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Viewing 1 to (11 Total) Have the BAA not learnt any lessons? |
Total Posts: 130
Joined: February 26, 2016
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It was recently stated in a previous post that contractors had put in place new platforms at Ladyham!
So I went there to see how well these new platforms would suit my stick float type of fishing.
I had a bit of a shock!
The actual platforms I could not fault, a decent size, level and small gaps between the timbers.
The positioning of the platforms leaves a lot to be desired.
They range from comical to very dangerous!
The comical ones where the shallow water is, have been set at ten to twenty feet back from the waters edge and the second from the bottom stage has a complete stage directly underneath and three to four feet lower.
The dangerous ones are at a ridiculous height of six to eight feet above low water level.
Unless you have mountain goat abilities, fall off one of these and even if you are not injured, it is extremely doubtful you would be able to get back up the bank without some major help from other anglers/walkers.
Actually as things are at this moment in time, on some of the even more dangerous pegs, it is almost certain anyone who fell from them would be seriously injured.
They are made so much more dangerous because the legs of the previous stages have been left sticking up out of the water a foot or two.
Fall onto these stakes and I believe you would have a more than a 50/50 chance of being killed!
Also having to haul a decent bag of fish through these stakes and up several feet without damaging the keepnet would be difficult.
In a past life for my sins, part of my job was health and safety!
I am therefore surprised given what happened a year or so ago involving a death and a huge fine and costs, that the BAA have accepted these very high platforms, some of which have sticking up, obviously dangerous stakes to which a faller could be impaled on.
On one peg there are five of these stakes sticking up, just catch your net on them and it could be lost fish and a replacement net.
As I have said before, fall onto them and it is a guaranteed disaster
On health and safety grounds these stakes should have been removed from each peg BEFORE anyone worked above them.
Plain common sense really.
On safety ground I would suggest a maximum platform height of two feet above low water level.
If you fall in and you are on your own, you at least need some sort of chance to be able to get out with you own efforts.
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Posted on August 2, 2021 at 10:07 AM
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Total Posts: 110
Joined: December 31, 2018
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Re: Have the BAA not learnt any lessons?
I've not seen the platforms in question so please take my comment with this in mind.
We have similar pegs (wooden platforms) on a private stretch of the River Severn which, at first glance are unfishable. They are anything from 8 to 10 foot above the waterline. Steps dug out at the side, and a space to fish is at the bottom, underneath these platforms.
My point is, during floods, these platforms are ideal. So really a bit of common sense is needed in these situations. If you feel the pegs are to high to fish safely when the water is low then find somewhere else.
I cant see how the association can be held to account in this situation
Posted on August 2, 2021 at 12:45 PM
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Total Posts: 130
Joined: February 26, 2016
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Re: Have the BAA not learnt any lessons?
There are no spaces below or any escape route provided to climb back up if you were unfortunate enough to fall off.
If the pegs had as you say a ''fishable space below'' that would be ideal, but they don't.
The reason often given for high positioned platforms is always about ''when the river is in flood''.
This approach punishes the majority in favour of the very small minority who brave the flooded rivers.
The majority are punished in two ways.
There is the already stated danger aspect and fishing from high above the water is damn awkward, especially when it is windy.
High platforms have the potential to be dangerous.
High platforms with stakes sticking up below them, have the potential to be lethal.
When any association (not only fishing based) provide facilities for their members to use, those facilities have to by law, be safe to use.
This being the case, you can be sure they are accountable and liable to prosecution if the worst were to happen.
Also, if you are on a contest you do not have a choice, you have to fish the pegs provided,
Posted on August 2, 2021 at 7:10 PM
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Total Posts: 270
Joined: August 1, 2018
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Re: Have the BAA not learnt any lessons?
Is no common sense involved in this....
Posted on August 2, 2021 at 8:44 PM
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Total Posts: 130
Joined: February 26, 2016
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Re: Have the BAA not learnt any lessons?
I went yesterday (Tues 3rd Aug) to Ladyham and fished just so I would know first-hand what at least one peg was actually like to fish.
I fished three pegs above the shallows!
How you would get by in a contest on this peg, I just don't know.
I tried to put in a twelve foot keepnet and it was nowhere near long enough to reach the water.
At a rough guess I would say a minimum of about eighteen to twenty feet of keep net is needed to reach any depth of water, in which to keep the fish safely.
Even then, a fairly large weight attached to the net end would be needed to hold it in position, when a boat goes by.
The pegs being fished on either side of me were exactly the same, those anglers also could not use their nets.
Going back to Brummymoorey's post, having a two stages on each high peg would be a very good answer to this problem.
A simple solution, but it would cost a few bob!
A second low platform built about two feet above low water level with steps or ladder type access would solve the problem.
To be practical ideally, the two platforms would be offset with the lower platform built upstream about two to three feet off centre from the top platform.
Set like this means when using the upper platform an angler could have a net in and land fish without too much hassle.
A two platform approach would mean this type of high-bank peg on any venue, would be catering for all types of river conditions.
A bit off subject, Ladyham in wet winter conditions needs to be approached with caution.
An angler once told me that he went there one winter and got stuck on the track down to the water.
Six hours later and £150 lighter, he was towed out of the mud.
So be careful if you go there alone in wet conditions.
Posted on August 4, 2021 at 6:50 AM
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Total Posts: 53
Joined: July 27, 2020
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Re: Have the BAA not learnt any lessons?
I fished Ladyham yesterday (Tuesday 4th August) pegs 3&4 with a friend.
Although i agree with some of the comments, you need to take into account two things:
A) The severn is very low at the moment - go to Arley, you can physically walk across the river
at the beginning of the second meadow, so lets see what happens when there is a bit more water on.
B) If they are much lower your going to get soaked every time a boat goes passed and the wake
hits the boards. One idiot went passed so fast yesterday that the water lapped almost to the platform.
I don't know how you would remove the old posts without some serious machinery, and yes if you go in you would have trouble getting out. At sixty six it worries me, as does getting down the bank.
With a hip replacement and footballers knees its difficult, but at least i am able to get to the river where steps and platforms are being provided.
Posted on August 4, 2021 at 9:06 AM
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Total Posts: 130
Joined: February 26, 2016
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Re: Have the BAA not learnt any lessons?
If there were two stages at different heights, you just take your pick on the day!
No problem at all!
At least the BAA would be making a days fishing much safer and then whatever platform you choose, would be at your own risk.
As for the removal of stick-up-stakes being difficult to remove, so what?
It should be done on health and safety compliance.
Actually they could be sawn of level with the river bed where they are easily accessible in the shallow margins.
Posted on August 4, 2021 at 9:42 AM
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Total Posts: 53
Joined: July 27, 2020
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Re: Have the BAA not learnt any lessons?
Tracker. How you going to fish off the top deck when there’s another deck in front of you and it’s under water ?
Posted on August 4, 2021 at 10:56 AM
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Total Posts: 130
Joined: February 26, 2016
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Re: Have the BAA not learnt any lessons?
Haddon,
If you re-read my post you will see I say to have the lower platform offset upstream of the top platform.
I agree with what you say, directly below or downstream would create a problem.
Which is exactly what has been done on the second peg above the shallows.
The lower platform on this peg being downstream, is totally in the way when fishing off the higher platform.
Offsetting a lower platform upstream would eliminate most of the problems with a keepnet and the landing of any decent size fish.
I hope this explanation helps!
Posted on August 4, 2021 at 11:59 AM
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Total Posts: 245
Joined: August 23, 2015
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Re: Have the BAA not learnt any lessons?
This just seems like absolute madness to me.
If the bank is that bad and its that difficult to create a good fishable platform then simply don't put one in.
What is the point of putting all that time and effort into creating a platform that's pretty much useless. As for those shallow pegs take a number of pallets and go out into the water. Once you have one pallet in place its easy to work your way out.
Surely time and resources would be better spent creating good quality fishable pegs if that means a stretch of river only had say 10-20 good quality pegs then so be it, but at least everybody would no, and be sure of a safe and happy days fishing.
Lets face it 99% of club matches these days are made up of between 10-20 anglers and none of us are getting any younger.
As for putting 2 platforms in one for flooded rivers and one for normal levels forget that its hard enough to get one quality peg never mind 2 and a total waste of time effort and resources.
Lets face it those dedicated barbel anglers who go out in flood water conditions already have their areas and spots they know from past experience that they will target.
Whats needed moving forward is for an experienced angler with a competent personality to watch over these projects.
Posted on August 11, 2021 at 8:16 AM
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Total Posts: 130
Joined: February 26, 2016
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Re: Have the BAA not learnt any lessons?
A strategically placed platform can turn a absolute no-peg into a very good peg.
However having them many feet above low water level. is just plain daft, spoils a good fishery for the majority and can be a really unsafe position if an accident were to occur.
Having stakes sticking up below only increases the risk of serious injury if fallen upon!
Any club or association, should be biased towards river conditions which are obviously going to be used most by their members most of the time.
Siting platforms to suit flood conditions and the absolute minority who go out in these conditions does not meet this criteria!
Those of us who do fish in high floods should know which venues will have platforms underwater, so when I go fishing in high flood conditions, I go to a venue or individual peg which I know is platform free.
Also, setting a platform back so that it is almost impossible to run a stick float through is not a good thing to do.
It limits a peg to ledgering tactics and also makes landing larger fish (especially chub) very difficult.
If at all possible, a platform should be built to at least the edge of any reeds, so if a walkway is needed, so-be-it!.
This does happen on some BAA venues!
As for having two platforms on a peg I agree with davidH, one is better so long as it is done right.
At Ladyham a second platform at some pegs or starting again from scratch and lowering the present high platforms, is an either-or situation which would be a solution to the situation.
I think most of us just want a pleasant days' fishing which is also as safe as it is possible to be.
Posted on August 15, 2021 at 10:58 AM
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