http://www.environment-agency.gov.uk/subje...rsion=1&lang=_e

TL - leon

Guests - this sponsored link will vanish when you log-in. Click here to register for free.

Leon - I think one thing that would bring more anglers "into the fold" would be to allow novices to fish with an experienced angler (one who has held a licence for over, say, five years)for one day without purchasing a licence.

[ 16. January 2005, 09:01 PM: Message edited by: kleinboet ]

Kleinboet, No good telling me, you need to respond to the EA Consultation.

Tight Lines - leon


ps This is what I sent them:

To: richard.wightman@environment-agency.gov.uk

re: Angling 2015 - Getting more people into angling - 'Guest Licensing'

'Guest’ Licensing

By Leon Roskilly

Angling is an activity of immense (albeit largely unrecognised) national social, and economic value, universally accessible to all social groups, including handicapped, unemployed etc.

Unfortunately, evidence seems to suggest that the number of people involved in angling is declining.

Undoubtedly, in part, this is due to the lack of convenient fishing opportunities for newcomers (with most waters now coming under control of a club, or owner seeking income), and the lack of opportunity to take up fishing on impulse.

(Prospective (non-sea) anglers now need to pre-arrange the purchase of a licence, and often a club membership or day ticket etc).

In my own experience, I’ve often been approached by relatives, friends and colleagues asking if they could accompany me on a fishing trip, but the idea has usually been dropped, due to the amount of pre-arrangement needed.

Contrast this to the requests to join me on a cycling trip. I lend them my spare bike, and we are off.

(I’ve a number of cycling companions who I’ve recruited to join in club runs – if only it was so easy to get them fishing!)

What follows are a couple of ideas that I have to address these problems of recruitment.


1. Guest licensing

Currently, a coarse angler can purchase a second licence, allowing the individual to fish with two extra rods.

What I propose is that any angler who has two licences may fish with the additional rods, *or* in the company of an otherwise unlicensed angler (or two).

This would mean that I could take a succession of individuals on trips with me throughout the season , without worrying about first obtaining a license for them.

A proportion of those I take, would ultimately want to fish without me, and need to buy their own personal licence, leading to increased numbers of people fishing, and buying licences.

Even if an angler were to only fish with me, and never bought their own licence, there would still be income from two licences.

Maybe I would take John one week, and Mary on alternative weeks, but this arrangement would clearly be very unsatisfactory over any period of time, and unlikely.

I’m pretty sure that the number of extra people introduced to the sport, to eventually buy their own licences, would easily outweigh any concerns for abuse of the Guest Licence system.


Another idea would be to leave space on the licence for the licence holder to take an unlicensed angler fishing with them on a number of occasions throughout the season.

(Say 10) blank spaces would be available.


The licence holder would write in the name of the unlicensed guest, and the date of the session, in ink, before starting to fish.

The same person could not be taken more than (say) three times during the season.


2. Guest Membership

We should encourage clubs to adopt a similar system.

Pay double membership, and you could fish with any other guest angler on club waters. (I get lots of invites to fish with other people, it would nice to be able to easily respond in fashion)

In addition, the club membership document would have spaces for guests as above.

Before commencing fishing, the club member would fill in the name of the guest, and the date, in Ink.

(There may be an additional day ticket charge to be collected by the bailiff at the bank.)

The club might find its membership increasing, as the guests and newcomers I take along, having experienced the fishing without the need to fork out fill membership up front, take out their own membership, and/or tell their friends about the waters and the fishing to be had.

------------------

Of course, there are all sorts of details which need to be added to the basic principle (e.g. guest’s rods must be fished within 20 metres of the licensed/member’s rods etc )

But such schemes would mean that next time I’m asked ‘Can I come fishing with you this weekend?’ I could answer ‘Sure, I’ve got a spare rod, let’s go’.

I’d probably spend more time fishing and less time cycling with my family and friends !

Angling needs to recruit more people. Let’s find ways to make it as easy to start fishing, or play football etc, and safeguard the future of the sport.


Tight Lines – Leon Roskilly

[ 16. January 2005, 09:14 PM: Message edited by: Leon Roskilly ]

There some good idea Leon, I might put that to our local fishing club committee.

We did once have day tickets but not anymore and we are definitely losing money that way!