davidP

Perhaps it needs a link to the fishing reports section ie look up a fishery then click to see any reports (somewhat reliant on people filling in reports of course)

Errrmmm, you mean like this one here ?? http://www.anglersnet.co.uk/fisheries/index.htm

Errrmmm, you mean like this one here ?? http://www.anglersnet.co.uk/fisheries/index.htm

I know of a couple of clubs who obtained grants for fisheries work, both to create and update waters. Unfortunately I no longer live in the area and have lost touch with the relevant people. So it is possible to obtain grants, but (and it's a big but) you really really have to do your job correctly in creating the application. Many people have applied and then whinged when they got rejected conveniently ignoring the fact that they hadn't followed the rules in making their applications. The rules are (or were, I've been out of touch for a couple of years) that they only funded capital projects ie those where new facilities were being created. You also have to have the remaining finance already sorted out before applying. The thing to remember all the time is that you're trying to get money out of the Government (or its representatives). Everything has to be included, in triplicate, in the right language and in the right format, and it's hard work getting it right. As stated previously, the NFA will assist if you're affiliated. I would also suggest aproaching the local council as they'll almost certainly have staff who specialise in Lottery projects. Also aproach people like Angling Link or other disabled angling bodies because they'll be able to advise on what facilities you need and what sort of thing goes down well with the Lottery board. So to sum up, it is possible to get good grants, but it needs a lot of work on your part first to get it off the ground.

I know of a couple of clubs who obtained grants for fisheries work, both to create and update waters. Unfortunately I no longer live in the area and have lost touch with the relevant people. So it is possible to obtain grants, but (and it's a big but) you really really have to do your job correctly in creating the application. Many people have applied and then whinged when they got rejected conveniently ignoring the fact that they hadn't followed the rules in making their applications. The rules are (or were, I've been out of touch for a couple of years) that they only funded capital projects ie those where new facilities were being created. You also have to have the remaining finance already sorted out before applying. The thing to remember all the time is that you're trying to get money out of the Government (or its representatives). Everything has to be included, in triplicate, in the right language and in the right format, and it's hard work getting it right. As stated previously, the NFA will assist if you're affiliated. I would also suggest aproaching the local council as they'll almost certainly have staff who specialise in Lottery projects. Also aproach people like Angling Link or other disabled angling bodies because they'll be able to advise on what facilities you need and what sort of thing goes down well with the Lottery board. So to sum up, it is possible to get good grants, but it needs a lot of work on your part first to get it off the ground.

OK, I've found 1 thing that would be nice to change : when you get to the most recent post and click 'next' it takes you to a screen to say there's no more posts then zaps you straight back to the post you last viewed. I think this would be better if as previously it gave you the option to select a different forum to 'return' to rather than going back to the same post. Other than that minor quibble however it's pretty good

OK, I've found 1 thing that would be nice to change : when you get to the most recent post and click 'next' it takes you to a screen to say there's no more posts then zaps you straight back to the post you last viewed. I think this would be better if as previously it gave you the option to select a different forum to 'return' to rather than going back to the same post. Other than that minor quibble however it's pretty good

What's chester's number? I feel a 'Man calling the boat in off the boating lake' joke coming on I refer the Honourable Gentleman to the signature file I used a few moments ago

What's chester's number? I feel a 'Man calling the boat in off the boating lake' joke coming on I refer the Honourable Gentleman to the signature file I used a few moments ago

There are situations where you don't want the line to sink. Fishing with floating baits would be one, or fishing a float on a river would be another. Sinking the line in these cases would be counter-producive as you need full control of the line and sinking it could lead to bows or loops that you can't see.

There are situations where you don't want the line to sink. Fishing with floating baits would be one, or fishing a float on a river would be another. Sinking the line in these cases would be counter-producive as you need full control of the line and sinking it could lead to bows or loops that you can't see.

A bucket of water will do just as well. As most spools have 'fins' on the inside of the spool, they provide enough friction against the water to tension the line quite nicely.

A bucket of water will do just as well. As most spools have 'fins' on the inside of the spool, they provide enough friction against the water to tension the line quite nicely.

Hmmm - nothing quite like jumping on band-wagons now is there. Channel 4 produce a successfull series on just this theme, including an English couple setting up a French carp fishery, and so the BBC have to make a copy. Whatever happened to innovative programming? Probably lost under the weight of fly-on-the-wall programmes they're already churning out.

Hmmm - nothing quite like jumping on band-wagons now is there. Channel 4 produce a successfull series on just this theme, including an English couple setting up a French carp fishery, and so the BBC have to make a copy. Whatever happened to innovative programming? Probably lost under the weight of fly-on-the-wall programmes they're already churning out.

It is certainly illegal in the UK as practically all birds of prey are protected, but that doesn't stop it happening. One of the big differences between the UK & US is that the vast majority of land in the UK is actively owned & managed - there is very little 'wild' habitat. For centuries large amounts of land has been set aside and specifically managed for hunting and shooting with minimal public access. Thus the gamekeepers could basically get away with whatever they wanted and during this time anything that could kill the quarry (ie pheasant, partridge, grouse, trout etc) was pretty ruthlessly hunted. Add to this an attitude almost verging on paranoia from (particularly sheep) farmers and you begin to see why several species have been hunted to extinction in parts of the country (ie red kite in England, osprey & peregrine falcon practically everywhere). Times have changed though and attitudes amongst the general population have now moved on. Sadly however there are still a hardcore of farmers, gamekeepers & country land-owners who still operate the "kill 'em all" policy. And they're very difficult to catch because the land is private so obtaining the necessary proof is almost impossible. As an example, a few years ago a lot of money was spent to reintroduce the red kite back into England, particularly into the Chiltern Hills. I used to see them fairly regularly driving down the M40 (that's while I was driving, not the birds) between Oxford & High Wycombe. After a few months though you didn't see them any more, and I read a small article later about the fact that they'd found a couple of the birds poisoned. And this is hardly in the wilds of Britain, it's about 40 miles from London!

It is certainly illegal in the UK as practically all birds of prey are protected, but that doesn't stop it happening. One of the big differences between the UK & US is that the vast majority of land in the UK is actively owned & managed - there is very little 'wild' habitat. For centuries large amounts of land has been set aside and specifically managed for hunting and shooting with minimal public access. Thus the gamekeepers could basically get away with whatever they wanted and during this time anything that could kill the quarry (ie pheasant, partridge, grouse, trout etc) was pretty ruthlessly hunted. Add to this an attitude almost verging on paranoia from (particularly sheep) farmers and you begin to see why several species have been hunted to extinction in parts of the country (ie red kite in England, osprey & peregrine falcon practically everywhere). Times have changed though and attitudes amongst the general population have now moved on. Sadly however there are still a hardcore of farmers, gamekeepers & country land-owners who still operate the "kill 'em all" policy. And they're very difficult to catch because the land is private so obtaining the necessary proof is almost impossible. As an example, a few years ago a lot of money was spent to reintroduce the red kite back into England, particularly into the Chiltern Hills. I used to see them fairly regularly driving down the M40 (that's while I was driving, not the birds) between Oxford & High Wycombe. After a few months though you didn't see them any more, and I read a small article later about the fact that they'd found a couple of the birds poisoned. And this is hardly in the wilds of Britain, it's about 40 miles from London!