goosequill

I emailed the Environment Agency [E.A.] about this incident last week and received an acknowledge and reference number on Monday - I understand I will now get a response within 10 working days which gives them until Friday 27th to answer: "Thank you for your enquiry. For your information, your query has been passed to our local External Relations Team (Planning and Corporate Services) for attention and they will be in touch with you shortly." "Thank you for contacting the Environment Agency. Please see below regarding our response times and environmental incident reporting You can expect to receive a reply from us within 10 working days for any general enquiry" Even if the response is ' this has been passed to so-and-so for a response' We (the Oxfordshire Thames Anglers) will keep pushing on this until the EA gives us an answer.

That's better than it was in 2007!

I have this evening, emailed the Environment Agency requesting them to explain the underlying and immediate causes for this significant event and will be expecting them to respond in a reasonable timescale. A fair number of us who know the area and regularily fish above and below the incident area, are, rightly concerned when 10,000 fish - yes 10,000 - are found belly up. If this were to happen on any water that any of us fish then I think it is only natural to speculate to the cause until we get an official answer.

Good luck with the Zander session. I must amit I am more 'selective' about going fishing especially with the mess that is due to roll across Oxfordshire tonight and tomorrow morning - I think it may be better to wait untill Sunday afternoon when there will be a tinge of colour in the river and all the 4lb Perch are feeding avidly along with the 2lb Roach and 6lb Chub.......far more civilised that way. Tomorrow will be a little hoovering and coffee drinking I think

Yes, it struck me as a bit strange that comment. Maybe just a 'holding comment' until something a bit more conclusive comes to fruition. Just have to keep badgering away at the BBC and EA to give us some updates when they are available. Yesterdays key statements: BBC: Up to 10,000 dead fish, mainly perch, were found in the Farmoor Reservoir water intake on the River Thames, the Environment Agency (EA) said. Environment Agency: "We were alerted to this incident by Thames Water after it found a number of dead fish in the intake at Farmoor Reservoir. "Water samples have been taken and we should have results in the morning." Thames water: "As a precautionary measure the intake has been closed following advice from the Environment Agency."

The EA Spokesperson was just on BBC Radio Oxford but as of yet no confirmation of one thing or another , just more speculation...this was pretty much all that was said: " They (the fish) were all found in a channel leading into the intake...perhaps they had all congregated in there and the Oxygen levels had dropped" Without knowing the geography of the intake area, and whether it is possible for thousands of fish to get into a 'channel' and then just stay there and suffocate (surely they would move back into the river unless it is a 'one-way channel' with 'NO EXIT' signs written in Perch language), not quite sure the real cause is apparent yet?

Let's just pray it has gone no further.....I guess it depends on what has caused this particular disaster (natural or Man-Made). If it's a natural virus or bacteria then it could be absolute curtains for Perch on the Thames catchment area (worse case). Best case is that it's a one-off event? Let's hope we get the update from the EA this morning?

I heard this terrible news around teatime yesterday on BBC Radio Oxford - it clearly said Perch. If these are from the River system then this is a worry for anyone who fishes the Thames. I would welcome an update from the EA as they were due to get the water sample results back this morning. How ironic as yesterday the EA were re-injecting life back into a river by stocking over 2000 new fish into a Thames Tributary in Oxfordshire, and then later that same day were having to deal with a huge fish-kill.

Oh, this should be an interesting topic. Q1: Do I set myself unrealistic angling targets? Absolutely Yes - I am a pathological dreamer when it comes to Monster Myths. Q2: Do I get depressed if I do not repeatedly catch bigger and bigger fish? Absolutely No Q3: Do I understand the difference between Q1 and Q2? Yes, when I cannot then it is time to stop. Dreams should be just dreams. I do get very happy when I am fortunate to witness other friends PB's though.

I have never tried the microwave method, I could see that working - are you sure it was 30 mins though, on full power? I think if I left anything in my microwave at full power for that long the atoms would get irretrievably re-arranged and I would be presented with a unsightly mess on opening the door.....which is often the case with me and microwave ovens.

These annoucements, which sadly are now getting more frequent as there are fewer and fewer angling greats left with us today, always bring that immediate period of reflection and sadness. At least we will still have their books and articles to read which will be with us forever.

Yep! Can't wait for the autumn because the angling gene really kick's in - all this silly boiling hot weather may be good for barbeques and ice lollies but lets get them lovely 'fuzzy' autumnal days going! If people want barbeque weather then they should go and live near the equator.......hee hee. Plans - pretty much what you have suggested actually Mr. Capper - Chub will be the main target, random fits for Perch here and there and I'm always after them big river Roach. Fingers crossed on the weather I guess, will have to take it on the chin, as always.

Bad luck old boy. If you were fishing where I think you may have been, then you have confirmed some musings that have been discussed many-a-time. I lost what was clearly my biggest perch at the tail of the weir pool a few years ago...........no doubt in my mind that the Thames won't just break the Perch (and Chub) records, but will obliterate them in the near future.

I took a wrong turn home a few weeks ago and went past a day ticket water very close to my home (I didn't even know of it's existence). I had to turn around and go back to see it as something had caught my eye which I could not quite believe..................in the small car park was a BIG sign saying 'No Eastern Europeans' Something has gone very, very wrong if the only way to address theft is the banning of an entire culture from a day-ticket fishery? Nothing will be easier to polarise if 'the public' see that sign - fishermen support racists. Regards binging back baliffs- I think you need to have some form of regional Rivers Authority again at the very minimum - the Environment Agency just simply has too large a remit with too few people.

On the subject of the original posters question, I am indeed looking forward to going fishing again after a few months break. Whatever the various reasons, theories, arguments, opinions and nonsense there is regarding the Close Season, I for one, think it does the mnd and soul good to have a break from one of my numerous pastimes. It gives me time to reflect, plot and imagine forthcoming, outrageous piscatorial events whilst also facilitating the time which compels me to carry out those other things I should , and want to do ........ Even if the Close Season does vanish from the rivers, which I am sure is going to happen to satisfy our "24-7" modernistic demands, then let them be. They can keep changing rules, taxes, seasons, ingredients on jars of peanut butter warning numskulls that the product is peanut based, but I will still be holding small gatherings somewhere on the Thames on the 16th June every year and maybe letting the odd firework or two off............so put that in your pipe and smoke it (outdoors of course).

Now that has made the ears elevate!!! If you are looking for some 'interest' in this idea then count me in!

Hee hee, absolutely!! £3 - £4 a bag just to sling it in the water? Madness! I don't contribute to the advertising revenue......

I've heard all sorts of mystical claims revolving around its use but personally I wouldn't make too much of a mountain out of it. I'm told there are commercial 'continental - type' groundbaits available today that do just as good a job for those that live in mole-free areas.

I was informed that the £2 outfit offered the aspiring chav a superior quality, in fact it was advertised as 'D-Lux'.

Does it involve some sort of fiendiesh plot through space and time which results in Wingham being moved to Oxforshire? (much like the moveable island from Lost?)

All, Does anyone know a good Tench Syndicate in Oxfordshire? I'm not joking - I would pay a few shillings to fish a well-managed, mature, lily-clad oxfordshire lake with Tench in it. There is one further requirement - the lake must contain absolutely, definetly no carp at all. Thank you in advance, Goose.

It's very much classed as running water Lyn - the Wolvercote Mill Stream is part of the Thames. Maybe he was trying the old trout trick........

Well, if you are a poor student then stay well away from Gold Valley and co - i recall paying something like £8 for a day ticket a long time ago....... I would certainly spend some time on the River Wey when the season starts again - although it is 'small' around Farnham it holds some very good Roach. I remember reading some Andy Little articles in one of the weekly angling publications some years ago about the Wey at Farnham. I think there are some free stretches around that area - check the Environment Agency website - in the Fishing Section there are some very good 'where to fish guides' - always a very good resource if you do not know the area. Of course, always go down to your local tackle shop and ask in there for some advice about the local waters - more often than not they will only be more than forthcoming with help (remember to buy a pack of hooks or two as a means of a 'thank you' for their advice) When you get some wheels you will have a host of places to explore!! All the gravel pits I fished on the Farnborough ticket are very, very close to North Camp station so until you get some transport, if you can use the Train you could do so some gravel pit carping and tenching at those lakes.

Hello all, I am looking for an old-fashioned 8mm Camcorder - the type that were around in the late 1980's early 1990's that used 8mm Video Cassette to record onto. It doesn't matter what it looks like, I am looking for one that will PLAY the tapes as I have some old family tapes that mean a lot to me (which I should have transferred years ago). So as long it can truly play the tapes I can connect it to my DVD recorder. I really only want to borrow one as I have no interest in keeping it after I have transferred the tapes, so would be happy to collect from the Oxfordshire area and pay you a borrowing fee. Please PM if you can help out. Many thanks

I thought I recognised the vantage point of your photo, unfortunately I do not recognise the nefarious angler. As that particular spot is such a public place (it's normally what I would call bedlam during the daytime) one assumes the chap simply isn't aware that there is a close season or is incredibly stupid (or both) as EVERYBODY must have seen him!!