Before I write this I'm probably one of the least woke ,or whatever on this forum ,I say it as I see it .
So be surprised at what I'm about to say ..
I bailiff a three lake complex in my villiage and run a private fishery ..The all round level of angling ability ,fish care and general countryside knowledge is virtually zero I'm talking all age groups here..majority haven't a clue ,I mean it,not a clue..which is detrimental to us all..
Before anyone gets anywhere near a lake ,river or pond etc ,and attempts to fish ,a level of Competence of fish care,balanced tackle and litter awareness should be taught ..
I propose, that a basic angling examination should be undertaken before going fishing ...like in Germany ,I know all about the weirdo's the greens ,PETA and so on..,but catch and release promotion
It's the way forward ...as the future comes ..for angling ..
So be surprised at what I'm about to say ..
I bailiff a three lake complex in my villiage and run a private fishery ..The all round level of angling ability ,fish care and general countryside knowledge is virtually zero I'm talking all age groups here..majority haven't a clue ,I mean it,not a clue..which is detrimental to us all..
Before anyone gets anywhere near a lake ,river or pond etc ,and attempts to fish ,a level of Competence of fish care,balanced tackle and litter awareness should be taught ..
I propose, that a basic angling examination should be undertaken before going fishing ...like in Germany ,I know all about the weirdo's the greens ,PETA and so on..,but catch and release promotion
It's the way forward ...as the future comes ..for angling ..
Fully agree. If you don't pass that test then you can't have a rod license, simple. 
100% agree .. I've seen first hand some terrible fish care on day tickets and club lakes .
There seems more interest in cash than care these days
There seems more interest in cash than care these days
In reply to Post #1
I completely agree with you but the bigger picture is a lack of education regarding morals and ethics. This has lead to almost zero respect for human beings, property, nature and the environment.
I completely agree with you but the bigger picture is a lack of education regarding morals and ethics. This has lead to almost zero respect for human beings, property, nature and the environment.
In reply to Post #4
I think that this is the issue, but i also agree that perhaps it should be part of the rod licence
Issue is, I doubt that even half of people who go fishing actually buy a rod licence
I think that this is the issue, but i also agree that perhaps it should be part of the rod licence
Issue is, I doubt that even half of people who go fishing actually buy a rod licence
In reply to Post #4
Passing a test only shows you can pass a test though. It doesnt mean whoever has taken that test will learn anything from it, or most likely, even care about whats on it. Driving tests and licences dont mean people can drive or doesnt make them care about other road users.
People that do care would make every effort themselves to learn, and would be conscious of litter and the welfare of wildlife.
Plus the people you are talking about are all allowed to breed in an uncotrolled and unlicenced manner, and that is the underlying issue of a society full of people that do not care about others.
Youve only got to go to a public place and witness how many people have their phones on speaker phone with zero consideration to anyone around them.
And its all assuming these people would even buy a rod licence in the first place.
Passing a test only shows you can pass a test though. It doesnt mean whoever has taken that test will learn anything from it, or most likely, even care about whats on it. Driving tests and licences dont mean people can drive or doesnt make them care about other road users.
People that do care would make every effort themselves to learn, and would be conscious of litter and the welfare of wildlife.
Plus the people you are talking about are all allowed to breed in an uncotrolled and unlicenced manner, and that is the underlying issue of a society full of people that do not care about others.
Youve only got to go to a public place and witness how many people have their phones on speaker phone with zero consideration to anyone around them.
And its all assuming these people would even buy a rod licence in the first place.
Something has to be done ,angling is very much in the spot light,there is a hella lot of people who would do us down in a heartbeat ..
💡, take the Competence test, pass. Then and only then can you fish ,fcuk up and your banned no licence or allowed to angle or something like this .
Every fishery owner, should be asking ,do you have yr licence ,no licence,no fishing goodbye -Sir..
Oh,man...I have witnessed some stuff ,that literally I have to take a second to evaluate the situation ,..for my own sanity and innermost peace, I work hard not to let that peace become distorted .. I'm talking lifting doubles out of the lake ,straight pull,line held no landing net ,nada,litter left ,you name it ..angling needs to up its game ,all the carp care vids and unhooking mats, that are super soft ,all this gets deleted if you witnessed what I have ,and I guess some on here would have also..
Similar to a dog licence ,bring it back ..no licence ,no dog ..
Fishery owners ,have silly rules sometimes, but let's see the enforcement of no licence ,no fishing ,no Competence,....on yer bike ...
💡, take the Competence test, pass. Then and only then can you fish ,fcuk up and your banned no licence or allowed to angle or something like this .
Every fishery owner, should be asking ,do you have yr licence ,no licence,no fishing goodbye -Sir..
Oh,man...I have witnessed some stuff ,that literally I have to take a second to evaluate the situation ,..for my own sanity and innermost peace, I work hard not to let that peace become distorted .. I'm talking lifting doubles out of the lake ,straight pull,line held no landing net ,nada,litter left ,you name it ..angling needs to up its game ,all the carp care vids and unhooking mats, that are super soft ,all this gets deleted if you witnessed what I have ,and I guess some on here would have also..
Similar to a dog licence ,bring it back ..no licence ,no dog ..
Fishery owners ,have silly rules sometimes, but let's see the enforcement of no licence ,no fishing ,no Competence,....on yer bike ...
In reply to Post #1
Agreed, but totally unrealistic and impossible to implement. Especially in ways that cover all angling. You can't possibly account for all varieties of fish, all circumstances, and each individual persons physical and mental boundaries. Some will be scared of teeth of pike, some will be physically unable to handle 100lb catfish, some may not have hands steady enough to use a disgorger with tiny hooks. Way too many variables to implement any sort of "test".
Agreed, but totally unrealistic and impossible to implement. Especially in ways that cover all angling. You can't possibly account for all varieties of fish, all circumstances, and each individual persons physical and mental boundaries. Some will be scared of teeth of pike, some will be physically unable to handle 100lb catfish, some may not have hands steady enough to use a disgorger with tiny hooks. Way too many variables to implement any sort of "test".
In reply to Post #8
Some good points mate,. They do have this test or something like it in Germany ,Something needs to be done about this , i have no idea how it would work or be implemented, but remember that increasingly fish welfare will come under the spotlight I reckon..
It's something all dedicated anglers should be advocating
( in a while I'm going to check these pools ,and I'll be asking if anyone has a up to date license ,as they are checking ,recently ,yesterday, last week today ,etc,etc ,then I'll be sitting on the hedge for 10 mins ,see who clears off.
Some good points mate,. They do have this test or something like it in Germany ,Something needs to be done about this , i have no idea how it would work or be implemented, but remember that increasingly fish welfare will come under the spotlight I reckon..
It's something all dedicated anglers should be advocating
( in a while I'm going to check these pools ,and I'll be asking if anyone has a up to date license ,as they are checking ,recently ,yesterday, last week today ,etc,etc ,then I'll be sitting on the hedge for 10 mins ,see who clears off.
In reply to Post #9
I may be wrong but the test in Germany says you are not allowed to release the carp back into the water after catching from memory?
I get where you are coming from in terms of concern, but as said hard to implement. Maybe a way would be to get commercial waters over a certain size to do so many days a year where they teach this as part of getting a licence... think of like a work party stamp so you can apply for licence. Wont cover everyone but would get a lot and also help protect the commercial fisherys.
I may be wrong but the test in Germany says you are not allowed to release the carp back into the water after catching from memory?
I get where you are coming from in terms of concern, but as said hard to implement. Maybe a way would be to get commercial waters over a certain size to do so many days a year where they teach this as part of getting a licence... think of like a work party stamp so you can apply for licence. Wont cover everyone but would get a lot and also help protect the commercial fisherys.
In reply to Post #1
Your points are laudable and as a fishery owner myself I wish more of my customers had a better idea how to catch fish and how to look after them; but……
You make a big assumption and that is that a German style test will help. I’ve fished in Germany (and all over the place) and angling/welfare standards there were terrible. The local anglers that I came across were no better than here. The only decent anglers that I met were a few carp fishing mates of a friend of mine who had gone to live there.
Another example; I was once travelling in California (80’s) and a friend lent me a truck and some basic gear. He told me a local reservoir was worth fishing and he told me where the local tackle shop was…I found the shop, asked for advice and a licence, bought some live fish for bait and went down to the fishery. Loads of people there, catching not much. I squeezed in and caught fish every cast till I ran out of bait (12 fish). They were a mixture of trout and bass (small and largemouth). Really good fun. The locals couldn’t believe it; and I couldn’t believe that they were all pretty incompetent. I’d never even seen a largemouth bass before in my life - so I was no expert ! It was mad, I even had to kill the trout that I caught so that the locals had some fresh fish to cook !
I agree that in U.K. angling is under the microscope. It would help if standards were raised all round. In an ideal world anglers and fishery managers should be required to pass competence ‘tests’ before they got involved. But nobody seems interested in taking this forward. Maybe a joint initiative between the EA, the Angling Trust and the Institute of Fishery Management (IFM) ?
Your points are laudable and as a fishery owner myself I wish more of my customers had a better idea how to catch fish and how to look after them; but……
You make a big assumption and that is that a German style test will help. I’ve fished in Germany (and all over the place) and angling/welfare standards there were terrible. The local anglers that I came across were no better than here. The only decent anglers that I met were a few carp fishing mates of a friend of mine who had gone to live there.
Another example; I was once travelling in California (80’s) and a friend lent me a truck and some basic gear. He told me a local reservoir was worth fishing and he told me where the local tackle shop was…I found the shop, asked for advice and a licence, bought some live fish for bait and went down to the fishery. Loads of people there, catching not much. I squeezed in and caught fish every cast till I ran out of bait (12 fish). They were a mixture of trout and bass (small and largemouth). Really good fun. The locals couldn’t believe it; and I couldn’t believe that they were all pretty incompetent. I’d never even seen a largemouth bass before in my life - so I was no expert ! It was mad, I even had to kill the trout that I caught so that the locals had some fresh fish to cook !
I agree that in U.K. angling is under the microscope. It would help if standards were raised all round. In an ideal world anglers and fishery managers should be required to pass competence ‘tests’ before they got involved. But nobody seems interested in taking this forward. Maybe a joint initiative between the EA, the Angling Trust and the Institute of Fishery Management (IFM) ?
In reply to Post #9
Oh I'd advocate it for sure, if it were actually possible in a way that I was practical. Unfortunately it simply isn't. The best we can do is guide people along the way
Oh I'd advocate it for sure, if it were actually possible in a way that I was practical. Unfortunately it simply isn't. The best we can do is guide people along the way
Agree and disagree. Agree because in whatever country you look it is a horror show sometimes. Disagree because it couldn't be further away from the reasons i am fishing, just a guy enjoying being out there, minding my own business, trying to outwit a fish. And in a way, this used to be the standard profile, but since everything, not only fishing, is commercialized and overcrowded, this is a thing of the past and more and more rules are deemed necessary. That's quite the circle.
How about a hand book issued with every licence that covers what's needed.
Not ideal but better than nothing.
Not ideal but better than nothing.
In reply to Post #14
There is already an AT ‘Code of Conduct’.
First conceived and written by the SAA (Specialist Anglers Alliance) before the Angling Trust was invented.
There is already an AT ‘Code of Conduct’.
First conceived and written by the SAA (Specialist Anglers Alliance) before the Angling Trust was invented.
I think part of the problem is that us of a certain vintage all learned our trade working our way up..for me it started with a hook on a handline catching minnows. We read books and learned from our angling role models.
Sadly the latest generation of anglers (not necessarily age wise) want and get everything instantly, tackle wise and access to fishing we could only dream of when starting out.
For the most part their education is mainly you tube and Instagram carp porn which has no instructional value to anyone whatsoever and most probably fast forward to the money shots anyway .
Sadly the latest generation of anglers (not necessarily age wise) want and get everything instantly, tackle wise and access to fishing we could only dream of when starting out.
For the most part their education is mainly you tube and Instagram carp porn which has no instructional value to anyone whatsoever and most probably fast forward to the money shots anyway .
This has absolutely zero chance of getting off of the ground in the UK though. The major UK fishing companies thrive, by bringing more & more novice anglers into our past time. That's their target audience in the main.
Also, when we all started as kids, imagine having to pass some test, or gain some knowledge licence to go fishing. You likely would not bother as a youngster.
The Greens in Germany who do this, are trying to stop fishing full stop.
Also, when we all started as kids, imagine having to pass some test, or gain some knowledge licence to go fishing. You likely would not bother as a youngster.
The Greens in Germany who do this, are trying to stop fishing full stop.
In reply to Post #5
Adding to this, ALL fisheries, where possible, should check each anglers license before they can fish. Similar to where fisheries impose nets are dipped upon arrival, a license should be proved. Even if 30%+ of fisheries started to impose it would make anglers think about an up to date license.
Adding to this, ALL fisheries, where possible, should check each anglers license before they can fish. Similar to where fisheries impose nets are dipped upon arrival, a license should be proved. Even if 30%+ of fisheries started to impose it would make anglers think about an up to date license.
In reply to Post #1
People pass a driving test but still drive like c**nts.....
People pass a driving test but still drive like c**nts.....
In reply to Post #18
Nothing to do with competence though is it?
Nothing to do with competence though is it?
Something needs to be actioned..I don't what,how or whatever but this post is a starting point of a conversation .
A point in question . One place I fish has a public path around it ,once was lovely and quiet ..now we have a Karen ,moved in from some city or town ,walks its dog around the lake always on fb ,always virtue signalling about veganism ,and how her poo is excreted gold,one of them ,one of they..!...there must be hundreds of these looneys out there..
Been here 5 mins ,she /it ...whatever ,,has only got to witness poor handling ,no competent angling and its all over fb,then all the other wannabes starting slating our way of of life ..and on it goes.
We need to up our game, it starts with education ,we either do it ourselves or we'll have it done for us in the future ,and . ..that won't end well,I can assure others this post is well intentioned
As always ,anglers need to wake up,just a tad ..
A point in question . One place I fish has a public path around it ,once was lovely and quiet ..now we have a Karen ,moved in from some city or town ,walks its dog around the lake always on fb ,always virtue signalling about veganism ,and how her poo is excreted gold,one of them ,one of they..!...there must be hundreds of these looneys out there..
Been here 5 mins ,she /it ...whatever ,,has only got to witness poor handling ,no competent angling and its all over fb,then all the other wannabes starting slating our way of of life ..and on it goes.
We need to up our game, it starts with education ,we either do it ourselves or we'll have it done for us in the future ,and . ..that won't end well,I can assure others this post is well intentioned
As always ,anglers need to wake up,just a tad ..
In reply to Post #21
Quote... now we have a Karen ,moved in from some city or town ,walks its dog around the lake. Been here 5 mins ,she /it ...whatever.
Just an observation Wandle, I know from all your previous posts how much you detest 'townies' & 'outsiders'. But you do realise that likely 90%+ of the people reading this live in either a town or a City?
Reminds me of Royston Vasey. "Are you local? This is a local shop for local people, there's nothing for you here!"
(Top show).
I've never visited your neck of the woods. Is it nice? Would I be welcome?
Quote... now we have a Karen ,moved in from some city or town ,walks its dog around the lake. Been here 5 mins ,she /it ...whatever.
Just an observation Wandle, I know from all your previous posts how much you detest 'townies' & 'outsiders'. But you do realise that likely 90%+ of the people reading this live in either a town or a City?
Reminds me of Royston Vasey. "Are you local? This is a local shop for local people, there's nothing for you here!"
(Top show).I've never visited your neck of the woods. Is it nice? Would I be welcome?
In reply to Post #21
In terms of the terrible things that you see as a bailiff Adam... All you can do is educate them mate. Show them where they are going wrong. That is up to every single one of us if we ever stuff like what you outlined in post one.
If they don't take the hint after you educate them... Ban them. They will soon learn.
Fishing has changed so much over the past decade. There's not much that any of us can do to change that sadly. Society in the UK has changed massively.
In terms of the terrible things that you see as a bailiff Adam... All you can do is educate them mate. Show them where they are going wrong. That is up to every single one of us if we ever stuff like what you outlined in post one.
If they don't take the hint after you educate them... Ban them. They will soon learn.
Fishing has changed so much over the past decade. There's not much that any of us can do to change that sadly. Society in the UK has changed massively.
In reply to Post #22
Just make sure you have a west country number plate and a "jam first` sticker on your car Mark and you'll be half way there.
Oh, and it's cream first BTW
Just make sure you have a west country number plate and a "jam first` sticker on your car Mark and you'll be half way there.
Oh, and it's cream first BTW
In reply to Post #24
It's Jam first ..OK..!
And TC ,I've spent hours ,I mean hrs trying to pass on a small amount of knowledge, including lots and lots of kit ,all sorts over the yrs ,trying to safeguard and educate at the same time ..but this post is about across the board ,not about me..BTW, your right ,I don't like incomers very much at all,if you've seen the trouble they cause ,and how they treat others.
(Mind you my father is 100% a londoner,so I'm hardly anti ,just they and others,that move in , 'Baint a clue about rural living 'and try to change things to suit whence they originate .).
Something needs to be actioned,more than ever...regarding education ,so I still feel ,you get some basic training, then a license . Then fish on,and enjoy the fantastic way of life that is angling...,or you can't fish ,its that simple....safeguarding ,
It's Jam first ..OK..!
And TC ,I've spent hours ,I mean hrs trying to pass on a small amount of knowledge, including lots and lots of kit ,all sorts over the yrs ,trying to safeguard and educate at the same time ..but this post is about across the board ,not about me..BTW, your right ,I don't like incomers very much at all,if you've seen the trouble they cause ,and how they treat others.
(Mind you my father is 100% a londoner,so I'm hardly anti ,just they and others,that move in , 'Baint a clue about rural living 'and try to change things to suit whence they originate .).
Something needs to be actioned,more than ever...regarding education ,so I still feel ,you get some basic training, then a license . Then fish on,and enjoy the fantastic way of life that is angling...,or you can't fish ,its that simple....safeguarding ,
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