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Close season.

Hi men,

Robert , Many would say that the ultimate way of looking after the welfare of fish would not to stick a metal hook in them , but we all still do .


Hatter
 
Robert Buttress said:
I must say I was really shocked and disappointed to learn that the pro/con debate on the closed season had been opened yet again. Enforcing a lay-off period is one way we anglers can demonstrate our environmental credentials. Many anglers do not realise that even outsiders to our sport rate angling as a factor beneficial to the general environment. But lifting the current restrictions on rivers would lose us many friends.

Creation of fisheries in turn creates a niche for birds and other wildlife, for example. And a lay-off period, even on still-waters, gives an added impetus to those environmental benefits. Many angling clubs close lakes and other enclosed waters for a month or two in the spring to allow nesting birds to get on with their business undisturbed, for example.

True, there may be a case for varying the lay-off period to suit local conditions or particular species, but in general terms we need a closed season to ensure that fish have a chance to feed properly in the spring run-up to spawning, and also a chance thereafter to spawn undisturbed and to recover a bit from that exhausting process. We are simply refraining from fishing for certain species when they are at their most vulnerable, and – let us be perfectly honest with ourselves about this – when they are most likely to go belly-up. Not to mention when they are in poor condition and hardly worth catching. It would all be – to use a rather old-fashioned, but very appropriate term – unsporting.
I am not interested in ‘scientific evidence’ suggesting that the closed season is a waste of time. Whatever this ‘evidence’ might be, common sense and a feel for fair play tell me that retaining a closed season would be a positive move.

Neither do I take too much notice of the so-called ‘democratic’ argument that many, if not most anglers would be in favour of opening rivers to year-round fishing. To say the least, it is a highly dubious one. I suspect that many of these anglers are unable to get to grips with what I call ‘real’ river fishing, which takes place mainly in the winter. Cold weather (the poor dears…) and rain-swollen rivers tend to put a lot of potential anglers off fishing in the colder months, so they call for rivers to be open all the year round. The most ridiculous suggestion I have come across on this subject was that, if we really must have a closed period on rivers, it should be for three months over the winter, fishing to resume in April, simply to accommodate anglers when it came to the time when they preferred to fish!

Such suggestions show an appalling lack of knowledge of the fish concerned and are – to use what some might consider a harsh term – unethical. In other words, they show consideration for the angler, but not the fish.

In the end, angling is not a science: it is a sport based on reasonable ethics and care for the target species on which we depend for that sport. And we as anglers should demonstrate sportsmanship.

A closed season makes sense: period.
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If you are not interested in any scientific evidence for abolishing the closed season ( I know of none for or against ) then you cannot know if the closed season is of benefit or not, the flora and fauna argument does not work simply because other river users are not kept off the river people such as bird spotters, canoe users, dog walkers, they all disturb the environment.
 
We talk of 'targeting' spawning fish as perhaps a reason to enforce the close season, of course spawning fish are not interested in anything except, well spawning.

However we can come up with many reasons to keep he close season on rivers, all of which don't stack up really, how can they when we can all trot off to the nearest canal or still water?

As said the ONLY reason we have a close season on rivers is the outdated coarse vs game anglers, as previously stated, it's a class thing, nothing more nothing less.

However if we feel that a self enforced break is better, then fine, but to try and hoodwink ever diminishing river anglers that it is for the good of the fish then I am afraid that is a lie, there are far more serious issues we need to address to save our rivers, the close season if you want one should be left up to the individual to decide, not our 'betters'.
 
Hi men,

Agreed Neil , amazing amount of hypocritical anglers who wax lyrical about the close season , the glorious 16,th , but fish lakes and canals . I know a carp angler who was going to have "his own close season " on a lake he fished , what a laugh now , as that lake is booming , no problems with flora and fauna , certainly no problem with bird life as the bird watchers on the lake confirm , and once he see this quickly changed his mind . Quiet rightly changing his mind , as he viewed the facts in front of him , his eyes were proof . I fish my local canal which is all but a river with sluices dropping water out into the river that runs alongside it . The fish are quality , the surroundings have not suffered , fantastic bird life , it has made no difference , a fact confirmed by an EA representative that I quizzed on this very subject !.

Hatter
 
I must keep-up with biological/ecological/zoological 'news'..... it passed me by that fish (barbel) can now get pregnant...... I always believed they became gravid with unlaid eggs (spawn if you will)!!!
 
Mike Osborne said:
I must keep-up with biological/ecological/zoological 'news'..... it passed me by that fish (barbel) can now get pregnant...... I always believed they became gravid with unlaid eggs (spawn if you will)!!!
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Wow is that all you can bring to this debate? Pretty sad really.
 
Nick - that sort of comment doesn't encourage members to get involved in the forum. It's completely unnecessary.

Calm down, or you'll be taking an enforced break.

Andy F
 
Anyone that supports the retaining of the closed season on rivers yet happily fishes still waters are IMO being a tadd hypocritical by doing so.

The Mundella act which started the closed season is over 140 years old. Attitudes within angling have changed since the time it was introduced and its time it was looked at again.

The reasons that the act was implemented are no longer there and a myth has grown over the years that it protects spawning fish, it clearly does not, nor does it protect flora and fauna as long as other users are allowed onto the river.

I can understand that some anglers look forward to the 16th and that some will not fish at all during the closed season, that is their choice and their choice should not affect other anglers that would like to fish rivers during what is the current closed season.

The last survey carried out by the EA came out on the side of retaining the closed season, interesting that only some 16% of those that completed the survey were regular river anglers.
 
i am strongly apposed to river fishing 12 months a year, fish dont suffer physically being caught in still waters but fish like barbel definately do in rivers
when spawing is or has been close.every barbel man know thisand knows during a post spawning time the barbel need nursing and time to recover mre than usual.
my reason mainly is river banks do get beaten down during the season and need time to rest and recover, as for walkers ect disturbing the banks well what can i say lol bird spotters walking along the rivers edges NO! what self respecting twitcher is going to expose their presence, same as the walkers, most of them will walk the paths not the rivers edges, that puts that in perspective, i can remember the 1st year farlowes made all year fishing availabe, until that time the banks and islands were rich in growth, look at it now and its more muddy banks half the vegetation around its banks dissapeared, the rushes,reeds and lilypads which were abundant to put mildly are now sparse and in a lot of places devoid, we need to allow nature to heal itself
 
nick, you asked for other bfw members veiws on the subject, your getting answers mate, because they are not neccesarily inline with yours isnt their fault, you asked you got, i defended you before when i thought you was being picked on but after reading the mudering fish bit i aint too sure i did right.
 
John Walker said:
i am strongly apposed to river fishing 12 months a year, fish dont suffer physically being caught in still waters but fish like barbel definately do in rivers
when spawing is or has been close.every barbel man know thisand knows during a post spawning time the barbel need nursing and time to recover mre than usual.
my reason mainly is river banks do get beaten down during the season and need time to rest and recover, as for walkers ect disturbing the banks well what can i say lol bird spotters walking along the rivers edges NO! what self respecting twitcher is going to expose their presence, same as the walkers, most of them will walk the paths not the rivers edges, that puts that in perspective, i can remember the 1st year farlowes made all year fishing availabe, until that time the banks and islands were rich in growth, look at it now and its more muddy banks half the vegetation around its banks dissapeared, the rushes,reeds and lilypads which were abundant to put mildly are now sparse and in a lot of places devoid, we need to allow nature to heal itself
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John thanks for the post, if there weren't two sides to an opinion it would be a very dull forum. I totally disagree with you though. If thats the case ALL boat traffic must stop during the closed then. But it doesn't does it. Because fish are used to boats, walkers, anglers and bird watchers.
 
John Walker said:
i am strongly apposed to river fishing 12 months a year, fish dont suffer physically being caught in still waters but fish like barbel definately do in rivers
when spawing is or has been close.every barbel man know thisand knows during a post spawning time the barbel need nursing and time to recover mre than usual.
my reason mainly is river banks do get beaten down during the season and need time to rest and recover, as for walkers ect disturbing the banks well what can i say lol bird spotters walking along the rivers edges NO! what self respecting twitcher is going to expose their presence, same as the walkers, most of them will walk the paths not the rivers edges, that puts that in perspective, i can remember the 1st year farlowes made all year fishing availabe, until that time the banks and islands were rich in growth, look at it now and its more muddy banks half the vegetation around its banks dissapeared, the rushes,reeds and lilypads which were abundant to put mildly are now sparse and in a lot of places devoid, we need to allow nature to heal itself
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It just goes in a circle John, yes Barbel and other species need rest when they have spawned, the current closed season doesn't mean they are going to get it as a lot of fish depending on weather, species and geographical location will spawn outside of the closed season, some will spawn during the season ends. I don't understand the thinking that fish in still waters don't need to rest after being caught at all.

You say most walkers would stick to paths, some may but there dogs will not nor will canoeists that haul out on the river bank, they have the potential to cause much more damage to spawning areas and flora and fauna than an anglers would yet they can continue using the river.

I am afraid that anglers are in danger of shooting themselves in the foot with the flora and fauna needing a rest from us argument when no other river user thinks like that, IMO they do not need a rest from us unless and until everyone else gives the rivers a rest and it is proved that the current closed season is beneficial to fish.

If we want to leave fish totally alone during periods when they might spawn then a 9 month season would be the only answer from Feb to Oct how many calling for the retention of the closed season want that?

Answers on a postcard please :D
 
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nick as your talking to an ex boater of more the 40 years i reckon i can enlighten you mate, on a river like the thames the income from boat licenses is staggering mate, we are not talking peanuts here, the other income from workers and retailers ect is again absolutely staggering, and you want the river boards to lose this income from the boaters?, ask the average boater on the thames what they pay or would pay for say an average 25 footer, then ask the marina charges for keeping a 25 footer there per annum, we aint taking a few million like the fishing license we,re talking at a wild guess and chuck away the last 6 000000s, the governments not going to lose that
 
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graham i fish the wye beleive me canoes can and do cause damage in shallow gravelly areas but canoes are NOT BOATS and there definately is too many using them which have not been taught river respect, as for the vetetation bit have a good look at any lake or pit banksides and then have a peek at ones that do close down if you cannot see or comprehend the difference then i will take some pictures and sling em up on here
 
Mark Anderson said:
Hi men,

Robert , Many would say that the ultimate way of looking after the welfare of fish would not to stick a metal hook in them , but we all still do .


Hatter
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Mark,

Thank you for highlighting the fact that we stick hooks in fish. To listen to the views expressed on here, some anglers are presenting themselves as caring above all for the welfare of the fish in our rivers and lakes, and acting in an environmentally responsible manner by observing the close season.

But sticking hooks in them and dragging them out of their natural environment and generally scaring the living bejesus out of them during the season is just fine.

Lets either fish all year round and be proud of it or not fish at all; much better than all this hypocrisy.

Steve,
 
John Walker said:
graham i fish the wye beleive me canoes can and do cause damage in shallow gravelly areas but canoes are NOT BOATS and there definately is too many using them which have not been taught river respect, as for the vetetation bit have a good look at any lake or pit banksides and then have a peek at ones that do close down if you cannot see or comprehend the difference then i will take some pictures and sling em up on here
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No need for pictures John I believe you, I have seen both sides of the coin when it comes to bankside vegetation, some lakes near me that are fished year round still have healthy banksides which is probably due to the lack of anglers on them at any time of year, on the other hand there is one even nearer that has bare banks where anglers have fished although to be honest it does have a lot of bankside growth between the swims.

The other side of the coin is parts of rivers that are fished day in day out during the season by Barbel anglers (they are very well known swims) even after the 3 month break nothing grows there at all, the bank is bare and after rain becomes very slippy and dangerous, so the same thing can happen on rivers and still waters despite the break.

I have experienced the "canoeists" on the Wye and found that the serious canoeist will normally give a wide berth to anglers, on the other hand the half cut idiots will not and it is these type of people that I refer to when I say they can cause a lot of damage, having said that even the serious ones will probably have no idea about spawning fish.

If as I keep reading rivers are to be enjoyed by everyone then IMO anglers should be allowed to have the same time on the rivers as others, either that or stop other users going near the rivers which isn't going to happen, much easier for the EA to maintain the status quo.
 
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