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Well here’s an update for a region which has not seen much action at all, for some years now.

I have been corresponding with Des Richardson (Former R.O) and we are hoping to “liven-up” the region for 2017.

I have been touching base with our local Environment Agency representatives, Bristol Avon Rivers Trust, some of our local angling clubs, and attending our local area Angling Trust meetings.

I am especially interested in the Research & Conservation element of our Society, and it`s work for the preservation of our rivers, and the angling we all love. I am also keen that we all can share our knowledge, experience, and common ground, through meeting up socially.

There will be a meeting/R&C fundraiser to come (details to follow) which will be the first chance for many new members & local non-members to get together.

We are all aware that many of the few Barbel rivers we have in the region have all been affected with lower Barbel numbers. But, on a positive note, there is much work (and research funding) going into this from the societies perspective, and also from that of those other organisations we are working with. So the future for the region is looking much brighter than perhaps four years ago!

To all those who fall into this region or would like to pay the area a visit, or give any input, please do not hesitate to make contact, and we shall be able to make arrangements. And for those Society members (Countrywide) who wish to contribute or share anything, the same truly does apply.

Let’s look forward to a new year in Barbel fishing for our region, together with the Barbel Society!

Tight Lines,
Shaun Nurse.

Crayfish deaths in watercourses in our area, and increased biosecurity

The Environment Agency is investigating the deaths of our rare protected native white clawed Crayfish in three locations across the Severn and Wye river catchment. It is expected that the cause of this will be confirmed as Crayfish Plague which is very infectious for Crayfish.

White clawed Crayfish look like miniature lobsters, they hide away under rocks and logs during the day, and emerge during the night to eat. They are our largest freshwater invertebrate and the few remaining populations are very vulnerable to this disease and face local extinction. Crayfish Plague is a species specific disease and has no implications for human or other animal health. It is a water mold (fungus) that is carried mainly by American Signal Crayfish and it’s spores can be easily transported and transferred from infected waters by people and animals.

Dead white clawed Crayfish have been seen in the following catchments:

• Nailsworth Stream, Gloucestershire
• Dowles Brook, Wyre Forest
• The River Redlake, Shropshire

White Clawed Crayfish maybe infected, but apparently healthy, and continue to die for several weeks in these locations therefore an outbreak of Crayfish Plague can last for several weeks. The disease can be transferred to White Clawed Crayfish via water and mud on damp clothes, footwear, bike tyres, fishing or boating equipment or any machinery. The Crayfish Plague pathogens can live for 22 days on damp clothes or equipment.

We are asking the public to stay out of watercourses in these areas. If you are using equipment in any river, to stop the spread of the Plague, other infectious diseases or invasive species, please follow these steps:

• Clean off any mud or vegetation and remove any standing water.
• Either thoroughly […]

Please see the notice from the Environment Agency below:

A project is underway to establish the distribution of a fish parasite that uses the freshwater shrimp Gammarus pulex as an intermediate host. The parasite we are interested in is a spiny-headed worm called Pomphorynchus. It causes the shrimp Gammarus pulex to develop either single or multiple orange spots in the body, like those in the picture above. These spots increase the chances of the shrimp being eaten by a fish, completing the life cycle of the parasite.

Please see the information sheet from the EA (link below) to see how you can help.

https://gallery.mailchimp.com/a3b5778e8ae491c79f3b08867/files/Volunteer_Sampling_Gammarus_for_fish_parasites_24th_June_16_.pdf

Held over the weekend of the 20th / 21st August on a private section of the stunning River Teme, the Barbel School 2016 will be open to members and non BS members alike.

This weekend is ideally aimed at the newcomer to barbel fishing who wishes to gain a solid grounding to kick-start their passion. Please be aware that this weekend will not be constant fishing for two days, it is a learning weekend for anglers to hopefully take away something new!

Itinerary for the two days will include:

An opening introduction and a bacon sandwich breakfast (Saturday morning)
Tackle selection and suitability
Baits and bites
Fish welfare
Fish location and watercraft
Night fishing
Photography
Fishing time
Saturday night BBQ and much more….

(Please be aware that no alcohol is to be consumed until the evening and you have FINISHED fishing for the day)

Please bring along with you a suitable tent/ bivvy for your overnight stay with suitable outdoor wet weather gear, enough personal food and stove. Tea and coffee will be provided throughout the day. Bring your normal fishing gear and bait.

Because of the nature and intimacy of this river places are limited to 10 people on a first come first served basis. The price for this years’ Barbel School will be £40 per head for the two full days including BBQ and breakfast.

Cheques should be made payable to The Barbel Society with a SAE to ensure either a confirmation note reaches you or the return of your cheque if you miss the list, can you also please provide contact details for yourself including a mobile number.

Post to: Simon Asbury, 49 Dartmouth Close, Walsall, West Midlands, WS3 1SU.
Email: simon@studiodm.co.uk
Phone: 0780 8079199

Note that as attendees of the Barbel School you will be expected to adhere to […]

The Angling Trust welcomed the announcement this week by Fisheries Minister George Eustice that the Government will set out this month proposed new legislation to remove obstructions or build fish passes to provide a route around or through weirs and other barriers to fish migration. This legislation has been promised for the past decade, but has been repeatedly delayed, with the reasons given ranging from lack of parliamentary time to hold-ups by government regulatory risk assessment procedures.

It is hoped that the long-awaited legislation will help organisations like the river trusts and the Environment Agency to gain access and permission to take action on privately-owned structures which act as barriers to fish migration.

Although hundreds of fish passes have been installed over the past decade, there are thousands more obstructions which need to be removed or modified, and it would greatly help the process if landowners were required to co-operate with these works, for the benefit of fish populations on the whole river.

Nearly all fish need to migrate up and down rivers to complete their lifecycle, whilst fish like salmon, sea trout, eels and shad also migrate out to sea. Particularly at times of low flow, barriers to fish migration can prevent adults reaching spawning areas, or young fish heading downstream to find food. Such obstructions also make fish much more vulnerable to predation from otters, mink, cormorants and goosanders.

Mark Lloyd, Chief Executive of the Angling Trust and Fish Legal said: “We are delighted to see a firm commitment from the government to bring this legislation forward at last after many years of delay. Introduction of this legislation is a key demand in the Angling Trust’s Save Our Salmon campaign, because urgent and widespread action to […]