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Closed season

KenL

KenL
Total Posts: 280
Joined: December 27, 2015

The Angler's Mail is reporting that the BAA is pushing for an end to the closed season on rivers nut weirdly, there's not a mention of it on this site.

What do we think?

From my perspective, this is now an imperative, not only because it's nice to be able to access the rivers for a day's sport for a few extra months a year but because people on the bank means less poaching - something that is hitting predator anglers particularly hard.

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Posted on March 18, 2018 at 8:23 PM

pitchisshifter

pitchisshifter
Total Posts: 159
Joined: June 21, 2015

Re: Closed season

I do believe there is about to be an online poll think it will go live in April/May not sure it had anything to do with the Baa though?

Posted on March 18, 2018 at 9:06 PM

gb123

gb123
Total Posts: 196
Joined: June 14, 2015

Re: Closed season

Ridiculous we should have a close season. I guess 80% + of my fishing is on the river, albeit always weekdays and many a time I am the only one there, even popular places like Fladbury on average probably only 3 or 4 anglers, sometimes none. Hardly fished to death.

The close season takes three months of better weather away and given the number of fish in rivers a tiny percentage of the fish are caught. To suggest it gives the fish a rest while spawning is nonsense (some spawn before and after the close season) I'm not suggesting it for a minute, it would be commercial suicide, but if anything needs a break judging by the state of some of the fish that come out it's the pools and lakes which are hammered in the warmer months.

The close season was introduced in 1878, 140 years ago, in part to deter poachers etc etc, river management is no doubt infinately better now, is it not time to come into the 21st century. Gripe over.

Posted on March 19, 2018 at 3:19 PM

stew83mul

stew83mul
Total Posts: 663
Joined: May 30, 2015

Re: Closed season

Totally agree with all the above.It’s a completely outdated law.It’s about time it has been put under a serious review.

Posted on March 19, 2018 at 7:53 PM

Johnny_Care

Johnny_Care
Total Posts: 407
Joined: June 10, 2015

Re: Closed season

My opinion is that the season should extend to the end of April, and restart at the beginning of July. This should (usually at least) ensure an adequate spawning period.

A review is most certainly well overdue.

Posted on March 20, 2018 at 5:49 PM

KenL

KenL
Total Posts: 280
Joined: December 27, 2015

Re: Closed season

Why do you assume that fish need a closed season in which to spawn?

Posted on March 20, 2018 at 8:03 PM

Johnny_Care

Johnny_Care
Total Posts: 407
Joined: June 10, 2015

Re: Closed season

Fish will congregate in spawning areas, gravels mostly, certainly in the case of barbel.

There are always 'anglers' that will fish these areas whilst fish are concentrated there. As said on another thread, fish have enough problems as it is, with abstraction, loss of spawning areas, pollution, predation etc, without us bothering them going about their spawning habits. Best to let them got on with it and try and ensure some recruitment for the future.

Just my opinion of course.

Posted on March 20, 2018 at 8:44 PM

onelastcast

onelastcast
Total Posts: 821
Joined: July 4, 2015

Re: Closed season

Some good points made, it does look increasingly like the closed season will be scrapped on Rivers, but I am mindful of the need to protect sensitive areas where fish do spawn, as mentioned Teme Lugg Upper Severn just three in our catchment, but many more. So if the ban is lifted I would hope BAA would look at mantaining a closed season on such Rivers, whilst opening up stretches like the Lower Severn which any sort of angling impact would be minimal.

The Severn is a hugely important migratory river that many species use, I witness Shad, Salmon Barbel and many other species fight the weir to make it upstream to their spawning grounds, they have a huge task with all the weirs etc, the least we can do is make sure the upper reaches are in good condition and available.

There are huge challenges ahead with regard to plastics, silt on gravels, pollution, predation, the issue on a closed season is just one, there are many more as important ones us anglers and BAA need to be fighting for not just for the sake of Angling but for everyone.

Posted on March 21, 2018 at 12:23 PM

Meatman

Meatman
Total Posts: 156
Joined: May 24, 2016

Re: Closed season

Much as I'd like to be fishing rivers for the whole year, I'm also concerned about river fish welfare, particularly barbel as they can vulnerable after spawning.

Fluctuating weather conditions year on year don't help with defining a fixed closed season period.

As others have suggested, I'd prefer the closed season to remain, but run later. Maybe mid April to mid July?

It's an interesting debate - especially as we all have our favoured species with different requirements. Plus as someone else has mentioned, the possible easy pickings for poachers during a closed season when we're not out there.

At least these days we can still get on the stillwaters and do some fishing. I used to be crawling up the walls during the 'old' closed season that included lakes and canals as well.

Posted on March 21, 2018 at 3:24 PM

Robhol1

Robhol1
Total Posts: 198
Joined: May 7, 2016

Re: Closed season

Hi I’ve read what John Williams commented on in the Angler’s Mail and I think it’s a good idea,also because baa have so much available water maybe they could do a trial using certain sections of the Severn and the Avon and see if it did have an adverse impact on fish stocks if that was possible maybe even have a few matches and see what the results were like. I was always for the close season but now I’m not so convinced it’s going to make much difference.

Posted on March 21, 2018 at 9:24 PM

curry

curry
Total Posts: 72
Joined: July 23, 2015

Re: Closed season

From a personal point of view I like the close season. It gives me a couple of weeks off before I start my Tench fishing on the first of April. I get to have a break from the river fishing which is my first love, that way I look forward to the new season with anticipation.

It's not the fish that nedd a rest it's me.

The close season was stopped on still waters after lobbying by the owners of commercials, they will be just as keen to keep the close season on rivers as they were to remove it on still waters. it's in their interests to keep the status quo.

Posted on March 23, 2018 at 6:25 PM

DavidH

DavidH
Total Posts: 245
Joined: August 23, 2015

Re: Closed season

Have to agree with Mr Care.
Personally I think the season needs moving to try and make sure the fish are left alone to spawn.
This would mean even less fishing for me as i'm a warm weather angler these days.

A few years back now on the last day of the season I watched a guy fishing bellow Fladbury weir he was catching chub and barbel for fun. The fish were shoaled up in the faster water spawning or cleaning off. He weighed a net of fish in of 140lb and he ran out of bait.

Now imagine in today's society with social media. Word would soon get out and those fish would have been hammered 24/7 this could only be negative on future fish stocks.

I feel if they were to relax the closed season then these areas should be out of bounds but you would always get people fishing them if 100lb bags of fish were on the cards.

Posted on March 28, 2018 at 8:07 AM

adamph96

adamph96
Total Posts: 13
Joined: September 4, 2017

Re: Closed season

I for one actually wonder if the closed season has a detrimental affect on modern day fishing. Bottom feeding fish such as barbel have come accustomed to intense highly rich diets made up of all the bait that we as anglers put into the rivers. Come to the close season and suddenly this high amount of feed stops. Obviously barbel don't just stop eating, they look for alternative food sources.

The habitat of the barbel (usually gravel beds) is suddenly flooded with fish spawn from all species which they readily gorge on.

It is why I feel the huge silver fish populations of the river Teme completely diminished when the barbel population soared, (that was before it then declined again!).

Posted on April 2, 2018 at 10:14 PM

Hornet

Hornet
Total Posts: 108
Joined: June 23, 2015

Re: Closed season

Rivers cannot be compared to lakes and canals. Currently all the side streams and feeders are getting overgrown with nettles and brambles, these breeding grounds are pretty inaccessible by the time the fish come to breed, surely a good thing. The close season protects the flora as well as the fauna. I love that fresh green untrodden bank that the 16th offers,plus the benefits it provides to the wildlife. I for one hope it remains and feel the clamour for it's removal is just born out of selfishness and wanting more and of course the £££s it could bring to certain sectors.

Posted on May 2, 2018 at 4:33 PM

Lee

Lee
Total Posts: 86
Joined: June 8, 2015

Re: Closed season

Dave Harrell and co want it so they and the other matchmen can make more money. Great idea keeping fish in a keepnet, then tipping them down it to the weigh net during spawning season.

There are so many contradictory arguments put forward such as the rivers are empty so will make no difference versus having people on the bank 365 days a year will prevent poaching. Which one is it?

Posted on May 12, 2018 at 11:40 PM

KenL

KenL
Total Posts: 280
Joined: December 27, 2015

Re: Closed season

"Great idea keeping fish in a keepnet, then tipping them down it to the weigh net during spawning season".
Are you able to identify a Stillwater venue where the stock has been adversely affected by being caught, kept in a keepnet and then tipped (the sort of emotive language that gives the anti's ammunition) into a weigh net during spawning season?
If not, why not?
Is there something special about river fish?

"There are so many contradictory arguments put forward such as the rivers are empty so will make no difference versus having people on the bank 365 days a year will prevent poaching. Which one is it?"
You'll have to explain where the contradiction is first.
"Empty" is a comparative term. Those of us who have been fishing a long time will remember that in the 70's and 80's, you often couldn't find a peg on the river, even midweek. Now there are far fewer people on the bank.
No legal anglers at all during the closed season means that people fishing illegally are unlikely to be challenged and wildlife crimes such as the removal of fish are unlikely to be reported.

Posted on May 16, 2018 at 7:48 AM

Hornet

Hornet
Total Posts: 108
Joined: June 23, 2015

Re: Closed season

I'm not sure how much the season starting makes a difference to poaching, it doesn't stop them round here and if you ever try reporting a case you'll see what I mean.

If anything it helps poachers as more areas become trodden down and accessible to the BBQ brigade

Thankfully the banks of many breeding areas are thick with nettles right now, which is one of the many differences rivers have with stillwaters

Posted on May 16, 2018 at 9:08 AM

Lee

Lee
Total Posts: 86
Joined: June 8, 2015

Re: Closed season

Commercial stillwaters and fish care do not go hand in hand and private fisheries are able to replace their fish so yes, I do consider river species special.

Maybe the close season is out dated but there is no reason to change it other than from a selfish perspective.

As for the contradiction - this very thread has two opposing arguments.

1) an angler visits the banks and rarely sees anyone.

2) having the season open all year will provide a presence when poachers hit during spring.

Are really suggesting there's not a contradiction?

Posted on May 22, 2018 at 3:48 PM

stew83mul

stew83mul
Total Posts: 663
Joined: May 30, 2015

Re: Closed season

Some interesting points here but I’d like to ask those wanting the close season to remain one question.Let’s say the close season was abolished next year,could you honestly say that you wouldn’t fish the rivers during the old close season dates?Would you honestly stay away from the river between March and June knowing full well you could fish it legally?
Also on the old matchman bashing again,I think your views on how fish are treated on river matches are unfair and outdated.How many river matches have you fished/attended?I have been to and fished hundreds since the early 90’s and I have never seen barbel “rolled down the keepnet” as you put it.Why don’t you try attending the weigh in of a big river match and you will see that fish care isn’t just lost on specimen fishermen.Also it’s not just matchmen like Dave Harrell that want it abolished,have you not read the majority of the Barbel Societys’ views on it?

Posted on May 23, 2018 at 9:16 AM

Hornet

Hornet
Total Posts: 108
Joined: June 23, 2015

Re: Closed season

I'd avoid it completely Stew as I would feel uncomfortable playing gravid or spawned out fish and then releasing them in to fast water.

Posted on May 29, 2018 at 9:20 AM

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