Interesting question

[JennyMorgan]

http://www.edp24.co.uk/sport/other-sport/norfolk-angling/can_angling_ever_reverse_its_decline_in_participation_1_3873004

 

Interesting comment about the close season too! Mind you, 'tis asked by our favourite, locally based angling hack, Roy Webster!

[Bound2Please]

Well slow demise cant all be blamed on computor games, as this started in the 70's as an ex tackle shop owner. I can tell you the leauge against blood sports has a lot to answer for it. I had them camped on my door step one june16th abusing any one coming to the shop.

 

The police just said they are only demonstrating, its a free country. That was the start of the decline and its still decling now for other reasons as well.

 

Kids arnt encouraged to go out any more, when i was a kid the only times we wernt out and bout was meal times bed times and school time.

 

Oh how the times in 60 years have changed.

 

For the good im not so sure

[MauriceMynah]

I don't know who Roy Webster is, but he does seem to require a little more research into his subject.

If I remember correctly, Rod licences came into existence in the 1970s and not as he strongly implies in the 50s or before.

Nah, he's just jumping on the "lest we forget" band wagon, and, if I might make so bold, in a somewhat distasteful and melodramatic manner.

[Bound2Please]

Well I remember getting my Essex & Suffolk rod licence from morris takle in brentwood in the 50's only one rod allowed in those days. if I remember correctly it was 6d a year from june 16th till march 15th following year, yes a season long.

[JennyMorgan]

Re the licence, we had a licence for Suffolk & Norfolk back in the fifties at least, I was just so proud when I was old enough to buy one! I suppose it was about 1970ish when a national licence was produced.

 

Charlie is just so right when he says times have changed in sixty years and how, as feral kids, we were out of the house from dawn to dusk. In my case if we weren't fishing then we were boating and if we weren't boating then we were fishing, with a spot of hunting thrown in for good measure. Such was the life of a rural kid back then.

 

Outdoor kids, not so much now, even adults avoid the great outdoors nowadays! How often do I see boats with the cockpit covers up even on a bright, sunny summer's day, gosh, back in time the first thing we did was get the covers off. 

[SPEEDTRIPLE]

Fishing licenses always issued by the then local water authority, but now it`s all under the control of central government via the EA.

 

Some of the reasoning behind the decline in fishing has to be put down primarily to costs. Two of our local clubs the Ringwood and district angling association, and the Christchurch angling association have rediculously high fees, so much so, that they have both reported a dramatic drop in membership. Hardly surprising when they charge an annual membership of £150 ish, and that`s AFTER you pay a joining fee of around £130. Then you have to have a reliable and regular transport system to get to a lot of their venues which are well out in the sticks, with very little free fishing available. What free fishing IS available is usually occupied by eastern europeans who don`t like locals fishing in "their patch", so use unfriendly, and, as has been reported (to the local police, but NEVER acted upon) sometimes quite abusive and aggressive behaviour.

 

Other reasons are the rediculously high cost of rod licenses, which incidentally, commercial fisheries get NO benefit from, yet you still need a license to fish commercials.  The angling press advertising, and pressurising people into buying thousands of pounds worth of modern technological GARBAGE that you really don`t need, with expensive specialist high performance baits, that fish get hooked on (excuse the punn) which results in the humble magget and sweetcorn and even plain bread don`t work anymore.

 

The next thing they`ll do is to abolish the close season, which i`m all in favour of, but increas the rod license AGAIN, with the excuse, "they have to raise the extra revinue to cover the cost of extra work in the year round season".

 

To be honest, i think a dramtic drop in fishing might actually be GOOD for fishing in general, both in allowing fish stock to grow, and show the EA and the greedy clubs that you can`t keep robbing the public.

[Baitrunner]

Interesting that I have been fishing since the early seventies and can only remember being challenged twice in the 80s to produce my rod licence.

Maybe I look honest

[Bound2Please]

Well in this

 

Fishing licenses always issued by the then local water authority, but now it`s all under the control of central government via the EA.

 

Some of the reasoning behind the decline in fishing has to be put down primarily to costs. Two of our local clubs the Ringwood and district angling association, and the Christchurch angling association have rediculously high fees, so much so, that they have both reported a dramatic drop in membership. Hardly surprising when they charge an annual membership of £150 ish, and that`s AFTER you pay a joining fee of around £130. Then you have to have a reliable and regular transport system to get to a lot of their venues which are well out in the sticks, with very little free fishing available. What free fishing IS available is usually occupied by eastern europeans who don`t like locals fishing in "their patch", so use unfriendly, and, as has been reported (to the local police, but NEVER acted upon) sometimes quite abusive and aggressive behaviour.

 

Other reasons are the rediculously high cost of rod licenses, which incidentally, commercial fisheries get NO benefit from, yet you still need a license to fish commercials.  The angling press advertising, and pressurising people into buying thousands of pounds worth of modern technological GARBAGE that you really don`t need, with expensive specialist high performance baits, that fish get hooked on (excuse the punn) which results in the humble magget and sweetcorn and even plain bread don`t work anymore.

 

The next thing they`ll do is to abolish the close season, which i`m all in favour of, but increas the rod license AGAIN, with the excuse, "they have to raise the extra revinue to cover the cost of extra work in the year round season".

 

To be honest, i think a dramtic drop in fishing might actually be GOOD for fishing in general, both in allowing fish stock to grow, and show the EA and the greedy clubs that you can`t keep robbing the public.

 

Well £150 for a club isnt over board in this day and age (under £3 a week in fact) and as for expensive rod licence's £27 a year is great value. There is no close season on still waters, in fact thats been the case for years....

[SPEEDTRIPLE]

Yes, i know there`s no close season on still waters, but when you add up all the costs i mention above, plus the costs of individual keys required to access several club waters, that becomes nearer £300. And that`s before you buy your expensive and much unnessecary tackle (who really needs a 4 rod rod pod anyway), plus the seat bed and brolly camp, the specialised wheel barrow for £150 that you can buy form in excess for £30?. Add it all up, and it`s a far cry from a rod and real for £35 and a tenners worth of tackle.

 

Day tickets are getting prohibitively expensive these days, and are often only available in advance at certain tackle shops a dozen or more mile from home. And those day tickets costing on average in excess of £10.00

 

No, i`m afraid fishing is NOT a cheap working mans, or family sport anymore, so it`s no wonder it`s on the decline. And as i said earlier, maybe it`s a good thing, then when all those that make a fortune out of willfuly selling you all the gear you just don`t need, go broke and lose their livelihoods, then maybe they will learn a valuable lesson. That lesson being the public you`re ripping off can only afford so much, so when our money is all gone, we won`t be spending it in your shops anymore.

[bigbream]

speedtriple you sound like the sort of angler who fishes once a year and cant justify £27 for a licence because for a little over 50p a week that's a cheap sport in my eyes, and for fishing being an expensive sport the tackle is at its cheapest its ever been. Many years ago an average carbon rod would of set you back well in excess of £100 now £30 will buy you a good one yes you can go out and buy rods, poles in there 1000s of pounds but that is up to the individual. Where we live here in Norfolk day tickets for lakes will range from £5-£8 for a day , or fish the rivers/broads for free so for you to say you think you are being ripped off and so are the public is very untrue.

James

[Baitrunner]

James very true.

I pay £55 a year for a ticket that gives me access to 5 lakes and 2 stretches of private river.

I am not a frequent angler due to other commitments but I can go down the lakes and pull put tench to 6lb, pike in mid teens and bream to 8lb. The lakes hold much bigger fish to those who fish them regularly.

I also know of very expensive lakes/syndicates but I have no interest in spending a fortune to fish them.

Then the kit. What no bait boat? Me neither!

I have bought myself some new fancy rods and reels but got them in the sales but am still using a pair of Mitchell 810s for some of my fishing I had as a 16yo. Cost me a weeks wages each back then to put that in perspective.

If you look at it compared to say a football match. How much change would you see out of £100 going to see a london premiership match if you include travel and the obligatory beer and pie?

I think it's like a lot of things in life, you can do it for a reasonable price or you can go over the top!

My £83 for a year on the lakes is a lot less than the footie for a Saturday.

Ps. I have only been fishing 3 times this year as well!

[SPEEDTRIPLE]

speedtriple you sound like the sort of angler who fishes once a year and cant justify £27 for a licence because for a little over 50p a week that's a cheap sport in my eyes, and for fishing being an expensive sport the tackle is at its cheapest its ever been. Many years ago an average carbon rod would of set you back well in excess of £100 now £30 will buy you a good one yes you can go out and buy rods, poles in there 1000s of pounds but that is up to the individual. Where we live here in Norfolk day tickets for lakes will range from £5-£8 for a day , or fish the rivers/broads for free so for you to say you think you are being ripped off and so are the public is very untrue.

James

 

 

WRONG,

 

i DID`NT say i was being ripped off, purely and simply because i flatly REFUSE to entertain these theiving s..s fees.

 

Also, before quoting prices local to you, re-read my post, and you will notice i quote club fees and prices down here in Dorset, and those costs are the norm down here, which is 250 miles from the Broads. So obviously people struggling in these times of "Austerity" HAVE to try and fish locally, as does everybody else in the area. And with free fishing down here virtually, i repeat VIRTUALLY  non existant except for a small section of river on the Dorset Stour with little parking nearby, fishing for youngsters and those on a tight budget is nearly impossible.

 

It never ceases to amaze me that often the "fortunate few"?, are quick to critisize when those who are not so fortunate complain. You might be able to justify and afford to fish locally, but there are hundreds, possibly thousands that simply CAN`T afford the sometimes rediculously high club membership and ticket prices, so it`s no wonder when local tackle shops who always charge top dollar (£50ish for a "budget" feeder rod?) start whingeing about lack of trade.

 

I have no interrest whatsoever in how much other people pay to fishe elsewhere around the country, because i don`t live there, i live here, and for me, fishing in this area is far too expensive a past time to justify, especially when there are more important things to pay for.

 

And YES, i did buy a license, and Yes, i do fish when i come to the Broads.

[Baitrunner]

"I have no interrest whatsoever in how much other people pay to fishe elsewhere around the country, because i don`t live there, i live here, and for me, fishing in this area is far too expensive a past time to justify, especially when there are more important things to pay for"

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Actually maybe a few of us have no interest in how much it costs to fish in Dorset either? In fact your original post whilst quoting prices in Dorset didn't explicitly say "please don't talk about anything other than Dorset prices in your replies".

 

I would expect if you post something on a forum dedicated to the Norfolk Broads you might get some local feedback? Have you tried the Dorset angling forums?

 

Sorry, but not sure why you got so angry? Most of us merely replied with our own experiences. And yes I know some very expensive lakes up here that charge similar fees. I don't use them, but your right I am lucky (you make your own luck in life though IMHO).

 

Dorset from my recollection is not the cheapest part of the country to reside so I guess they feel they can charge more.

 

I lived in Surrey, it was expensive, I moved - benefit, cheaper fishing. Does anyone care other than me, probably not it was my choice to move.

 

I also have other hobbies, if one became too expensive something would go.

 

Fishing anywhere, like most hobbies, doesn't come cheap and sure times are hard for some people. Fags are expensive, beer is expensive, mobile phones are expensive, Sky and Netflix are expensive - what I think we tried to indicate was that in the big scheme of things, even in Dorset, fishing is not out of line with a lots of other things in life. Some of us just get it cheaper.

 

Most things are priced at market rates so if the revenue from falling membership in Dorset reduces the prices for you then it's a good win for you and the others down there.

 

Were on your side, just stating our cases.    

[JennyMorgan]

Broads anglers are thoroughly spoilt! If we fish from a boat then we have over a hundred miles of free fishing, lucky us.

 

Those of you who rely on commercial fisheries and day-tickets are very unfortunate. Owners of such fisheries either charge £1.00 and hope for one hundred anglers to turn up, or they charge £10.00 and reasonably expect ten anglers to turn up. Of course those who pay ten pounds are content to pay it, there will only be ten other anglers sharing the water.

 

Bit like boat builders, do they build one £100.000.00 boat or a hundred £1,000.00 boats? We all know the answer to that one! 

 

Basically the more frugal of us are being excluded. Was a time when angling and boating could reasonably be enjoyed by all, was a time when on a Saturday morning when mile after mile of a big Midland river would be taken up by anglers, near enough shoulder to shoulder. 

 

As the saying goes, money is the root of all evil. People will always be prepared to pay if it means others will be excluded.

[Baitrunner]

JM I agree money is the root of all evil, but disagree that fishery owners or other anglers are specifically excluding people on tight budgets.

 

It is true the Broads is probably one of few places left in England with so much free fishing, but fishing clubs and fishery owners still have to make a living?

 

The expense of maintenance, rates, insurance, buying fish stock, protection against Cormorants and Otters etc all add up - a lot more than it used to be when I was a kid for sure and out of the control of fishery owners and us anglers.

 

I did try to put things into some sort of context in my previous posts in that everything has become more expensive - sure, relatively speaking for a lot of people some things have become cheaper, but at the other end of the spectrum it is a different story. Not sure we can single fishery owners out though as the root of all evil?

 

I don't often go to day ticket waters, but when I do I often think crickey £10 for a days fishing. But then what else can you do all day for a tenner as a treat?

 

How much does it cost to park your car for a few hours shopping in a big town, see a film at the cinema, visiting a National Trust site, going to Thetford Forest (High Lodge) the list goes on - I know what I would spend my tenner on. 

[Bound2Please]

The expense of maintenance, rates, insurance, buying fish stock, protection against Cormorants and Otters etc all add up - a lot more than it used to be when I was a kid for sure and out of the control of fishery owners and us anglers.

 

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When I was a kid in the 50's fishing a council run lake in a country park cost us 3d in the morning and again 3d for the afternoon. So its not a new thing charging for a day ticket.

 

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I don't often go to day ticket waters, but when I do I often think crickey £10 for a days fishing. But then what else can you do all day for a tenner as a treat?

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again this is not a new thing, but at a tenner it is good value in this day and age..

[Baitrunner]

And one thing I did forget to mention.

 

Many years ago, when times were tight for me, and I couldn't compete with all the bait and tech needed to catch fish at my local fishery, I took up sea fishing.

Dug my own lug, caught my own crabs (easy there) and ate what I caught if it was of a decent size.

 

This all went pear shaped as I then joined a boat fishing club as my means improved, bought a little boat and thus got hooked on boating - costing me more money, but shared fun.

[SPEEDTRIPLE]

Baitrunner,

 

Firstly, regarding this being a Norfolk Broads forum, and people not being interested in angling costs down here in Dorset, If you care to click on the link in Peter OP, although Norfolk is mentioned twice, the overal content of that article is representative of all over the country, so me pointing out my views regarding fishing down here IS perfectly justified.

 

Secondly, I`m not anngry at all, just like most on here replying with their experiences, so was i, is`nt that what forums are for?.

 

Thirdly, Yes, Dorset IS`NT the cheapest area to live in, in fact due to the marketing morons of the world, market forces have pushed UP the cost of everyday living in Dorset to such an extent, that on average, it`s now the most expensive place to live, outside of London of course, and the cost of fishing is just ONE of those marketing rip offs.

 

If everybody who wanted to cut the cost of their living by simply moving, all the cheap areas would soon rocket in value, like Norfolk, then you`d complain because everything in relation would become that much more expensive for you.

 

Something a lot of people don`t like to admit is that whoever lives in an area which is predominently cheaper than average is being subsidised by somewhere else. Come and buy a house down here, come and fill your car with petrol down here, come down here and buy all your shopping for a week, better still, come down here and pay a council tax bill. 

 

I`ve always said that there should be legal national values for houses and wages etc to stop market forces driving UP costs for some, while others enjoy a much higher standard of living, for a lot less, purely on the grounds of location.

 

AND THAT GOES FOR FOR FISHING TO.

 

And don`t forget, i`m Not angry, just pointing out a few unpopular facts.

 

 

MERRY CHRISTMAS ALL.

 

PS,

 

just a quick note to say although i mention Norfolk above, i`m NOT being critical or offensive to the people of Norfolk. A wonderful group of people, ALL OF THEM  cheers