• You need to be a registered member of Barbel Fishing World to post on these forums. Some of the forums are hidden from non-members. Please refer to the instructions on the ‘Register’ page for details of how to join the new incarnation of BFW...

Close season.

One question to add...... can anyone who is a staunchly pro retention give any kind of defense of the current dates of the close season ?

My major bugbear is the 14th march to 1st May period.
 
David Will said:
If anyone is worried about their river during the close season you can always walk it every now and again keeping an eye on things.its not the answer to the damage being done but it will help. Trouble is anglers only seem to want to visit rivers with a rod and expect someone else to look after everything till June 16 then moan when all is not well. In 13 miles on Sunday I never saw a soul, in fact in 6 months from October to March I never saw a soul but then again it is a barbel free zone and unless a river has Barbel in it no one seems to give a monkeys at all.
Click to expand...


All that would serve to do David is irritate me as I would see persons who quite possibly originate from Eastern Europe fishing on a daily basis (once the weather warms up at least).

Occasionally I might also see the Environment Agency boat stopping boaters for speeding and ignoring the aforementioned rule breakers.
 
Guy Baxendale said:
One question to add...... can anyone who is a staunchly pro retention give any kind of defense of the current dates of the close season ?

My major bugbear is the 14th march to 1st May period.
Click to expand...

There isn't a definite answer Guy. It's just people taking moral high ground and or people who don't want to accept change is looming.

Evolution not revolution.
 
That is not what the poll on another thread is saying! Two thirds want to keep it.

Trying to bully your views is clearly not working.

As for moral high ground; poppycock!:)
 
The fact that it's two thirds is due to stuffy traditionalists Julian, and people taking the moral high ground. It's people who say that it's a disgrace that are the bullies.
Get with the now and evolve. Jesus Christ it's like footballs outdated laws. Rugby evolves every year. Football still has it's head in the sand.
 
Nick Anderson said:
The fact that it's two thirds is due to stuffy traditionalists Julian, and people taking the moral high ground. It's people who say that it's a disgrace that are the bullies.
Get with the now and evolve. Jesus Christ it's like footballs outdated laws. Rugby evolves every year. Football still has it's head in the sand.
Click to expand...

I've just eaten an enormous plate of curry and am feeling a bit stuffy. It was a tikka masala which I agree is a rather undventurous dish. I also generally stay clear of any high ground on account of suffering with acute vertigo. I even file down the heels on my new shoes.

But turning to the matter in hand. My own view is that whilst there is undoubtedly some historical nonsense with the law in this area (as there is with most of this country's laws because that's the way we roll in the UK), we are where we are and whilst I keep seeing posts asking for valid reasons why the close season should be maintained, I don't think I have seen a post providing an evidence based reason for scraping it. And unfortunately it's that way round-you want the law changed then present your case and make it compelling. I am not saying that is right or fair it's just how I think it is.

Pointing to anecdotal "evidence" from owners of lakes and ponds (who can more easily manage stock levels with a bit of a refill) or perhaps more scientifically worthy canal comparisons, isn't going to cut it in my view because many will point to the very different nature of rivers and their ownership. This will play very well to the instinct of those that think it must be a good thing to give rivers a rest. I am not seeing any compelling reason why an investment should be made in seeking a change in the law.

That said, it's never a bad thing to debate these things and do so with respect for the opinions of others. We do seem to have a habit of letting ourselves down in these debates though by allowing the dialogue to degenerate into digital fisty cuffs.

The other thing we often lack is facts, like real, proper facts, and unfortunately if you want to effect change that's what you need otherwise it's just a collection of different experiences and perspectives which whilst colourful and interesting for a forum, isn't terribly helpful if a group wants to gather itself and go into political battle.
 
Last edited:
If anyone is worried about their river during the close season you can always walk it every now and again keeping an eye on things.its not the answer to the damage being done but it will help.
Click to expand...

I often do, do a bit of cormorant annoying, take a walk just to get a fix of being by the river. It's also useful to look at the place without a rod. I thoroughly recommend it. For me it's not all about catching fish, (would be bug*ered if it was), nor being able to do it all year long.

I'm just having a good time here at home, spinning different centre pins with a stop watch. (duck)

Top post again Howard.

Cheers Nick
 
The fact that it's two thirds is due to stuffy traditionalists Julian, and people taking the moral high ground. It's people who say that it's a disgrace that are the bullies.
Get with the now and evolve. Jesus Christ it's like footballs outdated laws. Rugby evolves every year. Football still has it's head in the sand.
Click to expand...

I'm not sure I want my fishing to 'get with the now'. And if I did I could do things like go to a commercial any time of the year.

No offence to anyone that does either, I really don't mean any offence to anyone that does, but it's a different thing on a river.

Nick
 
Nick Anderson said:
The fact that it's two thirds is due to stuffy traditionalists Julian, and people taking the moral high ground. It's people who say that it's a disgrace that are the bullies.
Get with the now and evolve. Jesus Christ it's like footballs outdated laws. Rugby evolves every year. Football still has it's head in the sand.
Click to expand...

Both have closed seasons!:rolleyes::p:):D:eek:
 
Close season

Well Steve, now that you have put it like,we are stuck with it, as far as the DIY goes, your psychic, I will be at it July, :rolleyes: diy
 
I personally like the close season for the break. I realise I could take a self imposed break but would not like to hear of a lot of good fish being caught when I wasn't fishing. I would feel pressured to go and uneasy in my self imposed exile. So for thoroughly selfish and unprincipled reasons I am happy for the close season to remain :)

Having said that I would not get too upset if it was abolished because, as many have pointed out, it does seem a bit illogical when all points are considered.
 
Guys,
I've said enough on this subject but this is my final comment, and this is only because the gist of some posts seems to suggest that there could be a point to this debate.

The river close season can never be lifted - we can debate it till we are blue in the face, we can vote on polls, why you could even contact your MP and present a huge petition to number 10 - it will not make any difference, for the simple fact that it is absolutely impossible to gather the scientific evidence required to achieve this.

Now whether we were royally stitched up 20 years ago by the angling elite who due to the burden of proof knew full well that this debate could never be reopened at Government level again or whether they entered into it completely naively and were stitched up themselves or indeed whether they entered into it for all the right reasons genuinely believing that they got the right outcome - who knows.....
 
I have been fishing for many years. During this time there has always been a closed season..
During this time I have witnessed many changes especially fish stocks in Rivers getting lower and lower as the years have passed..

How can anyone say we need scientific proof that no closed season would do harm to fish..

If you want facts, then its staring you in the face.

We have a closed season on Rivers and the fish stocks on many rivers are much less than years gone by, what more proof do you need that having a closed season protects fish stocks?..It doesent and we all know it..

Nesting Birds, flauna and flora etc, none of this would suffer anymore than it currently does..Just before June 16th the flauna and Flora will be cut back, pegs cleared and paths ,so that arguament just does not stand up IMO..

Nesting birds are experiencing, especially Water fowl ,increasing predation by Otters as expressed by the RSPB..

As im sure most of you are aware, just how much many Tackle shops are struggling due to economics and extreme weather patterns..IMO scrapping the closed season on Rivers would be a big boost for the fishing industry and many fishing clubs who are experiencing dwindling numbers year after year..

We talk about how to attract new blood into River fishing, well IMO scrapping the closed season on rivers would indeed attract more Anglers on the river banks..

This Thing about June 16th being magical really is outdated but if you choose to back it, that's your choice but it aint a good reason to keep the closed season on rivers, just exercise some self restraint if you believe in it so much..

Like I have said on another thread, there are currently 2 organisations who are strongly protesting about the scrapping of the closed season...Canoists and Boating organisations...
 
Steve M Brown said:
Guys,


The river close season can never be lifted - we can debate it till we are blue in the face, we can vote on polls, why you could even contact your MP and present a huge petition to number 10 - it will not make any difference, for the simple fact that it is absolutely impossible to gather the scientific evidence required to achieve this.
Click to expand...

What utter tosh. We can put a man on the moon and we can create an integrated circuit smaller than a human virus and you are claiming it is beyond the wit of man to abolish an outdated law.........I don't think so.

Steve
 
Steve Stringer said:
What utter tosh. We can put a man on the moon and we can create an integrated circuit smaller than a human virus and you are claiming it is beyond the wit of man to abolish an outdated law.........I don't think so.

Steve
Click to expand...

That's very true Steve. However, we still seem incapable of running an efficient railway service or agreeing on Europe. We haven't even developed a toothpaste tube that eliminates that nasty clogging that occurs after just a couple of squeezes. And X Factor is still on our screens.
 
Craig Wood said:
I have been fishing for many years. During this time there has always been a closed season..
During this time I have witnessed many changes especially fish stocks in Rivers getting lower and lower as the years have passed..

How can anyone say we need scientific proof that no closed season would do harm to fish..

If you want facts, then its staring you in the face.

We have a closed season on Rivers and the fish stocks on many rivers are much less than years gone by, what more proof do you need that having a closed season protects fish stocks?..It doesent and we all know it..

Nesting Birds, flauna and flora etc, none of this would suffer anymore than it currently does..Just before June 16th the flauna and Flora will be cut back, pegs cleared and paths ,so that arguament just does not stand up IMO..

Nesting birds are experiencing, especially Water fowl ,increasing predation by Otters as expressed by the RSPB..

As im sure most of you are aware, just how much many Tackle shops are struggling due to economics and extreme weather patterns..IMO scrapping the closed season on Rivers would be a big boost for the fishing industry and many fishing clubs who are experiencing dwindling numbers year after year..

We talk about how to attract new blood into River fishing, well IMO scrapping the closed season on rivers would indeed attract more Anglers on the river banks..

This Thing about June 16th being magical really is outdated but if you choose to back it, that's your choice but it aint a good reason to keep the closed season on rivers, just exercise some self restraint if you believe in it so much..

Like I have said on another thread, there are currently 2 organisations who are strongly protesting about the scrapping of the closed season...Canoists and Boating organisations...
Click to expand...

I think we have to separate the issues Craig. The cause of decline on many of our rivers is very tangible and requires urgent attention. But as anglers we don't agree on the precise causes-just look at the countless threads and posts on the forum where these matters are discussed. And the problem is a lack of cohesive evidence based facts. It's probably right to conclude that abandoning the close season would not make the problems with our rivers any worse, but no one is saying how it might make things better. And to get the law changed I suspect you would need to come up with something more than "well it won't make things worse". Unfortunately I think the burden of "proof" if I can call it that rests with those seeking a change.

As far as attracting young anglers to rivers, I think the issue is far more rooted in our current culture of immediacy. The insatiable need to have things now and with minimum personal effort. That's why the commercials do so well. It's easy fishing. Don't get me wrong, I am not going to criticise another persons choices but I think that is dominating our sport more and more and it's what, I expect, is keeping tackle companies afloat- and all year round.
 
Nick Anderson said:
The fact that it's two thirds is due to stuffy traditionalists Julian, and people taking the moral high ground. It's people who say that it's a disgrace that are the bullies.
Get with the now and evolve. Jesus Christ it's like footballs outdated laws. Rugby evolves every year. Football still has it's head in the sand.
Click to expand...

Not fishing related but since you brought it up...you say that Football compared with Rugby has not innovated, (or similar). Can't see that at all Nick, the laws of Football have been set in stone mainly because they are good laws, perhaps the only real problem is the off side law, however at least as men this is something our female counterparts will never understand , whilst at least as men we can pretend we do.:rolleyes:

Now I like Rugby too, but if ever there was a game that needed a root and branch trimming of laws of the game it is Rugby,look at all the stop start 'pings' the ref have to do to in a game to keep to the rules? Not that it worries me, I have grown up with it.

Anyway not as I say fishing related, but couldn't resist :)

Cricket? :eek:
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top