Paul Garner – Top specimen hunter Jamie Cook – Angling Trust CEO

The seasons are changing

One of the biggest changes that is affecting all of us at the moment is the Gulf Stream hitting the UK more than it used to. This leads to wetter winters, and often much milder conditions for much of the winter. Specimen bream are now viable right into late November because the water temperatures remain relatively high compared to the past. Conversely, river fishing can be quite hit- and- miss, with flash floods affecting the rivers badly. In fact, I can think of few days over the last few winters when my local rivers have been in perfect conditions, with big floods much more prevalent.

Roach are replacing barbel

On so many rivers now I have seen barbel numbers dropping, often drastically. Whatever the combination of factors that has caused this, one positive is that roach numbers, and often big fish, have increased, making them a viable target. I keep promising to have a proper crack at the specimen roach in my local River Severn. Hopefully 2022 will be the year I get around to it, as there are some monsters to be caught.

Fisheries are getting busier

We have seen a massive increase in the number of anglers over the last couple of years, thanks in no small part to the furlough scheme. Although the numbers are falling again as people have less free- time, there are still a lot more anglers on the bank. Once quiet venues are now much busier. To me this means trying to be a bit more strategic when I fish. Short sessions, particularly at dawn and dusk, mean I am on the banks when the fish are feeding, and avoiding most of the angling pressure.

Everyone wants to catch perch

Come autumn, it seems that everyone wants to go perch fishing! While many anglers still use traditional tactics and baits, lure fishing has grown almost exponentially. For short winter sessions of just an hour or two nothing beats walking around your local venue with a lure rod searching for perch of any size that will feed in almost any conditions.

As anglers, we are all aware of the joy that being next to water brings. With the pressures of modern- day life and the challenges we still face from the pandemic, I think we will see more people discover how fishing can improve their health and mental wellbeing and develop a love for the great outdoors. I also believe the steady growth in women anglers will continue and I hope that angling can attract newcomers from diverse communities, something the Angling Trust has encouraged through our ‘ We Fish As One’ initiatives.

In recent years, we have all become aware of the challenges faced by the environment including the threats to our rivers and coastal waters from pollution, whether it be from sewage, agriculture, pesticides or plastics. It was one of the reasons we launched our Anglers Against Pollution campaign back in 2020, to give anglers a voice and demand action to halt and reverse the decline in our waters. We have recently seen how powerful a joined- up angling community can be with the government’s partial U- turn over amendments to the Environment Bill which will hopefully lead to a crackdown on water companies dumping raw sewage into our rivers. Sadly, I believe the state of our rivers will continue to be a major cause for concern in 2022, but I predict that anglers will play a huge role in improving and protecting our waterways. Whether it be lobbying MPs, carrying out habitat maintenance, improving fish care, supporting Anglers Against Pollution or joining the Angling Trust so that we can work on your behalf, anglers can make a big difference to the environment and our waters.

Because of the love for nature and the environment, I can see anglers wanting to fish in more ‘ natural’ environments, seeking out new challenges and ‘ wilder’ experiences. Since launching our Fishing in Wales site, we have seen the desire from anglers to try something different, trekking across mountains to fish remote lakes, seeking out rivers in isolated valleys. I think we will see more of this type of fishing in England, too.

Finally, I have been very impressed with the desire of the angling trade to get involved in initiatives to improve fishing for anglers. Our trade and retail members are vital to the success of our campaigns, from introducing newcomers to fishing to taking on the government over water quality. I predict we will see more collaborations with the trade taking a major role in protecting fishing, not just for today’s anglers but generations to come.