"Where visitor moorings are not signed as to whether fishing is permitted, its is assumed that during the boating season those wishing to moor have priority, at other times access will be on a first come first served basis."
Well, I don't know about you, but for me there is no such thing as a "boating season". I like to boat at any time of year. For me the "boating season", if there is one, is any time the water is liquid.
These "rules" suggest that boaters can be prevented from tying up at visitor moorings because an angler has got there first, and "bagged" the spot.
But hang on a minute, who built the canals, and for what purpose? Did fishermen come along in the eighteenth century and decide they wanted some new long thin fishing grounds? And did people such as Josiah Wedgwood then turn up and say, "Hmm. These fishing waters seem to connect potteries, limekilns and coalfields. I wonder if I could float some boats along them to transport some goods."?
What absolute rot! The canals were built for boats, and anglers came along afterwards. Boats should always have priority at moorings. Now I'm all in favour of living in harmony with others, and anglers have as much right to enjoy their fishing hobby as we do our boating one. But come on, BW! Don't lose touch with your raison d'être: to maintain the waterways for boating.
Isn't there enough towpath, away from designated visitor moorings, for fishing from?
Oh, and if this rule is to be enforced, we need a definition of the "boating season". May I suggest: "All times when the waterway in question is not iced over, nor closed owing to insufficient depth of water, blockage or maintenance work."
(rant over)
In a comment on yesterday's post Brian of NB Harnser wondered if the new Waterway Wanderers scheme meant that fishing was no longer allowed from one's boat. I don't know the rules about this; perhaps someone could advise.
photo from waterscape.com
2 comments:
Try getting any sort of fishing misdemenor sorted and you wont get far, our local water point here in Middlewich has frequent visits from fishermen, complete with camp beds & tent ! Local pcso/police are not interested, bw say call police !! even though there are many no fishing signs, (so tecnically the fisermen are attempting to steal the fish) Enviroment agency (who issue rod licences) say contact the local fishing bailiff. But as the area is not "let" to an association they are not interested either.
Dear BW,
If you're promoting this nonsense are you also going to add a new section to the "stoppages" website page for us?? It could go something like "Places you boater's can't go to cos of an important fishing match, handy table of dates & times included for your (in)convenience..."
Kind regards, Heather
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