The Environment Agency will be sending a local angling guide to everyone who bought a rod licence last year (all households across England and Wales with one or more 2008/9 rod licence holders). Those who bought their licence online will be sent an email with links to internet angling guides. Others will be sent a local guide for their area.

There are 18 area guides covering all regions — except South West where there is a long-established regional guide, 'Get Hooked', produced in collaboration with an external publisher.

The mailing is intended to act both as a prompt to go fishing and reminder to buy a licence. It is also intended to address one of the major barriers to participation identified by EA research, namely the lack of information on local angling opportunities. It is hoped that the service will help to retain past licence holders but also, indirectly, to encourage their family and friends to go fishing (most people are introduced to angling by other anglers).

I'm wondering how useful members of the forum find these guides? Are they helpful? Good value for taxpayer money? Will they encourage participation in our sport?

I'll feed your comments directly to some contacts in the Agency.

Mike

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http://wanderingangler.blogspot.com/

I don't want to appear negative, but the guide for the NW of England was riddled with such serious errors that its entire credibility was undermined. Worst, I recall, was something like a suggestion that there were barbel in Crummock Water (Cumbria). I did alert EA folk locally to the errors and was given to understand that it was unlikely to be reprinted.

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cumbriafishingfestival.co.uk

My copy of 'Get Hooked' is very useful and has saved me buying it which I do every couple of years.
Bill

Dont no aint got one yet got my license but know mag

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If in doubt, get the montys out

Intelligence is relative to your environment

Mine's just arrived (North West). If you wanted to fish Ullswater, you'd be totally put off by the entry. Pike are in Buttermere, but not in Crummock Water. Really? Are there really carp in the Ribble at Clitheroe? Down on the Church Deeps maybe, but that far up the river? No pike in the lower River Wyre? Not what I understand. Rainbow trout in the River Kent? I doubt it

Sadly, if things like this are not done right, they're probably not worth doing at all.

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cumbriafishingfestival.co.uk

Thanks for the comments so far guys. Negative comments are fine! In my experience, the Agency is open to constructive criticism. It is certainly important to know if there are innacuracies in the guides.

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http://wanderingangler.blogspot.com/

Hi Mike,
How you doing?

I received mine today; Where to go Fishing > Environment Agency Wales!

I'm quite impressed with it; and pleased to receive it! - There is the odd mistake, such as the closest town, not really being the closest to the fishing venue stated; but that's being a bit picky. Overall, for : South East Wales and the Marches, it's an excellent booklet!

Normally priced at £1, and full of useful information!

See you soon Mike.

Mostyn

Rainbow in the River Kent --- Yes, I caught several in Kentmere tarn quite a while back. Kentmere reservoir was emptied to permit repairs on the dam, and instead of netting the stock, those in charge let them loose down the river. TC

got one today its full of cock ups our club lakes listed and saying that the fishing is free i hope our eastern block friends don't get wind of this

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i once went flyfishing and caught a 7 pound bluebottle

There appear to be no Grayling in the River Ribble beats listed. Is this really so?

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cumbriafishingfestival.co.uk