Fishing Closed season

[Ukwildlifeo]

Is there a fishing closed season anymore. In Bedfords Park yesterday I saw a number of fisherman fishing in a lake where a few hours earlier some carp were spawning. Yet a Notice in another park said that fishing was banned on there lake there until late April/May. Can anyone explain whats going on?

[Tobyh]

It used to be a closed season from March to June (don't remember exact dates) but I believe some Private waters are able to still allow anglers on if they wish.

[agrumpycow]

Originally Posted by Ukwildlifeo

Is there a fishing closed season anymore. In Bedfords Park yesterday I saw a number of fisherman fishing in a lake where a few hours earlier some carp were spawning. Yet a Notice in another park said that fishing was banned on there lake there until late April/May. Can anyone explain whats going on?

As far as I'm aware the legal closed season is for all rivers/most canals,etc. But some privately owned or enclosed lakes are exempt. I may be wrong though, so I'm sure someone will confirm Try looking at the Environment Agency Website.

[eeyore]

Originally Posted by agrumpycow

As far as I'm aware the legal closed season is for all rivers/most canals,etc. But some privately owned or enclosed lakes are exempt. I may be wrong though, so I'm sure someone will confirm Try looking at the Environment Agency Website.

where i used to work in MK the rivers and canal were fished all year as were two of the larger lakes - the other smaller waters were closed during the winter (oct to apr)

[agrumpycow]

This should help................

Environment Agency - Coarse Fish Close Season

[John]

Originally Posted by eeyore

where i used to work in MK the rivers and canal were fished all year as were two of the larger lakes - the other smaller waters were closed during the winter (oct to apr)

Hi Pete

If they were Coarse fishing rivers in that area between 15 March to 15 June inclusive they were fishing illegally. Canals used to be covered by this legislation (and some still are) but most are now exempt from this and can be legally fished. Streams and Drains also come into the no fishing out of season catergory.

John

[eeyore]

Originally Posted by John

Hi Pete

If they were Coarse fishing rivers in that area between 15 March to 15 June inclusive they were fishing illegally. Canals used to be covered by this legislation (and some still are) but most are now exempt from this and can be legally fished. Streams and Drains also come into the no fishing out of season catergory.

John

I realised that on reading the EA link - I suspect that the rivers werent fished by the fishing club at all , as they tended to prefer the stocked waters of the lakes

so most of the river fishing was presumably illicit and permitless anyway, and probably without a rod licence too

The problem is one of logistics to police the rules - club baliffs tend to only be concerned with their waters (and rightly so) , while EA baliffs are IME thin on the ground, and as rangers my colleagues and I tended to have our hands full dealing with illicit motorcycling , swimming etc - ie those things which pose a direct threat to public safety , plus of course delivering practical conservation, education, events , wildlife survey, so fourth, so fifth

[Rich]

I'm afraid it's going the way of most things these days. Fishing in the close season, hot cross buns available all year round.

I used to take 16th June off work every year to go fishing at 4 a.m., but when I saw signs that people had been there before me I lost interest.

[John]

Originally Posted by Rich

I'm afraid it's going the way of most things these days. Fishing in the close season, hot cross buns available all year round.

I used to take 16th June off work every year to go fishing at 4 a.m., but when I saw signs that people had been there before me I lost interest.

When I used to go fishing I had a traditional first night at a place called Walcott Lakes (owned by the BAA - B'ham Anglers), fairly near to Craven Arms. It was to do Tench fishing and we used to camp up on the night on the waterside and straight into the water at midnight. It was a great way to start the season. Once the closed season was taken off it lost it's appeal because after that you could go anytime.

John

[Lincs Yellowbelly]

Rivers are still under the traditional close season, running from 15th March to 16th June. Some Canals can now be fished during the close season, depending on which area you live in. Lake aren't now affected by the enforced EA close season ala rivers, but some lake owners still enforce there own close season

On the issue of Carp spawning, it seems unlikely to me that the Carp were spawning this early, unless the lake is really shallow then the water won't be anywhere near the correct temperature to bring about spawning. I know in some areas the Pike have only just started spawning and the do so in colder water. It is likely that the Carp were probably cleaning themselves off rather than spawning