KEEPNETS PLEASE!

From time to time ‘’Improve ‘’ urges us to exploit the huge silver fish potential in commercial ( carp ) fisheries and are shown photographs of keepnets of full of roach, skimmers, perch etc. In reality this situation is not possible for pleasure anglers as commercials almost universally ban keepnets except for match fishing. This always seems a bit unfair towards pleasure anglers but you can see the sense of not putting carp in keepnets but to target silver fish and keep returning 6oz8oz roach and not building up a net seems pointless. Also, novice and young anglers like to see what they have caught at the end of a session. My suggestion to all commercial fishery owners is to allow pleasure anglers to use keepnets but limit fish size to 8in and exclude all carp . Net dipping rules would be followed or fisheries could even rent out their own nets for a small sum. This I think would widen and make more enjoyable the fishing experience, especially for newcomers . From to time in your publication we get the impression that people are getting a bit fed up of the carp parade. I use a fishery where carp up to 3lb can be put in keepnets but nets must be emptied at 1pm and not used again until 2pm. This might seem sensible but has a serious downside . Releasing the catch at 1pm. means a dozen or more fish all dashing through the swim at the same time which can kill the swim stone dead. I have seen it happen and do not use a keepnet at this venue . So the point of this letter is to urge all commercial fishery owners to think of ways that pleasure anglers can be allowed to use keepnets . It would expand and vary the fishing experience and may lead to more customers.

DAVE ACTON, GRIMSBY