scours the soft sides of the bank of the gill and transports huge amounts of silt and gravel as it descends to the main River Wear. The result is the deposition of a cobbled bar reaching halfway across the river channel and silty waters extending up to a mile downstream of the
confluence. Angling becomes impossible following rainfall, and the sediment deposits threaten to clog spawning gravels on the main river.
Pickering Fishery Association
Fish Legal is continuing to represent the Pickering Fishery Association in connection with long-term pollution from a combination of Yorkshire Water’s sewage works and watercress/fish farming operations on the spring-fed Costa Beck in North Yorkshire, which has left the once thriving grayling and wild trout fishery devoid of fish. The watercourse is “failing” under its Water Framework Directive (WFD) designation.
After many years of inaction by the Environment Agency, in July the club brought a judicial review in the High Court against the Agency and Defra in relation to their failure to upgrade selfevidently inadequate pollution control permits along the river as part of the penultimate River Basin Management Plan (WFD) update. The judgment is awaited.
Category: Chemical Pollution
Lymm Angling Club
Fish Legal is investigating pollution with ammonia and heavy metals from Cheshire West and Chester Council’s landfill site on behalf of Lymm Angling Club which holds fishing rights on Whitley Pool.
Category: Agricultural pollution
Boston and District Angling Association
Fish Legal is representing the Boston and District Angling Association following the devastating pollution of around 50km of rivers “from Bardney to the Wash” by Omex Agriculture Ltd in March 2018. The pollution killed over 100,00 0 fish including those within the club’s stretch on the River Witham.
On first attending, the Environment Agency (EA) concluded a fish rescue was futile as all fish life was already dead. The EA referred to this as “the largest river pollution incident ever recorded in Lincolnshire”.
10. Turf Pool sewage pollution
Category: Sewage Pollution
Blackfords Progressive Angling Society
Fish Legal are advising the Blackfords Progressive Angling Society following the pollution of their fishery after contractors working on waste ground ruptured a sewage main. Raw sewage ran down a surface drain alongside a road and into Turf Pool some 700 metres away causing a substantial fish kill.
11. Pollution of the Afon Llynfi
Category: Agricultural Pollution
Gwent Anglers Society
Fish Legal is advising the Gwent Angling Society in respect of a major pollution that hit the Afon Llynfi, a tributary of the River Wye, in mid-Wales in early August 2020. It is thought that at least five kilometres of river was affected, with tens of thousands of fish killed.
Natural Resources Wales (NRW) after some delay have confirmed that they will not be prosecuting for lack of evidence.
Fish Legal lodged complaints about both NRW (regarding severe deficiencies in the investigation of the incident) the Planning Authority (for failing to follow up planning enforcement effectively) and have assisted the club in highlighting the pollution risks associated with anaerobic digesters to the Welsh Government.
12. Algal blooms on the Wye
Category: Agricultural Pollution
Ross-on-Wye Angling Club
Fish Legal has put Natural Resources Wales (NRW), the environmental regulator in Wales, on notice that phosphate inputs into the River Wye linked to waste from free-range poultry farming have caused environmental damage. So far, NRW has done little to change its infrequent monitoring of the river and its tributaries or to start investigating the pollution. Fish Legal is undertaking further research that the regulator has refused to do itself.
13. Sewage pollution of River Tawe
Category: Sewage Pollution
Mond Angling Society
Fish Legal is advising the Mond Angling Society whose members fish downstream of a poorly sited outfall at Trebanos Sewage Treatment Works. The water company’s facility appears to be unable to properly treat sewage in wet weather and also discharges in dry weather on occasion.
Despite being aware of the problem, Natural Resources Wales made only minor variations to the discharge permit in 2018 which allows ‘storm’ sewage to continue polluting one of the few fisheries in South Wales that offers the opportunity for disabled anglers to fish for salmon and serves as a prime example of a sewage works where historic under-investment leaves it struggling to cope.
14. Sea trout netting
Category: Barrier to Fish Passage
Bass Anglers Sportfishing Society
Fish Legal is representing the Bass Anglers Sportfishing Society in a case against the Sussex Inshore Fisheries Conservation Association (IFCA) concerning a byelaw for fixed nets. The IFCA put out a new byelaw for consultation which included exclusion zones and depth criteria to protect migrating sea trout, but then its committee resolved to approve a materially different byelaw which gives less protection. It is considered to be unenforceable and was not subject to proper consultation.
Fish Legal has written to the Secretary of State and the Marine Management Organisation arguing that the byelaw should not be approved as it would do a worse job for fixed nets than the current law.
15. Road building damage
Category: Abstraction/Water Levels
Temple Trout Fishery
Fish Legal is advising the owner of a spring-fed trout fishery in North Cornwall which has suffered silt pollution and an interruption to its water supply as a result of construction works by the council for the A30. We have fought for improvement works to the supply channel and the drainage of the fishery and these works commenced in September 2023. The council are also meeting the costs of desilting a pool, expected to take place in Spring 2024.
16. Innis trout fishery
Categories: Abstraction/Water Levels, Siltation
Innis Fishery
The Innis trout fishery near St Austell in Cornwall lies downstream of a large area of former china clay workings. Some of this previously mined land is now being developed into a ‘sustainable new town’ by developer EcoBos. The site groundworks, begun in 2020, both blocked the springs that used to provide vital flows to the fishery, and led to a June 2020 pollution event when sediment-laden water escaped from the works through a road embankment into the stream feeding the fishery, threatening the trout reared on site.
In September, the government announced that it wanted to remove key legal protections for rivers, lakes and wetlands that have ‘Special Area of Conservation’ status in England as part of its mission to ‘level-up’ the country.
Currently, planners need to satisfy themselves beyond reasonable scientific doubt that certain new developments – such as housing –will not increase nutrients levels in internationally protected sites.
In a controversial move, the government put forward a surprise amendment to legislation that would allow planning authorities to effectively turn a blind eye to any additional pollution from new developments on the assumption that sewage treatment works will be upgraded to the highest technically achievable limits by 2030 in affected areas.
So, what has this got to do with fish?
Eight of the rivers affected by the move have special legal protection because they are habitat for Atlantic salmon. Those rivers include the rivers Wye, Dee, Camel, Itchen, Eden, Ehen, Tweed and the Hampshire Avon.
Salmon need good water quality so adding more pollution to a river that’s already failing targets is
difficult to justify. Some of these rivers are cross-border, raising questions about how it would work in practice if the Welsh and Scottish governments didn’t adopt the same approach.
Some chalkstreams would also be affected, including the River Lambourn and the Wensum, plus parts of the Norfolk Broads, the River Axe, Mease and the Derbyshire Derwent.
Many protected sites are already failing on water quality and getting worse. Levels of nutrients – especially nitrogen and phosphorus – going into the water speed up the growth of some aquatic plants, which in turn can affect wildlife.
In 2015, the Angling Trust, Fish Legal and WWF UK took the government to court for failing to do more to tackle chronic agricultural pollution of protected rivers, lakes and wetlands. The government was accused of seeing regulation to stop water pollution as a last resort, in particular designating Water Protection Zones.
To settle the claim, the government promised in court to produce Diffuse Water Pollution Plans for a number of protected sites ‘as soon as reasonably practicable’. These plans, the government said, were a
necessary first step before deciding whether a Water Protection Zone was needed to end agricultural diffuse pollution and for those sites to reach favourable conservation status.
Government Ministers signed a Consent Order that committed Defra, the Environment Agency and Natural England to producing Diffuse Water Pollution Plans for 37 protected sites. It is nearly eight years since the government made that promise in court.
In 2021, the Angling Trust, Fish Legal and WWF UK took the government back to court because they had only managed to produce four plans out of the 37 plans it promised. Defra blamed the delay on Covid, lack of funds and the work the department had to do to leave the European Union. They said they were doing lots to stop pollution such as bringing in the Farming Rules in England but forgot to explain that they were not being enforced. Since the 2021 court case, only two more plans have been produced.
The Angling Trust and Fish Legal will be closely monitoring developments and keeping the pressure on the government to produce the Diffuse Water Protection Plans that they promised in court to publish. The clock is ticking…
35.
It’s been an exceptionally busy year for our seas. The Angling Trust is fighting for sea angling interests in the halls of Westminster through the development of fisheries management plans (FMPs). We are committed to a shared vision of world-class fisheries and ensuring that recreational sea anglers get the deal they deserve. Hannah Rudd, Policy & Advocacy Manager, reports:
When the UK left the EU, the government committed to delivering world-class fisheries. Actions speak louder than words and we want the government to start delivering on its promises to entire coastal communities, not just the commercial fishing industry. We have been lobbying the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (Defra), the Marine Management Organisation (MMO) and Inshore Fisheries & Conservation Authorities (IFCAs) to get more recognition for sea angling. FMPs are potentially game changing for sea angling, but there are many opportunities and challenges ahead. Sea angling needs a unified voice and we have made great strides forward, but the fight isn’t over yet.
Defra undervalue the importance of recreational species like plaice, flounder, dab and turbot in their draft plan. We’re disappointed at this huge oversight and are pushing Defra to recognise the importance of recreational species in the region. Overall, the plans do not go far enough to reverse the damage caused by commercial overfishing, particularly the high discards incurred in this fishery. Many flatfish species of high recreational value are of low commercial value and are frequently discarded. One example is dab, a main bycatch species in demersal fisheries in the North Sea, where the discard rate is around 89% and the survivability is unknown.
The Flatfish FMP – led by Defra – applies to lemon sole, witch, turbot, brill, dab, flounder, Atlantic halibut, plaice, and sole in English waters within International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES) areas 4b, 4c and 7d.
Since its founding more than a decade ago, the Angling Trust has campaigned for better management of the bass fishery and a fairer deal for bass anglers. Together, we have urged the government to protect juvenile and spawning bass, to phase out destructive commercial fishing methods like inshore netting, and to set catch limits within scientific advice – even accepting proportionate limits for recreational anglers in the pursuit of a recovered and sustainably managed bass stock.
dissatisfied with the pace and strength of the proposed changes. We believe that these actions do not go far enough to achieve a world-class bass fishery for all stakeholders or to protect the future of the bass population.
The affected demersal species include red, tub and grey gurnards, cuttlefish, squid, octopus, john dory, red mullet and lesser spotted dogfish
Within the Channel Demersal NonQuota Species FMP, it states “the value of recreational fishing along the south coast could be better defined, but existing research has indicated that it is of high economic and social value to the south coast communities.” While the Angling Trust welcomes this recognition by government of the high socio-economic value and importance of recreational fishing in the English Channel, we believe more needs to be done to manage these species for recreational benefit.
Over the last 18 months the Angling Trust, together with Bass Anglers Sportfishing Society, have been lobbying Defra on behalf of sea anglers to ensure our shared priorities are included within the Bass FMP. This includes a fair deal for recreational sea anglers accessing fishing opportunities, recognition of the socio-economic importance of big bass for angling, protections for juvenile and spawning bass, phasing out inshore netting, a crackdown on discards and illegal landings, and a deviation away from Maximum Sustainable Yield.
While the overall direction of travel appears positive for supporting recovery of the bass stock and phasing out environmentally damaging practices like inshore netting, the Angling Trust remain
The Channel Demersal Non-Quota Species FMP in the English Channel offers the perfect opportunity for the government to follow through with its commitments to the angling community now that recreational sea fishing is a recognised stakeholder. Ultimately, an ecosystembased management is needed across UK fisheries and a transition to fisheries being managed for the benefit of coastal communities with a recognition of the high socio-economic value that recreational sea angling delivers to these communities.
There will be more FMPs in 2024 and 2025: Southern North Sea Non-Quota Species, Skates & Rays, Wrasse and Black Bream. We anticipate the Bass FMP, Channel Demersal Non-Quota Speccies FMP and Flatfish FMP to be published in winter 2023/spring 2024. They will be delivered over the next six years and reviewed in 2029/2030.
Subscribe to the Angling Trust’s Sea Newsletter to keep updated with the latest developments and engagement opportunities. You can also join the Angling Trust’s Sea Facebook Group for updates as they happen.
The Angling Trust has successfully secured partnership funding through Defra’s Fisheries Industry Science Partnership (FISP). We want to promote the vast knowledge and experience sea anglers hold and how our community can be stewards of our marine environment. Gathering data and evidence on the socio-economic value of sea angling to coastal communities, and on species of recreational interest, is hugely important to the sustainability of our sport. Hannah Rudd, Policy & Advocacy Manager, reports on these exciting projects:
Recent stock assessments and observations by anglers have suggested a concerning decline in the pollack stocks and a reduction in large fish, urging local skippers and anglers to act by instigating collaboration with scientists to ensure its sustainable use and to better understand the population. Led by the University of Plymouth in collaboration with the Professional Boatman’s Association, the Angling Trust and the University of York, with support from Cefas, we aim to leverage the importance of recreational knowledge and safeguard the future of this important fish.
There are three main aims of the project: 1. In collaboration with the Professional Boatman’s Association a consortium of skippers totalling 10 boats will collect data on catch per unit effort (CPUE), length, frequency, size and age across the English Channel.
2. Researchers from the University of Plymouth will work with the same skippers to tag and track the movements and habitat use of pollack via acoustic telemetry around the south-west.
3. The knowledge of recreational anglers and skippers in fisheries management is often poorly recognised. Through this project anglers and skippers will be interviewed by scientists from the University of York to identify common concerns and collaborate on fisheries management recommendations.
Angling for Sustainability aims to bridge data gaps on recreationally valuable species by using acoustic telemetry – a type of fish tagging and tracking that uses acoustic “pings” to communicate with receivers and identify individual fish movements. This research is made possible by working in collaboration with local skippers and recreational anglers to catch the fish and
deploy tags.
In 2023 we held three successful workshops – Poole, Weymouth and Southsea – with great enthusiasm and questions from local angling and charter boat communities.
The project’s objectives are twofold:
Firstly, it will investigate the nesting site fidelity, habitat use, fisheries interactions, and wider migration patterns of black bream in Dorset.
Secondly, it will focus on studying the habitat use, migration patterns, and site fidelity of elasmobranch species like tope, starry smooth-hound, and undulate ray in the Solent area.
Anglers fishing around the Solent and Dorset are encouraged to look out for tagged fish and report them to fishtracking@plymouth.ac.uk. Head to our website to learn more about how to ID tagged fish and for project updates.
Catchwise project
Catchwise is a new survey of sea angling taking place across England and Wales in 2023 and 2024. The project has been co-developed with sea anglers and aims to significantly improve the recognition of the sport’s value to coastal communities and inform relevant fisheries management decisions accurately.
Scan the code to find out more about the Angling Trust’s
How did Catchwise come about? Following requests through the Angling Trust’s Marine Advisory Group to verify the data from the Sea Angling Diary Project, the Angling Trust signed a memorandum of understanding with Cefas (Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science) and Substance in 2021. We committed to identifying funding to carry out an on-the-ground survey of sea anglers, charter boats and skippers rather than relying on an existing computer modelling approach.
It will be the biggest single study of sea angling undertaken for over a decade and will involve face-to-face surveys with thousands of shore and private boat sea anglers around the English and Welsh coasts, as well as an online survey of charter boats.
Catchwise is a data collection project that aims to gather as representative a picture of sea angling activity across England and Wales as possible. It is not a decisionmaking project nor is it an aim of the project to implement management or restrictions on sea angling.
The Angling Trust want to ensure sea angling voices and concerns are heard throughout the project, and we have pushed for a balanced advisory group to regularly review and feedback as the project develops.
Sea anglers can get in touch with the Catchwise Project Manager Galini Samlidou with any queries they may have –galini.samlidou@anglingtrust.net.
Led by the University of Plymouth, project partners include stakeholders across the recreational angling and fisheries management, including the Angling Trust, Bass Anglers Sportfishing Society, National Mullet Club, Association of Inshore Fisheries and Conservation Authorities, Southern Inshore Fisheries and Conservation Authority, and Institute of Fisheries Management.
The partnership will deploy underwater cameras in key habitats within three estuaries – Fal/Helford, Tamar and Fleet – to learn more about the preferred habitat of recreationally important species, like bass and grey mullet, during their juvenile life stages. By using new technology called the Juvenile Habitat Monitoring Camera (JHaM-Cam), we will be able to film the smallest juvenile life-stages of fish and measure their abundance and size in the wild. Understanding these early life stages and their habitat use are vital for the future of the fishery and ensuring healthy, sustainable stocks of these recreationally important species.
Angling is a sport and a pastime enjoyed by millions and yet all too often we hear about bans or threats to our right to go fishing. Whether it’s local councils, wildlife trusts or private landowners, all number of reasons are given why angling can’t take place. In recent years, this has included threats to restrict angling at Admiralty Pier in Dover, Sevenoaks in Kent, and Attenborough Nature Reserve in Nottinghamshire. At the Angling Trust and Fish Legal we fight to protect our right to fish, promote the benefits to physical health and mental wellbeing, and work with local clubs and fisheries to ensure that their right to fish is maintained.
Angling Trust’s Martin Salter and Stuart Singleton-White are joined by sea angler Alex Brown and Bromley & District Angling Society representatives to discuss what we do about fishing bans.
Martin Salter
Angling Trust Head of Policy:
It’s pretty self-evident that without access to waters there could be no fishing, which is why the Angling Trust puts particular
emphasis on supporting clubs that are facing restrictions on their fisheries, and potentially even angling bans. We know there’s a lot more pressure on the water and, particularly since Covid, more people have taken up paddle boarding and canoeing and there’s a lot more desire by the British public to be by the waterside, so guarding our fishing rights really is a priority for us.
Alex Brown
Sea Angler:
Fishing on the pier means a massive amount to me. I suppose if you’re a fly fisherman or salmon fisherman, you want to fish the Spey or the Tweed. For sea fishermen, coming to Dover’s Admiralty Pier was like a ‘wow’ moment. I was able to tell friends I’d fished on Admiralty Pier which they all thought was brilliant.
I spent a lot of years in the Army and had a really serious accident 10 years ago. The one thing that got me going again was sea fishing. I became very withdrawn but getting out fishing with friends at places like Admiralty Pier got me through a really difficult point in my life.
A lot of people coming to Dover would bring money into the town but after fishing here for so many years, when they took the fishing away from Admiralty Pier it was such a shock. We never thought it could happen, but thankfully now we’re back.
Stuart Singleton-White, Head of Campaigns:
Admiralty Pier closed during the pandemic and when restrictions were relaxed, many sea anglers were looking forward to the pier reopening. The Dover Harbour Board got in contact with the local club, the Dover Sea Angling Association, to tell them that angling on the pier was coming to an end after over 100 years.
The club got in contact with us at the Angling Trust to ask for our help to get the pier reopened. We had a series of meetings between the club, the harbour board and ourselves to try and understand the problem and to try and find a solution. The harbour board said the problem was a security issue and that anglers posed a security threat. We were able to convince them that anglers had actually improved security because it was a well-managed venue with our own security on the pier and eventually the harbour board accepted the arguments that ourselves and the club had been making. Last year, Admiralty Pier reopened to sea angling and is once again that iconic venue that so many of us love.
With the riparian rights system in place in this country, clearly there is always the possibility that landowners in particular could be approached by other non-angling interests to get rid of angling in favour of other sports. Another threat to angling clubs and to fisheries is anti-angling sentiment and sadly we’ve seen that in some of the wildlife trusts of late where groups of anti-angling militants have come together and put pressure on wildlife trusts to get rid of angling on their nature reserves. We’ve seen that specifically in Sevenoaks in Kent and
more recently in the Attenborough gravel pits in Nottinghamshire.
I’m delighted to say that the Angling Trust fought vigorous campaigns for both of those and restrictions were overturned, and those clubs can look forward to a good future continuing to catch fish on waters that they’ve cared for, for many years.
Bromley & District Angling Society had been fishing at Sevenoaks in Kent since 1948, but in 2022 they were given two months’ notice to cease fishing by Kent Wildlife Trust.
Mike Harris
Bromley & District
Angling Society Chairman:
It came out of nowhere. We were not expecting it and the result was that we
in a position where we had upwards of 900 members wanting to go fishing and suddenly there was no lake.
Darran Goulder
Specimen angler and Fortis Managing Director:
When we found out that the Angling Trust were getting involved, we hoped that with their backing and the people and connections they had, there was a chance that we may not lose the fishing.
Mike Harris:
Dennis Puttock
Bromley & District
Angling Society Secretary:
The Angling Trust were particularly proactive in involving MPs, a member of the House of Lords and the local newspapers and TV stations. The publicity campaign that we stirred up persuaded the Kent Wildlife Trust to talk to the Angling Trust and ourselves and we were able to sit down and come to a resolution that was satisfactory to both sides and fishing was able to continue.
I can’t express how important the Angling Trust have been to us. Their advice and support have been unbelievably invaluable, and I would recommend any club in the position we were in, to go to the Angling Trust to seek support. Don’t assume that you’re on your own because you’re not and the Angling Trust have got a wealth of information and very experienced people.
If your club or fishery is having access problems, I would suggest they contact Fish Legal and the Angling Trust quickly because they have a depth of experience and lots of contacts that they can marshal to fight your case and give you every assistance.
Martin Salter:
I think every successful campaign we mount that overturns an angling ban or restrictions on angling puts a marker down for the future. It’s a disincentive for others to want to try and take on the angling community. We have a very vigorous, very effective campaigning arm, and we have great support amongst pro-angling MPs in parliament. We have links with government ministers, and national and regional media, and we can bring all that to bear. And so, if push comes to shove, we can give the kind of professional support that angling clubs and fisheries need to ensure that they’ve got access to fishing and access to their fisheries long into the future.
If your club or fishery is not a member of the Angling Trust, scan the code to find out more about the great benefits we can offer.
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The government announced earlier this year that two of their proposed Highly Protected Marine Areas have been dropped but three others will go ahead. Hannah Rudd, Policy & Advocacy Manager, reports on what it will mean for sea anglers.
Following nearly two years of representations led by the Angling Trust with the support of local angling stakeholders, the government announced that two of their proposed Highly Protected Marine Areas (HPMAs) where recreational sea angling would have been banned have been dropped – Lindisfarne and Inner Silver Pit South.
The sites that survived consultation include A llonby Bay, Dolphin Head and North Farnes Deep which were designated in July this year.
HPMAs will effectively be ‘no-take’ zones for fishing activity – both recreational and commercial and including bait digging within inshore sites. The selected pilot sites cover a mixture of marine habitats and include important breeding and nursery grounds for recreationally and commercially important species.
While the two offshore sites – Dolphin Head and North Farnes Deep – are unlikely to be used by recreational anglers frequently, the Angling Trust has particular concerns regarding the designated inshore site Allonby Bay.
Boundary revisions to accommodate recreational sea angling are welcome but they do not go far enough to support angling, which is an important economic driver for local coastal communities and integral to anglers’ mental and physical wellbeing. The Angling Trust does not believe the government have sufficient evidence to ban recreational angling within these sites and we will continue to fight.
There will be more HPMAs proposed and designated around the country in the future and the Angling Trust wants to set the precedent that recreational sea angling is part of the solution, not the problem.
Funding has helped to provide bins for recycling
Since being formally recognised as a stakeholder in UK fisheries management under the Fisheries Act (2020) our community has come a long way and we now have a say in the creation of worldclass fisheries.
The Angling Trust continue to lobby the government to manage fisheries for the benefit of entire coastal communities and to recognise the high social and economic value of recreational fishing across the country.
Recreational sea fishing
now also has access to government funding opportunities. The Angling Trust has received funding through the Fisheries and Seafood Scheme to support our delivery of Anglers Against Litter in the marine environment alongside four Fisheries Science Partnership Scheme projects that promote the crucial role recreational sea anglers play in learning more about recreationally important, but poorly scientifically understood, species like pollack, undulate ray and mullet. Funding was also committed to support recreational sea fishing infrastructure development to improve accessibility and sustainability of sea angling club facilities.
But while we have come far in a short time, there is still a long way to go and there is no more important time for one united voice for recreational sea anglers.
Scan the code to read more about our sea angling activity.
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Head of Competitions Steve Fitzpatrick reports on a busy year for match angling and how new initiatives have boosted National numbers and supported success at international level.
It’s been an incredibly busy 12 months for competition anglers with more opportunities than ever to be part of a national event. Over half of our Nationals saw a rise in attendances in 2023 with the biggest growth seen in our events for young anglers. We’re especially proud of this as it has formed a large part of the Competitions team’s focus since last year.
The grassroots club coaches, managers, and, of course, parents can’t be thanked enough for helping to introduce, teach, and inspire new anglers and it is these groups which we’ve been engaging with over the past 18 months to ensure our National competitions are moving with the times.
Following some incisive feedback, we re-introduced the Cadet National in 2023 to run alongside the popular Junior and Youth events. Instead of simply splitting the numbers up into three events, it allowed more anglers to take part in safeguarded competitions where enjoyment and learning was top of the agenda.
In fact, the competitions grew so much we turned the traditional one-day match into a whole weekend affair. In 2024 we’ll continue that trend with the Cadet and Junior Nationals on Saturday and the Youth National fished the following day.
Talent Pathway delivers more gold! Investment into our young anglers is already bringing its rewards in terms of success on the bank. This year’s Guru Team England Talent Pathway was oversubscribed once again. With the offer of coaching from England internationals Matt Godfrey, James Dent, and Frankie Gianoncelli at Makins Fishery and Barston Lakes, it wasn’t surprising!
Products of previous pathways themselves, the trio gave up hundreds of hours of their time during the Spring to inspire and educate anglers from 10 to 15 years of age across four assessment days.
They then had the unenviable task of trying to select just six youngsters from over 60 applicants to represent their country at the World Youth Championships in Portugal in August.
The World Champs proved a huge learning curve for our U15 side this time, but it wasn’t without success for England and alumni from previous coaching courses achieved the highest accolade possible by winning the U20 World Championship and claimed individual gold and silver medals – you can’t get any better than that!
England U15, U20 and U25 teams in Portugal, and (opposite)
Young Angler Exemption scheme launched
One of the difficulties our sport faces is bridging the gap from junior fishing to competing in national competitions, but in late 2022 we started a scheme which is going some way to address that issue.
A new Young Angler Exemption scheme is now being run by the Angling Trust Competitions team which allows under 16s to apply to fish in our traditionally adult-only events in order to aid their development.
This means that competitions such as RiverFest, Division 1 and 2 Nationals, Float and Feeder Nationals, Ladies, Disabled, and Individual Nationals, and the Winter League are now accessible to young anglers.
Each application must be supported by a Level 2 coach and have a direct benefit to the development of the angler. Of course, they can only be granted once safeguarding is in place too.
And we’ve already seen the benefits of the scheme in action with young anglers taking part in the Winter League, a team of talented teenagers joining together to fish in the Ladies National, plus under 16s competing in the Division 1 and 2 Nationals, and Zerofit Silverfish qualifiers for the first time.
The scheme also supported our youngestever Fish O Mania finalist – 15-year-old Oliver Robinson – who won through to the big showdown at Westwood Lakes in July.
Keep up to date
Having met so many of you at the events we’ve run in 2023, I get the feedback that we’re getting more things right for you now, and your positivity and support around our competitions has spurred us on to deliver more for you.
What we have been able to achieve this year has been an improved media delivery pre-, during, and post-event. As a former Editor-in-Chief of Angling Times I understand the importance of our media and despite our small team we’ve been able to create some amazing content we’re proud to share across multiple platforms.
If you haven’t seen our You Tube videos, read our news stories on the Competitions section of our website, or listened to our interview podcasts yet, you’re in for a treat!
The new Tackle Room series hosted by my colleague Alex Dawson has been well received with some amazing guests delivering insightful interviews, match secrets, and tactical knowledge. Each guest is asked to give a piece of advice to help the next generation of anglers become winners like them. You’d be surprised at some of the answers…
Unlike many other sports, our England teams do not receive financial support from government bodies and so every penny we need to compete in World Championships has to be raised before we are even able to commit to competing.
Thankfully, we have some amazing companies and individuals which help each year and on behalf of Team England we are eternally grateful to you all.
This year we received sponsorship, donations, and support from Drennan, Tackle Guru, SSB Group, Sensas, Outlaw Pro, Zerofit, Free Spirit Match, Lindholme Lakes, Tubertini, Kamasan, ASSO, Tronix Pro, Ringer Baits, Dragon Energy Drinks, and hundreds of kind-hearted anglers who step in to help – thank you all.
Steve Fitzpatrick looks back at a remarkable year for the Nationals and the UK’s flagship domestic events, starting with an incredible run of results for Barnsley.
Winter League Final – February 2023
Team Commercial National – April 2023
Division 1 National – August 2023 Float National – August 2023
Drennan Barnsley Blacks made the 2023 domestic competition scene their own with victories in four of the most prestigious team events of the year.
They began their medal-laden season by winning the Winter League Final at the end of February, although it was somewhat of a stuttering start having tied with Daiwa Gordon League on 54 section points and waiting on a section win countback to be named champions.
The match also saw a record-breaking winning weight from the drains as Cadence Superteam’s Jason Cunningham netted a huge 39k 700g of rudd from the Old Nene at March while Sensas Oakwood’s Antony Flint took out Decoy with 84k 900g of carp and F1s from Yew Lake.
Next up was the first National of the year – Team Commercial at Lindholme Lakes – which saw them run out winners in the 23-team match by a clear margin from Clowne Angling Supplies and Daiwa Tackle & Bates. The individual honours
fell to Team Browning angler Tom Scholey with 114k 450g on Loco lake where he fished caster shallow down the edge and short to plunder F1s.
The Gloucester Canal has proved a happy hunting ground for the Barnsley Blacks in recent years but two wins in a weekend double header of the Division 1 National and FIPS-ed qualifier Float National was beyond their wildest dreams.
The all-conquering outfit finished day one with a massive 137 section points from the 46-team Division 1 match, securing backto-back victories – only the fourth occasion in the event’s long history.
Individual winner Nigel Evans, fishing for Daiwa Gordon League, exploited a gap in the far-bank trees at Laynes Farm to plunder 30-plus bream on feeder and maggots, finishing with 49k 500g.
The following day all eyes were back on the canal for the international rules Float National where a place in the World Club Championships was at stake. Barnsley were victorious again thanks to an impressive 11 section points from their five-man team, courtesy of section wins for James Dent and Alan Scotthorne. These were backed by a second for Matt Godfrey, a third for Frankie Gianoncelli, and skipper Lee Kerry’s fourth place.
Division 2 National – September 2023
Sensas North West claimed the 2023
Division Two National title after a stunning display on the Shropshire Union and Trent & Mersey canals. Team Captain Mark Wilson led the line taking down A section from end peg 36 with 4.430kg.
However, he was quick to highlight it was the hard work of his team that earned the title with the side carding an impressive seven top 10’s in an 86-point total thanks to their positive approach for bonus fish.
Canal fishing and one of the hottest days of the year don’t tend to mix well, but the 109 anglers taking part in the Individual National still found the fish in feeding mood
Second on the day were Maver Midlands with 102 points with Tri-Cast Rochdale third with 111 points.
The individual honours went to Bridgnorth AS’s John Conway who made the most of his draw at Hack Green, where his pole-fished single caster found a shoal of skimmers and roach, including a redfin over 1lb, to finish with 13k 820g.
Performance of the day went to 14-yearold Lauren Stevens – fishing the National under the new Young Angler Exception scheme – who took 7k 450g from the Shady Oak section for fourth overall.
on the Shropshire Union around Nantwich.
Angling Trust’s Alex Clegg claimed gold with 18k 280g of skimmers, hybrids, roach, and perch, while Steve Dudley took silver with 8k 470g and Mick Topping bronze on 7k 300g.
Testament to the amazing work being done in grassroots clubs all over the
country, this Guru-sponsored event for anglers from 10 to 20 years old has grown so much in the past two years it has now become a two-day event split over three age groups.
In 2023, a new Cadet category was added for anglers of 10 to 12 years old to fish in a safe environment and aid their development along a pathway to older age groups.
At the inaugural Cadet National – hosted at Tunnel Barn Farm – there was a tie at the top with Team Rammy and Worksop DAA both finishing with 14 section points from their six anglers. A section win countback saw the Ramsbottom
AA club-based side run out champions. Third placed team Telford & District were also able to celebrate the individual champion as Charlie Meredith piled an impressive 30k 050g of F1s onto the scales.
Ramsbottom AA enjoyed a prolific weekend of success with their 13- to 15-year-old group finishing second in Saturday’s Junior National and their 16- to 20-year-olds winning the Youth National. Reigning Youth National champion Charlie Law completed an incredible double by winning the 2023 event with a massive 101kg catch.
Team-wise it was Sensas Future Networks who claimed the Junior National with Team Rammy second and Worksop DAA third, while in the Youth National, Team Rammy just pipped Moathouse Angling Blue with Browning Youth Maroon third.
Masters and Veterans Nationals –July 2023
Two of match fishing’s most consistent anglers scooped the top prizes in the 2023
Kayleigh rules at Rookery
Ladies National – July 2023
England ace Kayleigh Dowd won the 2023 Angling Trust Ladies National title at Rookery Waters in Cambridgeshire. This year saw 55 ladies compete over the complex’s Magpie, Jay, and Crow lakes and it was Magpie which produced the best weights on the day with Leeds angler Kayleigh piling over 123k 775g on the scales – one of the highest weights in the competition’s history.
Zerofit SilverFish 2022-2023 –March 2023
Angling Trust Masters and Veterans Nationals at Partridge Lakes. It was a pair of North West legends who took the honours with Chris Weeder Snr winning the Veterans National with an impressive 93k 300g and Steve Openshaw netting 60k 950g for the Masters title.
Last year’s champion Sarah Taylor came close to a dream double with her 112k 925g catch earning her the silver medal, followed by a trio of 108kg-plus weights from Chloe Raynor, Abbi Kendall, and new England cap May Potter. Team-wise it was the Aquaholics – Kayleigh Dowd, Sarah Taylor, Leanne Knott, and Brooke Hodgkiss – who ran away with the gold medals.
This year saw the youngestever team compete in a Ladies National as teenagers Lucia Archard, Lauren Stevens, Ella Preston, and Isabella Gibbins all took advantage of the Angling Trust’s Young Angler Exemption scheme to aid their development towards England teams. Bristol-based Lucia, coached by Dave Marshall from Ramsbottom AA, was awarded the best young angler trophy following a superb section win and seventh overall with her 81k 125g net of carp.
Anglers with Disabilities National – July 2023
While shallow fishing with maggots and casters was the go-to tactic for many of the 27 competitors in the Anglers with Disabilities National at Rookery Pools in Cambridgeshire, it was paste at depth which delivered victory for Perry Bloor. The Hilton, Derbyshire angler piled 90k 300g of carp onto the scales to claim his first National title ahead of England international Ethan Etherington on 67k 275g, and 2022 champion Steve Lovell with 53k 600g.
Match ace Andy Bennett claimed the Angling Trust Zerofit SilverFish 202223 title following a perfect display of pole fishing in the grand final at Lancashire’s Bradshaw Hall Fisheries.
Nicknamed ‘Bagger’, the Guru
and Blakes Baitsbacked angler lived up to his moniker with a remarkable 31lb 14oz haul of skimmers, roach, and ide to collect the £5,000 top prize. This was just over 4lb too good for England international Cameron Hughes in second place on 27lb 5oz.
Free Spirit Match Boddington
Classic – July 2023
Andrew ‘Snowy’ Ashington made a barnstorming comeback on day two of this two-day final to be crowned Free Spirit
Fish O Mania Final –
One of the wettest days of the year greeted the 26 qualifiers at the Fish O Mania Grand Final at Westwood Lakes in late July. But the weather couldn’t dampen the spirits of Chester angler
Match Boddington Classic champion, taking carp on the Method feeder at 60m to 90m range, amassing 58k 975g on the day and 106k 535g overall.
Running him all the way was overnight leader Stefan Pal with a total of 103.050kg, while Ryan Macdonald finished third.
Matty Dawes who sealed victory with a fine display of pole fishing on Falcon Lake and a £50,000 payday.
Second place, and £10,000, went to South West superstar Andy Power while German angler Marvin Roettger claimed third spot.
Feeder National –August 2023
Team Gloucester were crowned the 2023
Angling Trust Feeder National champions after a tough test on their local Gloucester Canal. There were 29 teams of five anglers taking part in this international-style, feeder-only competition where the winners earned an invite to the
Wainwright crowned RiverFest champion
RiverFest Final – September 2023
Kyle Wainwright was crowned the 2023 Angling Trust RiverFest champion following an action-packed two days of fishing on the River Trent around Burton Joyce.
The Normanton, West Yorkshire angler led one of the strongest final line ups ever with 84 anglers including World Champions, former winners, and river-fishing legends. Over the weekend there were catches of over 20lb of roach, dace nets into high double figures, some huge eels and perch and barbel weights
FIPS World Club Feeder Championships in Portugal early next year.
Braving the tail end of Storm Antoni, competitors faced torrential rain all day and found bites at a premium with single bream and skimmers earning mega points in a high-scoring affair. Team Gloucester were made up of Andrew Richings, Simon Elliss, Mike Blackmore, Brian Steer, and Geoff Knight.
Runners up Browning Hotrods will now wait to hear from FIPS as to whether they will receive an invite to the World event as England’s second representatives.
of 35lb and 52lb hitting the scales.
Kyle Wainwright must have skipped to his draw on day two after picking out the ‘barbel’ peg on Nelson’s and he worked his swim with feeder and casters for a 51lb 13oz finish. Added to just over 10lb of silvers from the Ferry Field on day one, it was enough to seal him the title, the famous trophy, and a £10,000 payday.
Runner up Charlie Gooch relied on a pole and silverfish attack on both days for a 46lb 13oz total which earned him £7,000, while Jason Jeenes claimed third to take home £5,000.
Rice finds the roach on the Thames
TideFest – September 2023
For the second year running, quality roach rather than bream provided the winning catches in the annual 40-peg contest fished on the tidal Thames at Kew, Chiswick, and Barnes.
The winner was Tony Rice with a float caught mixed bag from Barnes netting him £400. The Chiswick zone was won by last year’s champion Mark Brush with 12lb of roach including a magnificent specimen of 2lb 4oz.
As The Angler went to press, we were still due to fish the British Pike Championships (Fenland Drains) in November.
Our England teams returned home from international duty laden with medals from a diverse range of competitions. Steve Fitzpatrick reports on some of the highlights:
Young Lions roar in Portugal World Youth Championships –August 2023
England’s U20 squad dominated the World Youth Champs, claiming team gold by a huge margin. And to add to the medal celebrations Josh Duffy claimed the individual gold ahead of Billy Kirk with the silver after two intense days of fishing on the River Sorraia at Coruche.
The Angling Trust squad – backed by Sheffield law firm SSB Group –
were described as one of the strongest ever assembled in the age category and they lived up to their hype with a commanding performance over two days ahead of Hungary and France.
It was a tougher task for the two other England sides fishing on other sections of the river as our Sensas England U25 and Guru England U15 squads each suffered from poor draws in areas where fish were scant. Both teams managed to finish with respectable scores to earn them sixth places overall.
Masters, Veterans & Disabled World Championships –May 2023
ENGLAND’S trio of teams fishing at the Masters, Veterans, and Disabled World Championships found the French venue a tough nut to crack, but there was a silver lining as Stefan Gent took the individual second spot in the Disabled event.
Fished on the Channelled Moselle in Toul, the challenging waterway saw miniature gobies dominate the week’s practice and it was grams which decided the outcome of the two days of competition. North West ace Stefan agonisingly missed out on the gold to French angler Alain
Schaeffer on a weight countback by just a tiny 84 grams.
It was the 55-plus age group Masters squad of Sam Wildsmith, Bill Reynolds, Matt Hall, Graham Smith and Ben Bray who got off to the best start team-wise and ended day one in a first place in a tie with Slovenia. However, a poor draw on the second day left them scratching around for bites and it dropped them down to fourth place overall behind winners Hungary, Czech Republic and Slovenia.
Dickie Carr’s over 65 Veterans squad of Tom Pickering, Steve Sanders, Harry Billing, Mark Downes and Roger Marlow have probably more experience than any at winning medals, but two poor draws put them out of contention before the first whistles were blown. They eventually finished a respectable seventh overall.
Women’s World Championships –August 2023
England Ladies team stalwart Helen Dagnall got the reward she has earned after her long tenure in the squad by winning this year’s Ladies
Team England staged a major comeback at the Nations World Championships in Spain to earn themselves a well-deserved silver medal – and took silver and bronze in the individual competition too!
Mark Downes’ squad of William Raison,
Kayak World Championships –June 2023
Angling Trust Team England Lure squad claimed a well-earned team bronze at the Kayak World Championships in the USA. The 2022 event winners faced their toughest event yet, not just for the logistical side of getting their gear across to Tennessee, but also tackling a 45mile long lake in searing heat and raging thunderstorms while mastering lure fishing from a kayak for largemouth and
World Championships in Serbia. The Dunavac Canal in Apatin proved a tough one for all involved and to finish with a section win and second was a remarkable achievement. England’s squad of Helen, Sam Sims, Abbi Kendall, May Potter, Leanne Knott and Kayleigh Dowd finished sixth overall behind winners Croatia.
Sean Ashby, James Dent, Steve Hemingray, Cameron Hughes, and Matt Godfrey found the opening day’s match on the River Ebro tough, but they came out of the blocks at full pace on Day 2, winning the day with the best score of the whole weekend to claim second spot behind Serbia.
The individual scores saw James take the overall silver medal ahead of Sean who earned bronze.
smallmouth bass –species we don’t even have in the UK.
USA ran out winners with Canada runnersup. Steve Collett’s squad was captained by 2022 individual World Champion Mike McGuire, and comprised Andy Dougan, Alan Robson, Ian Pickering, Mark Radcliffe, and Martin Collison.
England captain William Raison led from the front at the European Championships in Hungary claiming the individual silver medal in a tough competition which saw the team fall just shy of bronze. William, who took the bronze at the same
World
The Angling Trust England Feeder team celebrated signing a new, longterm sponsorship deal with Drennan International with a bronze medal at the World Feeder Champs in Serbia. Dean Barlow’s side were just six section points
event last year, was one of only two of the 149 anglers fishing to win their sections on both days but lost out on the gold on a weight countback to Slovakia’s Jan Samel.
The England squad consisted of William Raison, Steve Hemingray, Cam Hughes, Matt Godfrey Simon Willsmore and James Dent.
shy of gold from the two matches having led the first match on the DTD Canal, a tributary of the Danube. Led by captain Mick Vials, the squad consisted of World No 1 ranked feeder angler Steve Ringer, Rob Wootton, Lee Kerry, Adam Wakelin and Will Freeman.
Danny Williams presents some of the highlights from the past 12 months. You can discover more on the Competitions section of our website.
The AT-TEFF River National Qualifiers were held on the Itchen, Ure, Wear and Dee, culminating in the two-day final on the Upper River Tees, County Durham.
Winning the National Championship was Paul Fairhurst, ahead of the 2022 winner Carl Nixon. Paul and Carl will be joined by Kevin Moran, Brian Lilly, Tom Hunt and Peter Buckley to make up the ATTEFF Rivers squad for the IFFA Rivers International in 2024.
Held at Chatton Trout Lakes in April, the venue fished tougher than expected. Ali Tait led the charge to lift the AT-TEFF National Bank Angling Champions trophy for 2023. The top seven rods were selected to fish the International Bank match in Scotland this autumn and consist of Ali Tait, Paul Runec, David Neilson, Gareth Tilly, Brian Blackett, Josh Piper and James Stevenson (reserve).
Held at Draycote Water in May, it was the England squad of Leigh Pond (captain), Rob Allan, Tony Baldwin, Bart Farmer, Ryan Feber, Kevin Glenn, John Hood, John Horsey, Rob Middleton, Mark Miles, Lloyd Pallet, Dave Reynolds, Mark Rose and Jake Wenman who came out on top on home turf, with Scotland second and Ireland third. Richard Hooper of Wales was the individual winner, followed by England pair of Glenn and Wenman.
AT-TEFF’s autumn team, managed by Ian Colclough, included several new caps mixed with experience anglers. Fished at Lake of Menteith, Scotland, it was the home side who triumphed with England claiming second spot. The England team consisted of Martin
Burgess (captain), Graeme Bell, Dale Burgess, Andy Cottam, David Currie, Tony Curtis, Richard Denney, Tony Fox, David Johns, Alex Johnstone, Mark Macleod, Ben Race, Philip Thompson and Daniel Tranter.
This year’s National at Grafham Water saw Max Mockridge lift the Youth National Trophy with an impressive 11 fish, followed by Jonny Moesel in silver, and this year’s Captain’s Cup winner Michael Ewing in bronze position.
On an unfamiliar venue in Slovakia, the England team comprising of Howard Croston, Scott Nellins, Sean Brooks, James Atkinson, Del Spry and Mark Withyman fought their way to a credible tenth place.
Team England’s willingness to experiment and practice hard earned them silver at this year’s event. This year’s squad consisted of Paul Hart (Team Manager), Dave Cogger, Pete Bailey, Gareth Croft, Kevin Sampson, Richard Day, Richard Russell (Assistant Manager) and George Fox (Reserve).
The beaches fished hard over the weekend event with brisk winds making sport difficult, with England Seniors eventually battling to bronze position.
England U23 showed great form with three of the team taking their section on both days – Owen Strange, Owen Dunn and Tom Rider. Along with Samual James and Daniel Parker, the team won gold ahead of Ireland and Scotland.
England U16 also stamped their dominance of the Llyn Peninsula beaches, Jack Rynolds and Sophie Cossey came first and second overall with Archie Sweetland in fourth and Curtis Driver and Lexie Groves winning sections that landed gold ahead of Ireland Scotland.
Our young teams’ performances are without doubt supported by the knowledge and dedication of Chris Clark, and David and Callum Graham and the rest of the AT-Marine Competition and Talent Pathway coaches. Thank you to everyone involved.
With the support of trade partner Shimano, our Anglers Against Litter initiative continues to flourish. Environment Manager Dr Emily Smith reports:
NEC in Birmingham, Tonbridge and Wolsingham.
What a year!
Anglers Against Litter continues to grow and it has been fantastic to see the efforts of clubs, fisheries and individuals to remove litter from our rivers, lakes and seas.
Through our trade sponsor Shimano, we have been able to provide litter picking equipment to over 100 clubs across England. This initiative has empowered clubs to actively participate in clean up efforts and ensure that our angling venues remain places for all to enjoy.
We will have the opportunity for further free equipment next year, so if you are interested in getting involved, please email me at emily.smith@anglingtrust.net
As well as clubs and fisheries supporting the Anglers Against Litter campaign,
we have been inundated with stories and images from individual anglers taking part in our ‘Take 5’ initiative by spending five minutes after they have been fishing to remove litter. Some of these volunteers have received exclusive Anglers Against Litter caps to thank them for their support, like passionate Voluntary Bailiff Ron Wood who received the first cap for his efforts to keep local riverbanks clean over the past two years.
These collective efforts have not gone unnoticed, and we are rightly being recognised as a community making significant strides to tackle plastic pollution. The impact of your actions has been remarkable, and it is evident that the passion for angling goes hand in hand with your commitment to environmental stewardship.
Thank you for the support you have shown for the campaign, and we look forward to working with you into 2024.
Through our National Angling Strategic Services contract with the Environment Agency, our freshwater teams can help and offer advice to clubs, fisheries and individual anglers on a range of matters. Here’s a round-up of some of the work we carry out, paid for by fishing licence income.
Through the Angling Improvement Fund (AIF), the Angling Trust reinvests income from fishing licence sales in projects which benefit anglers across England. Since its launch in 2015, the AIF has made over 700 separate awards totalling over £2.7m to clubs and fisheries that aimed to improve the infrastructure of angling facilities, all of which support the National Angling Strategy. That funding has been used for projects totalling over £7 million.
In recent years, the AIF has supported projects to help tackle the predation of fish stocks from fish-eating birds and otters, improve biosecurity such as installing wash-down facilities, and stop the spread of invasive non-native species such as floating pennywort.
Working with the Environment Agency and other partners, the Angling Trust organise Freshwater Fisheries Forums each year. These take place both ‘in-person’ and online.
Freshwater Fisheries Forums are funded by fishing licence income and are completely open and free. You do not need to be a member of the Angling Trust to attend.
All virtual forums are recorded with presentations and Q&A’s uploaded to the Angling Trust website. This year’s online
The Angling Trust also administers the Get Fishing Fund which supports clubs and fisheries that want to encourage more people to go fishing and provide bursaries for new coaching licences. Once again, all the money provided by the Get Fishing Fund comes from the sales of rod licences.
If you would like to be informed when funding becomes available, please email AIFadmin@anglingtrust.net
Please note that money for projects to improve habitat and facilities for anglers is available through the Fisheries Improvement Programme, which is run by the Environment Agency and funded from fishing licence sales.
More information about all these funding opportunities can be found on the Funding section of the Angling Trust website.
forums have included information on Prussian carp, reporting illegal fishing, tackling invasive species, and helping clubs and fisheries reach new anglers.
Our in-person forums take place around the country, and are structured to provide a platform for anglers, clubs and fisheries to ask questions and raise issues whilst sharing knowledge with others.
These events usually follow a simple format, involving expert guest speakers and Q&A sessions. We tailor these speakers to the location, ensuring they offer useful information to everyone present. In the past, our speakers have included respected academics, environmentalists, and anglers, in addition to representatives of key stakeholders such as Rivers’ Trusts and water companies. The Environment Agency also maintain a presence at every meeting to share updates on their work, listen to anglers’ concerns, answer questions and address problems. For details of upcoming forums visit www. anglingtrust.net/regional-forums/
The Angling Trust’s two Fishery Management Advisors (FMAs) can help clubs and fisheries to protect fish from cormorants and goosanders, and otter predation.
Funded by Environment Agency fishing licence income, the FMAs have assisted fishery managers on rivers and lakes not only with licence applications, but with practical advice about measures to help tackle unsustainable avian predation. This includes using innovative techniques such as the use of lasers and lifelike mannequins to deter birds, as well as exclusion tactics and fish refuge.
The FMAs also advise fishery managers
Invasive species are one of the greatest threats to freshwater and marine environments. Sadly, Prussian carp was reported for the first time in UK waters this year, and after being reported in 2019 and 2021, Pink Salmon are beginning to appear again in our waters.
on how to protect their fisheries from otter predation, including advice about otterproof fencing and how to apply for funding to support projects. They are also licensed by Natural England to trap and remove otters that are trapped within otter-fenced still water fisheries.
Richard Bamforth covers the North West, North East, Yorkshire and Humber, Lincolnshire, East Midlands and West Midlands, and can be contacted on 07904 041581 or richard.bamforth@anglingtrust. net
Jake Davoile covers South East, South West, London, South Midlands and Eastern Region, and can be contacted on 07949 703206 or jake.davoile@ anglingtrust.net
Buy a rod fishing licence
You must have a rod fishing licence for England and Wales if you’re fishing for salmon, trout, freshwater fish, smelt or eel. Scan for more details and to purchase online.
Our Environment Officers are on hand to support angling clubs and fisheries, providing advice on how to manage invasive species and stop their spread. This year we have continued to make huge strides in the delivery of the GB Floating Pennywort Strategy, with focused collaborative efforts to remove this invasive aquatic plant from the Weaver, Lea and Wey. This has resulted in substantial stretches being cleared, helping to restore important fishing waters that were being choked by the plant.
As well as managing established species, it is crucial that we stop new species being introduced. We continue to provide free signage and educational materials to clubs to help encourage members to follow the effective Check, Clean, Dry steps to stop invasive species spreading between sites.
Through the Angling Improvement Fund, funded through Environment Agency rod licence income, we provide a dedicated round for clubs to help tackle invasive non-native species. Since
its launch in 2021, over £200,000 has been provided in financial assistance to angling clubs, enabling the angling community to purchase specialised equipment to undertake invasive species management, train members on effective control techniques, and install important biosecurity wash downs to prevent invasive species establishing in the first place.
There’s a wealth of information on the Angling Trust website including identifying invasive species, habitat management best practice and steps anglers, clubs and fisheries can take to stop the spread. Our Environment Officers are also on hand to offer advice.
Drew Chadwick covers the South of England and can be contacted on 07946 251846 or andrew.chadwick@anglingtrust. net
Ian Doyle covers the North of England and can be contacted on 07951 037091 or ian.doyle@anglingtrust.net
The ‘FESS’ is a partnership between the Angling Trust and Environment Agency that is funded by fishing licence income as part of the National Angling Strategic Services contract. FESS managers are all retired police officers with years of experience and, as anglers themselves, understand the issues faced by fisheries.
The FESS supports the Environment Agency, the statutory lead on fisheries enforcement, through:
l Coordinating a multi-agency approach to fisheries crime and compliance, encouraging a partnership approach.
l Raising awareness throughout the police service, Crown Prosecution
Over the past 11 years the Building Bridges Project has made huge progress towards the successful integration of migrant angling communities in England – providing positive education and advice to help anglers understand our angling laws and customs.
At grassroots level, the Building Bridges team assist and support angling clubs and fisheries by translating their rules into different languages and offering free multi-lingual signage and leaflets.
Working together with key partners and clubs, our staff host integrated angling events, bringing together anglers from different countries and cultures in
Service and Magistrates’ Association.
l Helping advise and support the police and Environment Agency.
l Increasing intelligence and sharing that information with relevant authorities.
l Upskilling the angling community through Fisheries Enforcement Workshops and the provision of expert advice to angling clubs and fisheries.
l Delivering the Voluntary Bailiff Service throughout England, empowering anglers to contribute to fisheries enforcement.
Delivering the Building Bridges Project, aimed at the education and integration of migrant anglers, translating club signs into multiple languages, and providing multilingual signs for fisheries.
Please do not hesitate to contact your Regional Enforcement Support Manager for professional enforcement advice. Contact details can be found at www. anglingtrust.net/enforcement/#teamfess
addition to organising school visits and coaching days – giving many youngsters from diverse backgrounds an introduction to fishing in the UK.
Building Bridges is funded by fishing licence income as part of the National Angling Strategic Services contract with the Environment Agency.
Clubs or fisheries requiring further information or assistance from Building Bridges should contact Project Manager Janusz Kansik at janusz.kansik@ anglingtrust.net or 07495 433615.
All the work featured on these pages is funded through fishing licence income. You must have a rod licence if you are fishing in England and Wales. Children aged between 13 and 16 can get a free junior licence. Children under 13 do not need a licence. You can buy your licence online at www.gov.uk/fishing-licences
One of the biggest problems clubs have to deal with is members sharing permits with anglers that aren’t paying members of the club. Despite the fact it’s only usually a small minority, unauthorised anglers fishing at your venues undermines the club and simply isn’t fair for anglers that follow club rules.
The traditional solution to stopping anglers from sharing memberships is usually for bailiffs to check an angler’s paper membership. However, that comes with its own issues. Unauthorised anglers can easily give the name of someone that’s already a member and borrow their paper membership. If bailiffs aren’t familiar with who’s who, they’ll be none the wiser. That means the unauthorised angler ends up fishing for free – which isn’t fair for paying members and ticket holders.
“We get ‘lost cards’, which come with their own problems. Cards get copied, shared, and loaned. Our paper-based membership cards have enabled many people to take the mickey. We’re [using Clubmate to] cut down on that, for the good of our honest members.” – Royal Forest of Dean Angling Club
Verification can be a headache for bailiffs, so consider investing in fishing club management software that allows anglers to upload a photo to an online profile. When checking whether the membership is valid or not, bailiffs can also check the photo on the account against the person standing in front of them on the bank
using Clubmate’s Bailiff app.
Photos can also be made mandatory, meaning a member has to provide one in order to purchase a membership. The same is possible for your day ticket anglers too, giving you the tools to identify every angler fishing at your venues.
There will be a small number of anglers that don’t want to join online but these members can be added to the database manually and a photo uploaded. Alternatively, bailiffs can take the angler’s photo whilst on the bank during their first visit and add it to their membership profile.
To summarise, trying to stop anglers from sharing their membership can feel like a losing battle when you don’t have the right systems in place. Using the right tools is the way to check that only verified anglers are fishing at your venues – for both anglers and bailiffs alike.
If you’re searching for a more efficient way to operate, look no further than Clubmate. We help hundreds of fishing clubs, fisheries and syndicates say goodbye to unnecessary admin, take payments with ease, and manage online and offline processes from one place using our fishing club management software.
Find out more at www.clubmate.fish
Predation from cormorants can have a devastating impact on our fisheries. Whether in freshwater or saltwater, natural venues or commercial, the impact of predation can be catastrophic. Our Fisheries Management Advisors work nationally to support clubs and fisheries in two ways – looking firstly at how to reduce avian predation, but then secondly to support clubs and fisheries in leveraging funding so they can take the action necessary to make a real difference to protect their stocks. Richard Bamforth, whose role as Fisheries Management Advisor is funded from fishing licence income and forms part of the Angling Trust contract with the Environment Agency, is joined by Angling Trust CEO Jamie Cook, Nick Butterfield, Windermere, Ambleside & District Fishery Manager, and Trevor Harrop, Avon Roach Project Co-Founder, to discuss what we do about cormorants.
Richard Bamforth
Fisheries Management Advisor:
Throughout the year, most fisheries will sustain a number of cormorants, but the problem appears to be exacerbated through the winter months when we get the resident birds bursting from the nesting colonies. Then you’ll get an influx from the coastal zones and with the additional influx of migratory birds coming across from northern Europe, it tips the balance against the fish on some waters. Some people argue that this is natural but there is a balance over what’s
an acceptable level of predation. Some angling clubs and fisheries would say that the predation is having a severe impact on their overall fish stocks and biomass.
You can try to make your water as resilient as possible, initially through water quality and habitat works so you’re getting a natural recruitment of fish into your waters. Following that, by a number of non-lethal practical methods that clubs can deploy. Each fishery has its own set of factors and you’ve just got to blend the techniques that are available out there to fit your particular water. We at the Angling Trust are there to assist people and put together a package to protect your fish stocks and your fishery or club waters.
Nick Butterfield Windermere, Ambleside & District Fishery Manager:
One of our venues suffered quite badly from cormorant predation going back four or five years. The number of cormorants increased, particularly in winter, and they took a large quantity of fish out of the water. The water then becomes clearer because there are less fish stirring it up and, as a result, we then saw secondary problems of invasive weed, making the venue virtually unfishable within a couple of years.
When venues lose the quality of fishing it has an adverse impact on membership. When memberships fall, the income to the club drops and therefore what the club can do about addressing the issues falls with it. It becomes a downward spiral.
We accessed funding from the Angling Trust via their Angling Improvement Fund which allowed us to implement some of the cormorant prevention measures that we have in the lake today.
(The Angling Trust administer the Angling Improvement Fund on behalf of the Environment Agency and uses money received from coarse and nonmigratory rod licence sales).
Getting to a point where you can completely eliminate cormorant predation through measures that you take yourself is unrealistic. There are not enough hours in the day, so you have to improve the natural resilience of the lake to fight for itself. So, our efforts with the Angling Improvement Fund were to build a series of protective refuges that protected the fish from direct cormorant predation which also provided safe places for those fish to spawn, improving the rates of natural reproduction. Put together, they give you a lot of protection going forwards from cormorant predation.
The Angling Trust are the absolute experts in understanding and helping clubs take the best actions using their experience from a whole number of waters with the same issues. It’s vital that you use the expertise of the Angling Trust to help build your venue-specific plan. Our relationship with the Angling Trust has got stronger and stronger and our membership
numbers have got larger and larger. It’s no coincidence that the two things work together.
Jamie Cook Angling Trust CEO:
Currently, the most effective means to protect fish stocks is for clubs and fisheries to work directly with our fisheries management advisors to implement those non-lethal methods. For a number of years, the Angling Trust have led a campaign to have cormorants added to the general licence. This is a campaign we’re extremely passionate about and will continue to drive forwards.
Trevor Harrop, Avon Roach Project Co-Founder:
The Avon Roach Project was formed following the 2005 Environment Agency fish stock surveys of the Hampshire Avon, revealing in some areas no roach left alive in the middle reaches. It was estimated that the roach population within the river was already below critical mass and unable to recover unassisted, so Budgie [the late Adam ‘Budgie’ Price, co-founder of the Avon Roach Project] and I got together and thought we’ve got to do something.
Using the remaining population and retaining the genetic purity through pioneering techniques, we managed an unprecedented recovery of Avon roach. Although we looked after the numbers it was a lot more than just sploshing roach in. We affected the annual mechanical weed cut, we’ve improved habitat throughout the river, we’ve had landowners and others on our side, but what we need is to go that little bit further to get the predation under control and having cormorants on the general licence. We want a change in this woefully inadequate licensing regime to adequately protect our vulnerable inland fish populations from this non-native overwintering bird.
Japanese baselayer brand Zero t has created a range of game-changing products that allow anglers to stay heated and keep shing in comfort this autumn and winter, even in the coldest of conditions on the river, lake, canal or ocean. Designed by a passionate team of innovators and baselayer specialists, the Zero t Heatrub Ultimate – now available in a new ‘Forest Green’ colourway - is the most technically advanced baselayer on the planet and completely di erent to any other product you’ve ever worn before.
1. It’s ve times warmer than a standard baselayer
That is quite a claim, but it’s a fact. Tested at the iconic Boken Institute in Osaka, the Heatrub Ultimate baselayer recorded a Heat Retention Rating of 0.78; a standard product would have a rating of between 0.1 to 0.14, while a jumper would typically have a rating of 0.3. The Ultimate performs best in a temperature range of -10° Celsius thru 10° Celsius making it an essential piece of kit this cold season.
2. Instant warmth the moment you put it on
A standard baselayer traps body heat between your skin and the material, so it takes a little time before you feel the bene ts. With Zero t, ve separate fabrics, along with a patented knitting process, create instant warmth as soon as you pull it on. While other brands rely on compression for heat, our unique fabric mix means you don’t need the tightness in order for it to work, making it super comfortable too.
3. Fewer layers, greater warmth and freedom to move
4. Toasty warm Heat Threads from top to toe
The Ultimate is the ideal product for anglers who dislike traditional tight baselayers. Over the years, you may well have ‘layered up’ in order to combat the e ects of cold weather, but this is where we are changing the game. The Heatrub Ultimate is so good at keeping you warm, you won’t need these additional layers. In short, fewer layers yet greater warmth, as well as maximum exibility for stretching and casting.
Innovative ‘Heat Threads’ positioned on the inside of the garment gently rub against your skin which creates positive warmth across your body, and this technology means the heat is retained for the duration of your day’s shing. We also make Ultimate Leggings and Ultimate Socks that are made from the same material and work in the same way, giving you top-to-toe warmth.
Volunteers are the lifeblood of the Angling Trust. In these exciting, challenging times for recreational sea angling, the Angling Trust is proud to be supported by two key volunteer groups that provide an advisory steer on our saltwater work: the Marine Advisory Group and the Sea Angling Voluntary Group.
The Marine Advisory Group (MAG) supports the polic y, science, and advocacy work of the Angling Trust as it relates to recreational sea angling and related matters.
Drawing on expertise from across the recreational sea fishing, fisheries management, and fisheries science communities it acts in an advisory capacity across Angling Trust policy, positions and campaigns that support the recreational sea angling community. These issues support the sport to thrive now and, in the future. They ensure the UK’s fisheries management policies, plans and management are beneficial to sea angling by working toward more and bigger fish being available to catch.
The MAG’s work focuses on policies and management measures and works to ensure the marine and coastal environment is protected and improved to provide for better ecosystems to support the fish species of interest to anglers. It supports actions and interventions to increase participation in the sport (working alongside the Angling Participation Advisory Group).
Previously called the Regional Volunteers Group, we have recently met with members to update its role to better reflect the views of a range of sea angling interests.
This group provides opportunities for recreational sea anglers (RSA) within local regions to support the Angling Trust as we develop our sea angling support. It also provides a platform to support the existing Angling Trust marine regions, and our hope is to create more regions in the future around England’s coast.
Drawing on expertise from across the Angling Trust and beyond, the SAVG will identify and action matters of concern at a regional or local level to support the RSA community ensuring access thrives and anglers’ interests are protected. It will work closely with the MAG, taking actions from it and raising concerns as necessary.
The SAVG will work towards more and bigger fish being available to sea angling, and that the environment is protected and improved to provide for better ecosystems to support the fish species of interest to RSA. It is also a forum for members to bring local issues to our attention.
The 2023 AGMs for Angling Trust and Fish Legal will be held on Saturday 25th November 2023 and will once again take the format of an online virtual meeting allowing more members to attend.
Following the formal business there will be a short presentation from one of our member clubs. An invitation to attend this year’s events will be emailed to all individual, club and fishery members very soon. This invite will also include links to our online voting system, so even if you are unable to make the meeting you can still cast your vote in advance. There are three Director vacancies this year including a Welfare and Safety Lead Director so we would encourage all members to get involved as this is your opportunity to decide who represents the membership.
As part of our ongoing commitment to the environment and sustainability, there will be no paper ballots issued, and any individual member or club/organisation representative wishing to vote on the resolutions put forward will need to do so via these links.
Please look out for the invitation email. If you have any queries about the event or the voting process before then, please contact: Karen Watkinson – karen.watkinson@anglingtrust.net
Alka Patel, Interim Head of Finance, reports:
We are pleased to report a pre-tax surplus of £22,921 for the financial year ended 31st March 2023 (2022: £28,688).
Work has continued as contractor for the Environment Agency for the delivery of the current National Angling Strategic Services contract and, in our capacity as the National Governing Body for angling in England, under our grant award from Sport England.
Overall, gross income increased by 13.5% compared with the previous year (2022: 8%) due to increased funding from the Environment Agency, Sport England Together Fund, and an increase in memberships particularly from trade and associations.
Environment Agency income increased by 6.9% (2022: 12.2%) and completed the fourth and final year of the National Angling Strategic Services Contract. Income from Sport England decreased by 6.6% (2022: 1%). The Environment Agency contract has been extended for a further year, until March 2024. The current Sport England five-year contract continues until March 2027.
We were successful in receiving a second round of funding from the Esmée Fairbairn Foundation during the year and we continue to make good progress through the Missing Salmon Alliance for our campaigns and advocacy work at a national level. Our work through schools with the support of Shakespeare has also been extremely well received.
Expenditure increased by 13.8% (2022: 13.5%) compared with the previous year. This was due to several factors, predominantly being more operational activity to support the increased activity across multiple areas of the organisation.
The charts summarise the split of both income and expenditure for the year. Income streams have remained consistent with a slight increase in Environment Agency and campaigns funding whilst we are also seeing new income sources coming through from commercial partnerships. Whilst the level of expenditure and investment has increased across all areas, the proportion of spend across the different elements of the organisation has remained consistent.
The Statement of Financial Position at March 2023 shows our net assets at £668,508, compared with £646,083 for the year before. For more detailed information, please refer to our website, where the full audited accounts are published.
Once again, we express our sincere gratitude to the dedicated staff of the Angling Trust, together with the growing number of volunteers and not least, the Board of Directors, whose efforts have proved invaluable in helping meet our targets across all disciplines.
Alka Patel, Interim Head of Finance, reports:
For the year ended 31 March 2023, Fish Legal reported an unexpectedly large surplus of £350,000 compared to a loss of £11,000 in the previous year. This is largely attributable to legal costs recovered in the financial year, almost all of which came from the settlement of a long-running dispute with Natural England and relate to a case in which we were able to secure compensation for a member fishery for flooding, silt input and other losses following a dam collapse in 2013 at a nature reserve in Surrey.
The timing of cost recoveries on cases that may, like this one, last for years, is hard to predict, creating volatility from one year to another.
Legacy income increased by £104,000 and is greatly appreciated as it enables us to expand our work. Membership income continues to grow with a 4% increase over the previous year.
Total expenditure decreased this year by £29,000 due to lower expert and counselling fees. However, the legal department staff cost increased due to the addition of another solicitor to increase capacity to take on more cases. The main areas of overhead variations are an increase in communications, telephone expenses, recruitment costs, IT and legal research, subscriptions and contributions to the Angling Trust.
We remain in good financial health with the ability to continue to pursue legal work on behalf of our members. Our decision to invest in additional research, publicity and campaigning has seen a higher public profile for the work we do and has brought much greater recognition of our expertise and achievements in local and national news publications.
Our balance sheet is still in a strong position, ending the financial year at a net book value of £1,290,055 giving us the strong financial foundations we need to build for the future.
Once again, personal thanks are extended to the members of the Fish Legal Committee who give up their time providing strategic oversight and to ensure the organisation is meeting its objectives, predominantly for the benefit of its members.
We are the beginner, novice, weekender, specialist, match winner and syndicate member. We too, know how it feels to GO FISHING – wherever the beach, lake, canal, or river, whatever the species, or ability, you visit the tackle shop, set the alarm, enjoy the journey along the way and dream big.
Avid Carp has become a widely known and respected Carp fishing tackle brand. Avid’s comprehensive product range caters for several different fishing styles and abilities, and also appeals to anglers on every budget. The brand has several flagship products, from their incredibly comfy Benchmark beds and systems, and the impressive HQ Dual Layer shelters to their recognisable camo-flecked Outline End Tackle.
Embryo Angling Habitats was founded in the summer of 2014 by Korda Developments owner, Danny Fairbrass. Danny’s vision was to create new fisheries for people to enjoy and help existing fisheries protect their stock from the growing threat of predation.
Not a day goes by without tens of thousands of anglers across the globe going fishing armed with a variety of products from the Fox International portfolio. With the Fox, Matrix, Predator and Fox Rage brands covering disciplines such as carp, match, coarse, traditional predator and modern lure fishing, Fox International is firmly established as one of the leading tackle manufacturers in Europe.
Daiwa Sports Ltd has been operating in the UK since 1977 and the brand name has a long-standing reputation for quality on all fronts from product design right through to customer care. With over 120 employees, Daiwa have the most advanced rod and pole manufacturing plant outside the Far East. But whilst our business is designing, making and selling fishing tackle to dealers around the UK we also have an award winning after sales department, looking after maintenance, repairs and spares for anglers and dealers alike.
Exciting, aggressive and dynamic, Fox Rage is designed for the modern lure fi shing angler who wants more action, more fun and ultimately more fi sh.
The Korda brand is focussed on the carp market with the ethos to help anglers to catch more fish. Each product is designed and extensively tested in-house, where we have complete control over each stage of the process – from the initial idea right through to it appearing on the shelves of tackle shops. Korda has also been making angling films since 2006.
Korum tackle is designed for the modern pleasure and specialist angler, offering top quality products that will help transform your fishing for the better. Korum is the perfect choice for a wide range of methods and species, from pleasure angling on day ticket fisheries through to specimen fishing on stillwaters and rivers. Matrix is part of the portfolio of companies owned by Fox International, one of the leading tackle manufacturers in Europe. From seat boxes to rig storage, luggage to leads, brollies to braid, there’s a Matrix product for every coarse, carp and match angler.
Trading for over 40 years and selling to over 30 countries worldwide, Nash Tackle is renowned for innovation, with many of today’s modern items of carp tackle invented originally by Kevin Nash – including oval umbrellas, rod holdalls to carry made up rods complete with reels, rigid frame shelters, the unique speed sensing R3 bite alarm and blockbuster retracting butt Scope short packdown rods.
Orvis support the Angling Trust’s Anglers Against Pollution campaign to protect our rivers, lakes and seas. At their core, Orvis are a fly-fishing and game-shooting brand, inspired by nature, driven by curiosity, and fulfilled by adventure. As well as being the world leader in fly fishing equipment, Orvis also provide instruction, day rod letting, guides, and fly fishing schools in the UK.
Our Trade Associate partners provide valuable support to our work to protect fish, fishing and the environment, and help get more people fishing. We would like to thank them for their commitment to angling and the Angling Trust.
Aimed at the serious match angler, Preston Innovations offer a wide range of quality products that suit many different styles of fishing. From the casual angler right through to professional match winners, Preston Innovations have something for every angler.
Shakespeare are exclusive tackle partners for the Angling Trust’s Get Fishing campaign helping to get more people into fishing more often. Since 1897, Shakespeare has been the leader in quality, affordable fishing tackle, the inspiration coming from 125 years of passion and experience. From Ugly Stik to Catch More Fish kits, Shakespeare offers something for the whole family and all levels of experience.
Shimano is a Japanese multinational manufacturer of fishing tackle, cycling components and rowing equipment with a mission to promote health and happiness through the enjoyment of nature and the world around us. This includes the protection of marine and freshwater fisheries, waterways and the countryside.
Tackle Guru is the sister brand of Korda Developments Limited, a privately owned company primarily engaged in the design and manufacture of fishing tackle, and production of angling films for a variety of platforms, including television. Its range of tackle is ideal for on match, pleasure and specimen anglers.
Coarse, match, fly, lure, game, sea... when was the last time you sat down and worked out what all your equipment is worth? It might be time to reel in a deal with The Insurance Emporium’s Fishing Insurance. An award-winning insurer, The Insurance Emporium’s Fishing Insurance Standard Benefit cover is designed to cover you for typical everyday circumstances, with an option to tweak your policy further to extend your cover. Visit The Insurance Emporium website for further details.
Weihai Julia is one of the world’s leading original equipment manufacturers (OEM) supplying carbon fibre products for fishing and water sports, and designs and delivers exclusively to the most recognised brands in the fishing industry. Italian-owned with its manufacturing base in China, carbon fibre fishing tackle is one of Weihai Julia’s core businesses and has evolved using lighter, stronger, and stiffer materials, even developing custom made formulations. Currently, Weihai Julia are active in pole, carp, match, feeder, trout, and predator fishing.
Japanese baselayer brand Zerofit and the Angling Trust joined forces to help keep anglers fishing in warmth in autumn and winter, even in the coldest of conditions on the river, lake, canal or coast. Zerofit – The World’s Warmest Baselayer® –manufactures award-winning products that are changing the game for anglers.
The Angling Trust would also like to acknowledge the support of the
“Our committee have peace of mind knowing our club is in good hands, which was important to us because moving everything online was a big change from how we’ve been running things.“
Alan Charles Hughes Reading & District Angling Association 1500+ members
“All of the rangers have the Clubmate app installed on their work phones and can check on anglers. I would recommend Clubmate. I think it solves a hell of a lot of problems and represents great value for money for our business.”
Luke Cox, Fisheries & Recreations Manager Bristol Water Fisheries
“Clubmate has saved me personally hundreds of hours and I’m now enjoying running the club rather than feeling like it’s a chore.”
Eric Prescott Slaugham Angling Club 350+ members
Join the 1500+ club volunteers, fishery staff & bailiffs and 60,000 anglers who choose Clubmate to power their fishing club or fishery.
Get in touch today and learn how Clubmate can help you spend less time behind a desk and more time doing the things you love.
