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It is with deep regret and profound sadness that the family of Bill Allen from Easy Fishing have announced that Bill passed away on 17th March 2021. Our thoughts and deepest sympathy to Mick and the family at this time. RIP Bill. 
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preventing fishing for coarse fish in rivers, streams, drains and specified canals, as well as ‘sites of special scientific interest’ (SSSI) stillwaters.
Throughout the close season, Environment Agency (EA) officers conduct patrols to enforce the close season. As part of Operation CLAMPDOWN, now in its ninth year, Angling Trust (AT) volunteers support the EA by keeping watch on riverbanks and reporting incidents to the 24-hour incident hotline. EA fisheries enforcement officers and AT volunteer bailiffs patrol riverbanks to ensure anglers observe the close season rules. They also regularly patrol lakes, canals and ponds to make sure all anglers have a valid rod fishing licence. Anyone fishing without a fishing licence can face a court hearing and run the risk of prosecution. Kevin Austin, Deputy Director for Agriculture, Fisheries and the Natural Environment at the Environment Agency, said: The close season aims to protect fish while they are spawning which improves the health and resilience of our fish stocks. Alongside our fisheries improvement work, the close season gives our fish populations the chance to recover. We always encourage everyone to give fishing a go but we are aware not all will know of fishing rules like the close season. Last year was one of our busiest as we saw many new anglers enter the sport. If you know a new angler, please remind them of the close season dates. Nino Brancato, Angling Trust National Enforcement Support Manager, said: The close season will provide a great opportunity for the Fisheries Enforcement Support Service and the Voluntary Bailiff Service to work closely with the Environment Agency and police during Operation CLAMPDOWN 9. Our dedicated volunteer bailiffs will be out on patrol and taking part in coordinated joint activity around the nation’s waterways in an eyes and ears capacity – gathering intelligence and reporting incidents in support of our enforcement partners as part of our multi-agency approach to protecting fish and fisheries. Anglers who do still want to get out on the banks during close season can still visit many stillwaters and canals, depending on landowner agreement, or try their hand at trout fishing, though a valid fishing licence is still required. The Environment Agency takes illegal fishing very seriously. Anyone fishing illegally should expect to be prosecuted and to face a substantial fine. Those who suspect illegal fishing should report it to the Environment Agency’s incident hotline on 0800 80 70 60.
looking to renew their licences and to newcomers who are looking to join the sport for the first time.
The images this year celebrate some of our most iconic species. The salmon and sea trout licence depicts a vibrant sea trout. A striking golden rudd is depicted on the 2-rod coarse and trout licence and a mighty stalking pike now features on 3-rod coarse and trout licences. Last summer, the Environment Agency launched a campaign to highlight how fishing offers a fun, healthy and safe way to spend time outdoors and reconnect with nature as well as make use of the known wellbeing benefits of the activity. The Environment Agency is hopeful that the trend is set to continue in 2021 as the public are encouraged to see their licence not only a right to fish but as a licence to chill, a licence to connect with nature, and much more. Kevin Austin, Deputy Director Agriculture, Fisheries and the Natural Environment at the Environment Agency said: “We are so pleased with David’s beautiful designs for this year’s rod licences. The income we receive from licence sales allows us to invest in fisheries and carry out vital improvements to protect and enhance our much-loved fish populations. “We hope David’s designs encourage even more people to take up fishing and recognise the beauty of our natural environment and fish species.” Rod licence income is funded directly back into the Environment Agency’s fisheries service across England and is crucial for the EA’s continued investment in fisheries improvement projects, supporting healthy fish stocks as well as improvements to angling services. Rod licence income has also allowed the EA to deliver and invest in vital projects with partners dedicated to opening up rivers for migratory and coarse fish. Enjoy fishing and make sure you fish legally. Annual rod fishing licences are available from only £30.00 It’s easy to buy online. Get a fishing licence on GOV.UK
catch his last ever fish, a Chub and doing it the simple way. If you know Bill and watched his videos he just loved to fish Lakes, Rivers, Streams, Canals, Pools, well just about anything with fish in it. His videos are based on simple tactic methods, nothing complicated just ‘Easy Fishing’ and just wanted to share his experiences with everyone who wanted to watch. He was not sponsored or affiliated with any brands he just loved his fishing and went out whenever he could with his video camera filming or if he couldn't get out on the bank, go though some basic setups at home. With over 150 videos and thousands of subscribers on YouTube, his videos have become really popular and while filming if someone spoke to him while they were passing by he would reply back to them, even if he was trying to talk to the camera. Message from his best buddy Mick on behalf of Bill from his youtube comments.  I’ve read each and every comment so far and love every one of them thank you all very touching and lovely comments. Bill or to me known as Alan or old git lol has been a father figure and dearest friend since I was 12 he’s always been there for me and I have had the pleasure of fishing with him and learning from him for almost 33 years. I apologise for the quality of video as it was on my phone but other than fish it was the only other thing, he wanted to do to say good bye to you all. He loves doing his videos and sharing his skills and all of the feedback whether negative or positive. Thank you all and a huge thank you to him for all he’s done for me and hopefully a lot of you. 1❤️ Alan always xxx Black Country Fishing would just like to thank you Bill for all the time and effort that you’ve put into your videos over the years and will leave a legacy behind, you should be proud of.
Thank you Mick for giving him one last memory of doing the thing he loved. Take Care and Easy Fishing from everyone at Black Country Fishing.
to question whether it would have any impact on established populations, whether it was a good use of CRT funds and whether other species caught during the operation were returned alive. ‘Futile’ culls “It’s an exercise in futility,” said predator angler John Glover, who believes electrofishing actually boosts zander numbers because it tends to remove larger fish, leaving younger ones to thrive. He said waters which aren’t electrofished balance themselves out, leaving silverfish populations to remain naturally consistent. Mr Glover, of Tusses Lure Division Angling Club, criticised the sporadic electrofishing of CRT waters as a money-making exercise for contractors. He said: “It’s counter-productive and it’s not efficient. All it generates is more zander, and these small zander go on the rampage, which is what annoys the match anglers.” Healthy canals On stretches of canal run by Tusses Lure Division, where the CRT does not routinely remove zander, Mr Glover said the all-round fishing had never been better. Moreover, he added, a zander-fuelled boom in lure angling was bringing money to the local angling economy. “The canals are the best I’ve ever known them for coarse fishing,” he said. “I love roach fishing and I reckon it’s currently the best it’s ever been. “We’re trying to encourage more matches on our stretches and I think match anglers would be pleasantly surprised. I’ve had 2lb roach out of the Oxford Canal and, in the same spot where we’ve caught half-a-dozen zander in a day, a friend and I have each had 100lb bags of bream in the summer!” John Ellis, the CRT’s fisheries manager, defended the Worcester cull but said he was happy to have a debate about the way canal zander are treated. He said the fundamental issue was legislation, including the Wildlife and Countryside Act, which makes it illegal to stock or return zander to the water. “If people want to change the law they should lobby the Environment Agency and Government,” he said. “Shouting at the CRT is a bit like lobbying the police to change the law on speeding – Parliament changes the laws, not those who enforce them.” Mr Ellis said fully enclosed stillwaters could legally hold zander and that the CRT would happily donate all its canal-netted zander to such venues for free, but very few waters meet the criteria or have applied for a licence. He said none of the 72 reservoirs under the CRT’s control was classed as fully enclosed. Duty under the law He added that the approach to non-native species had to be consistent, and that anglers couldn’t pick and choose preferred species to remain. “We can be prosecuted if we allow zander to enter other waters,” he said. “There’s case law involving the plant Japanese knotweed, where Network Rail was sued when it started growing in people’s gardens.” Asked whether removing zander had any real impact on their numbers, he said work focused on stopping populations taking hold in previously uncolonised waters and had successfully eradicated zander on stretches of the Trent and Mersey and Sankey (St Helens) Canals. He said: “Electrofishing catches fish as small as 10cm-15cm, so we’re reducing zander numbers and overall weight. Its overall effectiveness depends on how efficient and regular you are. “I agree there’s not enough science on this subject, nor the money to undertake the research. The industry collectively needs to sit around a table and work out a future.” Other concerns Mr Ellis said about 100lb of roach and bream were caught during the cull at Diglis Marina, which cannot be fished, and were taken to a nearby Droitwich Spa AC stretch. Asked why MEM Fisheries, which he founded, was given the electrofishing contract, Mr Ellis said he left the business in 1997 and that an eight-strong procurement panel sat for all CRT tender jobs. He said most of the CRT’s 250 tenant angling clubs support zander control, but stated he was in favour of a ‘Midlands canal zander zone’ which the trust proposed to the EA in 2015. No decision has yet been reached. “I wish it was easy to legally create zander fisheries, because I think that’s ultimately the solution,” said Mr Ellis. “That could include a small Midlands canal zone if people could sign up to reasonable compromises – including zander anglers, the EA, CRT, Natural England and wildlife trusts.” Speaking as a non-executive director of the Angling Trust, Mr Ellis added: “I’m sure it’ll come up at future meetings.” Source: Angling Times
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