Is it illegal?

[davedave]

Morning, just a quick one;

 

If I were to go down to my local river in the close season, and started plumbing a few depths with a rod, float and plummet, is that illegal? Do you actually have to be fishing with bait or lures or if you are using a rod and line in a river is that still illegal?

 

So to clarify, do you actually have to be fishing to be doing something illegal? Where does the law stand with things like plumbing depths, cutting back a swim, prebaiting etc

 

Thanks, Dave

[chavender]

its only fishing if its a hook & bait your using ,everything else is practicing ,but proving that is the problem

Edited May 29, 2012 by chavender

[davedave]

its only fishing if its a hook & bait your using ,everything else is practicing ,but proving that is the problem

 

Thanks chavender, so in theory its ok to pumb depths if you tie the plummet on directly instead of the conventional way with a hook?

[AddictedToScopex]

Thanks chavender, so in theory its ok to pumb depths if you tie the plummet on directly instead of the conventional way with a hook?

I would say so. No need for a hook if you are just finding depths so wouldnt give the bailiff any ammunition against you when you dont have to.

[Andy_1984]

im sure some smart arse bailiff will find a way to say you were then going to put a hook on after you had plumed it.

 

just dont take any tackle apart from depth finding stuff. dont have a hook in sight then invite him to search you and have him done for sexual assault

[chesters1]

or if its a pretty lady just invite them to search and keep quiet after several weeks of it most will realise their being taken for a ride and just ignore you

Edited May 29, 2012 by chesters1

[ayjay]

You will need a valid rod licence, as you are using a rod: I had a run in with an EA idiot a few years back when I was plumbing around a gravel pit -it was in season but because I was only plumbing and not intending to fish I didn't have my licence with me - fortunately I was with a mate who had his with him which satisfied said idiot as we were only using the one rod between us.

 

Edit: I would make sure you take no hooks with you - it would be very hard to prove you were fishing if you have none.

Edited May 29, 2012 by ayjay

[davedave]

Great, thanks guys

 

I was looking at a swim I wanted to fish today, but it's completely overgrown with nettles, what's the legality of going into a farmers field with a strimmer and cutting a nice path to the swim I want to fish?

[ayjay]

Not sure of the legality, but you'll be inviting any other passers by to fish the same place.

 

If it's on a club book they probably have rules about clearing vegetation, if it's just a farmers field, the farmer is the one to ask.

[davedave]

Not sure of the legality, but you'll be inviting any other passers by to fish the same place.

 

If it's on a club book they probably have rules about clearing vegetation, if it's just a farmers field, the farmer is the one to ask.

 

true, thanks mate. I want to cut it back, but I dont want someone else to nick my swim!