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What would you do?

I've confronted a few over the years and all I've ever got is a load of abuse. Phoned EA up and told them river name and place, never turned up:eek: Seems a waste of time phoning them, they're not bothered most of the time.
 
One of the last times I had an run in with someone fishing a river out of season I later found out he was a copper who knew exactly what he was doing. Not only was he fishing out of season, he was also catching pike to illegally transfer them.
 
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When I was bailiffing I'd have done my job on my fishery and got them moved off by whatever means the situation (and numbers) required. Voluntarily, I was contracted to do that.


On other waters where I was (am) a member , if I knew any of the bailiff team, I'd call them, otherwise I wouldn't get involved. There's no satisfaction in having either a load of abuse or worse, a physical confrontation. And for what?

We happily fish during spawning times for lake-bound fish, what harm is there going to be in one or two river fish getting caught and released in ignorance or otherwise?

My mate and I had a couple of pike yesterday both leaking eggs. When fish are actively engaged in spawning, they're generally not interested in food anyway.
Do the vast majority of anglers feel guilty when they catch fish at this time? No.

Call the EA by all means, that's part of their job, but don't complain if they don't make it, their budget's been slashed again and there are few enough of them as it is.

Maybe you could call a banker, it's their fault after all? :)
 
I have done a fair bit of amateur baliffing, and never had too much grief. I guess if you a confident and polite when you make the approach it should work your way. The only occasion when I felt frustrated was when a group of EE's were fishing Pershore Weir end of May 2009. They 'dug' their heels in for a bit, but when I said I was contacting the EA? they reluctantly sloped off. :cool:
Saw them a few weeks later in the car park in the season proper and they proudly showed me their BAA cards which was great:D, but they stiil hadn't got the full set with a rod licence...but some progress I guess:p
 
I pulled a couple of guys on the Wharfe last week & in fairness they did pack in..but it's not worth getting in a violent situation, most observe the close season however they feel about it.Give em the old Clint Eastwood stare, but "do you feel lucky punk" might be pushing it a bit too far :D
 
Call the EA by all means, that's part of their job, but don't complain if they don't make it, their budget's been slashed again and there are few enough of them as it is.

Maybe you could call a banker, it's their fault after all?
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How true Simon .
 
I sometimes think you southern boys live on a different planet to those of us in the Midlands and the north.
I am a member of three clubs and a two syndicates which between them cover hundreds of miles of rivers. These clubs acquired most of their river holdings in the days when matches were usually held on rivers and the banks would be lined with anglers all weekend. Even though the large clubs rarely hold matches on rivers today and for the most part the banks are devoid of anglers the clubs retain their river holdings because they had the foresight to buy the fishing rights outright in the glory days. While some bits do get a bit busy there are miles of bank which might not see an angler from one week to the next and once the 'solar powered anglers' pack their gear away with the first chill winds of Autumn they might go months without being fished. If we were to adopt your idea Julian I would do nothing else but walk the banks during the close season on the off chance that I might come across a few 'eel' fishers who probably never buy a licence anyway.
I think a better idea would be to simply scrap the close season like just about every other country has done.
 
Remove the close season , if it is not policed what is the point ? It might just be the only deterrent to poachers, Cormorants,Otters etc available. The E.A. can't stop it so in the new "Big Society" we should do it ourselves.
 
We have patrols on two club stretches of river I fish down in the south but only during the season proper. I fully understand the same is not possible in the north of the country of the midlands. Even more reason for the removal of the close season in my mind , it is antiquated nonsense.
 
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Call the EA by all means, that's part of their job, but don't complain if they don't make it, their budget's been slashed again and there are few enough of them as it is.

Why have a phone number to report incidents if there is no intention to turn up?
I know its not their fault they are under manned, but!
 
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