[9007]

I’m not going to have a pop at you for this.
Anglers are an easy target, which is a disgrace given that it’s us that really are the custodians of the rivers and the day to day eyes on of impacts to our waterways and fish.
Any weapons that can be given to the toothless and (generally seen to be) useless EA is a weapon too many.
Catch and release, barbless hooks, bans on this and that for anglers are inconsequential when compared to the sewage spills, bad farming practices, water extraction, poor aquaculture, decimation of prey fish by offshore fishing, gobbling up of young fish by birds (and before somebody says that birds have no impact - open your eyes), and climate change.

So in summary, stop trying to constrain anglers and force the powers that be to act responsibly and do what they should do to look after our environment.
Governments year after year have done nothing to enforce better practices as it’s simply not vote worthy.

We are an easy target. Stop shooting at us and turn the howitzers the other way round.

Thanks for your comment although I’m not entirely sure which part you’re referring to specifically, but I’ll try to respond constructively.

If the suggestion is that organisations like the RFCA or NWATFCC don’t engage with the Environment Agency or other statutory bodies, I’d have to respectfully disagree. In fact, much of this current process is being driven by DEFRA, and these voluntary, regional organisations are some of the few voices consistently raising angler concerns in formal settings.

What’s important to understand is this: choosing not to engage or submit a response — whether through the RFCA/NWATFCC or directly to the EA will be interpreted by the EA as agreement with the proposals by default. If only a few hundred respond out of thousands of licence holders, the assumption will be that the majority are content.

One of the biggest challenges for the angling community is that we don’t always act collectively or proactively. Meanwhile, organisations like the RSPB, for example, are highly coordinated and therefore hold far more influence with policymakers and regulators. As the person who manages the Area Based Bird Management Licence for the Ribble be assured that Natural England are placed under extreme pressure by bird lobbying group and their legal entities to justify allocated numbers and intervention. Be also assured that many licensees don't use their allocation - what does that say?

This isn’t a personal criticism of you: but a general observation: if even a fraction of the energy spent on forums and Facebook threads was instead directed toward writing to MPs or responding to consultations, we would have a much louder voice where it actually matters.

We all care deeply about our rivers and fish but I sure you will agree we have to engage constructively to be heard rather than silent but nosey in our echo chambers.

 

[C3OLIN]

Just filled in the survey. Same old EA. Ban it n stop it mentality.
Sadly that’s all they bring to the party.Everytime.

 

[sutty]

Thank you for taking the time to explain in detail 9007, it's much appreciated. I will certainly consider completing the survey now.

Crabacle, I do get what you're saying, that we are, largely speaking, inconsequential, but that doesn't make the proposals entirely pointless. Yes, we are relatively low in numbers, and can often do far more good than harm anyway, able to report problems far quicker than they might otherwise be, but, that doesn't mean that fishing with barbless hooks, for example, would not be a good thing. I've nearly switched over entirely now, but if it were law, I'd definitely make the effort to go through all my pretied leaders and do so. Indeed, this exercise has made me think that I will do just that.

I would also never dream of taking a fish, any fish, and would be gutted if one died on me, and it's been years and years, including all the trout and grayling I've caught. If one did, or had serious injury, I would be seriously upset, frustrated and annoyed with myself. I don't see how it can be a bad thing if barbless hooks are mandated, and if we are asked to return all migratory fish. Surely that would be good for the fish, and as such that's a good thing for all of us.

Just because we are likely to be asked to do these things, that doesn't necessarily mean they aren't doing any of the other things we would like them to be doing. They probably aren't, but would stopping doing this really give them the resources to do all the things we would like?

 

[crabacle]

I won’t give my views to the ‘EA will do what they want if we don’t respond’ line.

However as regards the licence for shooting birds not being fulfilled, I believe that our club has a cormorant license for a whole 2 birds this year. WTF ?
Won’t even make a dent. ‘Many licencees don’t use their allocation’? There’s probably a good reason for them not reporting accurately.
Please stop pandering to political niceties and do something meaningful.
Perhaps the next meeting of the RFCA will put forwards a joint response from all Ribble clubs along the lines of my sentiments above.
By the way, don’t assume that by posting here that I haven’t responded to the questionnaire.

There are lots of cooks representing anglers and no chiefs - just how the powers that be like it.

Have I put somebody’s nose out with my post? I hope so.
It’s not worth commenting any more this subject.

 

[9007]

I won’t give my views to the ‘EA will do what they want if we don’t respond’ line.

However as regards the licence for shooting birds not being fulfilled, I believe that our club has a cormorant license for a whole 2 birds this year. WTF ?
Won’t even make a dent. ‘Many licencees don’t use their allocation’? There’s probably a good reason for them not reporting accurately.
Please stop pandering to political niceties and do something meaningful.
Perhaps the next meeting of the RFCA will put forwards a joint response from all Ribble clubs along the lines of my sentiments above.
By the way, don’t assume that by posting here that I haven’t responded to the questionnaire.

There are lots of cooks representing anglers and no chiefs - just how the powers that be like it.

Have I put somebody’s nose out with my post? I hope so.
It’s not worth commenting any more this subject.

I'll ensure your positive proactive response is certainly brought up at the next RFCA meeting. If you wish to formally present please feel free to email ng.rfca@gmail.com

 

[playhappy]

Ever decreasing circles

The only data that Defra have about salmon numbers is provided by our catch returns and they charge us £85 a year to provide it. What a system.

Make it harder to catch fish - ie restrict methods etc - more people give up. Less people fishing = less salmon caught. Less salmon caught = more restrictions. Because it's a cheap fix. A pathetic cheap response to look like they have taken action. Lip service.

As others have rightly said - the problem aint us. We are already at 96% C&R voluntarily.

Ive filled it in - Undecided mainly and a moan about the migratory licence fee. IMO it should be scrapped - trout licence and a catch return is plenty for the data. Without us they are blind.

Defra seem to reach out every ten years 2015 - 2025 - next one will be 2035. Meanwhile the rivers polluted constantly by private water and agri run off.

Question 1 - Do you think salmon like cold, clean water
Question 2 - Should we reduce the gape on a hook

Of the two questions which is harder to achieve within a budget.

We are low hanging fruit.

Playhappy, Fish more,
Boo

 

[Julian Water21]

Any suggestion that EA/DEFRA actually do anything effective to protect fishing is entirely false. Many factors involved of course in fishery declines - BUT virtually all resolvable with alternative approaches (sewage treatment and farming methods) that, extraordinarily also benefit the wider public interests - yet powerful vested interests prevent.

 

[sutty]

Might help if they did something to stop it being overloaded with nutrients. This is what I arrived to today.

 

[crabacle]

Might help if they did something to stop it being overloaded with nutrients. This is what I arrived to today.

View attachment 114429

That’s what I’ve found too at Sawley. Are you downstream of that?

 

[sutty]

Not far upstream.

 

[Clitheroe Kid]

I hadn't realised that Norwegian salmon numbers have dramatically declined over recent years, and it seems that one of the main culprits is sea-lice, mainly from salmon farms.

I found this video really interesting -

 

[tadpole]

mr sharkey could do with seeing this

 

[Warwick I]

I got the rod out for the first time in a couple of months on a big 3ft peaty river mainly to clear cabin fever. Using big red Francis I was surprised to get a strong pull then later on an aggressive take with a fish on for 15sec before did an acrobatic leap and threw the fly, a fresh looking Salmon of around 10lb that got the heart beating.0

 

[Saint Andrews]

I got the rod out for the first time in a couple of months on a big 3ft peaty river mainly to clear cabin fever. Using big red Francis I was surprised to get a strong pull then later on an aggressive take with a fish on for 15sec before did an acrobatic leap and threw the fly, a fresh looking Salmon of around 10lb that got the heart beating.0

Well done Warwick, as the saying goes 'better to have hooked and lost than never have hooked at all'.... I once said the same to PlayHappy after loosing a tide fresh Springer 8th April that spat the fly after a good few minutes fight and lept 3 times near Clitheroe. He said to me after seeing me go pale, head in hands and tears in eyes repeatedly saying 'No, No, No, No' he said he doubts the saying is correct

 

[Lancsflyman]

Sea trout season finally over - another blank for me😩
I‘ve been more successful with the salmon than sea trout.
I got out this afternoon with the big rod & hooked & landed a salmon within the first half hour & managed another grilse in the last hour of day light.
Lets hope there’s a decent run of salmon to come in the last 6 weeks of the season 🤞

 

[Saint Andrews]

Well done Paul, youve had a decent season. Im sure there will be plenty more for you over the next 6 weeks

 

[Lancsflyman]

I managed another salmon this afternoon & a 1 1/2lb Sea trout season for & lost either a salmon or a sea trout - reel scream off for a couple of seconds then all went slack, win some & lose some! All part of fishing 😀

 

[Lancsflyman]

all

 

[Rennie]

Ribbles goosed now though, lucky I didn't take a trip over this morning, I'd have just crossed the river and shortly after all thoughts of crossing back over and indeed constructive fishing would have gone flying downstream with all this flood water!.
Time for a bit of fly tying!.
Pedro.

 

[Lancsflyman]

Ribbles goosed now though, lucky I didn't take a trip over this morning, I'd have just crossed the river and shortly after all thoughts of crossing back over and indeed constructive fishing would have gone flying downstream with all this flood water!.
Time for a bit of fly tying!.
Pedro.

I’m sure you get out sometime this week Pete.
Message me on whatsApp if you are unsure, when you plan on coming over