CHARITY DRIVE Matchmen launch new league to help raise funds for three causes
It’s one of angling’s trickiest issues and now could be the time for drastic action
IN A week that saw a fishery boss have to pull a drunk angler from his lake, senior figures from within the sport are calling for clubs and venue owners to adopt a zero tolerance policy towards bankside drug and alcohol use.
Darren Bailey, the owner of Pembrokeshire’s Yet-Y-Gors Fishery, revealed that he had to save the man’s life after he fell into the 7ft-deep margins while drunk.
He said: “Luckily another angler and I saw it happen and we
Yet-Y-Gors Fishery boss Darren Bailey (right) recently had to save the life of a drunk angler. raced over to pull him out of the water. “There were families and young children on site too, and understandably they found the incident distressing. It quickly became clear by the smell and the amount of empty beer cans that he’d been drinking heavily. “I hate to think what would have happened had we not been there to help, but it shows that drinking while fishing could have severe consequences. Anyone caught drinking on the bank from now on will be told to leave immediately.” Heavy drinking on the bank is an issue that Barbel Society co-founder Steve Pope is keen to see eradicated from the sport, and believes such a move would help to strengthen the image of angling as a whole.
“From day one, the Barbel Society has prohibited drugs and alcohol from being brought to the bank and we haven’t had a single issue as a result,” he told us.
“Our fish and anglers have remained safe. “Excessive drinking, drugs and fishing just don’t mix, and fisheries who don’t enforce a ban are putting themselves, the fish and other anglers at risk. As fishery managers we have a responsibility to make our sport more appealing to families and future generations of anglers.
“By implementing a zero-tolerance policy in this instance we’ll be able to promote the right message and create a more positive image of angling.”
Steve isn’t alone in his feelings on the subject. When fresh cases of bankside
disorder emerged after fishing’s return on May 13, hundreds of anglers took to Facebook to campaign against the issue, using the slogan: “If you’re not fit to drive, you’re not fit to fish.”
Here at Angling Times we think the welfare of the angler and the fish we love to catch is high on the agenda.
A tighter restriction on bringing alcohol and drugs to the bank is surely a step in the right direction.
HAVE YOUR SAY
Is excessive alcohol and drug use an issue among anglers at your fishery? Email your stories and views to newsdesk@anglingtimes.co.uk