We don’t know whether to be happy or sad to hear the news that our local Environment Agency Fisheries Officer has taken early retirement.

Sad to hear that there will no longer be a calming, steady reliable, knowledgeable and helpful voice responding to our panicked calls when something is going wrong. Sad to hear that a we will no longer be able to draw on his vast knowledge of local fisheries. Sad to realise that we will miss working with him to improve our waters on a month by month basis.

However, we are happy that Ian has spent so long looking after fisheries in North Manchester, and is now taking early retirement that will give him more time to spend out on the bank catching them.

We are also thankful for all the work that Ian has done over the years – he has been a great champion of the River Irwell – and has had a hand in restocking 100s of thousands of fish into the River Irwell, and probably over half a million fish into the wider Greater Manchester River network. He has recorded all the fish he’s stocked into a little black book.

Most notably the recent years he has been responsible for the re-stockings of Grayling and Barbel. Both of these stockings have been a success as you can now catch both species of these fish on the River if you are in the right place. Lets hope these new fish go on to thrive, breed and create great sport of anglers in the future.

We wish you all the best Ian for your retirement –  from everyone at Salford Friendly and the wider fishing community of Greater Manchester.

 

EVENT CANCELLED – WEATHER FORECAST IS SHOCKING LATER THIS AFTERNOON

 

A bit short notice but who cares.

This Sunday evening the 22nd September – we will be holding a “social fish in” on the River Irwell at Agecroft in Salford.

Parking at Whitewater Drive Salford, M7 3AP

It’s up to you what you do – fish, chat, walk the dog/wife/kids…. whatever.

A few anglers have said that they will be fishing the stick float for dace/roach/chub – another member has said he will be lure fishing.

No set plans other than to fish from 4pm until dusk, and then retire to the nearby Racecourse Hotel on Littleton Rd for a beer.

Everyone welcome.

Large scale engineering works are going to be taking place over the next 8 weeks in Drinkwater Park, as works are undertaken to protect the footings of the footbridge across the River Irwell between Drinkwater Park lake and Agecroft Pond side….

The Forestry Commission are placing large rock boulders around the bridge footings to protect against flooding.

There will be 20 ton wagons and large earth moving equipment on site,,, so please take care.

We will be asking if the contractors can help us out with a few odd jobs while they are on site  .. so please be aware that your days fishing might be interrupted on the odd occasion

Remember when we asked you – our members to take part in a National Angling Survey back in 2018 ?

Well now a new National Angling Strategy has been devised which uses the data from this survey and has been put together by Adam Brown – who works for www.substance.net in Manchester (who also happens to be a Salford Friendly member)- and a National Angling Strategy developed and adopted by the partners listed below.

The strategy will be implemented by a new partnership body – the National Angling Strategy Partnership Board, coordinated by the Angling Trust with representatives from the Environment Agency, Canal and River Trust, Angling Trades Association and Get Hooked on Fishing. The board will be responsible for delivering the strategy as well as securing the additional funding needed to deliver on the strategy’s aims and objectives.

The strategy was researched and written by Adam Brown, Head of Research at Substance after widespread consultation with the angling community and using feedback from the National Angling Survey 2018 which engaged 35,000 anglers. The responses included the need to make better information available on where and how to fish and the need to emphasise the health, well-being and environmental benefits of participation in recreational fishing.

You can download the strategy here: Angling for Good Report

A summary report is available here: Angling for Good Summary

Survey Report – Coming Soon.

Aims and Objectives of the National Angling Strategy

The aims of the National Angling Strategy are to:

1. Increase participation in angling to:
2. Increase the numbers of people getting active outdoors through angling.
3. Improve the health and well-being of those that take part.
4. Help people and communities develop with skills, education, volunteering and facilities.
5. Connect more people to nature through angling for their well-being and to improve the environment.
6. Increase the economic impact of angling and in particular deliver economic benefits in rural and coastal communities and revenue to clubs, fisheries and businesses.

 

Its Objectives are:

• Objective 1 – Develop awareness and knowledge of angling.

A marketing campaign, backed by research, with new information on how and where to fish.

• Objective 2- Increase participation in angling

An increase in angling participation by 2024 and increases in females, young people and BAME communities taking part.

• Objective 3 – Develop social benefits through angling

An increase in people getting physically active through angling, delivery of angling for health programmes; and an angling volunteer programme.

• Objective 4 – Develop Sustainable Places to Fish

Involve anglers more in environmental improvement work and science, develop more local and accessible places for people to fish and develop more community waters.

• Objective 5 – Increase Angling’s Economic Impact

Deliver a trade-backed market development plan, new funding for developing the angling sector and tackle shop and angling tourism support.

• Objective 6 – Understand angling data and evidence

Develop an angling research programme to inform future actions, stakeholders and angling commerce interests, and to evaluate the strategy’s success.

 

The Salford Friendly Anglers Society will be discussing this report at its next club meeting – and seeing how we can align some our our activities to support this national strategy.