Angling News - Blackcountryfishing

GET FISHING ANGLING EVENTS THIS SUMMER

1/7/2024

Get Fishing is the Angling Trust’s campaign to get more people fishing more often. Each year we run hundreds of events for all ages and abilities. Get Fishing angling events are for anyone who wants to get into fishing, get back into angling or find out where to go fishing, who to go fishing with, what to use to start fishing and how to go fishing for the first time.

Have a Go! Get Fishing beginner angling events:

COST: FREE or VERY LOW COST

WHAT: OUTDOOR ACTIVITY EVENTS Families can discover all about fishing.

WHO FOR: EVERYBODY Try fishing whatever age, ability or experience.

DO I NEED FISHING TACKLE: NO It’s there to use on the day

BEEN BEFORE? GET BACK INTO FISHING Tips, skills and info for the next-level

WHO RUNS EVENTS: ANGLING TRUST PARTNERS – clubs, fisheries, coaches and charities like Canal and River Trust and Get Hooked on fishing.

Have a Go!
BRONZE AWARD

The Environment Agency provide a free rod licence for your event so that everyone can discover what angling is all about.

Beginner!
SILVER AWARD

Working with smaller groups of the participants from Bronze sessions this award provides a more in-depth guide. At the end participants will be fishing confidently on their own!

New Angler!
GOLD AWARD

This session will enable a participant to go fishing by themselves. Knot tying, fish welfare and the finer details will be covered. Depending on age, the angler will be shown how to register and pay for their fishing licence and complete their angler journey.

NOTE: Young children under 13 do not need a licence to fish but an adult person supervising them needs the correct fishing licence to take hold of the rod or to help the child fish with it.

To book on an event go here https://anglingtrust.net/getfishing/get-fishing-events-west-midlands/

ANGLER BANKS £30,000 MATCH WIN FROM £1.99 RAFFLE TICKET

1/6/2024

An angler who paid £1.99 to enter a raffle, which would randomly select participants for a mega money match, has walked away with a colossal £30,000 payday after winning the event.

Gloucestershire's Jason Powell went head to head with 19 others at Worcestershire's Cob House Fishery during the inaugural Ultimate Fishing Competition and was crowned victor after he banked 165lb 9oz of carp from peg 15 on Wyatts Pool.

There was another £10,000 split between section winners and those in the frame, with second placed Paul Stacey banking £4,000 for his 143lb 13oz netful, caught on the pole from peg 6, while third placed David Emlyn is £2,000 richer after putting 136lb 9oz into his nets from peg 7.

The tournament is a joint venture between Preston Innovations and Capital Catch Competitions, with star anglers including Andy May, Des Shipp and Jamie Hughes on the hand on the day to spectate and watch the action unfold.

UK’S BIGGEST COARSE FISHING MONTHLY MAGAZINE TO CLOSE

2/5/2024

Improve Your Coarse Fishing magazine (IYCF) is to cease publication from May 2024. After 33 years of inspiring and informing coarse fishing enthusiasts, Bauer Media bids farewell to Improve Your Coarse Fishing magazine. However, this closure doesn’t mark an end but rather a transformation, as the much-loved brand finds a new home within the pages of Angling Times.

“In a challenging period for many magazines, we’re pleased to bring the Improve Your Coarse Fishing content under the Angling Times umbrella,” said Steve Prentice, UK Group Co-CEO of Bauer.

“Our mission has always been to give anglers more confidence and enable them to catch more fish; this move allows us to do that more effectively than before.”

Launched in 1991 by the EMAP publishing group, later acquired by Bauer, IYCF quickly hit the mark with its target audience by providing an easy-to-read cocktail of tactics, tips and techniques, supported by excellent photography and graphics. During its heyday it consistently sold 50,000 copies during the spring and summer months.

The closure of IYCF is the latest story in the demise of Bauer’s once powerful print presence. Trout Fisherman was closed in January 2020, more than 40 years after its launch, sister title Trout and Salmon was sold to Fieldsports Press in April last year, almost 70 years after it first appeared, and Sea Angler, launched in 1972, was sold to Kelsey Media in July 2020.

The shrinking portfolio is indicate of the pressure put on print publications by the internet, with most consumers now sourcing their information digitally. Print titles from other angling publishers have also fallen by the wayside.

Angling Times Editor James Furness said: “Improve Your Coarse fishing has been a trusted friend to thousands of anglers for three decades, thanks to its inclusive tone and easy-to-understand tips and tactics to help people catch more fish. My team and I will be incorporating that tone and ethos into Angling Times.”

SPRING INTO FISHING – GET INTO FISHING THIS APRIL, MAY AND JUNE 2024 WITH BEGINNER FISHING FROM THE ANGLING TRUST

2/5/2024

The Angling Trust’s Spring into Fishing campaign returns for a fifth year with FREE or low-cost have-a-go fishing sessions to re-awaken your love of the great outdoors.
Come and Spring into Fishing at free, fun, outdoor activity events for families around the country that are the perfect way to discover the wonderful world of angling. Everybody is welcome to come and try fishing – whatever your age, ability or experience level.

Never been fishing before? No problem – tackle, bait, instruction and info on fishing clubs and places to go are all included at events during Spring 2024

Already a beginner? Get back out on the bank and continue your introduction to angling, refresh your basic fishing skills this spring and progress your angling to the next-level!

Spring into Fishing beginner sessions are quality assured by the Angling Trust to give the best possible experience of fishing to children, families and anybody who wants to find out what you need and where to go fishing. Funded by the Environment Agency and Sport England, Spring into Fishing gives everyone the chance to get outside, try fishing and learn new skills.

Spring into Fishing events are happening all over the country from April right through to June at fishing clubs and venues in partnership with friendly, helpful coaches and volunteers who will show you and your children what fishing is all about.

To book a place click on the link - springintofishing24

THE BIG ONE - SOLD!!!

1/5/2024

Bauer Media has confirmed an agreement for the sale of The Big One events to Kelsey Media, which will take effect from 1st February 2024.
Steve Wright, CEO, Kelsey Media said: “We’re delighted to bring The Big One fishing show, which will sit alongside CARPology and Sea

Angler in our angling portfolio, gives us a fantastic platform to grow these areas of our business.”

Steve Prentice, UK Group Managing Director – Puzzles & Special Interest, Bauer Media Group said: “The Big One has consistently proven to be very successful events. However, our strategic priorities for the publishing business mean we will not receive the attention that they and their loyal audiences deserve.”

“Kelsey Media already have a strong presence in the angling sectors, with a growing portfolio of consumer events, so they were the obvious partner. I would like to thank the events staff for all their hard work on the events in recent years and wish them all success with Kelsey Media.”

FINES TOP £50,000 FOR ILLEGAL FISHING IN THE UK

30/4/2024

Fishing without a rod licence in UK freshwater lakes and rivers is a criminal offence, and this year alone fines have reached £54,343 in the first three months, from January to March, with the average fine amounting to £380. The data released by the Environment Agency (EA) reveals a rise in offences compared to 2023.

This increase can be attributed to more checks by Environment Fishery Enforcement Officers, as well as additional intelligence and support from Angling Trust Voluntary Bailiffs, who are now seeing the benefits of collaborative efforts to clamp down on illegal fishing and practices.

While there is often criticism that not enough is being done to prevent illegal fishing, it appears that the EA and Angling Trust are striving to improve, making the best use of the resources currently available to them. The Angling Trust Enforcement work is fully funded by rod licence income delivered in partnership with the Environment Agency and works to prevent all forms of illegal activity on UK waters.

The funds raised from licence sales are allocated to improving fish stocks and promoting angling, including various programs delivered by the Angling Trust itself.

For more information on purchasing a rod licence, you can buy one here: www.gov.uk/fishing-licences

If you are interested in becoming a volunteer bailiff, you can apply here: www.anglingtrust.net/vbsapplication"

HAVE YOUR SAY ON THE FUTURE OF FISHERIES ENFORCEMENT

27/4/2024

For the very first time, you can have your say on fisheries and environment related crime in your area, and shape the future of enforcement. The Angling Trust have launched a survey that they hope will build an understanding into the current views of anglers towards the current issues facing our

fisheries. Pollution, fish theft and illegal angling are all involved, and if you've experienced any, or simply wish to help tackle them, you're urged to take part.

"For the very first time, the Angling Trust are looking for your observations and thoughts on fisheries and environment related crime in your area," says Joel Virgo, Communications Manager for the Fisheries Enforcement Support Service.

"This survey is completely anonymous, only takes around 10 minutes, and will greatly help the Fisheries Enforcement Support Service in their work," he said.

To take part, visit: https://forms.office.com/pages to have your say!!!

£150,000 AVAILABLE TO HELP TACKLE FISH PREDATION AS ANGLING IMPROVEMENT FUND REOPENS

15/4/2024

The Angling Improvement Fund (AIF) has reopened for applications for funding towards projects tackling the impacts of predation by mammals and fish-eating birds.

The AIF is administered by the Angling Trust and is just one of the ways the Environment Agency is reinvesting income from fishing licence sales in projects which benefit anglers. As all the funds come directly from rod licence income collected in England, only projects in England are eligible.

£150,000 is being made available in this latest round of funding and applications for up to £6,000 funding are invited from clubs, fisheries and other angling-related organisations.
For detailed information on the application process, eligibility criteria, and to submit your application, please visit our dedicated page here.

Andy Petch, Angling Trust Funding Manager, said: “This initiative represents a vital effort to safeguard our fisheries against predation pressures and ensure the health and sustainability of fish populations for future generations. We urge clubs and fisheries to consider how they might contribute to these efforts and take advantage of this funding opportunity.

“This AIF round is likely to be over-subscribed and therefore only the best submissions can be supported. If your club or fishery is considering applying, make sure you answer all the questions, ensure your project is ready to go with all permissions in place, and you have secured as much match funding as possible.”

Closing date for applications is Friday, 17 May, at 5pm.

Applicants requiring further assistance should email Andy via [email protected]

Information about other funding opportunities can be found here.

Watch: How to get funding for an otter fence, with Ian Chilcott

MIDLANDS ANGLERS FINED FOR ILLEGAL FISHING

12/4/2024

Three anglers from the West Midlands have been ordered to pay a total of £1,040 for illegal fishing. The anglers, from Redditch and Walsall, admitted to the offences in cases heard at Northampton Magistrates' Court on April 4.

Jack Lewandowski, aged 33, of Frankton Close, Redditch, pleaded guilty to fishing without a licence at Harvington near Evesham on October 15, 2023.

He was fined £129 and ordered to pay £135 costs and a £103 victim surcharge.

He also admitted to removing bream contrary to byelaws and was fined a further £129 bringing the total costs he was ordered to pay to a total of £496.

Alfred Bradford, aged 45, of Foster Street, Walsall, admitted two offences when fishing at Norton Mere near Tong in Staffordshire on August 15, 2023.

He was fined £40 for fishing without a licence and ordered to pay £135 costs and £32 surcharge. He also pleaded guilty to leaving a rod and line with its bait or hook in the water unattended.

Bradford was fined an additional £40 for a total of £247.

Shane Edwards, aged 36, of Chantry Avenue, Walsall, admitted to fishing without a licence at Powell's Pool, Sutton Park, on January 30. He was fined £116 and ordered to pay costs of £135 and a victim surcharge of £46 for a total of £297.

Nichola Tomlinson, Fisheries Enforcement Team Leader for the Environment Agency in the West Midlands, said: “We hope these penalties will act as a deterrent to anyone who is thinking of breaking the laws and byelaws for angling in England.  

  “The cases show how seriously the courts take these offences and these anglers have been rightly punished for the illegal fishing they undertook.  

"Fishing illegally can incur a fine of up to £2,500 and offenders can also have their fishing equipment seized.  We inspect rod licences 24/7, seven days a week to check on cases of illegal fishing.

“Anyone with information about illegal fishing activities can contact the Environment Agency incident hotline 24/7 on 0800 807060 or anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.”

ANGLING COACHES’ CONFERENCE - SATURDAY 20TH APRIL 2024

8/4/2024

The Angling Trust coaching conference is back: this is a great opportunity for licensed coaches to come together and network, especially new coaches.

Topics for this event:

Empowering Learning: Open Questions Challenge (L1/L2)
Pike Anglers
Non Native Invasive Species
Reel Education Angling Trust and Shakespeare engagement programme
Get Fishing and Angling Trust Future Funding streams
How To Observe: Level 2 core coaching tool

Coaching Conference Agenda

Coaching and Angler Pathway
Reel Education programme: Neil Wylie
Leading Safer Events: Part of New level 2 (Practical session) Richard Hadley
Active Partnership: Welfare Officer national support network
Campaigns and Marine: Stuart Singleton-Whyte
Pike Angling Club England
Coaching people with Mental Health Issues: David Bailey, Tackling Minds
CAST Awards development (Practical session) Richard Hadley
Casting Master Class: Karl Humphries
New Rigs and How to Tie Them: Martyn Green
Carp Fishing Master Class: Dean Asplin

The event is FREE to attend and lunch is provided

REGISTER HERE : https://anglingtrust.net/events/coaches-conference/