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Dave B

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Posts posted by Dave B

  1. I think part of what Deene'o is on about is the link between the tackle industry and the rsa, is it worth exploring? Is there a simularity with regards to the USA and the uk, on a much smaller way of course.

     

     

    Unfortunately, there are few tackle companies that put money back into the sport over here. In the US they pile money into prizes for tournaments and sponsoring big name anglers etc. In fact, most of the light spinning rods and baitcasting rods that we can buy here in the UK are a direct result of the multi million dollar research and development that goes into USA bass fishing.

    The problem is, that most of the big name tackle manufacturers are American or Japanese - or they're owned by the Americans or Japanese. Their sport fishing tournaments are where the big bucks are, so the poor old UK doesn't get a look in. I'd welcome input (financially) from the UK tackle industry, but it ain't gonna happen.

  2. The Americans have a Bass competition that pays out a million dollars every year you will find a grand up for grabs in the UK at most. The yanks (can I say that on here) have prime time tv coverage of these events. They have a Two Hundred mile limit just like little old Iceland and they manage it well.

     

    For a start, the bass competitions you're talking about are held in lakes - freshwater lakes, so it's great having a 200-mile exclusion zone, but it doesn't affect the bass fishing in any way.

    Also, I think you'll find that the million dollar prizes come from the tackle industry and other sponsors - it's got bugger all to do with having a rod license. Most of the top guns on the bass tournament scene have more sponsorship logos on their clothes, boats and cars than most Formula 1 drivers! This is another reason why it makes primetime viewing - it's all paid for - just check out the ad breaks.

    If you want to talk about big money fishing competitions in the sea, then you need to start researching the big game tournaments. There are a number of 'circuits', and many of them have top prizes between $500,000 and $2,000,000. But then again, billfish tourneys are a rich man's game!

  3. LOL You been talking to your mum? I was on the phone to her the other day, saying how much I hated the sparrowhawk that's killing our blackbirds in front of us in the garden!

     

    Lol, no mate - we've got loads of s'hawks, buzzards and even red kites up here in lincolnshire. I love I do - they're awesome. Shame they kill blackbirds etc, but there's loads of blackbirds around - not many Apex predators with wings though! Besides, i heard you like shooting blackbirds with ya spud gun!

  4. I reckon it's farmers then, as these were in farmers' fields.

     

    It's nice to know that the world of angling isn't the only area where political bull**it prevails! Why can't they just introduce a few and see how it goes? Sod all the 'protected for a 100 metre radius' crap - they'll either survive or die, it's not bloody rocket science!

    And if the RSPB are so worried about a few other birds becoming 'meals' for the eagles, why don't they petition for a cull of sparrow hawks? There's loads up our way and they regularly smack hell out of the blackbirds/ starlings and doves.

    We live in a crazy society here in the UK - it's utter madness.

  5. Wayne, sorry I mist your post, didn't want to rock the boat!

     

    Believe it or not, we are on the same side so I will leave it at that.

     

    I keep a keen eye on BFM too.

     

    And so you should, because apart from this and a few other websites - it's the only place you can get any information about what's really going on behind those firmly closed doors at AT Towers! I must admit, that if it wasn't for Steve C and a few others I wouldn't even bother with the politics in the mag. Getting info out of the AT is like trying to catch Dover sole with a size 10/0 O'Shaughnessy!

    I'm just glad to have hooked up with some very passionate anglers that are willing to sort through all the political crap that is scattered about in myriads of locations, and put it into plain English that most anglers can understand.

  6. Well anyone that knows me will be aware that I absolutely detest cats! I hate them even more now I know that they're adding to the problem of overfishing! LOL

     

    I Love this bit...

    "The authors of a recent book, Time to Eat the Dog?, warned that the energy required to feed a cat is the same as that required to build and drive a Volkswagen Golf for 6,000 miles a year."

     

    Where the hell did that come from? What a load of Pollacks!

    If that quote is anywhere near true, why not feed cats petrol or diesel instead and save some of our fish! :lol:

     

    I totally agree with this quote though -

    "I say this as a cat owner: Pets are definitely second rate when it comes to eating fish, and should be largely fed by the trimmings market."

  7. ”The option of letting anglers take the odd fish ‘for the pot’ was considered but this would have

    made it difficult to bailiff. The effects of the scheme will be reviewed each year.”

     

    Now this sounds like a total cop out to me - Oh it is!

    I do question the intelligence of these people, really I do. How difficult is it to police?

    "Can I take a look in your bag please sir?" "Oh, you've got one mullet - fair play."

     

    We now know that poaching is the problem, so they have to 'bailiff' that now, 24hrs a day. That's the reason why the fish are disappearing from the river - bloody huge nets!

    It's common sense really, if you stop the poaching the fish will return. I'm afraid it's not just a '2-year job' either, as soon as you stop the patrols the poachers will be back. If you catch all the current poachers and prosecute them, there will be others to step into the role. This problem has been going on for centuries all around the UK!

  8. I Had to laugh at this!

    http://www.anglingtrust.net/news.asp?itemi...ust+Latest+News

     

     

     

    How dare they! How dare they decide to ban fishing on a relatively small reservoir, without consulting the AT! Now they might understand how sea anglers feel!

     

    "The local angling club and the Angling Trust were only made aware of this decision after it had been taken; we believe that this is an announcement rather than a consultation." - Hello, that sounds familiar, but it's a bit more painful now the boot's on the other foot isn't it?

     

    “Given the region’s strategic importance for providing angling facilities for the whole of England, this is a grim prospect for angling as a whole. We will continue our campaign to get the company to consult properly in future with angling clubs and the Angling Trust and to take a more pragmatic approach to risk management at its sites.”

     

    - Where the hell do they get off? As if Draycote provides fishing for 'the whole of England'. There are loads of very good trout fishing reservoirs all around the UK.

    I'm posting this because I'm sick of getting e-mails from the AT blurting on about 'how great fish 'o' bloody mania is, and 'oh dear, one venue has been closed to trout anglers and there's absolutely nothing we can do (or could have done) about it', when there's a whole load of issues about to affect sea anglers that are literally being swept under the carpet.

     

    The fact of the matter, on the Draycote issue, is that Severn Trent PLC have every right to close the reservoir if they do so wish - they own it! It's their business that they'll be turning away in the form of day tickets from paying anglers. It's just the same as some syndicate carp lake owner deciding that he wants the lake for himself and his mates and closing it to Joe Public.

    What we're being faced with, as sea anglers, is the very real threat of various organisations (that don't own our seas) closing areas off to sea anglers - you and me.

  9. I can't wait either Paul - we may get nothing, but we may just do the business! I've got three or four different methods in my head to try - you just need to rig up that livewell mate!

    It'd be great to actually sett out to target them and catch a couple!

  10. Good timing! Further to my post above - here is an e-mail that just popped through from a BFM reader! Referring to 'eelgate'.

     

    Hi Dave,

    Having read Steve's Angle in this months BFM, I was appaulled at what I was reading. I rang my local MP and they didn't have a clue what I was talking about. I explained, that this bye-law breached my common rite to take fish from the sea for food.

    As the law stands " every man has the common rite to take whatever fish he wants from the sea as long as it is to feed himself and his family. (not that I want to take eels)

    The new by-law breaches this rite.

    My local MP has asked me to ask if you can e-mail a copy of Steve's article and a copy of the new by-law so he can look into it for me. I will be much obliged if you can help with this. If we can get at least one MP on our side it will help.

    his e-mail address is kempf@parliament.com

    If you could forward a copy of Steve's article and the original by-law to Fraser Kemp MP and mark it for the attention of Val ( his secratary).

     

    Best regrds,

    Mike Haley

  11. Dave,

     

    I think I must of misunderstood your question on the AT advertising. I was reffering to the full page campaign add, the one that says: The average angler spends £670 a year on fishing......the best anglers spend £20 more. Sorry

     

    Yes, I agree with you on this subject, the AT has made a mess of communication, why, I don't know Dave, I'm not an AT rep. But Dave, you are missing the point of my argument so I shall say it again.

     

    You are in a position where everyday anglers who subscribe to the BFM, like me, want to see an editor who does not resort to childish stupid, sarcastic comments on a forum, if thats what you really think of anglers, do yourself a favour and keep it to yourself. You know what I would of said if I were in your shoes?

     

    Something like this,

     

    Well Reg, I had a moment of lapse and got caught up in the friendly banter on this forum, Sorry mate.

     

    I am an angler Dave, just like you, friendly banter is at the very heart of all friendships, at the very heart of all anglers, we take the mick out of people behind their backs, sometimes to their face if they know the person realizes it to be a joke. Your an angler Dave, but you are also an editor of a national magazine, try to remember that.

     

     

    Okay Reg, so maybe the last part of my comment on the 'What do I get for my £20' post was a bit sarcastic, but I stand by everything else I've said on here.

     

    When you say the AT have spent an entire year 'setting up the organisation' what exactly do you mean? I thought they had a launch 'party' last year to launch the organisation? You don't turn the ignition key before you've put fuel in the boat do you? So why 'launch' and organisation that isn't ready to be launched? I'm sorry Reg, but that argument stinks. There's no excuse for cutting out the sea fishing media, which in turn cuts out most of the sea angling population, from being involved with what's happening to our sport.

     

    They were quick to get involved with the coarse side of things - and at the time everyone was saying, for months on end, that the AT thought of sea anglers as second class citizens. It was only when Article 47 reared it's ugly head that the AT actually acknowledged that we sea anglers exist!

     

    I do hope that communication gets better between the AT and the sea fishing media this year, but I'm not holding my breath. I understand that the organisation lacks funds and is short on manpower - but in my view they've gone about it all wrong. It doesn't take that long to scribble down 500 words every month and e-mail it to three magazines, now does it? You've probably written over 3000 words in the past week on this forum! Surely someone at the AT could have spared 20 mins to let sea anglers know what was going on?

     

    We're fast reaching the point of 'Too little too late' Reg, There has been a hell of a lot of goings on over the past couple of months that neither myself, or my readers would have known anything about if it were'nt for people like Steve Copollo and Elton on this site doing a bit of digging and researching. That info should have been made public knowledge to everyone - not just my readers, as it happened or even better, way before it happened!

     

    The AT have not done themselves any favours. And, despite my continued offer of support, things have remained the same for over 12 months.

     

    I don't want to find out from a press release from the EA that I can't take eels up to 6-miles out after the event. I want to be told by the AT that the EA is pushing for this motion to go ahead two months beforehand!

    They, the AT, have a moral duty to let the media know what's going on - not just 'get on with it behind closed doors' - I can't see any 'Angler' in their right mind wanting to fund such activity!

  12. Great reply Dave, and one that I expected and hoped for.

     

    But, for all your hard work, years of dedicated experience and offers of help, and a great BFM by the way, you then throw it all away with stupid sarcastic comments towards SEA ANGLERS and their hopes of a better sport, just because they dare to believe in something you don't. I have not been brainwashed Dave, as I said to Steve C, I have fears from within, REAL FEARS with regard the NFSA, like all sea anglers who know what they did to our sport, but the fears of doing nothing are far far greater. If sea anglers do not unite how can we change the future, how can we get shot of the bad apples in the NFSA within the AT marine committees, which Steve and Wayne keep refering too, the answer is we can not DAVE.

     

    Steve walked away when we asked him time and time again to help shape the AT from within, Wayne is hindering the efforts of ALL AT committee members by blaming them as one instead of helping to ouse the bad apples. My God, Wayne has so much to offer anglers, total commitment to a worthwhile cause. There must be a better way of doing things, a better way of communication between staff.

     

    As far as your past efforts Dave, I will email Mike Heylin and ask why the AT has not responded, strange, because there is advertsing in the other sea angling magazines, some of which I subscribe to as well. Have you thought that the answer may just be that they do not find your comments satisfactory.

     

     

    To which sea angling magazines are you referring to Reg? Because I get all of them here in the office and I haven't seen anything from the AT in them. Yes, I have gotten bitter, but that's purely out of frustration with how the AT are conducting themselves. I can't believe that they have turned down a very genuine offer of free editorial every month for an entire year. Apart from the 2-pager that Mark wrote, that's been about the extent of contact. Why haven't they pushed Mel and Barney to get space in SA and TSF as well? There are only two reasons for this Reg - either the AT don't want grass roots sea anglers to know their business, or they just can't be bothered!

     

    Don't come back with 'they're all really busy and don't have time'. I've heard that before on numerous occasions. The fact is, communication with members and prospective members is by far and away the most important thing for the AT right now. It should be top of their agenda. Why? Because if you haven't got the backing of the recreational sea anglers that you're trying to represent then you're halfway to losing the battle before you start!

     

    My views are not necessarily the views of Boat Fishing Monthly magazine. Yes, I am the editor, but like I said in my previous post I am duty bound to give everyone a level platform to voice their opinions. The sheer lack of response from the AT on various forums also rings alarm bells. Why doesn't the AT post on threads and set the record straight on various issues if everyone out there is getting it wrong?

    There's much more to this than meets the eye. One can't help but be wary of the whole situation. If someone was badmouthing me on a forum or in a magazine, and had got the wrong end of the stick, I would be quick to react (not retaliate) and voice my opinion to set the record straight.

    The AT only have themselves to blame as far as my opinion of them goes. I've tried time and time again (way before I became bitter about the situation) to offer my support to the AT, including the use of BFM as a marketing tool, but the very public lack of response and interest has swayed me to think that something's not right in the AT camp! I can't put it clearer than that. WHY does/ did the Angling Trust NOT WANT TO PROMOTE THEMSELVES TO BOAT ANGLERS FOR FREE?

    If you can answer that one for me Reg, I would sleep better at night! Ignore the past three or four months as far as I am concerned - I'm talking about the first 8 months of the AT's existence.

  13. Shame on you Dave. How do you think subscribers to your magazine, who are also AT members feel about you desending down to this level. As you know already, I as well as Chris Holloway, an AT representative, have already made you eat your words, making you publicly state the following in the February edition of BFM:

     

    Well Reg, I'm all in for the Angling Trust if they can help 'save' our sport, but as our political correspondent Steve Copollo pointed out last month, the AT manifesto as it stands could do more damage to our sport than good. It's very early days yet as far as the organization goes, and after weighing up I agree that it's better to have an organization that is a little misguided than no organization at all- so YES I AM ACTIVELY PROMOTING the AT as a GOOD thing. If they are willing to talk to real anglers and get their input on what real anglers want, need or foresee happening to the sport, then I can see the AT becoming a force to be reckoned with.

     

    Do you read your own script Dave!

     

    As a subscriber for many years, I expect the editor to be both professional and respectful to its subscribers........... you are not.

     

    In the January editition of BFM you said that you want to be envolved on an advisory capacity if at all possible, back then I supported you and would of welcomed your input, now,....... NOT A CHANCE. A person in a privileged position such as yours cannot make childish remarks, no matter how light hearted they were intended to be.

     

    So I am a crazed loonie and I am determined to do my best to destroy your sport........... no need Dave, your doing a better job than me!!

     

     

    "As a subscriber for many years, I expect the editor to be both professional and respectful to its subscribers........... you are not. "

    As a sea angler for many years, and a sea fishing magazine editor for many years, I expect the top brass of my supposed 'national governing body for all anglers' to be both professional and respectful to it's members and potential members - THEY ARE NOT!

     

    Reg, I stand by what I said - I AM all in favour of an organisation if they can help 'save' our sport - but I'm afraid that the AT has already demonstrated the exact opposite.

    It seems that you haven't quite read my quote correctly either - "If they are willing to talk to real anglers and get their input on what real anglers want, need or foresee happening to the sport, then I can see the AT becoming a force to be reckoned with."

    Exactly when has this happened? Oh, that's right, it hasn't!

     

    I have bent over backwards to accommodate the AT, but the offer has been publicly turned down - on more than one occasion. How can any organisation hope to change things for the better by working behind closed doors and not letting anyone (grass roots anglers, journalists and yes, magazine editors) know what's going on?

    At the time I wrote that quote above, I was led into thinking that the AT was actually going to get off their arse and start sending through promotional material for me to print in the magazine - but yet again they have failed, dismally.

     

    I did say I would like to be involved in an advisory capacity, but yet again, in not 'in' with the in crowd - so that's a non-starter too. Apparently, 34 years of sea fishing experience and 16 years working at the forefront of sea fishing magazine publishing doesn't qualify me to have a clue about the UK sea fishing industry or how your regular sea angler views the sport!

    In fact, the AT has done as much as it possibly can do to alienate myself and my readers from their organisation. Total lack of contact and total lack of commitment on their part has certainly worked to sway my opinion of them.

     

    Unfortunately for you, and the AT, I am in a privileged position - to make my readers aware of the shortcomings of the organisation as far as I am concerned. And yet again - THE OFFER STILL STANDS IF THE AT WANT TO SEND THROUGH NEWS AND PROMOTIONAL MATERIAL I WILL PRINT IT.

    It's not my job to shoot down anyone, as an editor I have to follow the unwritten rule of a fair platform for everyone to get up and talk from.

    Let's face it - one article in the press in one year is not really good PR is it? If I were sitting on the board of the AT I would have ensured, from day one, that the very first thing to be done was to inform and build relationships with editors of magazines, and online magazines, to help get the ball rolling and drive the momentum to grow membership - not sit back and wait for members to come to us!

     

    The whole thing is a joke Reg, and unfortunately you've been brainwashed into the whole scam. Both Steve C and myself have given the AT numerous opportunities to help promote the organisation, and to give them a voice to the sea fishing public, but that has been turned down or ignored far too many times for my liking - How, exactly, do think I should feel about the situation? My sea fishing rights are being swept from under my nose and there's not a damned thing I can do about it, because joining the AT would be adding more fuel to the fire as it stands at this present moment in time.

     

    If the AT had kept in close contact with me, from the off, and had taken up my very generous offer of a full page per month in the magazine to help promote and inform, then my opinion of them may very well have been different to that which it is now!

    I guess I've just got tired, and quite frankly bored of the whole cat and mouse game of trying to find out what the hell this very secretive organisation is all about!

  14. "In recent years anglers have seen the peace and quiet on the waters they fish being

    shattered by increasing numbers of canoes, rafts and other craft. Often these boats

    are being launched without the landowners permission and without a right of

    navigation. They can cause irreparable damage to delicate habitats which support

    fish and fish eggs.

     

    The British Canoe Union has been running a campaign, with some political support,

    for universal access to all watercourses, at all times – a “right to row”. In its first

    year of existence, the Angling Trust lobbied Government, MPs and the Environment

    Agency to quash these proposals, which seems to have been successful."

     

     

     

    Ahh, so THAT's what the AT have been doing for the past year! I did wonder. I'm sorry, but I grew up fishing on rivers for roach and perch. There were always canoes and boats around then, and we just put up with it - as far as I am concerned they have as much right to be on the water as we do next to it.

    I never imagined that trying to stop a few canoes from paddling gently up a river was SUCH an important agenda - my how times have changed.

    Honestly, it's bloody pathetic!

     

    Thanks for posting the link for the Newsletter Murph - I'm not a member of the AT, so I wouldn't ever get to see it otherwise!

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