I've just been reading about this, canoe/kayak users are wanting unrestricted access to waterways in England and Wales like they do in Scotland. Also read that Anglers are protesting against it.

Now there are obviously going to be arguements for and against this but does anyone else wish that we could just get on with enjoying our sport - whatever it may be - and learn to respect that other people should be able to use the countryside as much as we do. I would be quite happy to see canoes on the rivers and canals.

What are your opininons on this?

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The British Canoe Union is pressing for statutory access for non-powered craft on all rivers and streams.

Which means that they are once again seeking the right to paddle without consent along streams and brooks, past peoples back gardens etc. without any concern for disruption of other users of the waterside such as anglers and birdwatchers or fish spawning grounds.
I have nothing against them paddling along larger rivers and canals (or small remote or fishless streams) but I am against them paddling through private and club owned waters without any consent.

This post has been edited by BoldBear: May 7 2008, 11:00 AM

Here's a few.


http://www.anglersnet.co.uk/forums/Canoes-...hl=canoe+access

http://www.anglersnet.co.uk/forums/canoes-...hl=canoe+access

http://www.anglersnet.co.uk/forums/Canoes-...hl=canoe+access

http://www.anglersnet.co.uk/forums/SALTER-...hl=canoe+access

There was another earlier one , where a few canoeists joined the forum to put their point.
It did get a bit heated and I think it was deleted.

John.

Sounds like quite a hot topic, obviously I haven't read a lot because it seems there is far more to this than I was aware of. Didn't realise they were fighting to access private stretches of river, not sure if I would like that or not. More thought required I think

As BoldBear says, it's the fact that they want unrestricted access to everywhere that causes serious concern. Anglers don't have any right to fish anywhere. So why should canoeists? On the face of it that may sound petty but it's not intended to. Angling clubs have worked very hard for years to secure fishing rights and then pay for that privilege.

I'm not anti-canoeing but canoeing would have a detrimental effect to the fishing on lots of rivers. This is why the canoeing unions should be looking to organise access agreements with landowners. Just like anglers do now.

We pay a licence to pay for river improvement but that doesn't give us any right to fish.

Voluntary access must be the only way forward.

As far as i can see many canoeists already think they have unrestricted access to the river. Certainly there are canoeists on the Sussex Ouse every weekend. As the river is not very wide there is often friction between the canoeists and the anglers. I petitioned my local MP not to allow unrestricted access, not so much because of the fishing but because I did not want to see them charging up the sea trout spawning grounds, and for the sake of the wild-life in general.

If canooing is allowed on public waters there would have to be some accommodation with anglers and I imagine that they should have to purchase a license similar to a rod and line license. Maybe restrict access to the fishing closed season too?

Total unrestricted access is obviously silly.

MC

I'm not having a go but isn't the point of the closed season to protect fish whilst spawning? If anything that should be the last time canoes are allowed on. Although trout etc spawn in winter so it's not easy.

Good point. I hadn't really thought that one through.

MC