TC's Angling Column (From Dudley News)

TC's Angling Column

9:20am Friday 31st July 2009 in Sport

STOURBRIDGE’S Emma Moore smashed the Stuarts Pool record this weekend by landing a 36lb 4oz Catfish using luncheon meat. Moore spent the whole weekend on Stuarts Lake, accompanied by husband Ed and their two-year-old daughter, Poppy.

She said: “It was fantastic! I would have been thrilled just to catch a fish, but to achieve a personal best and break the lake record was brilliant!” Having struggled for quite some time to land the fish, Emma's arms were so tired she could hardly lift her catch

Matt earns place in Evesham Championship Final

River Severn barbel expert Matt Maginnis sent out a warning of intent to the rest of the Shakespeare Championship finalists with a resounding 18-4-0 victory on his first visit of the season to the Evesham match stretch.

Kidderminster based Matt drew Peg 27 but after a fruitless couple of hours on pole, stick and waggler decided to go all out for one.

An hour later he had two in the net, the best just over 11lb. Despite spending the rest of the match biteless, he ran out an easy winner finishing 13lbs in front.

Griff Is Paddling Up The Wrong Creek

Actor Griff Rhys Jones has been promoting his new television series by sticking an unwelcome oar into the issue of access to rivers by canoes and other craft.

He has suggested the public disturb as many fishermen as possible, claiming: “The river isn’t there for a few, but for the many.”

The comments have alarmed the The Angling Trust, which claims the actor is advocating trespass or other illegal action and is not aware of the damage unregulated access will have on the ecology of river systems.

The Trust says established law of the land, tested in the courts, says there is no public right of navigation on non-tidal rivers.

Canals and some rivers do have public rights of navigations such as the Thames, Severn and Wye.

In common with fishing, swimming, and all other activities requiring access, the right to canoe is a property right, whether it be in a river running through a private garden or the open countryside.

Estimates of the number of anglers are as high as four million and the Trust has pointed out that anglers and riparian owners pay very substantial rents and capital sums for the pleasure and right to fish.

Freshwater anglers also pay for an Environment Agency licence to use a rod and line which contributes about £25 million each year for fisheries conservation, as well as £3.5 billion to the economy.

Angling is not allowed on rivers at certain times of the year in order to protect spawning fish, while anglers also invest huge sums in maintenance and improvement of rivers, and are responsible for monitoring and reporting pollution and other damage.

Mark Lloyd, Chief Executive of the Angling Trust said: “We are calling on Griff Rhys Jones to retract his calls for canoeists to cause disturbance to anglers and to trespass.

“Anglers have a legal right to go fishing in peace and we are working with canoe clubs to develop sensible agreements to increase access to rivers.

“The actor’s comments are uninformed and will undermine these agreements bringing discord to our peaceful rivers.”

You can read further on all the work of the Angling Trust by logging on to its website www.anglingtrust.net

Fishery Form Guide

Dayhouse Farm Fishery, Romsley, Halesowen: Father and son anglers Mike and Liam Brettle from Stourbridge braved the thunderstorms in the week and both were rewarded with personal best fish.

Mike took a common carp of 22lbs on meat, while Liam had a superb tench of 6lbs on corn.

Maggots will get you plenty of bites from small fish at Dayhouse while those larger hookbaits seem to always attract a bigger fish or two.

For more contact 01562 710663 Wassell Grove Fishery Attendances and match weights have been excellent in July at Wassell, pellet and corn along with chopped worms and casters are taking all sizes of fish.

There has been some very nice bream and tench coming out in the quieter midweek days from the Specimen Pool, corn, casters and worms proving the best baits.

For more information call 07967 556673 or visit www.wassellgrovefisheries.co.uk Solhampton Fishery Solhampton has seen a huge upsurge in visiting Black Country anglers and with local clubs and associations booking their contests there.

You can see why, with 100lbs match catches common and the month was topped by venue regular Stuart Campbell, winning a Sunday open match with an incredible 213lbs.

Pleasure anglers especially in the week have taken tremendous catches with Chris Davies from Halesowen taking an estimated 300lbs catch on pellet, in just four hectic hours on the Valley Pool!

For more contact 01299 828074 or visit www.solhampton-fishery.com