Encouraging young anglers or indeed any angler to fish the rivers and canals must be a good thing. So with the new Canal and River Trust all singing from the same hymn sheet we can sigh a sense of relief as one body represents all who enjoy this network of water.
Looking at the new website http://canalrivertrust.org.uk/, there are plenty of videos and lovely images including Brian Blessed opening lock gates in mid laughter only in the manner Mr Blessed knows, from first impressions its looks ok if not a little cheesy. The fishing section shows you a list of commercial still waters in your area…. hang on Canal and Rivers Trust, surely the whole point is to promote, canals and rivers? Already the message is getting a little cloudy.
It seems the website is another example of .org.uk, gloss with very little content. For example this is what it states about fishing the canals and rivers of Britain, ‘Fishing rights to many stretches of our canal network belong to local fisheries or angling clubs. You can find their contact details using our ‘find a fishery’ search.’ Fine if a little vague but when I did finally find my local stretch of canal it states ‘click on the website for more details,’ well it is actually an email address but close, oh and an email address that doesn’t work!
We now get onto the Wanderers scheme where with just one season ticket you can fish selected stretches of canal throughout the UK for the cost of £20 per year. This sounds like a good idea, so I contacted the Canal and rivers trust and a reply from John came, with the good news that the Lea Navigation was to be included into this Wanderers scheme from April 1st. My details where passed onto another person who would tell me where I could obtain the Wanderers permit. A day later an email arrived from another John using a private email address (not the trust) saying that the Wanderers scheme was not to include the Lea Navigation. I replied asking who would know who does run the Lower Lea stretch and the reply was ‘As far as I know it is a club called Rural A.C., unfortunately I do not have contact details.’ A search for ‘rural AC’ came up with nothing.
So without this post sounding like an episode of BBC Watchdog, please sort your act out Canals and River Trust. I shall be fishing the Lea Navigation without a permit this season, my money is waiting, I’ve tried to support your cause and now after numerous emails and web searching I have given up. It’s a real disappointment that this is how our sport is run, when it could easily be done so well especially with many anglers looking for quieter waters to fish.
Here’s a song for the two Johns at the Canal & Rivers Trust…
the tuesday swim... 
I couldn’t agree more with your comments, too many .org.uk site and businesses are badly run and most content is not fit for purpose. I agree, a great idea but badly thought through, someone at the CT hasn’t sat down and run through the navigation or for that matter the brand architecture – it could have been done so much better.
LikeLike
I’ll see you on the bank un-licnsed then!
LikeLike
So far as I’m concerned if I see a sign on a canal stating fishing is not for free then I fish it knowing full no-one will turn up to extract ticket money, but if I can’t see a sign I fish it thinking that someone just might, but almost certainly won’t!
The Wanderer Scheme is therefore absolutely redundant, and you’d have to be a mug to buy it unless it gave access to something really special!
But I suppose they get some revenue out of it in negligence, and perhaps that’s clever of them…?
LikeLike
Hi Jeff,
Your commments are fair but perhaps a little harsh? I would quite willingly part with £20 a year if it was put back into the canals. On the other hand like you, I like it quiet.
The modern fisherman seems to be un-willing to rove and take a ‘no-catch’ situation on the nose.
Perhaps I will see you on the tow path one day Jeff?
LikeLike
I too wanted to get a permit. Years ago I used to lease some canal streches with a friend (in those days, to run matches on) but viewing the CRT website what was clear was that it was at best ambiguous and at worst a display of gross incompetence
I also applied for a licence to catch signal crayfish which I often struggle to get through on certain stretches, which can only be a good thing, and that was refused because CRT do not allow crayfish trapping on their waters. I contact CRT and they tell me that they only allow trapping by angling clubs and responsible organisations…but no clubs control the canal because no one wants to go there and it doesn’t stack-up for them financially
They’re only interested in keeping anglers and boaters apart. Meanwhile the canal towpaths become dog toilets, their contractors chuck the bank trimmings in the water, they do nothing to support the angler who has to fish while everyone else is asleep to make it worthwhile and has nowhere to park, etc, etc
Frankly if they get no income from canal anglers it’s no less than they deserve. The writing was on the wall when they filled their reservoirs with carp as BWB of course
LikeLike
Nick….I just will continue to sit and fish by the Lea. L A.A ? also there’s a club opened up down Old ford lock.
What a superb piece of music and clip
LikeLike
Hi John,
i’ll be on the Lea Navigation still after carp this year, I hope to see you there?
ATB
Nick
LikeLike