Dom Garnett looks at angling’s biggest misdemeanours
To some anglers fishery rules are there to be broken. Most of us are law-abiding, but for the serial rule-flouters DOM GARNETT suggests some appropriate penances...
IN A PERFECT world, every fishery would have sensible rules and all anglers could be trusted to stick to them. So how does it all fall apart? Dom Garnett delves into the world of angling misdemeanours, along with some suitable punishments...
Casting into the “no fishing” zone
Many fisheries have “no go” areas for angling. As frustrating as they are, these can be important to give wildlife or spawning fish some sanctuary. Perhaps inevitably, however, temptation can get the better of a minority of anglers. Some of these sneaky characters will start with honest intentions; but after several hours without a touch, that little roped-off area at the end of the lake suddenly looks like some kind of fishing nirvana. “Whoops! I seem to have overcast a little there. Never mind, may as well leave it for now.”
Punishment: Instant banishment to that dire swim on the far bank with the collapsing platform, that nobody ever fancies.
Using too many rods
When it comes to rod count, the angling world is quite starkly divided. While perhaps a majority of pleasure anglers are fine with just the one, the specimen fishers and carp crew often feel naked unless they have two or three rods. And then there are those who really push it, flaunting the rules to take up half the lake or even casting out an extra baited rig after dark.
Punishment: Offenders should have to go back to one rod only for the rest of the season!
Use of illegal bait
Whether it’s a ban on pellets, or limits on excessive quantities of bait, many fisheries have restrictions on what you can fish with. The trouble is that your mate Dave would rather fish with a bare hook than be without his favourite top-secret boilies. In goes half a kilo of the things while the owner isn’t looking...
Punishment: The angler has to eat the offending foodstuff.
“Gardening” (aka swim vandalism)
What is it with anglers and vegetation? The fish have no problem with it, but for whatever reason, some of us feel compelled to hack away at any living thing growing around our peg. Occasionally, an overgrown swim will require a quick haircut, but on some fisheries, “swim redesign” becomes so common that the owners have to ban it.
Punishment: The offender has to don gardening gloves and replace all the plants that have been hacked to bits.
Excessive noise
You’ve managed to find a lovely peaceful spot. You bait up, cast out quietly and all seems well again with the world. Until, out of the blue, two loudmouths rock up on the other bank and start to discuss life, the universe and everything with choice language and no volume control. Maybe some of those fake hookbaits would double up as earplugs? Or were they banned?
Punishment: The compulsory wearing of a gag. Or a fine of 50p per swearword.
Littering
How depressing is it that some of us still have to be reminded not to leave rubbish on the bank? In the current age, when we are acutely aware of plastic pollution and threats to wildlife, there are simply no excuses and it beggars belief that it still goes on. It’s even sadder that a minority do this, when you see the amazing work countless clubs and individual anglers do to clean up the banks.
Punishment: Offenders should be obliged to carry out a full venue litter pick before being allowed to fish again. Actually, that’s too soft – let’s just execute them.
Intoxication
Most of us like a drink, but why is it that a minority of anglers insist on getting absolutely battered on a weekend fishing trip? In some countries this is quite normal (“fishing is drinking with waders on” according to the Russians). Over here, however, 10 cans of lager and an exotic smelling cigarette are unlikely to improve your catch rate, or make you popular with the rest of the lake.
Punishment: Only Ribena is allowed to be consumed for the rest of the season.