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Post by naf on May 26, 2011 12:46:41 GMT
Just 1 week to get your questions in for the EA to answer...
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Post by naf on Jun 1, 2011 21:42:57 GMT
Dont forget tommorrow is the EA Q&A session so if youve got a question you want to put to them tomorrows you chance to do it  |
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Post by willothewisp on Jun 2, 2011 0:21:00 GMT
Unattended Rod? Can the EA be more specific about when a rod is "unattended?" I've regularly seen guys leave rods out and walk off 20 - 50 yards or more saying it's okay "'cos they're on an alarm/bait runner" etc. I've seen guys fast asleep overnight in bivvies both with and without rod alarms, and certainly oblivious as to what happens to their rod. The byelaw says "over which sufficient control cannot be effected" but doesn't give any indication of how quickly the control of a rod must be effected, or indeed what is "sufficient." So can you guys attempt to clarify please? What is the law?
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Post by envagencyyorkshire on Jun 2, 2011 12:06:28 GMT
Q. Unattended Rod? Can the EA be more specific about when a rod is "unattended?" I've regularly seen guys leave rods out and walk off 20 - 50 yards or more saying it's okay "'cos they're on an alarm/bait runner" etc. I've seen guys fast asleep overnight in bivvies both with and without rod alarms, and certainly oblivious as to what happens to their rod. The byelaw says "over which sufficient control cannot be effected" but doesn't give any indication of how quickly the control of a rod must be effected, or indeed what is "sufficient." So can you guys attempt to clarify please? What is the law?
A. We can't be totally prescriptive about this because situations are different in each case, for example a bite alarm versus a float.
The basic advice is if you are leaving your swim then reel in - otherwise you run the risk of being booked. Also don't ask your mate to look after your rods as this may cause him to have more rods under his control than he is licensed for.
Our enforcement officers always observe before acting and they can use their discretion if they finds rods which seem unattended. If there is a bite alarm they will trigger it and see what happens. If no-one appears they will reel in the gear and may issue a notice when the owner is found. If the owner appears promptly then a word of advice may be given. It's not just the fish we are protecting here but birds and other wildlife that may become entangled.
Richard Wightman, Environment and Business Senior Advisor
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Post by willothewisp on Jun 2, 2011 12:52:36 GMT
Fair enough reply Richard, and I totally agree with your advice about reeling in if leaving a rod. But while you say you can't be "totally prescriptive", do you not think it would be clearer and more helpful if you and/or the byelaw WAS more prescriptive? Yes every situation is different, but the complete lack of ANY prescriptive parameters/yardsticks seems to encourage increasing practices of unattended rods, certainly in large carp waters like Knotsford and Horbury lagoons. The byelaw on this seems to be from an era before modern bait alarms and that's a problem, but at least it would be reassuring to know you guys were looking into the issue of clarifying the byelaw.
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Post by envagencyyorkshire on Jun 2, 2011 12:57:16 GMT
Thanks for your comments.
We'll pass them on to our National colleagues and ask for them to be considered if we're ever reviewing the byelaws.
Peter
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Post by willothewisp on Jun 2, 2011 14:50:34 GMT
Good session guys, and it's obvious from your detailed answers that there's a lot going on "behind the scenes" to promote angling than most of us anglers ever get to hear about, and that you've a much wider remit than just stopping poachers or licence dodgers.
Well done, and thanks.
Will
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