hi lads. i have been reading the write ups in the angling papers about lifting the 3 month closed season ban on rivers, for what i have read theres quite a few fishing clubs that want it lifted....the E.A. have said we have no plans to review the dates of the closed season. the laws are in place to protect wild fish stocks during there spawning period. and we must adopt the precautionary principle.???? i think the closed season should stay, but i think 3 months is to long...??? WHAT SAY YOU.. BILLY.

I think the close should remain. I would probably extend it to include the still waters once more. I like the idea of time during which the fish are unmolested, and the banks have time for re-growth. I would not like to see anglers dangling their baits into a shoal of spawning, or near-spawning barbel. And some anglers would certainly do that.
It also allows me to do other things, some of them not fishing related. And without the close I would probably never fish for trout. And the term "glorious sixteenth" would recover its value and significance. Waiting for that first day's tench fishing is now a memory.

i'm in favour of the close season but think, like many it should be moved to a slightly later time period,or even made longer(dons my tin hat)lol,what does really bake my noodle is the anal oriffices that totally disregard it,they're not caught often enough or dealt with strongly enough,its just a slap in the gills for those of us that do abide by the E.A, rules,but it will never change i guess its like speed limits i wouldn't think theres 1 person thats NEVER broken 1 even by just 1 or 2 mph,i've also said before on this thread in the past that i will honour it till they change it if ever.all imo of course.

cheers

kev.

I think it should remain, it give's me 3 months to concentrate on other species

my 2p lol

im in favor of a rest period as said above its good for fish and wildlife to chill
before all guns blazing every man and his dog hits the waters in the warm weather

i just think the date need updateing to the new global climate we have

also would like all waters no fishing for that period be it a river, lake or garden pool

peace out brothers

paul

i think we should keep the close season, maybe the dates need adjusting i dont know, i,m not qualified to say but the close period should definately stay. its just a shame the rivers cannot be policed better, or should i say more frequently
cheers
jerry

In my opinion we should move with the times. Most rivers nowadays see so few anglers that disturbance to wildlife is hardly an argument for maintaing a close season. If anything allowing angling would help police the rivers.

in effect the rivers are never closed,as long as anglers abide by the rules they can fish on the river they just have to use the right bait and tackle and target the right species,then nobody can have any beef with anglers flouting the close season by using maggots and feeders or pellets etc,if we dont let the fish breed there wont be any fish to catch sooner or later,thats how animals become exstinct! fish the rivers all year round but follow the rules that relate to the time of year,thats my viewpoint anyway.

cheers

kev.

• closed season

hi lads I think the closed season should stay for the fish to spawn in peace and for the banks to grow back too and the wait for the 16th

I think the close season should stay for all the reasons above plus I love the buzz of the magical 16th!! Only a week to go!!