Welcome to HAS members old and new, you may be relieved at the end of the season, or you may already be starting to get edgy at the lack of your favourite sport, whichever camp you fit in as the 16th approaches quicker than you think. Its time to clean out your tackle box, refill your spools, and get that reel of film developed to reveal those end of season monsters. There are other very important tasks for you to perform, first and foremost renew your membership and send it to Terry. Try and remember to include all he requires, a STAMPED ADDRESSED ENVELOPE, a passport sized photograph for yourself and your associate, and your fee. Don't wait till the last moment, do it early so you won't be disappointed, or be pestering Terry when the season has begun.
Rowley & Fish Care
Rowley fished very well last season, with lots of Tench, Bream and Carp amongst the catches. This came about because of the good growth of the existing fish and a large injection of fish from Langley lake. There have been complaints from the bailiffs and members about fish care. Fish suffering from lack of it, anglers fishing with inadequate tackle, dangerous rigs and terminal tackle. Due to these complaints the Committee were forced to act swiftly and we introduced bye-laws last year banning the use of keepnets, hooks with barbs, and the instruction to take care of fish when they are on the bank. These bye-laws are mandatory under the rules and will be enforced by the bailiffs. We hope they will accepted by you the members as a sensible way forward, and not draconian in nature. We were recommended many more complicated and far reaching proposals that were, in the view of the Committee unnecessary, difficult to enforce, and cause problems to different types of anglers. Therefore the three key elements of the new policy at Rowley are:
Keepnets & Barbless Hooks
The ban on keepnets will prevent unnecessary stress and damage to fish. The use of hooks without barbs (its fine to use your current favourite and just crush the barb with your forceps) will allow the float angler to continue to use their light line, and if they contact with a powerful fish the hook can easily be slipped when the pressure is eased, usually by the fish steaming into the pads! This method of parting the fish from the hook will also satisfy the Carp angler who did not persuade his quarry to avoid the snag or the pads, they can be safe in the knowledge that the fish is long gone, although their tackle is usually stuck fast! All anglers will welcome the ease of unhooking their quarry, in most cases when a fish is landed the hook and the fish become parted, with a barb the hook would soon become entangled with the net, not much fun when the fish are on the feed, the light is fading, or the rain is pouring! The method is also safer on your clothes, the hooks may go in easier, they also come our easier. Anyone who has had a hook in their finger below the barb needs not to be told of how easily barbless hooks come out of various parts of the anatomy!
Take Care of your Fish
The third element of the new policy is not new at all. Initially we considered making unhooking mats compulsory, but it is not only difficult to define this expensive item of specialist tackle, but hard to impose for all anglers. We feel it is enough to say take care of your fish at all times both on the bank and off. If there is not a soft piece of grass to lay the fish on, use your coat, if you can't afford a proprietary unhooking mat use a piece of foam covered in plastic, a strip of deep bubble wrap doubled over will perform the job adequately, as will many other products. We've even heard of anglers using a baby changing mat for the unhooking of fish to great effect! (or was it the other way round?) Whatever method you use there is no excuse for damaging fish whilst on the bank, and always be prepared before you go fishing, and before you catch the fish, not after. An article by Alan Tomkins on Carp care appears in this magazine, it is very good advice that compliments the comments made here, make sure you read and take note. These three simple rules will help the fish and your fishing, I for one will follow them when fishing in all waters and not just at Rowley, it makes sense, why not join me?
New Water!
Following negotiations we have managed to acquire fishing on the river Thames at Sandford (Near Oxford) in the form of an alliance. Some of you may have fished the water on the 'Prince of Wales' exchange permit, I certainly did and had a successful day catching eight Bream to 4lbs and some Roach and Perch. The stretch contains a weir and is not troubled by boat traffic. Please make an effort to visit the stretch, and let Frank know the results. Further details and maps will be forwarded with your membership.
Whilst I find it difficult to believe that in 1993 there is still a requirement for an article on the care of carp, it seems that the condition of some of the fish in Rowley this season clearly indicates the need for this piece. One carp in particular, possibly the biggest in Rowley illustrates this point. The fish was transferred from Langley in the close season, a mirror carp in absolutely mint condition and weighing around 24lbs. After the bashing it has had from some of our members this season the fish is now in a dreadful state with torn lips, split fins and marks on its body. I don't know what on earth some of the captors of this fish have been doing to get it into this state, but one thing is for sure - if this continues the fish will not survive, and even if it does survive it is unlikely to put on weight. Carp may be damaged in several ways, first, whilst being played, secondly, when on the bank (or in a sack) and lastly by being left attached to long lengths of line, possibly with leads still attached after being lost by an angler.
Playing the Fish
To deal with playing the fish first, it is not so much the anglers tactics as his tackle that may cause damage here. On a small lake like Rowley, there is no need whatever for powerful rods, especially if you are fishing near snags. The lake is small, and can be fished quite adequately with through action rods of 1 - 2lbs test curve. These are the ideal rods for fishing near weed beds and lily pads. More powerful or fast action rods are far more likely to pull the hook from the fish's mouth, possibly tearing it in the process. I've caught many big carp from Rowley in the early eighties, every one on split cane mark IV's of 1lb test. It is not strong line that causes the problems, but rods that are too powerful for the fishing situation. Agreed (with care) experienced anglers can get away with using a powerful rod but from the state of some of the Rowley carp, we obviously have some very inexperienced anglers catching them. And if you are fishing near snags, or weed-beds, then the best way of preventing a fish getting into them is to sit by your rods at all times. It is nothing short of irresponsible to have baits out near snags, then to wander away from your rods. I know this goes on at Rowley, and if it continues then the culprits are likely to have their membership reviewed.
On the Bank
Fish on the bank; well the first essential item is a landing net capable of getting the fish into without curling it up in a ball, and with mesh sufficiently small to prevent fins going through the holes and becoming entangled. This would mean a landing net with arms having a minimum length of 32 inches, preferably 36 inches or bigger, and a micro-mesh net. There was a time when these items were difficult to find in tackle shops - no longer though so there is no excuse for setting out to fish for carp with an inadequate landing net. What you do once the fish is in the net depends on whether you are going to return it straight away, or weigh and photograph it. If you are going to put it straight back, then unhook it in the net (easily done with the barbless hooks now compulsory at Rowley) and let it swim out of the net. There is no need to even take it out of the water. The same applies to tench and bream, which if caught while fishing for carp, you will possibly not wish to weigh or photograph.
In the case of a decent size carp, you probably will wish to weigh it, then take some pictures. Everyone has their own procedure for doing this - here's what I do. First, if possible, I unhook the fish in the landing net before removing it from the water. If this proves difficult, then I cut the line. It is far easier to handle a net with a heavy fish inside without having the rod still attached to it. I then secure the net with a spare rod-rest, still in the water, while I get my scales, weigh sling, unhooking mat and camera ready. Wet the weigh sling, wring it out and zero the scales with the weigh sling attached. This incidentally is the only way to guarantee an accurate weight. Subtracting the weight of the sling later is certain to lead to errors in weighing, usually because the sling will have lost a considerable amount of water by the time you get round to weighing it once the fish has been returned. Doing this using a carp sack could easily give errors of a pound or more - water is very heavy! The unhooking mat should also be wetted, especially so in hot weather where it may have been laying in the sun for some hours. When all else is prepared, I lift the net and fish onto the unhooking mat, which has the weigh sling spread on top of it. Carefully slide the fish from the net into the weigh sling and weigh it. If the needle keeps jumping about, either use a convenient tree branch, or the V of your landing net to support the scales. Once the fish is weighed, return it to the unhooking mat.
If you don't have one of those mats which have a velcroed flap to fully enclose the fish, then cover it, particularly its head, with the weigh sling. Fish tend to lay quieter when their eyes are covered. If you have a friend available to take the photos, then it is now simply a matter of lifting the carp from the mat for each shot. Kneel down for the photos, and don't lift the carp too far from the ground. Before lifting the fish remove all sharp objects such as badges from your clothes, and also take off your wrist-watch. If you are on your own, the camera should already be in place on a tripod. Ideally you should have a long cable release, and a motor wind on your camera. In this instance the pre-framed photos can be rattled off very quickly. If you don't have a motor wind on your camera, or are having to use the delayed shutter release due to lack of a remote cable, then you will have to return to the camera between shots, either to wind on the film, or to press the shutter release button. In this case, please do not carry the carp with you to the camera! Put it back on the unhooking mat and cover it up - and keep an eye on it - if it starts to jump about and looks to be in danger of falling off the mat, get back to it quickly, and hold it still until it calms down. Having taken the photos, put the fish back in the weigh sling, or if the type of mat you are using allows you to do so, close it up in the mat and carry it to the water. Don't carry the fish in your hands - you run a very real risk of dropping it. Hold the fish steady in the water until it stays upright and swims off under its own steam. Then stand up and watch it swim away - a nice carp fishing moment that.
Sacking fish
First the don'ts.
DON'T sack fish in shallow water in hot weather. DON'T sack them in unsuitable sacks - buy a proper one from the tackle shop. DON'T put them in the sack and assume everything is alright. Until the fish stays the right way up by itself, keep checking, and re-checking the sack - even in the middle of the night. If you can't be bothered to do this, then don't sack the fish. DON'T leave fish in sacks for long periods. DON'T sack fish unnecessarily. Do make sure you have fastened the sack to the bank securely - if you don't you won't be the first bloke to lose sack and fish, invariably with fatal consequences to the carp. It is presumed that you will be sacking the fish to be photographed later. Another problem can arise when removing the carp from the sack - they tend to be very lively, and can easily be dropped. I find it best to leave them in the sack, and lay it on the unhooking mat for a few minutes before removing the fish. This takes some of the wind out of their sails, and makes them easier to handle. Photos can then be taken, and the fish returned as already described. Do all that, and the fish should come to no harm. Damage to big fish is not inevitable - indeed it should very much be the exception rather than the rule. Myself, John Miles, John Read, Les Skidmore, Barry Webb, Steve Lockwood, Steve Curtis and other members caught between us hundreds of carp from Rowley in past years. During those days I don't recall ever seeing one fish with a torn mouth or split fin.
Tackle and Method
Lastly, a brief word on rigs. The most lethal rig in carp fishing is one set up in such a way that if the line breaks, the fish is left towing the line, and the lead. Please think about your rigs. Most people I would guess are using some form of fixed lead. This is fine, unless the lead is fixed in such a way that if your line does break, there is no way that the lead can come off the line. Any knot or stop-knot which is sufficiently large to prevent the lead, or the swivel holding the lead from passing over it is potentially lethal to carp. This includes beads or tubing, or anything which might be used to attach the lead to the line. Without going into detail (I could write a book on rigs...!) all I can do is again ask you to think about the effect of your rig should you suffer a break, and make sure it is safe. There are many experienced carp anglers in the club - if in doubt then please ask one of them.
Alan Tomkins - November 1993
Two fish farmers ended up in court following the death of £400,000 worth of fish. During an eight week trial, Isleworth Crown Court heard an investigation was sparked when a 27lb Carp called 'Clonker' was sold to a fishery in Berkshire. Police inspector Bob East, a keen angler, said: 'I knew the owner would never sell the Carp.'
The fish farmers were remanded for reports and will be sentenced next month. David Brown, 52, of Chorley Wood, Hertfordshire, and Peter White, 36, of Gilberdyke, Humberside, who ran Sandholme Fisheries, denied conspiring to defraud the NRA between October 1 1990 and March 30 1991. Brown further denied two charges of obtaining cash by deception from fishing clubs and one of evading liability by deception. White further denied three charges of obtaining cash by deception from various fishing organisations.
The jury cleared them of the conspiracy charge and White of two charges of deception. They were found guilty of the other offences. Prosecutor John Bates said the case involved the sale of fish to clubs and a conspiracy to defraud the NRA over fish transfers. He said the pair got consents for transfers by giving false details to the NRA or to the fish buyers. They used health checks for one batch of fish to obtain consents not covering those fish. When they sold fish they did so on the basis the fish were healthy. The result of buying these fish was a tragedy. In four cases most of the fish in the lakes into which these fish were killed.
Bradford City AA had three consignments of Roach and Bream from White for more than £1,000 a time. 'They were told the fish were from the River Kennet when none were' said counsel. 'White claimed to have consents from the NRA but no trace can be found.' Fish were bought from White by the river Swale PS £1,200. 'They wanted river fish and were told they came from the Kennet when they came from a lake, and there were no records of consents,' said Mr Bates. Brown got consents from Wessex Water Authority on the basis of false information. Brown got consents from Wessex Water Authority on the basis of false information. Brown claimed if the fish were deceased it was the fault of those who supplied them. White's counsel, Stephen Holt, questioned whether it was possible to defraud 'an organisation as badly run as the NRA at that time.' One of Brown's employees admitted stealing fish from Boyer's Orlitts lake at Colnbrook. Charles Newman, 53, who lived at Brown's fish farm, was said to have stolen £8,000 of fish while working at the lake. He was ordered to do 160 hours community service. After the case, Inspector Bob East, who led the investigation, said 'These two created a disaster for the angling world. The fish sold by them caused havoc.'
They were known as Arthur Daley and Billy Liar, the double-dealing duo of fish-farm fraudsters who swindled angling clubs and fishery owners. Their catalogue of crime earned them £100,000 in 18 months and left a trail of disease and death from Cleveland to Cornwall. They thought they had stumbled on the means of committing the perfect crime - gullible club officials, easy-going licence regulators, thousands of pounds worth of unprotected fish, and authorities who saw fish rustling as no worse than letting dogs foul the pavement. But they reckoned without Inspector Bob East and Sergeant Peter Bowcock of the Met police, attached to West Drayton. Both keen anglers, they travelled the country collecting evidence from the victims of fish fraud and owners of ruined fisheries. And after an investigation covering two years and 178 interviews, a Crown court trial at Isleworth lasting 9 weeks at a cost of £250,000, in which the prosecution called 73 witnesses, the policemen got the verdict they wanted.
David Brown, 52, of Chorley Wood, Hertfordshire, was found guilty of obtaining property by deception from fishing clubs, evading liability by deception and dishonestly making a club wait for payment. Peter White, 36, of Gilberdyke, Humberside, was found guilty of obtaining cash by deception from fishing clubs. They will be sentenced on June 11th. For Bob East, it was provided a triumphant end to his police career. But there were times during the investigation that he was staggered by the defendants' callous disregard for people and fish. He saw David Brown's West Hyde fish farm, in Rickmansworth, where stolen fish were kept before being sold, littered with dead Carp, half eaten by vermin and pigs from a neighbouring field. Twenty fish died there, and netting's always brought up dead fish. Bob spoke to the elderly owner of a pond containing hundreds of pounds of Carp, who was swindled out of £800 which he needed to pay for his wife to visit their son in Australia for the last time.
And he saw the result of attempts to drain a lake of special scientific interest in unspoilt Anglesey, dating back to prehistoric times, leaving a diesel coated shoreline and an unpaid bill of £11,000. He heard how Carp from a Wessex water reservoir in Somerset were netted but not paid for, mixed with diseased fish at West Hyde, sold to customers, and when the customers fishery was wiped out with disease. Wessex water were blamed. Then Brown rang up and asked if he could have more fish. A Club ordered and paid for Bream from the River Kennet, but the fish didn't exist. Instead, Brown told the NRA the fish were coming from West Drayton, told the club they were from the Kennet and supplied them with fish from a lake in Shropshire, which he swapped for stolen Carp.
The Tees Action Committee ordered 7,000lb of coarse fish to rebuild the river after pollution, but got 2,000lb of Grayling, and unsuspectingly paid £10,000. At Orlitts Lake, near Colnbrook, Brown's firm was hired just to move fish over a Gravel bar built to split the lake into two. They emptied the water of over 1,000lb of specimen tench, carp and bream and paid the bailiff a £450 backhander. And when fish transfer consents were requested by customers, these were obtained from the NRA through using false details for fictitious batches of fish. The result was diseases and the death of what is estimated at more than £300,000 worth of prime coarse fish.
The ministry of Agriculture Fisheries and Food, who regulate fish farms, visited the West Hyde fish farm, to carry out a health check. "They were only interested in testing for spring viraemia and when tests proved negative, they ignored the carnage they had found. They never gave a report on the state of the farm to the NRA, who have no right to enter a fish farm without permission. So the NRA continued to issue fish-transfer consents.
Reprinted by kind permission of the 'Angler's Mail' - May 22, 1993
As a member and new bailiff I have met members whom I have not seen before. Some members would like to see something done about No1 and its weed problems. Also about some more fish being put into No2.
I myself have some proposals. I had a weeks fishing on Rowley where I had filled a sack full of litter. I found members walking across the farm field to get to the car park. Seen decent sized fish being put into keepnets. Therefore I would like to see:
Brian Watts
The Hon Secretary replies:
Dear Brian,
Thank you for your recent letter and the constructive comments it contained. The Committee took your observations into account when discussing the action required at Rowley to combat the experiences seen there this year. Unfortunately we spent all too much time trying to find ways of beating the litterbugs and the mindless few who seem bent on breaking the rules. Their behaviour risks the rights of us all to fishing the waters we have, and were directly responsible for us losing Langley Lake. Where we can identify persistent littering, or those breaking rules like cutting across the farm field at Rowley, members risk being expelled from the society.
Whilst the Committee believe it would be difficult to police the rule that all Carp anglers use 32"+ landing nets, it is intended to run a series of Fish Care sessions at our meetings backed-up with magazine articles, dealing particularly with Pike & Carp, wherein we will try to educate members about the importance of using the right equipment/techniques to protect the fish. It is also the intention to introduce the following rules:
Undoubtedly this will not be the last word on the subject. Plans are being put together to combat the weed at No1, and continue the further stocking at No2.
The fishing got off to a good start with plenty of small Carp being caught, most of which were from the January stocking of 350 dye marked fish. The odd Bream were caught along with some very good tench, one of which at 7lbs 12oz, was a new lake record, caught by Paul Denne. Plenty of Perch were caught on the float, but the Roach fishing has been poor. As the season progressed the poor Roach fishing was compensated for by some excellent Bream fishing.
This was not just the odd fish but plenty of bags of high quality fish. A 70lb catch of Bream and Tench and Carp (14lbs) went to Roy Wildey. 80lbs and then the week after 100lbs to Ian Twaddle. 60 & 70lbs of Bream, Tench and an Eel fell to Barry Haylett. All these anglers had Bream over 7lbs and some over 9lbs. Steve Lockwood caught one of 9lbs 14oz, a lake record for just two weeks, until piped by Brian Whybrow with a fish of 10lbs 4oz, in amongst a bag of 148lbs, which also had another fish of double figures! Brian who regularly fishes in Ireland, has never experienced such fishing there!
Warren Kencroft and Vince Sutton spent a weekend at the lake with a dozen Bream to 8lbs, 5 Carp to 5lbs along with Tench and Perch. At the time of writing the Pike season is just underway, and fish to 19lbs have been taken already from the viaduct car park. Those of you who fish the boat yard bank, will have noticed that we have some weed growth in the margins, along with some small flowering lily, the kind that spreads very quickly in shallow water, I'd like to meet the person who put it there.
Over at dews farm, there are now plenty of swims and room to park the car, due to the efforts of Vince Sutton and his willing bunch of helpers. Please when you park there, park nose on, and do not simply drive down to the gate and park, this will ensure the car park stays cut back and all can fish there.
Someone else though they were being helpful by planting lilies in one of the swims. "Thanks very much, the thought was there, but next time please place them at the side of a swim, not in the centre. Now the boring bit, yet again I've got to mention 'litter'. I'm fed up of having to moan about it in every magazine. I know I have the full backing of the whole committee when I say that anybody found leaving litter will be relieved of his membership card promptly.
My thanks to my bailiffs Fred and Paul, and the new bailiff Brian. Thanks also go to our bank managers Vince, Warren, Les, Paul and Fred. Special thanks to Stuart Verity and Lee Winter for supplying all the hardware.
Steve Jenner
The first law is simple: never trust anybody who does not go fishing. There is absolutely no excuse for it. The only possible reason is that your a nasty, sneaking, thieving, cheating, slimy little scumbag, without an ounce of moral fibre in your breakfast cereal.
And don't be deceived by the creep who grabs a couple of hours fishing each day. If everyone fished all the time the world would be a better place. For example, who can doubt that if Mr John Major had spent the last two years on the banks of the Hampshire Avon, instead of fiddle-faddling around in Downing street, this country would be in a better state! And that Serb feller, Gobedon Mashoppinglist, wouldn't he have been better employed perfecting his cast down at the lake?
Take my advice, carry your tackle with you at all times, you can cast anywhere with considerable advantage, a few practice casts on a crowded bus or train guarantees you get a seat and a long low side cast through the windscreen is about the only way to hail a London Cabbie when it's pouring with rain. Plenty of other uses to, as the mugger who attacked me outside wormwood scrubs found to his cost, one full swing with a 12 footer and a 3oz zipp lead and he landed in prison, or at least his head did.
The Office Angler
Rather like this once great nation, which is, let it be said, down to its last yard of frayed monofil and very unlikely to make the draw. And all because we have stopped fishing! Bet all of you who have been involved in government and commerce look more objectively at what you've been doing in your offices and factories all these grey years. That's right, you've been working, twelve hours a day with no lunch break, hard graft from dawn till dusk to create the slimmer fitter more vigorous Britain which will take on the world and win. With what result? That's right, the harder we work, the more the country goes down the drain. It's obviously to any one with a grasp of history.
In the 18th and 19th Centuries, British ministers worked 2 hours a day, maximum, spending the rest of the time playing with their secretaries and fishing. And Britain ruled the world. After twenty years of lean, mean modern, time managed business efficiency, we're absolutely broke.
Moral: If more of the Richard Craniums who run this country took up fishing, we'd all be better off. A 2% tax rate for anglers and a 95% tax rate for wind surfers and jet skiers.
Stephen Jenner
Sunday 17th October 1993 - Harefield No1
Eight anglers turned up for this Pike match. The weather was not bad, but the lake was quite high from all of the rain. There was only one run on the day, which, yours truly had. It was a Pike of only 3lbs 12oz, but it still took the money.
Sunday 21st November 1993 - Harefield No2
This match was again not well attended, it could be said it could also be said that the weather could have been better, and did not make for confident anglers. I'm sure that most people watched the weather forecast for that Sunday and decided to give it a miss.
So how many turned up, the answer a meagre five. There seemed not much point in having a draw, there being five of us and sixty seven swims to choose from, everybody got the swim they desired.
We all decided to fish around the workings, within a few yards of one another. The first fish fell to Mr Wrightson at 10am and weighed 7lbs 4oz. He also had another of 3lbs 12oz, so twelve pounds to beat.
The third run of the day came to Steve Jenner, a good solid take and a hard fighting fish, easily unhooked and weighed in at 8lb 12oz. So far that day it had rained and snowed, along with this there was an icy wind, and a freezing temperature. At eleven o'clock the sun poked it's nose through the clouds for about 15 minutes, just long enough Steve to put another fish on the bank, a nice plump ten pound pike, giving him an overall weight of 18lb 12oz. Hmm 1812, some of his fellow competitors were having fun at his expense, humming the turn of the well known overture. He however, had the last laugh, and went home with the money.
Sunday 19th December 1993 - Harefield No1
Ten anglers braved the weather on this windy and showery day. Two anglers caught fish, myself and another who I have forgotten his name, please let me know and I will put it in my next report. However he had a fish of over 7lb. I had two fish of 6lbs 4oz and another of 10lbs 6oz. I also managed to drop a very good run.
Pike Matches 1994/5 Season
I would like to start a Pike league next season for everybody based upon a points season. Every Pike caught by a member of the club will count throughout the whole season, provided that it is witnessed by two people and a report is sent to me. Points will be awarded on weight and the overall points winner will receive a trophy at the end of the season. There will still be the normal pike matches as before. All reports sent to me will then be forwarded to Frank Webb for his records. So lets find out who is the champion Piker of the Society.
Alan Hague