Hi All,

A canal local to me is crammed with fish (Roach, Bream, Carp, Perch & Pike, amongst others) and has huge potential as a fly fishery - think sight fishing in summer. However, one of the rules of the committee who oversee angling on the canal bans fly fishing. I have asked the question why, and received a very decent reply explaining the decision is primarily down to the safety aspect of fly casting. The question will be raised and discussed again at the next committee meeting.

I would like to build up an objective picture of urban and canal fly fishing to pass on for discussion, in the hope that this rule may be changed.

If anyone knows of any other canals where fly fishing is specifically banned, I'd be interested to know. Similarly, if you know of any of accidents / injuries as a result of fly casting on canals / urban rivers please share. Or if you have any thoughts in general please jump in.

As someone who until last year lived and fished in Central London (Wandle / Thames) I'm pretty experienced in urban fly fishing, and have never come across any injuries or problems.

I am now lucky to have quite a choice of different types of fly fishing not too far from home, so no problem abiding with the rules as they are on the canal.

However, I do like to see all types of fishing as accessible to everyone, and particularly fly fishing. I strongly believe fly fishing for coarse species (also SWFF) is a great way get more people involved in the sport, and opening up great water like this canal can only help.

Cheers,
Greg

Hi Greg
looking at your location , I would imagine you are talking about the Basingstoke Canal, The rule was really introduced because of all the joggers cyclists and walkers who use the tow path, and this is something you will come across to some degree everywhere.
The basic problem is the compensation state we live in where everyone is terrified of being sued. This is now getting to ridiculous levels where you are told to be careful with a cup of tea because it may contain hot water!! Whatever next?????
good luck trying to find somewhere
I would be happy to let you know if I find anywhere for a spot of stillwater Carp fishing on the Fly. I am sure that |I have found somewhere not so far from me in the Test Valley. I'll let you know. I work in Fleet so probably not a million miles from you

Hi Klusen and thanks for the input. I'm a bit east of you near the Sussex border as well.

I have to agree that the health and safety reason does get rolled out a bit too freely in a lot of cases, but I can certainly see the perceived risks of fly casting in busy areas. However, I think it is up to us as fly fishermen to change this perception by demonstrating restraint where appropriate, and taking appropriate steps to ensure we do not injure people - e.g. ensuring we look behind before casting.

On canals and urban rivers, my experiences are that roll casting and casting parallel with the bank are usually the only options - both of which eliminate the risk to other towpath users anyway.

Thanks also for the info re the carp - luckily i have joined a local club who have a very inclusive policy, so i've already got access to some good options close to home, as well as the sea at the bottom of the A3 for Bass, so i'm not short on places to fish. I'm more interested in opening things up for everyone (i already know a number of fly fishers who would like to give this canal a go!), and know from experience that fly fishing in visible places definitely gets non-fishing people interested.

Cheers,
Greg

Surely someone has some thoughts? I know some of you fish canals, and sure some must have come up against no fly fishing rules on coarse fishing waters before. Just looking for any input really.

Thanks,
Greg

I find the bank charge and rules for fishing on canals quite hard to swallow really. In my area the towpaths are free to use for cyclists (of which I'm one), dog walkers, ramblers etc....however anglers have to pay extra.
On the flyfishing front, is casting a fly potentially more dangerous than a cyclist or an unleashed dog? If your canal is anything like my local cut, any casting with a fly rod should only require a roll or side cast, therefore keeping any ironmongery over the water.
Bit of a lame excuse to
a. Charge environmentally friendly anglers to fish on a public right of way.
b. Prevent fly fishing due to public safety.

BTW, similar argument for the public areas of the River Dee where PAA have the fishing rights SHOULD REMAIN FREE FISHING!

Sorry, just back from a liquid lunch so had to rant.

__________________
Don't care what your name is. No-one walks on the water where I'm fishing!
http://pedrosonthefly.blogspot.com/

... tell them you will use only Spey casts; then the fly is always over the water

The only canal/fly specialist I know of in the Nottingham Area is the legendary John Wadham who used to take embarrassing catches of ( wait for it ) Big Chub out of the Grantham Canal .

I don't think he was ever troubled by the spoilsports - Black Leeches between 10pm and midnight in high summer was the way he used to do it !

Good luck with the Eunuchs

Steve P

Thanks for the contributions.

Very much a roll cast or side casting parallel with the towpath and above the water place, so to my mind the threat to others from casting is (should be) nil.

Hadn't thought in terms of the risk from other towpath users vs that of fly fishing - given the number of times you stand back to let cyclists (going quite fast) through when you walk the canal, I'd have thought the risk of injury from that is far greater than that posed by fly fishing.

thanks,
Greg

Once again this seems to me to be a decision made by those who have no idea about Fly-Fishing. In every form of Angling there is the risk of hooking a passer by (a cyclist does give a good fight on a #3).

Members of the committee need to spend a session or two with you and make an informed "Risk Assesment" (which they then must do with all methods of Angling that are allowed on the water) but, knowing committees, they wont take up your offer.

I fished the River Dove (in Dove Dale) for many years. At times, there were swarms of walkers and to my knowledge not a single walker was hooked. You soon got into the habit of looking over your shoulder before you made a cast. In fact the danger came from the walkers themselves. Very often you'd be stalking a trout when a stick would be thrown over your head swiftly followed by the family dog (not thrown over your head) diving head long into your swim.

Are there any other stretches of canal you can fish? In my local area there are miles of canal that are free to fish. IMO clubs that lease stretches of canal are being taken for a ride. Why pay BW to baliff their waters? The price to lease a stretch of canal is ridiculous. The return you get from BW is ZERO.

There is the option of disregarding the rule and flyfish anyway.

Ernie

PS. I wonder if any of those cyclists have insurance?

By logical extension if fly fishing is banned on H&S grounds then using a pole should be as well, given the trip hazard to other users of the towpath.

Possibly not a hugely pertinent point but may be useful in terms of pointing out to the committee the inconsistency.