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GET FISHING AT BELLS MILL FISHERY, STOURBRIDGE

24/7/2019

Get Fishing events are fun, friendly and safe fishing days for families and individuals of all abilities

Go and try fishing at their quality assured angling events and discover the wonders

of angling! Whether you’re fishing for the first time, heading for a day out with the family, or getting back into angling, fishing is a great way to get out there doing something different and will teach kids new outdoor skills.

Everything you need to catch your first fish or learn more about fishing is provided and their friendly volunteers will make you welcome.

So, come on – Get Fishing!

Wed 31st July
10am – 2pm

Wed 21st Aug
10am – 2pm

Wed 7th Aug
10am – 2pm

Mon 26th Aug
10am – 2pm

Sat 10th Aug
10am – 2pm

Wed 28th Aug
10am – 2pm

Wed 14th Aug
10am – 2pm

Sat 21st Sept
10am – 2pm

Cost: FREE!

Booking: Let them know you’re going in advance – contact Jonathan using the details below.

Venue: Bells Mill Fishery, Prestwood Drive, Stourbridge DY7 5QT

Type of Fishing: Coarse angling.

Perfect for: Families and kids of all ages and experience levels. People under the age of 18, or vulnerable people under 21 years old must be accompanied by a responsible adult.

What happens on the day: Get Fishing events will encourage adults, children and young people to discover what angling is all about and take up fishing. You’ll find out how to use fishing tackle and bait to catch fish and return them safely. Get Fishing volunteers overseeing the event will provide you with more info about your local club or fishery, so you know where to go fishing next time.

Tackle: Tackle, bait, lures or flies will be provided on the day. Just come along – no need to bring any equipment.
Anything else? Outdoor events are weather dependent so please bring something to keep you dry and/or sunblock and a drink. For events including “game angling” we recommend that you wear a hat and glasses/sunglasses to protect your head and eyes while casting.

Disability information: Volunteers and coaches at Get Fishing events are provided with essential best practice guidance on working with and planning events for disabled and mobility impaired people. Please check with the venue contact about the facilities available.

CONTACTS

Enquiries & Booking:
Jonathan Read
07875 354300
[email protected]

Angling Trust Contact:
Dave Evans
Angling Development Officer (South)
Angling Trust
[email protected]
07854 239721

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Illegal fishers caught stealing Barbel from the River Severn

23/7/2019

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Illegal fishers caught stealing barbel

Three men were caught fishing illegally on the River Severn near Bridgnorth.

Environment Agency enforcement officers caught the men after a tip off from a member of the public.

The three men were fishing at around midnight on Wednesday morning.

Jay Rana, of the Environment Agency, said: “Following a call to our incident hotline our enforcement officers found three men fishing without licences on Tuesday night on the River Severn.

"Officers found a bag containing oversized barbel which had been removed from the water which is an offence under our national byelaws."

The agency said it was now being investigated by its enforcement officers.

Dave Throup, Environment Agency manager for Herefordshire and Worcestershire, said: "As a result of intelligence received fishery enforcement officers found and reported illegal fishing and fish theft on the Severn at Bridgnorth.

"These operations are funded by money we receive from rod licence sales."

Those caught fishing illegally can be given hefty fines up to £2,500.

Anyone with information about illegal fishing activities can contact the Environment Agency Incident Hotline 24/7 on 0800 80 70 60.

Alternatively, contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111 or at crimestoppers-uk.org

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Thousands of new fish put in to Arrow Valley Lake

18/7/2019

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Arrow Valley Lake

There's plenty more fish in Redditch’s Arrow Valley Lake, thanks to funding from the borough council.
Along with the Angling Trust and the Environment Agency, Redditch Council has provided grants to Redditch Federation of Anglers to stop predator birds eating the fishes.

The lake has been stocked with thousands of new fish which is good news for residents who love to fish as a pastime, and for the hundreds of visiting anglers who come from far and wide to fish at the Arrow Valley Country Park, which at more than 900 acres is the second-largest central park in the world.

Over the last few years the stock of fish at the lake has been dwindling because of predation by Cormorants, an aquatic bird.

But the federation members have now installed a laser device to deter the birds, and have repaired and introduced fish refuges in the lake.

Redditch Borough Council’s Portfolio Holder for leisure and cultural services, Cllr Mike Rouse, said: “We are proud to offer a first-class angling experience here in Redditch, drawing people from all over the country.

“This means we need to maintain our high standards and invest in the lake so it can be enjoyed by everyone for years to come.

“For a relatively small cost – shared by the Council and the Angling Trust – we are providing a lot of benefit.”

Redditch Anglers’ secretary John Bushell said: “These actions we hope will help to restore the quality of fishing on the lake to something like it was about three to four years ago following a decline, mainly caused by cormorant predation.

“The new fish, mainly roach and bream will augment the existing stocks of larger bream and carp and hopefully restore the lake to its former status as one of the best 'natural' fishing venues in the Midlands area.”

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13m to transform OldBury Pool

15/7/2019

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Titford Pool

More than £3 million has been pledged to help rejuvenate a Black Country lake.
Titford Pool in Oldbury is set to be transformed in the £3.1 million scheme, which aims to improve water quality and encourage wildlife back to the site.

The Canal and River Trust, European Regional Development Fund, Highways England and Sandwell Council are all working together to make the development possible.

The two-year project will involve dredging the pools to remove the build-up of silt and a redesign of the drainage channels from the M5 motorway to stop road debris from entering the pools.

Work will also include cutting back the trees, bushes and shrubs to open up the pools to encourage more plants and wildlife to the area as well as clearing pathways and updating the visitor signage.

Hidden away under the M5 motorway, Titford Pools is located along the Titford Canal and is part of the Birmingham Canal Navigations - which this year is celebrating its 250th birthday.

The pools were originally constructed as a small reservoir in the 1770s to feed the Titford Canal and today feeds water to both the canal and to Edgbaston Reservoir in Birmingham.

Adnan Saif, director of West Midlands at the Canal & River Trust, said: “Recent research shows that being next to water is good for your mental and physical health so it’s important we look after our waterways as they are important resources right on the doorstep for millions of people.

“Once the work is completed Titford Pools will be a thriving nature reserve with lots of animals and insects flying and fluttering around and with colourful boats in the pools making it a great place to for local communities throughout the year.”

Highways England’s regional director, Catherine Brookes, added: “We’re delighted to see Titford Pools benefit from this work and we’re pleased to be able to help support this project.

"We are always keen to help protect local wildlife and habitats near the road network and we look forward to seeing local wildlife flourish once the work is complete.”

Sandwell Council’s cabinet member for Safer Communities, Councillor Maria Crompton, said: “We are delighted to be part of this project to improve Titford Pools, which will bring a wide range of benefits to the canal and its wildlife.

"We are also extremely grateful to the Canal & River Trust and Highways England for working with us to create a place that will encourage people to enjoy the outdoors and take a walk or cycle there.”

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ANDY BENNETT IS FISH‘O’MANIA CHAMPION 2019

13/7/2019

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Andy Bennett Fish'O'Mania Champion 2019

Andy Bennett won a gripping Fish‘O’Mania which went right down to the wire as he finished with a total match bag of 52.200kg to see off the challenges of Simon Skelton (45.225kg) and Jamie Hughes (36.9kg) and take home the £50,000 winner’s prize.

With just four kilos between the top three heading into the final half hour it was anyone’s match but Bennett held onto his position from peg six at the top of the leaderboard, taking 8.725kg in the final 30 minutes to Skelton’s 4.1kg, while Hughes didn’t net.

As a result of his win, Bennett automatically qualifies for Fish‘O’Mania 2020. Runner-up Skelton takes home £10,000.

“I am absolutely made up,” said a beaming Bennett. “I cannot believe it has come to plan. I was hoping they would come back late on the pole and they did, so I am made up.

“It hasn’t sunk in yet. I am a fishing coach, so this is my living, so what this will do for me is massive. I want to push on and try and win more and more now.

“I didn’t really know where I was up to, it was only in the last 40 minutes that I knew I was in with a chance. I thought Jamie was well ahead but we have clawed it back and he didn’t catch in the last hour. I didn’t think Simon had what he had, I was just totally focused on what I was doing and it came good in the end.

“This peg is a pole peg, it narrows up so the fish naturally push onto the pole line. I had a couple early, a couple late and a few on the waggler. Looking back, I should have sat on the pole all day but it is hard when you’re not catching and you want to make something happen. You have to be patient and stick to your guns.”

Fish’O’Mania Results:

Andy Bennett (Peg 6) 52.500kg
Simon Skelton (Peg 5) 45.225kg
Jamie Hughes (Peg 2) 39.600kg
Jordan Holloway (Peg 1) 34.800kg
Andy May (Peg 18) 34.675kg
Will Raison (Peg 15) 32.500kg
Gavin Bridge (Peg 4) 28.175kg
Luke Webster (Peg 7) 26.150kg
Kristian Jones (Peg 8) 24.195kg
Lee Thornton (Peg 14) 22.350kg
Carl Visser (Peg 19) 21.655kg
Lee Riley (Peg 3) 19.675kg
Vince Cross (Peg 13) 16.725kg
Abbi Kendall (Peg 9) 16.050kg
Simon Fry (Peg 22) 15.955kg
Luke Gasson (Peg 20) 15.850kg
Ben Hagg (Peg 16) 15.800kg
Paul Gibson (Peg 17) 12.850kg
Tim Peters (Peg 12) 9.000kg
Douglas Jackson (Peg 21) 8.430kg
Ben Emery (Peg 24) 8.080kg
Markus Billen (Peg 23) 1.825kg
Roland Lucas (Peg 10) 0.125kg
Steve Brindley (Peg 11) 0kg

Sarah Taylor of the Wirral won Fish‘O’Mania Ladies on her FishO debut. The 18-year-old had a total catch weigh of 18.5kg, made up of predominantly skimmers, to see off the challenge of Linda Abbott and win £1,000.

“I have watched Fish‘O’Mania as I have been growing up and I have always thought I’d love to compete in it, so to win is something else, it’s unbelievable,” said Taylor.

“I mostly fished 30meters on the deck fishing for skimmers, because I had a feeling the carp wouldn’t feed. I ended up with 18kg of them so it has been a decent day. I always felt like I was on track but I wasn’t necessarily sure how the other pegs were going to perform. You never feel safe because the carp could suddenly switch on.”

Fish‘O’Mania Ladies Results:

Sarah Taylor – 18.500kg Peg 5
Julie Abbott – 12kg Peg 2
Samantha Sim – 8.525kg Peg 1
Gemma Matthews – 3.250kg Peg 3
Emma Drysdale – 0.325kg Peg 4
Linda Billington – 0.300kg Peg 6

Billy Marlow took the Fish‘O’Mania Junior title with a bag of 11.050kg, although he thought it was Nathan Mills on the next peg who had taken the title.

“It is hard to put into words,” said Billy of his win. “I thought I was one fish off, I had said to everyone behind me that I was one off. I didn’t feel I had fished a great match but it just shows that one last fish in the last half hour can do it for you. Even when Nathan’s bag came out, I still thought he had done me.

“I only had three carp but they were all a decent size stamp so it just shows that you don’t necessarily need many bites. The prize money will probably go towards a new pole.

“I entered a few of the main event qualifiers but I will try again next year as it would be great to come back in the main final and hopefully one day try and win that.”

Fish‘O’Mania Juniors Results:

Billy Marlow – 11.050kg Peg 5
Nathan Mills – 10.550kg Peg 6
Joshua Newman – 7.250kg Peg 2
Ethan Etherington – 1.950kg Peg 4
Zak Worby-Smith – 1.875kg Peg 1
John Light Jnr – 1.525kg Peg 3

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Fish'O'Mania XXVI. Hayfield Lakes. Sat, July 13th 2019

4/7/2019

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Fish ‘O’ Mania, now over a quarter of a century old, is one of the great summertime sporting occasions. Known as the ‘FA Cup of Fishing’, the competition involves 24 anglers who have qualified through heats across England and Europe, fishing off for a

massive £50,000 first prize. The event gains much of its excitement by abandoning the traditional weigh-in at the conclusion of the match, and instead features weigh-ins every 30 minutes which gives the event a changing leader board that makes the action easy to follow.

Date: Saturday 13th July 2019

TV Hours: 5.5 hours live on Sky Sports.

Format: Fish’O’Mania is one of the events on the British summer sporting calendar. 24 anglers, who have won through from over 3,000 original entrants, will use all their guile and experience to triumph in what is the Superbowl of fishing.

Prize Fund: £50,000

Venue: Hayfield Lakes, England

Inaugral Year: 1994

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GET FISHING AT BELLS MILL FISHERY, STOURBRIDGE

Illegal fishers caught stealing Barbel from the River Severn

Thousands of new fish put in to Arrow Valley Lake

13m to transform OldBury Pool

ANDY BENNETT IS FISH‘O’MANIA CHAMPION 2019

Fish'O'Mania XXVI. Hayfield Lakes. Sat, July 13th 2019

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