20.12.04
RIVER ROTHER.
The Angler's Mail reports......."The River Rother on the Kent/Sussex border between Iden Lock and New Bridge is once again to become a prime match venue. Fames for its festivals in the 1970's    [Read More]

01.12.04
LONDON’s MAYOR GIVES THUMBS-UP TO URBAN ESCAPES.
Mayor of London Ken Livingstone has given the thumbs-up to a brand new active outdoor leisure show taking place in the countryside, just 30 minutes from Central London. Urban Escapes will offer visitors to the event the opportunity to participate in a range of outdoor activities    [Read More]

10.11.04
BOYER LEISURE WATERS.
Boyer Leisure's waters around West London are continuing to fish well, notably Farlows lake in Buckinghamshire    [Read More]

11.10.04
THAMES SEWAGE SOLUTION NEEDED.
BBC News on line reports.....following the flash floods in August that caused 600,000 tons of untreated sewage to be pumped into the Thames resulting in the death of an estimated 100,000 fish, the London Assembly has warned that    [Read More]

07.08.04
NATIONAL FISHING WEEK 21st - 30th August.
This August, National Fishing Week has the support of the Environment Agency, The Angling Trades Association and The Royal Bank Of Scotland. This well established event will help to    [Read More]

05.08.04
STORMS KILL THOUSANDS OF FISH.
More than 100,000 fish were killed when storms in London flushed 600,000 tons of untreated sewage into the Thames on Tuesday night. Outdated Victorian sewers could not cope with    [Read More]

02.08.04
DO FISH FEEL PAIN?
The BBC has reported that: the first conclusive evidence of pain perception in fish is said to have been found by UK scientists. This complements earlier findings that both birds and mammals can feel pain    [Read More]

29.07.04
ANGLING COACHING EVENTS.
Want to learn how to fish or improve your fishing? Well, there are loads of angling coaching events being held this year. Some are listed below    [Read More]

The Angler's Mail reports......."The River Rother on the Kent/Sussex border between Iden Lock and New Bridge is once again to become a prime match venue. Fames for its festivals in the 1970's and 80's, the stretch is still controlled by Rye and District. The EA has obtained a grant to have major work done there this winter, constructing platforms with steps down to the swims for easy access and comfortable fishing. Rye aims to attract major leagues and run more opens next season. Contact club chairman Andy Ashdown on 01797 230241 or bookings secretary Tony Curs on 01797 230427."

Mayor of London Ken Livingstone has given the thumbs-up to a brand new active outdoor leisure show taking place in the countryside, just 30 minutes from Central London. Urban Escapes will offer visitors to the event the opportunity to participate in a range of outdoor activities when it takes place at Lee Valley Showground (M25, J26) from 17 to 19 June 2005. “Londoners need not travel far to enjoy a healthy outdoor lifestyle,” said Mayor Ken Livingstone. Now more than ever there is an established and increasing trend towards an active involvement in outdoor pursuits and this fantastic venue enables visitors to the show to experience walking, cycling, canoeing, camping & caravanning, boating, specialist angling, adventure/extreme sports and more! The show will consist of a huge range of exhibits, talk tents, attractions and fun in a series of specially-themed zones reflecting the above pursuits. The most important feature is that everybody has the opportunity to HAVE A GO and try something new in this unique outdoor location – regardless of experience/ability.

Lee Valley Showground is signposted from the M25 (J26 just 5 minutes) and A121 with parking for over 5,000 vehicles. Urban Escapes is the event for 2005.

For more information contact 01823 250930.

Boyer Leisure's waters around West London are continuing to fish well, notably Farlows lake in Buckinghamshire [see Venues - Buckinghamshire ]. The day ticket water has been producing plenty of 20lb + carp. For more information on Boyer Lesiure's waters and latest catch reports visit their web site at www.boyer.co.uk.

BBC News on line reports.....following the flash floods in August that caused 600,000 tons of untreated sewage to be pumped into the Thames resulting in the death of an estimated 100,000 fish, the London Assembly has warned that about 20 million tonnes of sewage will flow into the River Thames every year unless a solution is found. Thames Water was asked by the Assembly's Health Committee why it pumped one million tonnes of sewage into the river during August's storms. Their reply was that the system relied on releasing untreated sewage into the Thames when the drainage system was overwhelmed with floodwater and the solution is a £1.5bn tunnel under the Thames but added it would take 10 years to build. Last October the London Assembly warned that the city's Victorian sewage system could not cope with large amounts of rainwater falling during a short period.

Not only is this having a devastating affect on fish stocks in the Thames but could also affect the health of the estimated 5,000 people a week who use the Thames on a recreational basis.

How long do Londoners have to wait until this repeated pollution of the Thames stops? Who will be paying for the improvements to the decaying sewage system? You and I in increased water rates no doubt !! If you have any views on this subject, please visit my contact page and share them with me.

To read the article in full visit BBC News

This August, National Fishing Week has the support of the Environment Agency, The Angling Trades Association and The Royal Bank Of Scotland. This well established event will help to introduce many new people, especially the young, to angling. New arrangements will see hundreds of angling coaching and taster sessions run across England and Wales concentrated during 21st - 30th August. In support of National Fishing Week, The Environment Agency is offering a FREE one-day licence for one of your friends to use during the week. Want to find out more about National Fishing Week or want to help run an event? Then e-mail Juliet Robb the national co-ordinator or telephone on 0906 1071234.

More than 100,000 fish were killed when storms in London flushed 600,000 tons of untreated sewage into the Thames on Tuesday night. Outdated Victorian sewers could not cope with the volume of rain and Thames Water directed storm overflows straight into the Thames to prevent London flooding. Estimates put the number of dead fish as high as 100,000. The Environment Agency has said this is the worst sewage pollution in the Thames since 1986. The Thames has been gradually becoming "cleaner" since the 1980s with over 120 salt and fresh water fish species now present. Among the adult fish found dead were carp, chub, bream, sea lamprey, dace and tench as well as 1,000s of flounder and bass fry.

The BBC has reported that:

the first conclusive evidence of pain perception in fish is said to have been found by UK scientists. This complements earlier findings that both birds and mammals can feel pain, and challenges assertions that fish are impervious to it. The scientists found sites in the heads of rainbow trout that responded to damaging stimuli. They also found the fish showed marked reactions when exposed to harmful substances. The argument over whether fish feel pain has long been a subject of dispute between anglers and animal rights activists.

To read the full article visit BBC News or to comment on this thorny issue visit the CONTACT page.

Want to learn how to fish or improve your fishing? Well, there are loads of angling coaching events being held this year. Some are listed below although for a full listing and the latest information, visit the environment agency's website.

DATE

EVENT/LOCATION

IN ASSOCIATION WITH...

Every Saturday 17th July-25th Sept

Broadwater Lake, Godalming, Surrey

Godalming Angling Society

July & August (TBC)

Eastwick Drive/Fetcham, leatherhead

Leatherhead DAS.

21st August

Hatfield Forest Lake

National Trust & NFA

3rd, 17th, 24th & 31st August

Cottage Lane Lakes, Reading

Reading & District AA

21st/22nd & 28th/29th/30th August

Abbey Meadow, Abingdon

Professional Angler's Association

25th/26th August

Beale Park, Pangbourne

TBC

22nd/23rd September

Lee Valley Park

Countryside Live

NB. Some events may not be open to all , so to check if you can attend please call the environment agency on 08708 506506 and ask to speak to your local agency office.