Angling Trust

02/11/2026

🎣 Getting back on the bank after 20 years…

Blind Veterans UK supports generations of vision-impaired veterans, helping them overcome sight loss and lead fulfilling, active and independent lives.

Earlier this year, the charity reached out to licensed angling coach Duncan Mottershead to explore how they could help some of their veterans get back out fishing.

After working together to understand the potential challenges, hazards and support required, three veterans aged 76, 80 and 96 arrived at Radcliffe Angling Society’s Starmount Fisheries for a day on the bank.

The fishery provided the ideal setting, with level fishing platforms, accessible toilets and facilities for making a brew. With each veteran experiencing different levels of sight loss, Duncan and his team provided one-to-one coaching and support, adapting the session to each individual.

From high-contrast floats and rod tips to bite alarms and support with striking, the team worked to make sure everyone could enjoy their fishing safely and independently.

And it was a huge success. 🎣

All three veterans caught fish, played them, safely unhooked and returned them to the water, with fish welfare maintained throughout.

For some, it was also a chance to reconnect with a hobby they hadn't enjoyed for many years.

As Lily, a support worker at Blind Veterans UK, explained:

“Stan said he had a ‘gorgeous day’... Stan hasn’t been fishing in 20 years and Ron hadn’t in a long while as well, so it was amazing for them to be able to reconnect with their hobby after so long.”

The session was made possible thanks to a rod licence waiver from the Environment Agency and the use of Radcliffe Angling Society’s facilities.

Most importantly, the trial has shown that with the right support and adaptations, vision-impaired veterans can enjoy a safe, rewarding day on the bank.

Plans are now being developed for more sessions, with the aim of getting more Blind Veterans UK members back out fishing as soon as possible. ❤️🎣

31/10/2026

A quick guide to Fishing Seasons in Wales!

This infographic covers important river and stillwater fishing dates for Wales. For more information visit the Natural Resources Wales website.

31/10/2026

Top Tips Incoming!

The Angling Trust and Environment Agency have teamed up with The Ginger Fisherman

We follow Chris in a series of short films where he shows us some top tips along with helpful info

These films will be available on the Angling Trust YouTube page also so you can reference whenever you need: https://www.youtube.com//shorts
The film series was sponsored by the EA from rod licence incomes.

30/10/2026

🎣 Six years. 27 weekends. 225 participants. And a growing body of evidence showing the difference fishing can make.

After six years of research, iCARP’s Research Trips have now come to an end - marking an important milestone in understanding the impact that fishing can have on wellbeing.

Since 2022, the project has delivered:

🎣 £869,919 in funding for the pilot and main study
📅 6 years of research
🏕️ 27 fishing weekends - 4 pilot, 22 RCT and 1 away weekend
👥 225 participants attending the fishing weekends

But perhaps the most important part of the work is what comes next.

The research carried out by iCARP has helped demonstrate the potential of fishing as a meaningful intervention for people who may be struggling with their wellbeing. It has also helped open the door to funding being made available for charities delivering similar projects across the country.

And, looking further ahead, there is hope that one day a fishing rod could be prescribed to someone who needs it, rather than medication. 🎣

That would be a remarkable step forward - and one that has been made possible by years of dedication, research and the willingness of 225 people to take part.

A huge amount of work has gone into these six years. There’s plenty to be proud of. ❤️

https://www.facebook.com/icarp.org.uk/?locale=en_GB

29/10/2026

🐟 The “Suss*x Tiger” is under threat.

Suss*x's wild sea trout are an extraordinary fish, but their future is at risk.
These remarkable fish, known to exceed 15lb, depend on healthy rivers, clean water and safe passage through small streams to their spawning grounds.

🎥 Watch this powerful five-minute film highlighting the plight of the Suss*x Tiger and why protecting these fish matters. 👉 https://youtu.be/q-sNiJIc_SI

Please watch and share to help raise awareness.

The Angling Trust fights to protect fish and fisheries, and conserve and restore the rivers and habitats they depend on.

*xTiger

29/10/2026

2.6 billion litres of water lost through water company leakage every day. Effectively no improvement in a year.

Today’s water industry reports show serious pollution incidents and leakage reduction barely changed, while treatment works’ permit compliance worsened.

After a summer of severe drought, our waters deserve better.

Mark Owen, our Head of Fisheries, said: “Promises and investment announcements mean little without results.”

Read our full response: https://anglingtrust.net/2026/10/29/latest-water-industry-reports/

The Angling Trust has called for faster leakage reductions and delivery of overdue environmental improvements after new regulatory reports revealed continuing failures across the water industry. The reports, published today (29 October) show that leakage across England remained effectively unchanged...

28/10/2026

It was Dick Walker who famously stated that a really big perch looks bigger than any other fish. A true all-rounder, Walker was one of the few anglers of his generation who deliberately targeted big perch. That was back in the 1950s, when he invented the Arlesey bomb leger weight and went on to catch some huge perch up to a personal best of 4lb 13oz.

The maestro may have lived in angling’s halcyon days, but if you want to catch a big perch, there’s never been a better time than right now. The current official British record perch stands at 6lb 3oz. Wales isn’t far behind, with perch to over 5lb 3oz coming from White Springs, with many other commercial waters and Welsh reservoirs capable of producing perch from 2lb to 4lb plus with regularity. Trying to catch a big perch from a commercial venue, reservoir or club water can be done using several dependable baits. Two of the best perch baits – worms and red maggots – are likely to work well anywhere, as will whole prawns. Small fish dead baits can also work well, such as sprats.The downside of using these baits is they can be snaffled up by carp, bream, pike or silver ish first. So, if it is allowed, sometimes the best bet to lure fishing with small spinners, plugs and jigs. A 6ft spinning rod and a small fixed spool reel loaded with 10lb braid tied to an 8lb flouro eader is an ideal light lure set up perch fishing.

Most successful perch lures include classic Mepps-type spinners, small perch-patterned Rapala plugs and a selection of rubber jig heads and shads that you can tease along the bottom.Perch are greedy by nature and can engulf a small lure, so It can help to fit your lures with single barless hooks to ease unhooking.

As always the ‘Fishing In Wales’ website coarse fishing map is a great place to start your search for a good Welsh Perch fishing venue.

Recommended venues for BIG Welsh Perch:

White Springs Fishery
Riverside Fishery Caerphilly
The Reservoir, Dyffryn springs
Glamorgan Anglers Stillwaters
Llangorse Lake
Dol-y-gaer Reservoir
Cardiff Bay Barrage Lake
Trawsfynydd Reservoir

For more information visit: https://fishingwales.net/

28/10/2026

🎣 Calling young anglers (and parents)!

Have you tried freshwater fishing, even if it was a while ago? We'd love to hear from you.

The Environment Agency and DJS Research are looking for:

🐟 Parents of 13 to 17-year-olds who have tried freshwater fishing.

🐟 Young people aged 18 to 21 with freshwater fishing experience.

Complete a short survey and you'll have the chance to win one of five £50 shopping vouchers.

👉 Survey: https://survey.djsresearch.com/wix/p423735091108.aspx?LinkType=4

Please share with anyone who might be interested!

https://www.facebook.com/environmentagency/

27/10/2026

Healthy crab and lobster populations are vital to marine ecosystems, and the future of sustainable fishing in Wales.
We've called on the Welsh Government to protect stocks, tackle "ghost" fishing gear and ensure recreational anglers have a voice in fisheries management. Read more ⬇

🦀 Our response to the Welsh Crab and Lobster Fisheries Management Plan 🦞

We've submitted the Angling Trust's response to the Welsh Government's consultation on the draft Crab and Lobster FMP in Wales.

Why does this matter to sea anglers? Crab and lobster are a key part of the food web that supports the fish we target. Many of you also pot for crab and lobster recreationally yourselves. Decisions on bait, gear and spatial management in this fishery affect recreational fishers and charter skippers directly.

What we asked for:
✅ Act now on stocks: early figures suggest brown crab is overfished and lobster is subject to overfishing. We've called for short-term measures to protect breeding stock within 12–18 months, not years
✅ Tackle ghost gear: a practical scheme for reporting and recovering lost pots, which also cause conflict on popular angling marks
✅ A seat at the table: recreational fishers properly represented on the advisory group
✅ Simple, fair rules for recreational potters: a free, easy, bilingual reporting system designed with fishers, and no fees that price people out

Thanks to everyone who has shared their experience of fishing and potting in Wales with us. It shapes everything we say to government.

If you have any further comments you can get in touch with the Angling Trust marine team at [email protected]

27/10/2026

Angling Trust, the voice for anglers.

A recent spate of incidents where high-impact catapults have been used to harm and kill wildlife has made the potential ban of all catapults a possibility, but we are making sure anglers have a seat at the table. Operation LAKESHOT is a multi-agency response to the disturbing crime involving wildfowl and wildlife being killed or injured with powerful catapults. This initiative brings together police forces, including the National Wildlife Crime Unit (NWCU), the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA), the League Against Cruel Sports, the Environment Agency, the Angling Trust, and local wildlife rescue groups. Op LAKESHOT combines targeted rural and urban police patrols, educational outreach for schools and parents, and lobbying efforts for tighter legal restrictions on the sale and carrying of catapults.

As anglers, we understand the usefulness of the catapult as a baiting tool and also the need to legislate against their wrongful use. To properly represent anglers in the discussion, reinforcing the fact that anglers have a legitimate reason to possess and use a catapult to bait up swims, East of England Regional Enforcement Support Manager Paul Thomas has joined the Op LAKESHOT working group and will attend meetings on behalf of the angling community.

The Angling Trust has fought over many years to be the voice for anglers, and we will continue to do so. You can help by reporting any issues to the Animal Crimewatch service by:

Using the online form: https://www.league.org.uk/animal-crimewatch/report/
Messaging on whatsapp - 07552 788 247
Telephone on 0300 444 1234 (Calls cost the same as dialling a local or national telephone number)
Or e-mailing [email protected]

Thank you