Angling

Angling on the UK's inland waterways can offer a peaceful waterside experience. A variety of freshwater fish can be found including Carp, Tench, Barbel, Pike and Roach.

However, anglers need to make sure that they have purchased the appropriate rod licence, and find out what stretches are owned by angling clubs as many sell day tickets.

Environment Agency Rod Licence

The Environment Agency requires that:

Any angler aged 12 years or over, fishing for salmon, trout, freshwater fish or eels in England (except the River Tweed), Wales or the Border Esk and its tributaries in Scotland must have an Environment Agency Rod Licence.

The licence can be purchased from the Environment Agency website:

http://www.environment-agency.gov.uk/subjects/fish/399730/

The Waterways Code

British Waterways provide the following advice for anglers:

Most stretches are leased to angling clubs and many sell day tickets.

Look after your waterways

Discarded hooks and lines, bottles and tins can kill or injure wildlife. Gather them up and take them away with you.

Consider others

Make sure the towpath is easily passable by keeping your fishing tackle tidy

Don’t obstruct locks, bridges, designated moorings, water points or turning points

Boat crews need access to the bank within 25 metres of locks or moveable bridges so do not fish there

Use a pole cup if you need to feed close to boats: don’t throw or catapult groundbait onto the decks or against the hulls of boats - it damages paintwork

Don’t bounce tackle off boats or tap them with pole tips - chipped paint is expensive to repair, and hooks in ropes can be very dangerous

Boats are people’s homes so please respect their privacy, including those on the opposite bank.

Try to fish at least 15 metres away.

Some boats will not be able to avoid you if you fish on the outside of bends

Take care

Don’t fish within 30 metres of overhead power lines. Look out and look up - electricity kills!

Source: www.britishwaterways.co.uk