It was reported in our local paper that 3 people were convicted of fishing without a license on Stocks reservoir last August. (From 2 from Rochdale and 1 from Glasgow).

Is it time all fisheries have to see a license before they can issue a ticket?

fisheries are not responsible for policing the angling licence.
similarly you wouldn't expect petrol stations to check tax discs or insurance

then again im not sure how many private waters benefit from the money raised by the licence?


i seem to remember a debate about this recently

This is a topic which has cropped up before and I think the argument was that unless it is a legal requirement there is a disincentive for fisheries to ask the question because they might turn away trade. The alternative would be to regularise it and for the fishery to sell 1 day licences with the ticket if needed. However this would add £3.50 (say 20%) to the cost of a day ticket with no margin to the fishery so I can't see much of an incentive. I do know of some fisheries which do this for beginners but then it's usually bundled with coaching so the impact is much less noticeable.
GD

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We come from dust; we return to dust. I'm going to fish

As said above it is not our resposibility at the fishery to check licenses that is the job of the EA and as reported they did this job well.

I see that a chap was prosecuted for fishing on the river Camel,
He got a £110 fine Not a big deterrent when I pay £70 for my licence and £40 club fees =£110 to fish legally.

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I will arise and go now, and go to Innisfree,9 bean rows will I have there and a hive for the honey bee.

As well as a small fine, the offender also has a criminal record, which for some occupations could affect his job, and the related stigma.......

David

I was there - it was during the pairs comp - and I have to say they picked their bloody day, disrupting comp anglers hard on the graft for a time bonus. I thought their attitude was poor to be honest. It's the first time I've been asked in years, having religiously paid my dues each season.....but we were almost treated as guilty until proven innocent.

M

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The sun pushed dark spokes of melt and sparkle
Across the fields of hoar. And the river steamed -
Flint-olive.


http://northcountryangler.blogspot.com

GD,

i disagree because if all fisheries check then no matter where you go your in the same boat ,which will deter fishing without one , york and district amalgamation have for a few years now asked for production of a licence when you go to a draw for you to pull your peg number out (coarse angling)it takes seconds to ask for it to be shown and if they dont show it then they dont fish , a bit like age identification in shops/pubs etc you know its there takes a few seconds to ask if youve no proof you dont get a drink etc etc

may seem unfair but its time to put some onus on fisheries IMHO and stop the fly by night fisheries who spring up hoping to make a quick buck and dont care if they have a licence or not ,implement a fine system for fisheries allowing people to fish without a licence ie

1st OFFENCE £250 FINE

2nd OFFENCE £750 FINE

3rd OFFENCE CLOSURE FOR A MONTH

ANY MORE OFFENCES AFTER THAT A 6 MONTH CLOSURE AND THEN DOUBLED FOR ANY MORE OFFENCES !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

hard ...maybe but sure as bears sh1t in the woods it will stop it all from fishing without one to fisheries not caring !!

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WHEN YOU LEAVE THE RIVER, TAKE NOTHING, AND LEAVE ONLY FOOTPRINT'S!!!

THA CAN TELL A YORKSHIREMAN ,BUT THA CAN'T TELL HIM MUCH !!

ahh gone are the good ol days!!!!!

Liam, we could be debating a licence on this side of the pond before long

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Confusious Say: "Upon seeing the shadow of a pigeon, one must resist the urge to look up"!