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EA Closed Season Consultation

Meatman

Meatman
Total Posts: 156
Joined: May 24, 2016

Guys, I'd be interested to hear if many other anglers have taken part in this consultation. I've just been on there and completed it.

Whatever your views are on the closed season, it's a chance to have your say.

Personally I'm in favour of abolishing the closed season. I don't believe it would be detrimental to fish or wildlife. There's been year round fishing on stillwaters and canals for years now and I don't think there have been any ill effects.

But I also accept others will have different opinions, and there's also an option to support a change to the closed season dates.

Ultimately, closed season or not, it's up to us to not actively angle for fish that are obviously spawning.

But it would be good to get opinions from others.

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Posted on January 21, 2019 at 2:08 PM

RiverNovice

RiverNovice
Total Posts: 373
Joined: August 21, 2018

Re: EA Closed Season Consultation

I would keep it and change the dates .. End it on the 31st March and reopen on the 1st July

Posted on January 21, 2019 at 4:51 PM

Hornet

Hornet
Total Posts: 108
Joined: June 23, 2015

Re: EA Closed Season Consultation

I'd keep it too

Would have liked there to be an April/May inclusive option which would simplify the close season.

Not sure where they got their alternative dates from and it seems over complicated to change it to mid April to July. Also to do away with the 16th of June seems a bit crazy and wont prove popular, it's almost as if they are angling(pardon the pun) for a yes or no vote

Don't worry if the vote doesn't go your way as there will be a second referendum straight after grin

Posted on January 21, 2019 at 5:19 PM

stew83mul

stew83mul
Total Posts: 663
Joined: May 30, 2015

Re: EA Closed Season Consultation

I personally want it scrapped but I wouldn’t mind if it was moved also.I think the review is long overdue.I just hope as many people do the survey as have an opinion online on various forums and social media.Didn’t take long to do at all.

Posted on January 21, 2019 at 6:00 PM

Robhol1

Robhol1
Total Posts: 198
Joined: May 7, 2016

Re: EA Closed Season Consultation

I was up for scrapping it as well but having read it through I have to agree with river novice and move it to end of March to July I’ll probably change my mind again though

Posted on January 21, 2019 at 6:13 PM

Brummymoorey

Brummymoorey
Total Posts: 110
Joined: December 31, 2018

Re: EA Closed Season Consultation

I've filled out the form and voted to abolish it. Its an outdated law with no real foundation. Fish spawning times on rivers especially are governed by a lot of things, not just temperature but also actual river conditions, floods etc. These things are way beyond our control with a 3 month ban. Some fish will spawn twice in a season anyway.....I've seen it. The argument about giving the bankside time to grow back is also a farce when you consider that probably 80% of our river systems are unfishable due to being overgrown anyway. The major dangers to fish population do not come from angling pressure anyway, but from natural predators like cormorants, otters, mink, goosanders etc. And that's not to mention illegal fishing for food by migrants. There has been no decline in fish population on stillwaters and canals since the close season was abolished. Simple fact is, more anglers on the bank would help to reduce the proper risks to fish

Posted on January 22, 2019 at 9:57 AM

stew83mul

stew83mul
Total Posts: 663
Joined: May 30, 2015

Re: EA Closed Season Consultation

That’s pretty much all my reasons for wanting it abolished Moorey.Also I think how much damage the increasing number of canoeists do to spawning areas goes under the radar.

Posted on January 22, 2019 at 1:15 PM

onelastcast

onelastcast
Total Posts: 819
Joined: July 4, 2015

Re: EA Closed Season Consultation

Yes the canoists wrecking the spawning redds, what I have been saying for years, well worth repeatinggrin

Posted on January 23, 2019 at 4:22 PM

RiverNovice

RiverNovice
Total Posts: 373
Joined: August 21, 2018

Re: EA Closed Season Consultation

We all know the close season is not perfect . Thats why I suggested moving the dates . Its been suggested that canoeists cause problems on the spawning grounds ? So with no close season in force how would you stop anglers wading and fishing in and around spawning grounds ? How would you stop and police some one with 2 ounce's of lead casting in to a shoal of fish that are about to spawn .

Posted on January 23, 2019 at 8:43 PM

Brummymoorey

Brummymoorey
Total Posts: 110
Joined: December 31, 2018

Re: EA Closed Season Consultation

rivernovice.................what's the difference between a shoal of spawning fish in a river to that of a shoal of the same species in a pool??
What's good for one has got to be good for the other. And there has been no decline in fish population in stillwaters, except those that are rife with cormorants

Posted on January 24, 2019 at 5:53 AM

thebigvermin

thebigvermin
Total Posts: 28
Joined: April 4, 2016

Re: EA Closed Season Consultation

I've also voted to abolish it. . . . . . . . a few decades ago (maybe more - I'm showing my age) I could understand there being a concern to abandon the close season, as the river banks were rammed with anglers. On weekends, if you weren't a member of a club, you could forget about finding a free peg on any stretch. Even during the week there'd be quite a few out - the rivers were fished hard. nowadays, although matches are held - mainly on weekends - the number of matches, and those fishing them have dropped significantly (we only have 10 to 12 regularly turn up in our club - and that's only once, sometimes twice a month). . . . . sorry, I'm drivelling on a bit. What I think I'm trying to say is that a lot (not all) of those anglers now fish still waters (including a lot of commercials) which means the angling pressure has increased on all of those venues, and like has been mentioned already - with no detrimental affect on fish stocks.
By the way 'Brummy'. . . . you posted at 5:53am?. . . . . you goin' fishin'?

Posted on January 24, 2019 at 8:01 AM

Hornet

Hornet
Total Posts: 108
Joined: June 23, 2015

Re: EA Closed Season Consultation

Regardless of whether your in or out can we have a close season debate without comparing rivers to stillwaters?

They are so different

Posted on January 24, 2019 at 8:33 AM

Brummymoorey

Brummymoorey
Total Posts: 110
Joined: December 31, 2018

Re: EA Closed Season Consultation

By the way 'Brummy'. . . . you posted at 5:53am?. . . . . you goin' fishin'?

LOL, I wish. Just got to work.....start at 6.00am

Posted on January 24, 2019 at 9:53 AM

RiverNovice

RiverNovice
Total Posts: 373
Joined: August 21, 2018

Re: EA Closed Season Consultation

I don't still waters so I cant comment on what happens on still waters . I only fish rivers .

Its been suggest that Barbel numbers are in decline ? On the lower Severn Barbel migrate in to the River Teme to spawn . So assuming the close season is abolished on rivers . So any one fishing the river Teme who comes across a shoal of Barbel spawning , it would be OK to cast 2 onces of lead on a shoal of fish trying to spawn ? With out having any impact ?

Posted on January 24, 2019 at 10:12 AM

Brummymoorey

Brummymoorey
Total Posts: 110
Joined: December 31, 2018

Re: EA Closed Season Consultation

RiverNovice...

So you don't believe that barbel would be spawning after June 16th? which under the current law it would be OK so cast a 2oz lead at them!!!
Simple fact is, spawning fish rarely feed so catching them anyway is virtually impossible. Plus, the disturbance caused by that size of lead going into a group of large fish whilst spawn is negligible.
These fish gouge large dips in the river bed so the sound of a splash above would go un noticed.
Anyway, I digress. What your reply has shown, which has been noticed by many "all round" river anglers is that the minority think that barbel rule. What about the other river species?
The debate on the close season is aimed at the whole of the river angling community....not just barbel anglers

Posted on January 24, 2019 at 12:46 PM

RiverNovice

RiverNovice
Total Posts: 373
Joined: August 21, 2018

Re: EA Closed Season Consultation

Yes Brummy its not just about Barbel . Its about all fish ? I have already stated the close season is not perfect and yes fish breed/spawn after 16th June . That is why I suggested moving it to start on the 1st July .

Lets take the River Wye for example . Its well known for its Barbel , Chub and Dace fishing . Any one who has fished the Wye knows how shallow it can be in places . So assuming there was no close season . How would you stop anglers from wading through places where fish have spawned ?
People have said the canoes can do damage . Any one who has fished the Wye knows all about the canoes in the summer . So can some one tell me what the difference is between a canoe going through spawning beds and a angler wading through spawning beds ?
I have already stated the the close season is not perfect and thats why I said the dates should be changed

Posted on January 24, 2019 at 2:24 PM

Brummymoorey

Brummymoorey
Total Posts: 110
Joined: December 31, 2018

Re: EA Closed Season Consultation

Using your example on the River Wye, I would suggest that the dangers to fish eggs would be from ducks, geese, swans etc if the water is that shallow and not from anglers or canoeists. For every one "spawning ground" that is used by anglers then there must be dozens that are inaccessible. There would be no detriment to fish stocks in an all year round season,

What is a fact though is the demise of the fish population of a spawning age.....you have mentioned a decline in the barbel population on the Severn as another example. I totally agree with your statement and its no coincidence that this decline has taken place with the increase in the otter, cormorant and eastern European population,!!!!
Maybe these are the things that should be addressed as a matter or urgency by the EA after they lift the close season ban ….wink
Then, those who are in favour of keeping the close season could have 3 months rest and dream about the "magical 16th" whilst those who want to get out can do so. My personal feeling are that if the close season was to be lifter those who have voted to keep it would soon be spotted on the bank......lol

Posted on January 24, 2019 at 5:34 PM

stew83mul

stew83mul
Total Posts: 663
Joined: May 30, 2015

Re: EA Closed Season Consultation

I agree,would the people wanting to keep the close season honestly not fish rivers during the close season dates should it be abolished?

Posted on January 24, 2019 at 10:40 PM

Hornet

Hornet
Total Posts: 108
Joined: June 23, 2015

Re: EA Closed Season Consultation

I'll be honest Stew and say i'll fish rivers despite wanting the close season to stay, mind you I fish them during the current close season (Trotting for Bass and Mullet on tidal rivers which is totally legal) I'd stay well away from shallows and breeding tributaries but i'm pretty sure not everyone would given all the fish are going to be up there.

Breeding fish do feed as do gravid fish and fish that are recovering from breeding, look at Salmon and how they will take a fly eventually despite having no stomach contents.

The removal of the close season could risk fish like Chub and Barbel becoming as rare as Salmon are, the trouble is we wont see long term effects until around 7 -10 years in. There's a lot at stake and maybe our greed should be set aside just in case as there's plenty of other places to fish in May. Too risky as the change can't ever be reversed. Could you imagine the field day the antis would have if we wanted the close season reinstalled due to plummeting fish stocks in our rivers?

If it ain't broke..... as they say

Posted on January 25, 2019 at 12:01 PM

RiverNovice

RiverNovice
Total Posts: 373
Joined: August 21, 2018

Re: EA Closed Season Consultation

I would have to agree with what Hornet says . What would the long term damage be to fish stocks if we abolish the close season ? Would it be a great hardship to retain the close season and not to get rid of it . Just be careful what you wish for . Maybe one day in the future in may come back and bite you on the backside ?

Brummy you say the danger is not from anglers wading in shallow water where fish have deposited there eggs / spawn . So trampling through shallow water would not destroy eggs/spawn ?

Posted on January 25, 2019 at 2:18 PM
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