Fish stocks Great news for UK rivers

Fish stocks booming in running waters right across the UK

THE river fishing season is shaping up to be one of the best ever, with fish stocks at many of the UK’s top venues at an all-time high.

With just over two weeks to go before the official opening of the rivers on June 16, fish numbers are said to be booming everywhere from Yorkshire to the South West.

A survey by Environment Agency scientists on the Norfolk Broads shows that the area’s rivers are healthier than ever. A 10-mile stretch of the Bure now holds an easimated 100 million fish.

Norwich & District AA runs a section of the Bure within the surveyed zone, and chairman Tony Gibbons worked closely with EA officials during the survey. He said: “The section studied, between Horning and Acle Bridge in Norfolk, holds incredible numbers of fish, but this isn’t the only place on the Broads that holds healthy stocks. Anglers can go anywhere in the system and catch plenty.

“Our matches last year produced tremendous bags of fish and this should continue for this season and beyond as the rivers are already looking in good shape.”

One reason stocks are so healthy is down to work undertaken by the EA to protect fish from issues such as tidal surges – but Tony believes there are other factors at play.

“Only around 10 per cent of the rivers are fished on the Broads so stocks stay in good nick and can move around to avoid angling pressure,” he continued.

“The water quality is also as good now as it’s been in decades, and this benefits spawnings.

Bosses at Dorset’s Royalty Fishery on the Hampshire Avon are also expecting a bumper 2017.

Jason Lewis, who runs the venue, said: “Apart from water levels being a little lower than we would like, early-season signs look good with a good Ranunculus weed growth.

“This is great news for the fish, and there’s been an astounding fry boom as well.

“Good numbers of migratory fish coming into the fishery h is another good indication that the river is healthy.”

Another club whose members are feeling positive about the prospects for the new river season is Nottingham Anglers Association.

The Midlands-based outfit runs numerous sections of the River Trent, a waterway which has been in fine form in recent seasons.

Club secretary Dave Turner said:

“We fully expect it to be another cracking season on most of our river stretches, particularly as far as big fish like barbel and carp are concerned.

“We had a worthwhile increase in membership last year and this year it seems to be going the same way.”

Leeds & District Amalgamated Society of Anglers is another club ready for a productive start to the campaign.

Club president Stan Jefferys said: “A lot of the members have been watching the barbel and bream shoals spawning on our waters – this is great news for the start of the season and the future.

“We have stocked thousands of young barbel and chub into some of our stretches and the rivers have fished really well in recent years. This year should be no different.”

The improving sport on many rivers has also been reflected in the number of anglers wanting to visit them.

Angling Times columnist Dave Harrell has seen a huge spike in the number of anglers applying for his match fishing competition, RiverFest, this year and he believes it’s down to the quality of fishing which is now on offer.

“The number of festivals and open matches on rivers up and down the country has gone up a lot in the last couple of years, and this can only be a reflection of how good the fishing is,” he said.

“We’ve had some truly amazing catches recently and the positive thing was that the fish were all different year classes.

“This bodes well for the coming season,” added Dave.