Damn mess from fishermen at Sonning!!!

[teddington_lock]

To honest , in my experience of dealing with fishermen , they fall into two camps ....

1. Serious fishermen , who take home their litter and leave only footprints , who are considerate and friendly.

2. The 'weekend beer monster' fisherman , for whom the fishing is secondary to drinking beer ( usually they bring a slab of stella with them ) , weeing / pooing in the bushes , lighting fires and generally making a mess before leaving all their discarded waste on the bank.

I would say that number 1's are more prevalent , but because you very rarely have to deal with them because they are such nice guys and do their bit ( witness the work the TAC does at our end of the river ) , catch their fish , pack up and are gone.

Number 2's however , are the ones you remember. It is a shame , but fishermen as a whole are tarred with the same brush because of the actions of a minority.

 

[watson1959]

Number 2's however , are the ones you remember. It is a shame , but fishermen as a whole are tarred with the same brush because of the actions of a minority.

this lot were Number 2's...... In all senses

 

[Mirror Painter]

To honest , in my experience of dealing with fishermen , they fall into two camps ....

1. Serious fishermen , who take home their litter and leave only footprints , who are considerate and friendly.

2. The 'weekend beer monster' fisherman , for whom the fishing is secondary to drinking beer ( usually they bring a slab of stella with them ) , weeing / pooing in the bushes , lighting fires and generally making a mess before leaving all their discarded waste on the bank.

I would say that number 1's are more prevalent , but because you very rarely have to deal with them because they are such nice guys and do their bit ( witness the work the TAC does at our end of the river ) , catch their fish , pack up and are gone.

Number 2's however , are the ones you remember. It is a shame , but fishermen as a whole are tarred with the same brush because of the actions of a minority.

That's spot on! The problem is that, like all other areas of 'society', the 1's will not take the 2s to task because the 2s are likely to repsond by providing a good kicking. Particularly once half a slab of stella has been consumed. They should be culled.

 

[sturmvogel190a]

That's spot on! The problem is that, like all other areas of 'society', the 1's will not take the 2s to task because the 2s are likely to repsond by providing a good kicking. Particularly once half a slab of stella has been consumed. They should be culled.

Couldnt agree more and as a boater and angler i have seen chav type behaviour a few times but have left well alone if they are not bothering me for the simple fact i go to unwind not have a ruck ,as said you remember the d%^&s more than the decent guys and again as mentioned the TAC are that in spades ...litter picks a plenty on the lower sections of river big thumb icon Steve

 

[Reverend Ludd]

As an angler I have also seen motor-boaters acting terribly on the thames. Some act like they are entitled to do what they want without worrying about the other river users.

So please let's not carry on this slating of anglers.
There are not two types anymore than there are two types of boaters.

You all seem far to pleased with yourselves.

 

[reginaldon]

The fishermen versus boat owner brawls continue; I remember some 40 years ago the fishermen fulminating against 'left wing militant canoeists' - I was then one of their number, altho' I never knew the politics of my fellow canoeists.

 

[oldgit]

So please let's not carry on this slating of anglers.
There are not two types anymore than there are two types of boaters.




It is a very small minority of fishermen,will not grace them with the word anglers, who cause this problem,unfortunately the results of their ignorance can be seen over wide area for a long time.
Probably the same oiks who leave monofiliment line behind for birds and animals to get entangled in.
Clubs take a very dim view of this sort of thing and will eject pronto any member caught doing this sort of thing ..
Very much doubt these prats are part of any fishing club.

 

[taz]

So please let's not carry on this slating of anglers.
There are not two types anymore than there are two types of boaters.




It is a very small minority of fishermen,will not grace them with the word anglers, who cause this problem,unfortunately the results of their ignorance can be seen over wide area for a long time.
Probably the same oiks who leave monofiliment line behind for birds and animals to get entangled in.
Clubs take a very dim view of this sort of thing and will eject pronto any member caught doing this sort of thing ..
Very much doubt these prats are part of any fishing club.

Now that is a topic, the amount of shat I've rolled up and disposed of could fill a Shimano reel 10 times over.

Have wrestled with geese and ducks to remove line from their legs before they suffer the loss of a limb. They don't appreciate, yer know

 

[watson1959]

So please let's not carry on this slating of anglers.
There are not two types anymore than there are two types of boaters.

You all seem far to pleased with yourselves.

This isn't a slating of anglers.

It's a slating of ignorant ar$es who dump their carp for everyone else. I made it clear in my first few posts that these ignorant morons are in the same category as dog walkers who leave their $hite on footpaths..... And I'm a dog walker.

I just hope I have the opportunity to spot this lot again.... They're clearly local.

 

[Mirror Painter]

As an angler I have also seen motor-boaters acting terribly on the thames. Some act like they are entitled to do what they want without worrying about the other river users.

So please let's not carry on this slating of anglers.
There are not two types anymore than there are two types of boaters.

You all seem far to pleased with yourselves.

Not sure what you are talking about with the 'pleased' comment and this is not a slating of anglers. I'm an angler myself albeit lapsed. Never felt the need to take a trolly load of kit to the river bank though. And always took a carrier bag to pick up rubbish left by other anglers, dog walkers and possibly even boaters!

 

[teddington_lock]

There are not two types anymore than there are two types of boaters.

Yes there are.

The considerate kind , and the inconsiderate kind.

HTH.

 

[the_wanderer]

They should be culled.

Careful. You might have the animal rights people after you if you do that.


Alan.

 

[watson1959]

EA Response

Over the last couple of days I've had a response from an extremely helpful chap at the EA.

I requested approval to post his reply here (since the original contained direct personal contact details of one of the local Fisheries Enforcement Officers) and he has replied as follows:

Quote:-

Simon

Thanks for kind words. I’ve run this past my manager who has edited my original reply in order that it can be posted on the Thames Forum. Essentially he’s removed the telephone numbers to protect us from anyone that might misuse them. The national number remains as part of the formal system that alerts all enforcement units, negating that risk. By all means highlight these changes to your forum users and the reasons for them which I’m sure you’ll appreciate.

I’ve just met with a fisheries colleague who has suggested that the bank in question MAY be owned by Bluecoats School and that as a former pupil he will inform the relevant authority of your complaint. More eyes and ears at least.

As stated, we will be vigilant towards these people and hopefully get the message across to them soon. Thank you for taking the stance that you have and keep us posted as to any progress or repetition, as I will in return.

The copy for posting is as follows:

Dear Simon

Firstly, thank you for writing and bringing this matter to our attention. I am newly familiar with the stretch of river in question having recently moved into the area. The bank between Bluecoats and the lock is apparently free fishing and no doubt responsibly used by most anglers. I share your sentiments regarding the behaviour you encountered by an irresponsible minority.

The kind of person you encountered is one with which no club or association would wish to be linked or tolerate in its membership. I am quite limited in what I can do, but have been in discussion with my colleagues in Fisheries Enforcement whose remit is largely concerned with enforcing the Salmon and Freshwater Fisheries Act, which deals with protection of fish stocks but not with anti-social behaviour. They will include the location in question in their future patrols. However, if you see people behaving in a manner likely to contravene the above Act or our Fisheries Byelaws http://www.environment-agency.gov.uk/static/documents/Leisure/Fisheries_byelaws_Thames.pdf you can call our National Emergency Hotline on 0800 807060 and our Fisheries Enforcement staff will be informed.

I recently met with the Recreation Department of Elmbridge Borough Council who reportedly encounter similar problems each summer on their banks of the River Thames. They have a small unit dedicated to enforcing byelaws covering camping, littering and antisocial behaviour on their land and it may well be that Wokingham have a similar unit capable of responding to this type of incident.

Regards
Stuart Keable
Fisheries Officer
Lower Thames Catchment

END OF QUOTE

The rest of the exchange was extremely supportive and I do have a direct contact for a local 'enforcer' should the need arise.

 

[oldgit]

well done for even bothering with a bit of a rant in the first place.OG.

 

[dash300]

As a matter of interest on this topic I was talking to my son who works at a Thames Marina who last weekend had some overnight fishermen with attendant tent and other paraphernalia fishing the opposite bank to his marina.They had a small inflateable with a ropy old Mariner outboard on the transom.
Whilst socialising with moorers in the marina that night he had to chase them out of the marina in their rubber boat with the marina work boat.When he returned to work the next day he and the customer he was re fuelling were pelted with an assortment of bait.
They packed up their site shortly afterwards sporting a nice new looking Mercury outboard on the transom of their rubber boat!! No loss from his marina but someone has suffered a loss in the vicinity for sure.
Having suffered riverside thefts myself overnight, please be wary of overnight fishermen with small boats!!

 

[Lazy Days]

As a matter of interest on this topic I was talking to my son who works at a Thames Marina who last weekend had some overnight fishermen with attendant tent and other paraphernalia fishing the opposite bank to his marina.They had a small inflateable with a ropy old Mariner outboard on the transom.
Whilst socialising with moorers in the marina that night he had to chase them out of the marina in their rubber boat with the marina work boat.When he returned to work the next day he and the customer he was re fuelling were pelted with an assortment of bait.
They packed up their site shortly afterwards sporting a nice new looking Mercury outboard on the transom of their rubber boat!! No loss from his marina but someone has suffered a loss in the vicinity for sure.
Having suffered riverside thefts myself overnight, please be wary of overnight fishermen with small boats!!

Anywhere near Cookham/Bourne End by any chance? - this is from our local "crime update" email - "29/6 – 30/6 Friday 11 p.m. / Saturday 8 a.m. Cockmarsh. Thieves possibly approached via the river, to a boat moored up. The cut then padlocks securing the outboard, which was stolen."

If it was then cookhamneighbourhood@thamesvalley.pnn.police.uk might appreciate a description etc.

 

[watson1959]

As a matter of interest on this topic I was talking to my son who works at a Thames Marina who last weekend had some overnight fishermen with attendant tent and other paraphernalia fishing the opposite bank to his marina.They had a small inflateable with a ropy old Mariner outboard on the transom.
Whilst socialising with moorers in the marina that night he had to chase them out of the marina in their rubber boat with the marina work boat.When he returned to work the next day he and the customer he was re fuelling were pelted with an assortment of bait.
They packed up their site shortly afterwards sporting a nice new looking Mercury outboard on the transom of their rubber boat!! No loss from his marina but someone has suffered a loss in the vicinity for sure.
Having suffered riverside thefts myself overnight, please be wary of overnight fishermen with small boats!!

Any pics taken? Any CCTV at the marina or close by?

 

[dash300]

In fact furthest down stream marina, just upstream of Kingston on Thames.
Pictures captured and supplied to local officers by mainstream moorers.