CATCHES ARE PERFECT PROOF WE HAVE THE BALANCE RIGHT

Calls to end the closed season are steeped in self-interest

AS SO often happens, in the final few days of the season our rivers were in great nick and produced some massive catches.

Equally predictable were the number of calls to abolish the closed season. I have tried hard to find any evidence that would support abolition, but as yet have only come up with the reason that some anglers simply want to carry on fishing.

One commentator even said the decision to abolish should be made by people that only fish rivers! On that basis, let’s have those convicted of crimes decide on their sentence. One or two asked for ‘research’, to be funded by either the EA or Angling Trust... suggesting those bodies are awash with cash! One spends what it has on protecting and preserving our sport, the other relies on one percent of those who hold licences to provide its core funding.

Our river fishing is, in general and confirmed by catches over the past few years, better than it’s ever been. If it’s not broken, why try to fix it? Adrian Eves’ 16lb 3oz Thames barbel was just one of many magnificent fish caught during the last days of the river season.