Originally Posted by noeyedeer

To date I've had no cause to complain to any canoeists. In my youth I've canoed myself, so armed with knowing how it feels in an unstable craft in fast water, unless the canoeist is very experienced, I tend to use the following technique when Salmon fishing

Choose a spot on the water to cast that only just allows room for the Canoe to go past. Keep on casting to that spot with determination until the canoe is almost upon you – a 15ft rod speycasting a brass tube with treble attached makes a formidable thing to paddle past. Also remember you have your feet on the ground – they are floating and risk being toppled if they come too near, many don’t have the first clue how to Eskimo roll. Leave your stout wading (toppling) staff floating visibly at arms length, maybe pick it up then re-position it. Smile politely and engage: say “hello, nice day” first before they can decide to be rude….

…….But seriously, most canoeists’ I’ve seen seem to be well mannered folks who drift quietly past with greetings and no detriment to the fishing that 2 mins pause for a rest doesn’t fix. When lost on the Itchen this summer 4 lads in 2 canoes even paddled upstream with me whilst explaining where to go for the best chance of a fish farther on.

In every sport you’ll get ignorant types who’d enjoy spoiling your day regardless. If they paddle down making a lot of noise, simply retire out of sight so they've no-one to target – they’ll get instantly bored and move on.

Originally Posted by grey duster

Anyone hear it yesterday ? Was about the Wandle - nothing about Trout in the Town but a great advert for the restoration none the less.
GD

Originally Posted by seeker

Sorry to be a bit blunt here but most of you who have posted here have no idea what you could be facing and could be on a different planet.. How does 200 plus canoes per day grab you, engines on inflatables, youths in car innertubes floating past. Turn up, hire one for the day and set off never having done it before. Stag parties, rafts,commercial operators using your waters for thier businesses, eight kids in metal canoes banging paddles on the sides etc etc.. You can also have a burger or ice cream from the attendant vans at your entry point if you like.
Get real folks its coming your way soon, If you want to see this in action right now, visit Hay on Wye. The river Wye an SSi and SAC, no right of navigation, once England and Wales best salmon river.Not any more.
Come and join us and weep.

Originally Posted by Theo

GD, thanks for the mention: if anyone has access to Radio 4 this afternoon, 3pm should be a slightly more civilised broadcasting time! We've also placed a link to the BBC's iPlayer page here:

BBC Open Country on the Wandle — The Wandle Trust

Sadly, yes, quite a lot of material about Trout in the Classroom, Riverfly monitoring and the Wandle Trust's links to Trout in the Town and the wider urban rivers movement did seem to hit the cutting-room floor... but you can't legislate for that, and we did get the last word in the programme (and series) in the end!

Theo