31.08.05
INTEREST IN ANGLING REMAINS HIGH
Interest in angling is high amongst people in England and Wales, especially the young according to Public Attitudes to Angling 2005, a new survey report released by the Environment Agency on Tuesday 30th August....
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30.08.05
BURY HILL FISHERIES NEWS - W/E 28th August 2005
A bit of a mixed week weather wise, with a lot of rain hitting the system last weekend and early week. Whilst this did help to replenish water levels and boost oxygen, the volume of rain was such that it also chilled the system down which in turn did slow sport for a day or two, particularly on the Old lake and Milton lake....
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24.08.05
CARPENWATER, LATEST NEWS
Fish South East has been following the fortunes of Carpenwater, a relatively new mixed coarse fishery in Essex which opened earlier this year. Here we detail some of the latest news from the venue....
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19.08.05
TAKE THE BAIT - GIVE FISHING A GO
The Environment Agency and Longreed Lakes are calling on novice anglers to come and learn or improve on their fishing skills at a free angling event on Thursday 25 August 2005 at Longreed Lakes in Laughton near Lewes, East Sussex....
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18.08.05
BAILIFFS ASSAULTED
Two bailiffs were assaulted on Sunday [August 14] as they carried out routine rod licence checks at a fishery in Aldershot. The assault happened at 11.45am at Gold Valley Lakes, in Surrey, when two officers, Graham Haynes and Bob Bennett, approached a group of four men and one woman....
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17.08.05
EA INVESTIGATES FISH DEATHS
Environment Agency staff are investigating how sewage ended up in a stream at Hickstead, West Sussex on Sunday 14 August 2005. A member of public who saw dead fish in the stream called the Environment Agency to raise the alarm....
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11.08.05
THOUSANDS OF FISH DEAD IN GRAND UNION CANAL
Thousands of fish have been killed following a pollution incident in the Grand Union Canal between Bourne End and Boxmoor this week. Environment Agency officers and staff from British Waterways were quickly at the scene after concerned members of the public reported seeing a number of dead fish around the lock at Bourne End, on Sunday 31 July....
[Read More]

10.08.05
WHERE'S FISHING WELL [AUGUST 05]
The following is a round up of coarse fishing venues [all featured on Fish South East] that are fishing well at the moment and how to catch at each venue. Click on the link for more details of each fishery....
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04.08.05
IMPROVE YOUR FISHING AT PASSIES POND
Calling all junior anglers. The Environment Agency, Adur District Council and Passies Pond are offering you the chance to come and learn or improve your fishing skills at a free angling event in West Sussex. The junior angling day is being held on Thursday 11 August 2005 at Passies Pond in Coombes near Lancing, West Sussex....
[Read More]

Interest in angling is high amongst people in England and Wales, especially the young according to Public Attitudes to Angling 2005, a new survey report released by the Environment Agency on Tuesday 30th August. The survey was designed by the Environment Agency to assess people’s attitudes toward angling in England and Wales and followed up two similar surveys carried out in 1997 and 2001. The findings are based on face-to-face interviews with over 2000 people from across England & Wales conducted between March and April 2005.

Over 70% of those questioned for the survey agreed that ‘angling is an acceptable pastime’ and only 8% disagreed. Some attitudes toward angling are more positive than in 2001 and over 50% of those participating in the survey agreed anglers care for the environment. The report also indicates that there are 3.5 million current freshwater anglers in England and Wales and another 4.4.million potential freshwater anglers. There are 3 million current sea anglers. Interest in fishing was particularly high amongst young people aged 12 to 16 years. Almost 1 in 5 had been freshwater fishing in the past two years. As many again have an interest in going in the future although most of these have never had an opportunity to try out the sport.

Key factors highlighted in the survey that encourage people to take up the sport are:

- Having someone to go with
- Knowing somewhere local to go
- Information on how to fish

Dafydd Evans, Head of Fisheries for the Environment Agency commented:
"For the past few years we have been expanding our work in angling development and participation - responding to Government guidance. We have cut the price of a junior licence and have channeled income from angler’s licences into improving urban fisheries. It’s great to see that almost 8 million people have an interest in this all-inclusive sport."

Copies of the survey report are available from the Environment Agency website.

Source: The Environment Agency - August 2005. Contact: enquiries@environment-agency.gov.uk

Overview:
A bit of a mixed week weather wise, with a lot of rain hitting the system last weekend and early week. Whilst this did help to replenish water levels and boost oxygen, the volume of rain was such that it also chilled the system down which in turn did slow sport for a day or two, particularly on the Old lake and Milton lake. However with warmer weather returning Friday, water temperatures have started to recover and with it the bumper catches have started to return.

Outlook for the week ahead:
Turning much warmer with temperatures hitting the upper twenties. This will boost sport in the short term as water temperatures return to normal and it is unlikely that sport will flag as a result of the hot weather, owing to the fact that the hot spell is only due to last until the end of the week when temperatures will settle back to normal. Outlook is very good as we move into September which traditionally is a very good month for sport.

Old Bury Lake:
Despite the poor weather at the start of the week, anglers have seen some reasonable action from the bream, particularly towards the end of the week with some anglers catching upwards of 100lb. No specific areas, although the middle pegs on the front bank and early pegs along the long bank are generally producing the bigger bags with individual fish to over 7lb. The tench fishing has also been a little up and down being effected more by the cold water influx. However, a few anglers have caught some good fish from the long bank lily swims with one or two catching upwards of a dozen fish to 8lb+ together with a variety of silver fish including some excellent roach and rudd. All methods are working on the day, although the feeder and pole are better suited to the front bank whilst strong float tackle is working best along the long bank. Bait wise, pretty much everything is now catching with caster and worm working particularly well as we head into autumn as well as bigger baits such as corn, small cubes of meat and soft and banded pellet along with paste. The secret at this time of year is not to over feed your swim and feeding little and often will increase your catches.

Bonds Lake:
Not surprisingly sport on Bonds slowed for just a few days early week as water temperatures dropped. However the later part of the week saw sport start to return with some excellent bags reported as the weekend approached. Surprisingly the top end of the lake appears to be fishing the best with pegs 6 to 9 fishing particularly well. Saying that, all pegs are producing fish with loads of bags to 50lb along with the odd bag to 100lb. As in previous weeks, pellet and paste or soft pellet appears to be the most productive baits, although, corn, meat and maggot are all catching.

Milton Lake:
Responding to the increased oxygen and water levels, Milton has fished pretty well this week producing some good bags of tench and crucian supported by lots of roach, rudd and perch. As water temperatures increase, ecxpect bags to 70/80lb and the odd bag to 100lb+. Both pole and float tactics are working best with most baits working with corn, pellet and paste all catching well on the day, however, caster and maggot are taking the better rudd and roach bags particularly when fished up in the water.

For full details of the past weeks fishing at Bury Hill, visit: Bury Hill Fisheries News

Fish South East has been following the fortunes of Carpenwater, a relatively new mixed coarse fishery in Essex which opened earlier this year. Here we detail some of the latest news from the venue:

26 June: Well it looks like summer has finally arrived with some very hot days and lovely evenings for fishing. The fish at the lake have been spawning during the the past few weeks which had caused the water balance to change due to all the silt being disturbed, fortunately this is now settling back down again. A big Sorry to the anglers that had to have their bookings postponed due to this problem but the health of the fish is very important to us. Some anglers have enjoyed excellent sport from carp with the best catch producing 20 carp with a nice 12lb ghost. As soon as the fish settle back down and recover from the spawning period big catches should be on the cards.

12 July: After a rest period the fish are now feeding well and all the water levels have returned to normal. Sweetcorn fished on the margin slope to the right of peg 4 has been producing several carp nice carp and a few barbel too. Peg 2 has also produced a lot of fish when placing a bait in the deeper channel, spend some time plumbing around to find it. Feed little and often with corn and carp pellets to keep the fish in your swim. As Carpenwater is a new fishery the carp are not used to eating eye catching boillies so they really dont work well! The fish are fed every other day on sweetcorn and carp pellets so it is really worth giving them a go.

9 August: We installed a lake bed aeration system 4 weeks ago and it has really made a big difference to the fishing, improving the feeding of the carp. Carp have been feeding very well on sweetcorn and luncheon meat fished on the slopes. Crucians and tench are showing in the morning and evening, again most fish have fallen to sweetcorn. Rudd and Ide are providing lots of action to float fished maggots on the drop, lots of bait is needed to feed off the smaller fish though!

Source: www.carpenwater.co.uk

The Environment Agency and Longreed Lakes are calling on novice anglers to come and learn or improve on their fishing skills at a free angling event on Thursday 25 August 2005 at Longreed Lakes in Laughton near Lewes, East Sussex. The event is open to anglers of any ability and age. Environment Agency coaches will be on hand at the waterside to teach novice anglers different angling methods, tackle and bait and the rod licensing system. They will also learn about the importance of fish care and welfare.

Fishing lessons are free but should be booked prior to the event. Lessons start at 10am and 2pm and each one lasts for 2 hours. Bait, fishing tackle and a rod licence for the day will all be supplied. Children under the age of fourteen must be accompanied by an adult.

Nick Brain of the Environment Agency’s Sussex Fisheries Team said: "Longreed Lakes is a great location for this event. Anyone who has never tried fishing but wants to get started or newcomers who want advice on how to improve their skills can come along and learn a variety of angling techniques. Novice anglers will also get important advice on how to help protect the waterside environment and safeguard the welfare of fish you catch."

Miles Gosling of Longreed Lakes said: "We’re delighted to host one of the Environment Agency angling events at our lakes. I’m sure it will be a great day and we’re all looking forward to it. Angling can be a difficult pastime to get to grips with on your own so this event is an excellent opportunity for us to give a helping hand to anyone wanting to learn."

For further information on this event or to book a place please call Miles Gosling on 01273 401587 or 07974 766674.

Source: The Environment Agency - August 2005. Contact: enquiries@environment-agency.gov.uk

Two bailiffs were assaulted on Sunday [August 14] as they carried out routine rod licence checks at a fishery in Aldershot. The assault happened at 11.45am at Gold Valley Lakes, in Surrey, when two officers, Graham Haynes and Bob Bennett, approached a group of four men and one woman. One of the men claimed that he had a rod licence and Mr Haynes tried to check this out with the Environment Agency’s communication centre over the phone.

While he was doing this, however, the man became aggressive towards him. Both bailiffs were then assaulted, and one lost consciousness for a short time. The police and an ambulance were called. Mr Bennett was taken to Frimley Park Hospital but was released later that day.

Anyone aged 12 years or over, fishing for salmon, trout, freshwater fish or eels in England and Wales must have an Environment Agency Rod Fishing Licence. They cost £23.50 for a year and were available to buy at Gold Valley Lakes. They are also available from Post Offices, over the telephone and online. Rod licences are important as the relatively small amount of money helps to fund the Environment Agency’s important work managing fisheries and improving angling facilities. Those breaking the law are also cheating other anglers.

Bailiff Graham Haynes said: “This sort of incident is rare and in my 15 years as a bailiff this is the first time something like this has happened. It has not deterred or intimidated me in anyway and I am pleased to say that the vast majority of anglers I meet are happy to see that we check rod licences and enforce the law.”

Paul Greaves, from the Environment Agency said: “It is totally unacceptable to physically assault someone who is carrying out their duty as a law enforcement officer. “It is a requirement by law that anglers have a rod licence and our bailiffs were just making routine checks in a professional manner. “This assault was uncalled for and we hope fishery owners will support us in making it clear that it is unwelcome on their premises.”

Anyone with information about the attack and those responsible should contact PC Alex Neville on 0845 045 45 45 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Source: The Environment Agency - August 2005. Contact: enquiries@environment-agency.gov.uk

Environment Agency staff are investigating how sewage ended up in a stream at Hickstead, West Sussex on Sunday 14 August 2005. A member of public who saw dead fish in the stream called the Environment Agency to raise the alarm. Environment Officers attended and immediately started a clean-up operation and investigation into the incident.

Investigations showed that sewage was discharging from an overflow at Southern Water’s Malthouse Lane Pumping Station. The Environment Agency alerted the company who attended and stopped the discharge. There are around 200 dead fish in the stream, and water samples have been taken to establish the cause. The stream has been affected from Malthouse Lane Pumping Station to Twineham, West Sussex.

Steven Usher, Environment Officer, said: "Unfortunately it looks like a large number of fish have been killed in this stream. The low water flows we are experiencing at the moment mean that any sewage in the stream may take a long time to wash through. "Sewage entering a river or stream can have a devastating effect on the wildlife living there. Nutrients in the sewage can break down and use up oxygen in the water, making it hard for fish to breathe. We take incidents like this extremely seriously and are launching a full and thorough investigation to establish exactly how sewage entered this stream and if this is what has killed these fish."

Source: The Environment Agency - August 2005. Contact: enquiries@environment-agency.gov.uk

Thousands of fish have been killed following a pollution incident in the Grand Union Canal between Bourne End and Boxmoor this week. Environment Agency officers and staff from British Waterways were quickly at the scene after concerned members of the public reported seeing a number of dead fish around the lock at Bourne End, on Sunday 31 July.

The dead fish, which could potentially number up to 20,000, were mainly small although some were larger species including chub, perch, bream and pike, which will be a great loss to local anglers. At least 3km of the canal has been hit by the pollution - the cause of which is still being investigated. Officers from the Environment Agency have taken a number of water samples from different points in the canal and they been sent away for analysis. Fisheries scientists from the Environment Agency have been monitoring the situation closely and, with no sign of improvement, advised British Waterways to aerate the water.

A series of pumps were deployed on the canal on Tuesday and Wednesday which has increased the oxygen levels and saved many thousands more fish. Fish in rivers normally swim away from polluted water but in a canal they are trapped when they come up against a lock. Staff from British Waterways are currently removing and counting the dead fish and dissolved oxygen levels in the water have now returned to normal. Signs have also been put up around the lock to inform people of the incident and explain what action is being taken.

Phil Belfield, fisheries officer from the Environment Agency, said: “This is a serious fish kill which will have a big impact on local anglers in the short term, but the canal will recover. We are still investigating the cause of the pollution and are waiting for the results of our water sample to come back from analysis. Meanwhile we continue to monitor the canal closely.”

John Ellis, Fisheries and Environmental Manager for British Waterways, said: “We are devastated by the loss of so many fish and the impact it will have, not only on the quality of the angling experience, but also on the wider environment. Birds such as herons and kingfishers are totally reliant on healthy fish populations for their survival. Special thanks must go to British Waterways and Environment Agency staff who have worked tirelessly over the last few days and continue to do so.”

The Environment Agency urges members of the public to report signs of fish in distress and other environmental incidents to its emergency hotline on freephone 0800 80 70 60.

Source: The Environment Agency - August 2005

The following is a round up of coarse fishing venues [all featured on Fish South East] that are fishing well at the moment and how to catch at each venue. Click on the link for more details of each fishery.

Walthamstow Reservoirs [London]
Reservoirs 1, 2 and 3 seem to be producing the best sport at the moment. On No.1 there have been plenty of carp to 35lb and double figure bream falling to ledgered hait-rigged boilies. PVA bags or hand feeding seems to work better than spodding. A 42lb common was recently caught on No.2 with quite a few thirties from No.3. There are also big slabs showing.

Timberlands Fishery [Essex]
Winning weights on the Match lake have recently exceeded 45lbs with carp, bream, tench and roach falling to worm and sweetcorn. Horseshoe Lake has seen bream and carp falling to float fished sweetcorn and worm whilst Rose Lake has seen golden orfe to 6lb and koi carp to 12lb. Mystery Lake has see some good carp landed recently with the fifth lake not far from opening.

River Thames - Runneymede [Surrey]
Good bags of roach, dace and perch have been falling to light float tackle using caster, hemp or tares. Pike seem to be in evidence often snatching at the small fish so it might well be worth rtying some lure fishing. Some big chub have been reported, using ledgered bread to the far bank. Feeder fishing for bream tends to be successful either early morning or late evening.

Willinghurst Fishery [Surrey]
Willinghurst Fishery has been showing some cracking form. A recent match on Top Lake was won with 232lb of carp on paste. On the Old Lake, pegs 7, 8, 10, 13 and 20 are fishing well whilst pegs 8, 12, 16, 18 and 20 are producing on the New Lake. Pittance Lake is also fishing well with poled paste or cat food down the margins working well. Horeshoe lake has produced lots of carp and F1s whilst many large carp have been caught on Main Lake to hair-rigged boilies.

Fryerning Fishery [Essex]
The 18 acre Mian Lake holds more than 250 25lb+ carp, catfish to over 53lb and grass carp. Valley Lake holds carp averaging 20lb and is in great form. Car Park Lake is the smallest of the three, holidng carp to 32lb and catfish to 40lb. Membership is available by contacting Chris Knowles on 01277 352245.

Source: Angler's Mail - August 2005

Calling all junior anglers. The Environment Agency, Adur District Council and Passies Pond are offering you the chance to come and learn or improve your fishing skills at a free angling event in West Sussex. The junior angling day is being held on Thursday 11 August 2005 at Passies Pond in Coombes near Lancing, West Sussex.

Anglers of any ability can attend the event where Environment Agency and other qualified coaches will be on hand to teach you about different angling methods, tackle and bait and the importance of fish care and welfare. Fishing lessons will be free of charge but should be booked prior to the event. Lessons will start at 10am and finish at 2pm. Bait, fishing tackle and a rod licence for the day will all be supplied. Children under the age of fourteen must be accompanied by an adult.

A spokesman from the Environment Agency’s Sussex Fisheries Team, said: "This is a wonderful opportunity for anyone who has either never tried fishing but wants to get started or for those newcomers who want to get advice on how to improve their skills. Come along and you will learn a variety of angling techniques and get important advice on how to help protect the waterside environment and protect the welfare of the fish you catch.

A spokesman at Passies Pond said: "We’re delighted to again host what has become a very popular annual angling event at our lakes. I’m sure it will be a great day and we’re all looking forward to it. Angling can be a difficult pastime to get to grips with on your own so this event is an excellent opportunity for us to give a helping hand to anyone wanting to learn."

For further information on this event or to book a place please e-mail: roach@fsmail.net

For more information on Passies Pond, visit venues - west sussex

Source: The Environment Agency - August 2005