Golden Trout Back Again

In November 2013 we started stocking Golden Trout again.

After each clear-out, we now restock a few of them in each lake - all at 8lb+.

Keith Hudson's 17.4lb Kilnsey Record

Early in 2013, Keith held the Kilnsey Fly Fishery record with a monster rainbow. Record Broken Again by Anthony Smiths 21lb catch in July 2013. We only stocked this fish on the morning it was caught, and we weighed it when we stocked it (at slightly over 21lb) as it was obviously going to beat Keith's record.

The boards on the pier where it was caught and pictured are 6" wide with 1" gaps, so the fish is well over 30" long! We have a good number of fish growing on to this size, so maybe it will be broken again in 2014.

Extended Fishing Opening Times

Since spring 2013 we have been opening our shop from 7.30am for ticket sales, teas, coffees, fly sales and breakfast orders. We also now open the fishery from 7am to 7pm during July and August, and from 7.30am to 5.30pm throughout the rest of the year - light permitting. We also open until 8.30pm on Tuesdays and Thursdays from May to the end of August.

Please note though that our shop & cafe are closed until 14th February, but teas & coffee's are available at all times to anglers at the Processing Unit

On the maintenance side

We have replaced the entire pier walkway and added a few more casting platforms. We have also removed one of the fish-holding cages to give a wider area to cast into from the pier.

So what’s coming up in the next few months?

After the Any Method, we will be stocking regularly with Blue trout. They will make up around 25% of total stocking, with the rest being made up from our standard 2.5 to 4lb rainbows, and a mix of 4 to 17lb fish stocked twice a week.

Any Method Clearout

Our next Any Method Clear-out is on Tuesday 4th and Wednesday 5th February, and once out of the way we will add new dates for another clear-out in June, which will start with Fly-Only sessions followed by an Any Method session.

Places will again be offered first to those redeeming Loyalty Cards.

Troutmaster Fish Off

On Friday 21st February we will be holding our first Troutmaster fish-off, for those who were entered in the Trout Fisherman magazine with a Kilnsey big fish. The winner of the competition gets entry to the national fish-off.

New Web Pages Coming

We will be adding recipe pages, a page on the history of fishing at Kilnsey, links to local pubs, food and accommodation and also new pages dedicated to our Trout Farm.

So what will be included in the next newsletter?

There will be stocking info, giving specific dates for Brown Trout introductions and more through the spring. Info on up-coming events through the summer, and info on Kilnsey Park and the Grand Depart - the first stage of the tour-de-France goes right past the lakes.

Source: Kilnsey Park Estate Fly Fishery and Trout Farm

Entry will cost £130 per man (inc. peg fee) with the overall winner being determined by way of a cumulative points system. In the event of a tie, weight will be used as the deciding factor.

To book your place, call Maver (UK) on 01527 406 300.

Competition Format

As per the 2013 event, silverfish only will count, but if a carp is caught, 1lb per carp (regardless of actual size) will be allowed towards an angler's overall weight. Carp must be put into a separate keepnet and two further nets must be used to retain silverfish catches.

The draw will commence at 09:00am on Monday 24th February 2014 for the five day permutation. Having completed the draw, anglers will be fishing each day against 11 anglers in their section. Two days will be on the Speci burr bank, two days on the Speci chalet bank with the final day being a random draw. No bloodworm or joker allowed. Fishery feed pellets only.

Fishing will commence 10:30am - 3:30pm each day.

Places are limited, so don't delay in booking your place!

Dates

Monday 24th, Tuesday 25th, Wednesday 26th, Thursday 27th & Friday 28th.

Deadline for bookings and payment is WEDNESDAY 19th FEBRUARY 2014. PAYMENT MUST BE MADE IN ADVANCE.

More information

Almost 100 anglers from across Wales were accompanied by rural organisations, riparian owners and landowners at the angling exhibition which filled the Senedd hall much to the delight of visiting Assembly Members. Those present were very pleased indeed to welcome  the legendary former Wales and British Lions player Gareth Edwards - a passionate angler who spent the day meeting fellow anglers and politicians.  The event, which received cross party support, was sponsored by David Rees AM, Llyr Gruffydd AM, Antoinette Sandbach AM and William Powell AM.

More than 50 organisations and 2,000 individuals have signed up to support SACC which aims to challenge these proposals before they have a chance to take shape in a green paper that was due to be published in the autumn, but has been delayed.  It is thought that the volume of letters from SACC supporters, and the representations made to Assembly Members by farmers, anglers and wildlife groups has made the government think again about an access free-for-all in Wales.  Opposition Assembly Members will be asking the Minister on 20 January why the green paper has not yet come forward.

Since its launch in November 2013, SACC has raised £10,000 in donations from angling clubs and individuals who are concerned about the damage to wildlife habitats and the economic impact on angling, farming and other rural businesses that universal access would cause.  The funds will be spent on campaign materials and on legal advice to resist any proposals that could damage the interests of hundreds of angling clubs and fisheries in Wales.

Source: Sustainable Access Campaign Cymru (SACC)

Salmon angling is a vital part of the Scottish economy; tens of thousands of anglers from all over the world come to fish on famous rivers such as the Tay, Dee, Spey, and Tweed, and they collectively spend hundreds of millions of pounds in the Scottish economy.  All this activity depends on the health of wild fish stocks which are under serious threat from policies emerging from the Scottish government.

Tomorrow,  15th January, the First Minister is due to attend the traditional opening ceremony to celebrate the start of the salmon angling season on the River Tay and it is hoped that this will lead to better policy decisions that protect wild fisheries and the angling industry properly.

Alex Salmond has shown enthusiastic support for the salmon farming industry which has directly led to the decline in stocks of wild salmon and sea trout on the West Coast of Scotland, with the loss of hundreds of jobs previously supported, directly and indirectly, by recreational salmon angling.  His government refused to accept a number of very sensible amendments to the Aquaculture & Fisheries Bill (now Act) which were proposed by environmental and fisheries organisations to try and reduce the impact of this highly polluting industry.

The Scottish Government also allowed the continuation and expansion of mixed-stock netting at sea in 2012, which catches fish indiscriminately, including fish returning to rivers where stocks cannot support exploitation.  This decision has led to strong calls for a re-opening of commercial netting of mixed-stocks in Greenland, which has been reduced to subsistence catches for over a decade to protect vulnerable stocks.  Greenlanders have been asking why they should hold back from catching fish – many of them from UK rivers – which go to Greenland to feed on small fish and shrimps, while mixed-stock nets continue to operate in the UK.

Mark Lloyd, Chief Executive of the Angling Trust and Fish Legal said:

“The Scottish Government has shown a poor understanding of the economic importance of angling to rural communities.  Tens of thousands of anglers from Britain and the rest of the world spend a small fortune travelling to fish Scottish rivers and they make a complex contribution to the local economy, supporting hotels, pubs, shops and the fishing tackle industry.  Many of the decisions that have been taken in recent years have threatened wild fish, which have been spawning in Scottish rivers for millennia, for the sake of a short-term profit from aquaculture and commercial mixed-stock netting.  If Greenland starts netting salmon again as a result of the Scottish Government’s failure to act to protect wild fish, the future of salmon fishing in the UK will be put at risk.”

Source: Angling Trust Fishing News

During this patrol, what appeared to be illegal set lines were found - but upon inspection two handguns and an automatic weapon were found attached and hidden in the river. Thames Valley Police have now investigated the matter and confirmed that the firearms concerned were deactivated but capable of being reactivated if in the wrong hands; it has proved impossible to connect this arms find with any recorded crime.

Angling Trust Fisheries Enforcement Manager, Dilip Sarkar, a retired police officer, said: 
"This discovery confirms that potentially serious criminal behaviour goes on in the rural area - and emphasises the crucial role of the Voluntary Bailiff Service as trained "eyes and ears". It also underlines the importance of the forthcoming new National Rural Crime Strategy which in the bigger picture, given the National Intelligence Model, fisheries enforcement sits. As the Voluntary Bailiff Service goes from strength to strength, we look forward to supporting both the Environment Agency and police in making our waterways safe places for all to enjoy."

Source: Angling Trust Fishing News

The Angling Trust successfully applied for a licence from Natural England to rescue the seal during the close season (1 September – 31 December 2013) but this was prevented by extensive flooding. That protective period, however, has now ended. No further licence is required for the control or capture of grey seals until 1 September 2014.

Whilst the Angling Trust has no control over others, it remains entirely committed to working with the British Divers Marine Life Rescue (BDMLR) animal rescue charity to safely rescue and remove the mammal from the Severn – both to ensure that the seal comes to no harm and protect vulnerable and fragile freshwater fish stocks. These species include the endangered shad and eel, and threatened Atlantic salmon. Moreover, this female seal will not find a mate unless returned to the ocean.

Last year’s agreement between the Angling Trust and BDMLR has the backing of the Environment Agency – which fully supported the Trust’s original licence application to prevent further damage to local fish stocks.

Dafydd Evans, Area Manager for the Environment Agency commented:
"We recognise the concern by anglers of the impact on specimen fish and that fishery owners can take action to protect their fishery. We will work closely with the angling community to investigate practical solutions to deter predation by seals."

Alan Knight OBE, Chairman of the British Divers Marine Life Rescue said:
"The Angling Trust and local angling clubs have been committed from the start to finding a solution which avoided any harm coming to the seal but minimised damage to fish and birdlife. Although in an ideal world we would like to leave Keith where she is we do have serious concerns for the seal’s safety. We therefore remain committed to working with the Angling Trust to gently and safely remove Keith from harm’s way and return her to the sea.”

Mark Lloyd, Chief Executive of the Angling Trust said:
"Local anglers remain rightly concerned about the impact of the seal on vulnerable fish stocks. The situation has not been helped by members of the public feeding the seal as if it was a pet rather than a wild mammal with a natural fear of humans. We are particularly concerned that the seal has been seen predating on highly protected fish species in the River Teme – a Site of Special Scientific Interest noted for its eel, salmon, shad, lamprey and barbel populations. These fish have specific protection under the law for very good reason. The right thing to do, therefore, for the river, the fish and the seal is for all lovers of wildlife to work together and ensure this animal is safely rescued – not harmed – relocated to its natural habitat and the fragile Severn freshwater system preserved for future generations."

Source: Angling Trust Fishing News

Due to the lack of pike fishing on the 65 acre lake it is almost impossible to estimate the size of fish currently residing in the lake but with the sheer volume of trout in the lake of this size, there is no doubt that a fair few surprises will be thrown up. 

With a two rod weekend (both Saturday & Sunday) fishing ticket costing just £20 it offers fantastic value for money.

To take up this SPECIAL OFFER or for more information contact the Fishing Lodge on 0115 9870785 or Nick Blackshaw on 07773 247371

Source: Angling Trust Fishing News

This basic introduction to Coarse Fishing video is aimed at the novice angler and explains how to select a peg / swim on a lake. Selecting the right swim can definitely help stack things in your favour. So where to begin?

Watch and learn from the experts at Shakespeare Fishing.

If like me, you are a bit of a fair weather angler and believe that fish don't really feed in the winter months, then this video is for you.

Catching any carp in the winter months is always an event, but catching big winter carp requires being in the right place, at the right time, with the best baiting technique. Graeme and Mike Pullen get an exclusive interview with big carp enthusiast Tommy Flower at the famous Thorpe Lea Fishery. A small, one-day gap in the weather see our duo out with their camera's to collect as many tips for beginners as they can. Tommy really comes up with the goods, catching big double figure carp, and lots of 20-pounders, one after the other! It really does turn into a Totally Awesome epic carp film, and it's all brand new, filmed and edited within a matter of hours. With information to learn new carp tips, and top quality filming, it is little wonder The Totally Awesome Fishing Show is the only one to watch.

More angling videos form The Totally Awesome Fishing Show can be found by visint their YouTube channel or you can check out their Facebook page

There are how-to's and feature stories covering coarse, sea and game, interviews with some of our ambassadors, the former fisheries minister and one of our volunteers, plus news of the big campaign and legal wins from our various departments and the Fish Legal team.

If you thought you didn't really know what the Angling Trust and Fish Legal did well this hopefully will help to fill in some of the gaps. There are focuses too on our Volunteer Bailiff Service and our Building Bridges project both of which are finding a lot of support from anglers and also a close-up look from our finance team at how our matches are accounted for to aid with transparency in this area.

The next issue is due in the spring of 2014 and will continue to expand on the various programs, campaigns and initiatives we have under way and in partnership with others.
If you enjoy this and find it enlightening as to the role the Angling Trust and Fish Legal play in safeguarding fish and fishing, we hope you will consider joining as a member to help support our work further. Please see the link at the top of this page to "Join or Renew".

If you are already a member then we thank you and hope this makes you feel good knowing your membership fee is put to good use.

View "The Angler" (autumn 2013) online