Environment Agency officials will next week launch a major public consultation exercise over proposed byelaw changes. Anglers and other interested parties have until September 14th to make their views known.

“Within the angling community there is a wide range of opinion about whether anglers should be allowed to take the coarse fish they catch,” an EA source said. “There has been mounting concern that coarse fish removal by rod and line is damaging stocks and fisheries. “We know that some coarse fish are taken to eat and there is evidence that specimen fish are taken for illegal stocking in other waters.”

EA fisheries policy manager Adrian Taylor added: “We have some existing local byelaws that limit the removal of coarse fish, but these are inconsistent. We are proposing to introduce new byelaws that will apply across England and Wales to limit fish removal, protecting coarse fish and the fisheries they support.

“With a change to our byelaw-making powers expected in the autumn, we are consulting with the angling world now, so we can introduce the new measures as soon as possible in 2010.

“In developing our proposals, we need to balance the need to protect fish stocks with the rights of fisheries owners and managers to decide how their fisheries should be managed. In particular, we need to consider the differences between river and stillwater fisheries.

“We need the views of the angling community to help us strike the right balance.” From Monday, June 29th, you will be able to take part in the consultation online.

Old Nene

Like many waters around the Fens weed is a major problem and anglers struggled to get a rig in on several sections on the Old Nene at Benwick last weekend in the open match. There were no problems for the lucky few on the roadside section at Copalders. That is where Wayne Swinscoe drew and finished top with 18lb 6oz. Fishing down the middle on pinkie and maggot over groundbait the Trabucco/VDE backed rod took a comfortable victory netting 30 decent skimmers. Second place went to local angler Mick Poole with 14lb 14oz. The March AC rod took three tench on worm and caster from the Halfpenny Toll section.

Result: 1 W Swinscoe, Trabucco VDE, 18lb 6oz; 2 M Poole, March AC, 14lb 14oz; 3 G Boxall, Bourne MG, 13lb; 4 J Drakulic, Fox Stanjay, 11lb; 5 S Welford, Browning Hotrods, 9lb.

This coming Sunday, John Spalton will be running another open match on the same venue, give him a call to get booked in.

Button Hole

Richard Button is proving almost unbeatable on his own water at Button Hole Fishery right now, in the Tuesday open he took first place fishing peg 23 on the deck with paste netting small carp to 5lb for 39lb 14oz. Jim Clarke came second on 29lb 13oz, with Bob Bates third on 29lb 2oz. These Tuesday evening events are open to all, just turn up for the draw at 5pm.

In the latest Tournament series Tony Moll put a fine 80lb 11oz to the scales, a net of carp taken on pellet and paste from peg 16.