Angling Trust Team England Fly Fishing

The Angling Trust reports: The Angling Trust Loch Style Autumn Series brings you a selection of one-off boat fishing matches at venues across England. These are individual matches aimed to give experienced and novice competition anglers the opportunity to compete in local matches before the season ends.

Updated 28th August 2020
In a change to the original schedule, this competition will now feature a single match at Grafham Water on 20th September 2020.
The competition will be fished from drifting boats, from 10am until 5pm using barbless or de-barbed hooks. Entry is through the Angling Trust booking system only. Entry is open to anglers aged 16 and over.

Enter at https://anglingtrust.net/our-competitions/game-competitions/at-loch-style-autumn-series/

The entry fee for each match is £30.00. 70% of the entry fee goes back into the prize pot for first, second, third and fourth with the remaining 30% split between Team England Fly Fishing (TEFF), England Youth team (EYF) and England Ladies team (ELFF) to raise funds for each body. The more anglers that fish the event, the greater the prize pot will be for that venue.

No Final
Due to the series of regional matches being cancelled there will no longer be a grand final.

For further information on this competition please email Competitions Support Officer Andy Taylor at andy.taylor@anglingtrust.net or call 07946 251826

After due consideration and having taken in comments from well-respected competition anglers, AT TEFF has decided that this event will be held only as a fundraiser and not to determine this year’s National Champion. The competition will be called the 2020 Loch Style Fundraiser and will be held on Draycote Water on Sunday 27th September. There will be cash prizes for first, second and third along with a trophy for the winning angler.

See announcement above: This event will now be called the 2020 Loch Style Fundraiser. It will still take place at Draycote Water on Sunday 27^th September, but will be held only as a fundraiser and not to determine this year’s National Champion. No places are being fished for in next year’s England Teams as next year’s teams will carry over from 2019.

The competition will be fished to International Rules. Copy of rules available below. Please also read the FAQs.

Entry is through the Angling Trust booking system only and is open to anglers aged 18 and over on the day of the match.

Entry link: https://anglingtrust.net/competitions/at-teff-loch-style-fundraiser-2020/

The entry fee is £60.00 to include fishing fee. There will be cash prizes for first, second and third, along with a trophy for the winning angler.

Initially there will be 60 places available – this may be extended subject to boat availability at the venue. Places are allocated on a first come, first served basis.

Entries open on Tuesday 11^th August 10.00am

The closing date for entries (if places are not all booked) will be 13^th September. There will be a live boat draw on the Angling Trust Competitions Facebook page on the morning of Friday 25^th September.

20% of the entry fee (after deduction of fishing and boat costs) will be allocated to prizes with the remainder going to TEFF funds to support its teams.

The Prize fund (assuming an entry of 60 anglers) will be

1^st – £200, 2^nd – £150, 3^rd – £100

HEAT DETAILS

Match Rules: International Rules
Scoring: Full catch & release to max 30 fish. First 3 fish to be time recorded.
Draw: Remote draw recorded live by Angling Trust on Friday 25th September with copies issued to anglers via email & published on AT Comps Facebook page and at the fishery.
Fishing: 10.00-18.00

Rules: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1VNmB0XDQaD9862_dkkPDwaCm8RwBkvav2qUTo2dg-g4/edit

Angling Trust Team England Fly Fishing announced today that European Team member Bernie Maher has been appointed the European Team Captain and Manager for the 2021 European Championship in Roros, Norway.

The 2021 European Championship is the rolled-over 2020 Championship, which was cancelled due to the Covid 19 pandemic.

Bernie has represented England at World, European, Commonwealth and Home International Championships during the last 15 years and brings a wide range of skills to both team management and development.

“ Whilst it was sad to hear that Andy Croucher could no longer fulfil the role of captain and manager of the England team for the European Championships in Norway in 2021, we are pleased to have someone with the wealth of experience that Bernie has step into this position. Bernie has competed at the highest level and his knowledge and experience of competition fishing at World, European and Commonwealth level will be a huge asset to the team. We wish Bernie and the team all the best in Norway in 2021.”

Andy Taylor, Angling Trust, Competitions Support Officer.

” I feel extremely honoured and humbled to have been offered the role of Captain and Manager of the England Fly Fishing Team to Norway in July 2021. The fishing will be challenging in Norway, and I have complete confidence in every member of the European Team, and from my part I will make a positive contribution.”

Bernie Maher, Angling Trust Team England European Team Manager.

Press Release: 2021 European Team Manager press release

The 2020 Bank Home International, due to be held this October in Wales, has been postponed to 2021.

Two possible dates have been chosen – 20th or 27th October 2021.

Lee Cartmail, organiser of the 2019/20 AT TEFF Bank National qualifiers, is rescheduling new dates for the postponed Southern Regional Eliminator and National Final, which will select the team to represent AT TEFF at this 2021 Bank International.

The Angling Trust reports: The Angling Trust and supporting fisheries are pleased to announce a series of boat fishing competitions this autumn to give competition fly anglers an opportunity to compete before the season draws to an end.

Covid-19 has hit fisheries and boat fishing competitions hard over the spring and summer months, and therefore the Loch-style Autumn Series aims to support these fisheries and give competition anglers the chance to compete for cash prizes.

The Angling Trust Loch-style Autumn Series will start in September at the popular Draycote Water and finish in early November at the mighty Rutland Water. The competitions will be held on Sundays with cash prizes for anglers finishing in the top four. In addition, the top 20% of anglers, based on the capped angler allocation at each qualifier, will also be invited to fish a Grand Final on Saturday 3rd April 2021 at Grafham Water, for the chance to win a share of the £2,000 prize pot. (Figures based on a 90-angler final).

There are 12 events planned at a range of venues across England. Anglers can enter more than one event. The format at each match differs and is based on the fisheries’ preferred choice. Anglers are advised to check the format at each venue before entering.

Each event has a £30 entry fee in addition to the fishing fee for the session. A proportion of the entry fee will form the prize pot, with the remainder being used to raise funds for England Youth Fly Fishing, England Lady Fly Fishers and Team England Fly Fishing.

This series is a great opportunity to fish on the big waters at the backend of the season when the fishing can be exceptional, with the bonus of winning a cash prize for those anglers finishing in the top four!

Entry is via the Angling Trust’s new online booking system at https://anglingtrust.net/competitions/.

Andy Taylor, Competitions Support Officer for the Angling Trust said “Competition fly fishing has been hit hard with the recent impact of Covid-19. As a keen competition angler myself, we wanted to offer both the experienced and novice competition angler something to look forward to, whilst at the same time offering support to our fisheries. In addition, we wanted to help raise funds for England Youth Fly Fishing, England Lady Fly Fishers and Team England Fly Fishing, at a time when fund-raising has been difficult. Cash prizes have become the norm on the coarse fishing circuit, and many fly anglers have been asking for many years for something similar on the game side. This competition and the final could see anglers winning four-figure cash prizes.”

“The 2020 Autumn Series will also offer those anglers who have missed the opportunity to compete the chance to get out before the season ends. An early Spring Final in 2021 will also give anglers the chance to start their competition season off in style. We hope this competition will be well received and become a permanent fixture on the competition scene.”

First place will receive 40% of the prize pool, second 30%, third 20% and fourth 10%

Dates and Venues

Sunday 6th September, 10am-5pm, Draycote Water. International Rules. Max. 50 rods. C&R.

Sunday 13th September, 10am-5pm, Stocks Reservoir. Fishery Rules. Max. 30 rods. 3 fish + C&R.

Sunday 13th September, 10am-5pm, Chew Valley Lake. Fishery Rules. Max. 30 rods. 3 fish + C&R.

Sunday 20th September, 10am-5pm, Blithfield Reservoir. Fishery Rules. Max. 40 rods. C&R.

Sunday 20th September, 10am-5pm, Grafham Water. International Rules. Max. 40 rods. 3 fish +C&R.

Sunday 4th October, 10am-5pm, Carsington Water. Fishery Rules. Max. 36 rods. C&R.

Sunday 11th October, 10am-5pm, Blagdon Lake. International Rules. Max. 40 rods. 3 fish + C&R.

Sunday 11th October, 10am-5pm, Eyebrook Reservoir. Fishery Rules. Max. 30 rods. C&R.

Sunday 18th October, 10am-5pm, Bewl Water. Fishery Rules. Max. 24 rods. 3 fish + C&R

Sunday 18th October, 10am-5pm, Pitsford Reservoir. Fishery Rules. Max. 32 rods. 3 fish + C&R.

Sunday 25th October, 9am-4pm, Draycote Water. Fishery Rules. Max. 50 rods. C&R.

Sunday 1st November, 9am-4pm, Rutland Water. Fishery Rules. Max. 40 rods. 3 fish + C&R.

AT Team England FF World Team online raffle. Sport England funding is not available and sponsorship limited, therefore the six elite English anglers who have qualified to represent England are running raffles and auctions such as this to raise the £15k needed to participate.

We have been very fortunate to receive some fantastic and in some cases exclusive fishing lots to be able to auction to help raise funds for the 2020/21 AT TEFF World Championship squad.

The Angling Trust reports: Robust new best practice guidelines published by the Angling Trust to bring match fishing in line with COVID-19 procedures have now been agreed by the government as a basis for competitions to resume immediately. These include no gathering of competitors for the draw or prize giving and special equipment and arrangements to maintain social distancing during the weigh-in.

The Angling Trust guidelines were produced in consultation with leading anglers, organisers and fisheries in the match fishing community across all angling disciplines.

The Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport (DCMS) made clear in their announcement and supporting literature on 13th May 2020 that it was unlikely that competitions could be undertaken across any sporting discipline.

However, the Angling Trust compiled a case for the best practice guidelines to form the basis on which match fishing can comply with both the overarching government guidance that accompanies the Coronavirus regulations and the specific prohibitions on public gatherings of more than two people from different households. Failure to follow these guidelines would almost certainly invalidate the insurance of clubs or fisheries and will certainly expose anglers, and therefore the wider public, to a great risk of infection. In last week’s submission to the DCMS, Angling Trust CEO Jamie Cook set out the reasons why competition fishing was different to other sports in ways which make it potentially compliant with the correct safeguards in place.

• Fishing competitions involve no contact between competitors and is more or less the comparison of catch returns at the end of the day
• Social distancing is maintained at all times during an angling competition
• There are no spectators
• No competitor is allowed to make contact with another competitor or their equipment

The Angling Trust best practice document was presented to Sport England and the DCMS last week who agreed that they were ‘sensible’ and could be issued this week as the basis for a safe resumption of match fishing in England. In response, DCMS also stated that they were looking for sports to satisfy themselves that all guidance they are producing for their members adheres to the overarching guidance published by the government.

Angling Trust CEO Jamie Cook welcomed the response saying: “We were always committed to move through the phases of our plan for the resumption of all forms of angling as quickly as possible, bearing in mind the changes in government guidance and the need to present angling as a safe and responsible outdoor activity.

“It’s because we have acted sensibly and professionally that the government is happy to see the Angling Trust guidelines as the basis for a return to competitive fishing in all angling disciplines.

“My message to match anglers and organisers is not to take this for granted, particularly when many other sports are restricted to participation with no more than one other individual. By all means enjoy fishing matches again but please do so safely by following our guidelines to minimise the risk.”

Following the easing of some of the lockdown restrictions on May 13th, general guidance to anglers in the Angling Trust’s When We Fish Again report will be revised. The changes will include:

• A resumption in match fishing in line with best practice guidance
• The use of keep nets will be permitted
• Kayak and boat fishing in freshwater

Separate guidelines have been produced for game, coarse and sea angling competitions but Charter boat fishing is still not compliant under the current regulations.

Ifor Jones, of Fishery Management Draycote-Eyebrook-Thornton, said: “It’s great news that anglers will be able to fish competitions once again and I applaud the Angling Trust for being proactive and supporting the safe reintroduction of competitions. I look forward to welcoming competitive anglers to our fisheries in due course.”

 Best Practice Guidelines for Game Competition Fishing under COVID-19: WWFA-Competitions-Game-26-05-20

The Angling Trust reports: The Angling Trust has put forward proposals to gain agreement for game fishing competitions to resume in compliance with the Government’s Covid-19 guidance on organised gatherings and sporting events.

It follows the announcement on Tuesday (May 19th) that the Trust has been working with leading anglers and fisheries in the coarse match fishing community to deliver proposed best practice guidelines for the safe resumption of competitions in England whilst adhering to Covid-19 requlations. Guidance on saltwater competitions is also being developed with stakeholders in the marine fishing community to ensure that the nuances of each discipline are fully reflected.

The Angling Trust has produceed best practice guidelines for game fishing competitions with input from leading game anglers and game fisheries.

The current Government guidance states:

The limit on gatherings – no more than two, unless members of the same household – means that it is unlikely to be possible to organise amateur events or competitions at this time. The Government is clear that sports participation should be restricted to participants exercising by themselves, or with members from their same household, or a minimum of two metres apart from one member of another household, observing social distancing guidelines. Venues are advised to display signs to this effect. The police have been given powers to enforce these measures.

Some competition organisers have argued that because game angling competitions can be arranged without any form of gathering of more than two persons and that individual competitors will always be at 2 metres distance, it is possible to comply with the Government’s coronavirus guidance. The Angling Trust is seeking formal clarification from the Police and Government and have submitted the new best practice guide for game fishing competitions in support of their case.

John Horsey, England’s most capped international angler, said: “The Angling Trust has been exemplary in helping to reopen angling in a safe and responsible manner. Competition angling provides a platform for innovation and new techniques, as well as an opportunity to pit our skills not just against the fish, but against our fellow anglers. The social side of the sport is also very important. Once the Government gives the go ahead for larger gatherings to take place, this latest initiative by the Angling Trust will form the basis for running our fly fishing competitions safely and responsibly.”

Ifor Jones, of Fishery Management Draycote-Eyebrook-Thornton, called the Angling Trust best practice guidelines “a sensible approach to ensure, when the time comes, we can return to competitive fly fishing on our reservoirs not only from the bank but also from the boats.”

Ben Thompson, Senior Competitions & Performance Manager, Angling Trust, said:  “We recognise the importance of match fishing to competitive game anglers and we share the desire to reintroduce competitions at the earliest opportunity. However, the safety and wellbeing of everyone involved in the participation and delivery of competitions is of paramount importance and therefore it is essential competitions are compliant with government legislation and guidelines. We believe we have developed a framework that demonstrates how fly fishing competitions can be safety reintroduced and look forward to the resumption of competitive fly fishing when it is safe to do so.”

Consultation with insurance brokers has suggested that due to the Government’s guidance on organised gatherings and sporting events it is likely that insurers would not cover fisheries or organisers who were found to be running competitions at this time. Therefore it is crucial that agreement is received from the appropriate authorities to provide a safe and compliant route towards the resumption of competitions.

The Angling Trust’s best practice document has been presented to Sport England and the Government.

Jamie Cook, Angling Trust’s CEO, said: “Whilst sports are restricted to participation with no more than one other individual we are confident that angling competitions can be conducted without breaching social distancing guidance. We believe our best practice guidelines show how this is safely achievable and we are working on behalf of competition anglers of all disciplines to ensure that when the Government deem it appropriate they have a clear blueprint for the resumption of competitive angling.

“I want to thank the many game anglers and fisheries who have taken responsible action and particularly those who have offered constructive input. As the organiser of 360 competitions per year, the Angling Trust focus is on ensuring a return to regular match fishing as soon as we can do so in accordance with Government guidelines.”

Best Practice Guidelines for Competition Game Fishing under COVID-19 document: WWFA-Competitions-Game-3

Angling Trust Support Hub here>>

Interview with the World squad on Terry Phillips’ ‘Anxious Angler’ Youtube channel.

The AT TEFF 2020/21 World Championship squad members are: Howard Croston, Harry Fox, Scott Nellins, Mike Dixon, Tracey Falcus (aka Davey Parker) and Terry Phillips.

See more at Terry’s Youtube Channel here>>