“It’s great to be back on the banks!” Readers enjoy post-lockdown action
Banks flood with anglers as night and match fishing resume
FISHING returned in full force last Monday, and boy, did anglers make the most of it.
The banks of fisheries have been heaving, with carpers keen to enjoy the first night of the season, and match anglers are brimming with anticipation for the first draw.
Tackle shops have also experienced a sales boom, with many bulking up on stock in anticipation of a mega-busy month ahead.
Among the many venues to witness the chaotic rush for swims was Oxford’s Linear Fisheries, where hundreds of anglers were queueing outside the gates from the middle of the night, eager to get on the banks before fishing was allowed to resume.
They were virtually full by 5.30am, and head bailiff Ian Roper admitted that he had rarely witnessed anything like it.
“Opening day was crazy,” he told us. “My phone rang at 12.50am, saying I had to come down and open the fishery. We were totally full – 230 anglers plus syndicate members. But despite the throng of anglers, everyone behaved well, causing very little hassle.
“The nicest part was returning on the second morning. The initial chaos had subsided, and it was great to arrive back at work to see a beautiful sunrise and anglers on the banks enjoying the fishery again.”
Match anglers have also been keen to get back into the competitive scene, as Tom Kay, owner of The Oaks fishery in North Yorkshire, revealed.
“Our first open matches sold out weeks ago, and club bookings are all full up.
With the nice weather, we’ve seen an upsurge in pleasure angler numbers, and are expecting another busy year.”
The angling boom has also hit tackle shops, which struggled to keep up with demand for fresh tackle and bait. Darren Clarke, who helps run Dave’s of Middlewich, said: “We’ve seen a step-up already on the huge demand when the last lockdown was lifted, and we’re expecting a hectic Easter!