wearyone

I suspect those dates refer to the end of the coarse season (14th March) to the start of the brown trout fishing (24th March) where unles there are salmon in the river you cant fish at all. There have been instances in the past when the EA have given special permission to use other baits on a river when there are no known stocks of coarse fish, but I would think these would be very few. Just stick with artificial fly and you wont go far wrong. However if you start catching coarse fish move on, the EA could interpret that as intentionally fishing for them. They have prosecuted anglers in the past for doing just that. Also, only one rod can be used when fishing for trout on rivers and streams. As has been said previously, no loose feeding or ground baiting by any method.

I would go along with that, but I doubt the 1000's of riparian owners (including the Dean and Chapter/University of Durham who would let the canoeists on) would agree. But there again, we have come to expect double standards from our chuch and other leaders. We have a rent review in two years time, I somehow don't think they would see the logic if we told them that although we still wanted to fish the waters, we are not prepared to pay

dapper64 and other closet canoeists, None of the angling governing bodies is arguing against some kind of agreed access, just against the 'open access' or free for all the BCU and some others are seeking. The BCU is not prepared to consider any payment, registration or mandatory public liability cover. Any angling lease I have ever seen has a clause insisting that adequate liability cover is taken out. Let's face it, a canoe on crowded water is far more likely to cause some kind of loss or injury to a third party than the odd angler would. If an angler pokes some in the eye with a rod tip he would rightly be chased for damages, a canoeist knocks over an unseen angler, who has a legitimate reason to be in the water, thinks he/she can paddle on by without any consequence The following is the agreed policy from the angling side, sadly the BCU are not willing accept. 1 Canoe access must be organized under the auspices of either the British Canoe Union (BCU) or some other official body, such as a local club. Voluntary access agreements should not bestow the public right of access for canoeists onto a waterway. It should be a condition of any access agreement that canoes using the facility are clearly marked with a registration number. 2 Detailed consideration and proper safeguards for Health and Safety issues. 3 A code of conduct must be established under which canoes operate on inland waterways, similar to rules set down by angling clubs for their members. 4 Canoe access must be properly administered and policed, with rules strictly enforced and it should be the responsibility of the canoeing party to the agreement to ensure that such rules are complied with. 5 Canoeists breaking codes of conduct must face the same disciplinary procedures common within angling clubs, with rights of access denied to perpetrators. Failure to comply should result in any access agreement being withdrawn. 6 There should be a presumption that canoeists' responsibilities include safeguarding riparian owners’ liabilities (e.g. claims for damages arising from unmarked hazards and the additional duty of care for which owners are liable as a result of inviting third parties onto their property), maintaining their own public liability insurance, and funding for works on waterways and their infrastructure, of which canoeists are beneficiaries. 7 Angling clubs should be compensated for sharing access with canoeists, perhaps by paying reduced rent for leases and/or donations from canoeists into the fishery management/conservation fund. 8 Research should be undertaken to ascertain whether canoeing could impact upon the aquatic environment, especially in SSSIs and SAC's, and in which circumstances canoeing could be considered as unsuitable for particular types of waterway (e.g. width/depth of river) to build on the research of Keith Hendry and David Cragg-Hine (Agency R&D Technical Report W96). 9 The need for restrictions on other recreations on waters where the Environment Agency considered that a close season for fishing was necessary

I suggest that no one/club/association follow the trespass line. Trespass is a civil matter and the BCU are wanting people to take them on in the courts. Do not get involved in disputes/arguments. If possible advise them politely that they have no right to access (unless there already is an agreement in place) Up here in the North East there are known gangs going about the rivers hoping to get into confrontational situations with anglers. If there are any disputes that turn into threats of violence (which has happened in this area and also in the North West) contact the police saying that a breach of the peace has occurred.

Wrong, so very wrong! Last summer my club had an open day on our newly developed stillwater complex. Other local groups were invited to come along and put forward ideas for the whole community to use it, even canoeists. We offered them one day a month on one of the waters (the largest) Oh no, they were not satisfied with that. Every weekend, Sat/Sunday, oh and could we remove a large sunken block of concrete, and build a slipway, etc, etc. At the end of the day they were told to .... .ff and not to come back. Give them an inch and they will take thirty thousand miles.

So you are prepared to pay for every mile of water you paddle down and pay for access then Peter Sorry, got my disciples mixed up, I meant Mark. Apologies Peter

Already on the Wear, and on some of it's tributaries, canoeists have been seen disturbing spawning sea trout and salmon, even on one stretch of a small beck where angling clubs pay the Forestry Commission for the fishing rights and then close the water to angling on conservation grounds. It is a bit sickening when we then see the aquatic equivalent of the 'lycra louts' destroying spawning beds...all in the name of sport and enjoyment

The canoeists are certainly having a big push on trying to change the law at present. Our best defense remains that of being seen to be reasonable and responsible despite the provacation which may well be part of their strategy. I and a couple of other Club officials had a meeting with a lady from the EA Recreation section last week when she TOLD us what the EA had decided re canoe access on the stretches of river Wear that we lease from Durham University and the Dean and Chapter ( Durham Cathedral) I'm afraid she left a little less unsure of her position than when she arrived (especially as one club official ( a wealthy farmer) said he had put aside several 10's of thousand £'s to help secure the fishing we now enjoy. The last thing the EA want is a protracted legal battle. We did however give one concession re canoe access; in that they could 'paddle' the same stretch of river the University rowers currently use, that should be fun. Apparently the much acclaimed 'voluntary access agreement', for the Wear at least, (pages from 109 relate to the river Wear) is not worth the paper it was written on and is being disregarded by the Northumbria Area EA office. I will not pass on the EA's comments re Prof Ravenscroft and his team from the University of Brighton Totally agree, no pay no say. Where there is a right to paddle on the Scottish rivers, income from fishing on the Tay system alone has dropped by 90% since access was given to canoeists I would urge all anglers to contact their MP and ask him/her not to support the third reading of this farcical Private Members Bill. Click HERE to view the canoe access policy document produced by NAFAC and accepted by all members of FACT. I'm sorry but the NAFAC link has resticted access, I'll try to post the PDF...it could take me some time

If anyone finds 'anglers' fishing rivers out of season and wants a FAST response from the EA, tell them there are people snatching sea trout /salmon (due to the EA's sterling work?? a good few rivers now have them) They will be out faster than Lynford Christie out of the starting blocks, or even **it from a shovel Mention illegal coarse fishing and most EA staff manning the HOT LINE are not even aware there is a close season on rivers.

If you are a member of, or a member of a club/associatioin affiliated to, one of the Governing bodies making up FACT I would suggest that is the most appropriate route. SAA, NFA, NAFAC, S&T Ass etc.

Stayed at the Lenwade Country Hotel 1st weekend of November and fished the Frid/Sat. Fished poorly with a few chub to the mid 4's (I blanked) Two lads stayed at Taverham Mill and that produced a 6-3 chub on the Sunday. A couple of years ago we stayed at the Lenwade and a big 6 (chub) came from the bottom end just down the hill from the hotel. They are a bit tight at the hotel though, about 18 of us stayed the two nights, all had a good drink on the Frid/Sat evenings, two of the lads did not eat breakfast (but still payed for them) then the management agued the bit over a flask of coffee some one did not pay for Just saying how it was. Not sure if it's the same place http://www.lenwadecountryhousehotel.co.uk/...wadeframes.html

Getting off the point a little; but when I first applied for the allowance I had a doctor visit me from the DHSS and he cheered me up when he said it was refreshing to see someone with a genuine back problem Great I thought I couldn't believe he was talking about me when I read his report My old dog could have written a more accurate report, and he'd been planted in the back garden for the past 12 years. Fortunately I persisted and got there in the end, but not before asking the appeals tribunal doctor if he was purposely trying to wind me up.

I entirely agree with BUDGIE. Before ever the 'Blue Badge' criteria was brought in I wrote to the EA saying the scheme would disenfranchise many many people who by the fact that they were already on benefit through being unfit for work were on a reduced income. The reply at that time was that they(the EA) were trying to get away from a income based concession to that of giving more access to those with a mobility problem. I explained this to Dafyyd Evans at a meeting in Birmingham two years ago, he admitted that he/they did not realise how many people would be affected by just using the Blue Badge as a qualifying criteria. (and we can all give examples of abuse of the BB scheme ) Being given a BB has no connection to receiving the higher rate mobility allowance anyway. I received my Blue Badge long before I was awarded the higher rate mobility allowance. Three times I was turned down before being awarded the higher rate. I received a letter a few weeks ago from the EA saying that my concerns had been noted an acted upon. There are many ways of being 'disabled', its just that some are less obvious, and to many a lot more serious than finding a parking space. Just a shame no one in the Ivory Towers didn't realise sooner. AND whilst I'm on my soap box, why do woman and men qualify for free prescriptions at the age of 60, when the poor old bloke has to reach 65 before he can get his concessionary Rod Licence? I believe the NHS prescription change came about because of some EU legislation, would this not apply equally to the EA?

Yet another angling program dropped by the BBC http://www.bbc.co.uk/stoke/sport/angling/index.shtml#nib

Durham City AC are holding an 'Open Day' 26th August 2006 Details here; http://www.dreamstoreactive.org/events/vie...&distance=0 Also to be listed on Steve Gray's All Things Piscatorial site; http://www.allthingspiscatorial.com/

I agree, It is mostly those that night fish, especially on stillwaters.(it is on our waters anyway) Only last week I helped clear away 8 large bin liners full of rubbish, even the net dip tanks had litter put into them. Some had a smell so vile that I'm sure they contained human excrement. It has become so much of a problem at the water that we are considering installing a camera and video recorder just to find the culprits.

Thanks for the info, I did manage to talk to the tackle shop. I've seen a few old photographs of the mill, I doubt if there will be the same flow now as when the pics were taken, c 40/50's

Just out of interest Steve, did the EA charge for their serices at your water? My club had an occasion last year when we had problems on one of our waters (enclosed) We received a bill for almost £280-00. They are forever going on about the wonderful free service they offer; the first time in over 30 years of different bodies we have called for help and they sting us for the thick end of 300 quid = about £1-25 per member, all who willingly pay for their licence/s.

Ziltch!

I will be holidaying not far from Fakenham 1st week Septemer and I'm looking for info on the Wensum in that area, also the Stiffkey which is very close to where we will be staying, Great Snoring. I know the river lower down, but time on the bank will be limited owing to wife and aged mother in-law

Apparently (so said AT) it was one of their (Tesco's) top managers, who's an angler, who got them to market fishing tackle. Probably a little more market research would not have gone amiss.

Heard it's £2-85 and monthly. Think I'll stick with C.A.T. Anything David Hall starts never seems to last very long

Just heard about this project on the BBC news Read more HERE What a good idea by DEFRA, and others involved. My club is trying to create a silmilar but freshwater habitat, but all we get is obsticles put in our way the local planning department

A good show and one of the very few programmes on TalkSport without a political agenda. Perhaps if the management put as much effort into providing extra features (like listen again) as they do as slagging off the BBC (which does provide the service) the programme would have a greater audience. A cheep radio/cassette and a timer would solve the early morning problem, or record from freeview on a VCR But hey, it's a good way to start the day. Two hours of peace and quiet without the wife, bliss.

Close to bankruptsy? Someone's having a larf aren't they. Talking to the BAA sec last Saturday; they have over £4m assets in owned fishing, a bank balance that many a mid- sized businesses wished had, land and several properties owned outright and do not owe a penny to anyone, so who is going to make the BAA bankrupt. Look at it that way, compared to not too long ago, and I would say the BAA is being managed excellently. True they no longer have the membership they once had, but in the days pre Maggie every shift at the then BL had its own club affiliated to BAA, but how many other clubs have the membership they had 20-30 years ago?