Angling Clubs in Peril? 

Great comment on modern day angling, Mark. I remember a small farm pond in the corner of a field where I lived as a kid. In the summer school holidays it packed with kids fishing, younger ones with dads or older brothers and 10 year olds + with mates or solo. It held a pressured stock of stunted crucian carp and a few perch. I can't imagine that scene nowadays - as you say, they'd be on carp pools or gaming at home now.

It takes a good while to get even half decent at fishing wild waters. What the flow is like today, where the fish are likely to be in this temperature, time of year etc. These skills used to be honed over long experience in youth, perhaps aided by a more experienced angler if you were lucky. Nowadays we don't have the time & there are a host of other distractions to get your buzz much more quickly! There are gold fish bowls all around with a handy sandwich shop & cafe if you like- it's a guaranteed catch ! They will never experience the oneness with wildlife or the immersion into the natural way that I have, it has formed my soul & outlook in life. Times change.

Hi Mark, that was a thought provoking piece. I am going to suggest to the Angling Society that I have belonged to for very many years that it puts a link to it in our next newsletter. Thanks.

Hi Mark, you’re completely right about today’s anglers. When I was growing up my father took me to so many places, both still water & running, both coarse & trout. The most important thing to learn was ‘watercraft’ which improved every aspect of my angling. However, today’s angler is mostly intent on knowing the ‘in form peg’ on the local carp puddle. My local (small) club has struggled for the last 2yrs - anglers sadly passing away, no young blood joining, landlords pressurising for higher rent - this is a club with just two small (1/2 acre) natural farm ponds, with a variety of species to an unknown/uncaught size. Proper fishing in my book. Our prices have had to be raised by 25% this year, just to break even on the rents, relying on donations to actually run/upkeep the club. It really saddens me to think, maybe as soon as next year, these ponds could be lost forever if we can’t keep the club running & keep the rent increase to a bare minimum. As with so many things - once these things have gone, they’re gone forever😢

Your completely correct in your thoughts.

Agree with everything said generally. From a regional perspective things may differ. Here in Norfolk, much of the wensum is privately owned so river clubs are expensive with waiting lists and stretches are small unless you fish the tidal Broads where again access is limited bur cheaper club tickets. Another issue is diminishing stocks in upper sections coupled with predation etc and little or no interest in river management to benefit recruitment etc. carp lakes appealing to youngsters no blanks easy access etc

The problem is all over europe . Living in the “instant gratification” era no one wants to put in the time and effort to learn how to fish . Put some groundbait in the mould , insert bait cast and catch on stocked commercials . Don-t think the fault is with the clubs either , all commercials clips, short videos, tutorials etc done by big names sponsored by big companies are done in overwhelming majority on commercials . And they don-t want to do something for the sport “risking” promoting the beauty of it , they just want to show customers what to buy in order to make a selfie with a full cradle of fish . Selling dreams by killing sport .

Spot on Mark. Like you I am a Stour angler and six or so years ago I joined the Stalbridge club but it took a lot of searching to find someone to pay to get membership. Eventually I went and fished there until I met a member who told me to go to a certain filling station and ask for Mr A. I did so and my tenner went into a biscuit tin and I received a club card which had all the officials' names and contact numbers blanked out. Two years later a sign board was erected that announced the stretch of river was now under control of a larger and distantly based club. Good news is that I can get on-line exchange ticket.

You hit the nail on the head with youngsters going Carp fishing. I went carp fishing for while in the eighties. I found it boring.

You have nailed it Mark. The other comments endorse the concerns. I am retired, a committee member and a river guardian volunteer. There is a group of 8 of us (all retired) who meet several times a week We work on the banks of our brooks and rivers and the joy of seeing the fruits of our labour is so rewarding. We offer wild trout fishing, we have areas of stocked trout and we have good quality course fishing. The club was formed in 1876, and like everyone else, membership is a big concern. When 2 + 2 = 3, in terms of running costs, and when the reserves run out, cuts will be inevitable along with change of what is offered. I will still walk half a mile to my favourite swim (with less kit) and fish punched bread for roach and chub. I encourage any youngster to do the same, and fish the rivers. But life styles and society change are the real battle. As playing football and cricket have passed me by, I feel blessed to still have fishing in my life. Tight lines everyone!!

A very relevant video. I've been having the same conversation myself. I think it's inevitable that venues will have to amalgamate as small clubs just aren't going to have the management any more. As you've said, it's important to maintain the fishing on these waters, no matter who runs them. As you pointed out, the attractive side of the sport is stillwaters and commercial type fisheries. This can be used to our advantage though as we use these to not only prop up the less popular venues but also continue to channel anglers on to the river to try something different. I'm currently working on a new project to network fisheries and their resources to the advantage of all. It would be great to have your input

A very poignant topic Mark. I have noticed this decline on rivers dramatically. I moved to the area i live now in 2011; at that point, my local club had rights to 12 stretches of river, totalling some 18 miles or so, and 1 club lake. Fast forward to today- and that club has 2 stretches of river and 5 or 6 lakes and gravel pits- and the ticket is twice the price of that in 2011. I dont blame the club- it is the way that angling has gone- but as a relatively "young" 47 yo angler, who fishes rivers 98% of the time, i do worry for the future.

Well said Mark totally on point. It’s the same in the West Mids/Shropshire area look how many works used to have fishing clubs. Large factories closed fishing clubs folded. Perfect storm really, probably more kids playing fishing games on consoles, phones & computers than actually fishing. Also as a lot of old

I agree with you Mark, although the Tiverton club down here in Devon seems to be doing okay but they do have the Tivvy Canal. One of the problems with the rivers is the reduction of stocks due to pollution and predation so there isn’t the Crabtree fishing we grew up with. The LAA has the advantage of being able to employ a full time bailiff on their Salisbury stretch and it’s wonderful, so it can be fought against but it takes money and commitment.

Ive always loved river fishing.

Fabulous video Mark.

Personally i wish we could scrap the rod licence fund for the EA and give our money to some other company who wants to actually look after our waterways. The EA in my opinion are a disgrace and i dont trust the AT as they are funded by the EA. At least the rivers may be saved that way.

I fished a stretch of the River Cherwell close to where I live in from around 1992to 2000 and in that time I caught tench, bream, roach, chub, carp, perch pike and eels up to a good size .That river has been destroyed since by predation, pollution etc and its barren of the fish stocks it once held given a choice of a club membership for that stretch £35 a year and a few trips to a commercial well I know where I,m going to

I think your point is valid to a certain extend especially when you relate it to Flowing Water fishing. I run a small Club without Waters but fish Commercials only. Our Membership is on average 17 and has been since 1963. I think a number of Anglers who' would normally belong to a club spend a lot of their time fishing Local Opens in the hope of winning some cash.

such a shame that river fishing skills are being lost, so much more enjoyable than sitting behind 3 carp rods