APPARENTLY the Environment Agency is to ask anglers their views on the 1878 river close season law.

This basically outlaws fishing for trout and coarse fish in Yorkshire between the October 1 and March 24 (trout) and March 15 to June 15 for coarse fish.

A body under the name of Dave Harrell Angling says that an independent review group is investigating whether river close seasons can follow the example set on still waters 23 years ago and canals 18 years ago, when the close season was abolished altogether.

Questions have been asked on who established the independent review group and under what authority.

There have also been queries about its brief, who has it engaged with, and when will the report will be available.

To date there has been no reply from Dave Harrell Angling and it has been suggested that it represents a lobby group of anglers who just want to go fishing irrespective of the consequences.

It could also be the angling trade in general –manufacturers and tackle shops – that are pushing for a change in order to boost a quiet period in business from March to June each year when anglers have to take a compulsory break from fishing because of the existing close season.

No doubt we will see the arguments for and against when the EA starts the ball rolling.

Skipton AA members have seen a change at Whinnygill Reservoir recently due to repair work being started that should take about three weeks to complete.

The water is being drained off and the level at the moment is about two metres below the maximum depth of 10.40 metres.

Members fishing the water should take care as the exposed stone setts can be quite slippy.

Sport is rather patchy but it may be due more to the weather than the lower water level.

Canal anglers have also experienced some poor sport of late from the local lengths including the basin where the only fish of note caught recently was a small pike.

River anglers have fared a little better when the level has not been too high and the Heslaker Lane length has been reasonably well fished with trout and grayling being the main quarry.

John W. Preston

18, Beech Hill Road, Carleton-in-Craven, Skipton, North Yorkshire, BD23 3EN,

Tel: 01756 795435.

Sports Editor,

Craven Herald & Pioneer,

High Street,

Skipton,

North Yorkshire,

28 January 2018,

ANGLING NOTES.

Apparently the Environment Agency is to ask anglers their views on the 1878 river close season law.

This basically outlaws fishing for trout and coarse fish in Yorkshire between the October 1 and March 24 (trout) and March 15 to June 15 for coarse fish.

A body under the name of Dave Harrell Angling says that an independent review group is investigating whether river close seasons can follow the example set on still waters 23 years ago and canals 18 years ago, when the close season was abolished altogether.

Questions have been asked on who established the independent review group; under what authority; what is its brief; who has it engaged with and when will the report will be available.

To date there has been no reply from Dave Harrell Angling and it has been suggested that it represents a lobby group of anglers who just want to go fishing irrespective of the consequences.

It could also be the angling trade in general (manufacturers and tackle shops) that are pushing for a change in order to boost a quiet period in business from March to June each year when anglers have to take a compulsory break from fishing because of the existing close season.

No doubt we will see the arguments for and against when the EA starts the ball rolling.

Skipton AA. members have seen a change at Whinnygill Reservoir recently due to repair work being started that should take about three weeks to complete.

The water is being drained off and the level at the moment is about two metres below the maximum depth of 10.40 metres.

Members fishing the water should take care as the exposed stone setts can be quite slippy.

Sport is rather patchy but it may be due more to the weather than the lower water level.

Canal anglers have also experienced some poor sport of late from the local lengths including the basin where the only fish of note caught recently was a small pike.

River anglers have fared a little better when the level has not been too high and the Heslaker Lane length has been reasonably well fished with trout and grayling being the main quarry.

John W. Preston.