Angling Trust Team England Fly Fishing

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>>

The Angling Trust reports: Due to the format of the Angling Trust Loch Style Team Championships, the government restrictions on the gathering of groups of people, and the uncertainty surrounding the government restrictions in the hospitality sector, the Angling Trust and the fishery management staff at Draycote Water (Flyfishstore) have decided to cancel this year’s competition.

The good news is that we can announce the provisional dates for the 2021 competition: the Angling Trust Loch Style Team Championships will be held at Draycote Water on the 26th & 27th June 2021. This again will be supported by Wychwood Game. Further details will be available in due course.

All teams booked on have been notified via email.

AT TEFF have now received final confirmation that all 2020 Fips-Mouche Championships  have been cancelled. The schedule will restart next year, with the same programme as 2020.

Fips-Mouche Championships document: COVID – postponement of championships 2020

40th FIPS-Mouche World Fly Fishing Championships

This event, due to be held in the Kuusamo and Taivalkoski regions, Finland, has been postponed to next year, and will take place from August 10th to 17th, 2021.

You can follow developments on the competition website here>>

26th FIPS-Mouche European Fly Fishing Championships & 1st FIPS-Mouche World Ladies Fly Fishing Championships

These events have also been postponed to next year, and will be held at Stop-Elvdal and Rendalen in Norway, from the 5th-11th July, 2021.

You will find more information for both competitions on their website here>>

6th FIPS-Mouche Masters World Fly Fishing Championships

This event, for competitors aged over 50, to be held in Zábřeh, in the North Moravia Region of the Czech Republic, has now also been postponed to 2021.

You will find the Masters World Championship website here>>

Currently, the only 2020 International Championship not to be cancelled is the 2020 Bank International in Wales, scheduled for October. A final decision on whether or not this will go ahead will be taken in the first week in July.

Angling Trust submits new plans to get match fishing permitted under COVID-19 rules

The Angling Trust reports: The Angling Trust has been working with leading anglers and fisheries in the match fishing community to gain agreement for competitions to resume in compliance with the Government’s guidance on organised gatherings and sporting events.

Riverfest organiser Dave Harrell, England internationals Steve Ringer and Dean Barlow and Lindholme fishery boss Aaron Grantham are amongst a group of highly experienced match fishing enthusiasts who have been working with the Angling Trust to deliver robust new guidelines to bring competition fishing in line with COVID-19 procedures which, it is hoped, will secure the necessary agreement from Government to allow match fishing to resume as soon as possible.

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 fisheries have argued that because 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 are seeking formal clarification from the Police and Government and have submitted the new best practice guide for match fishing in support of their case.

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

Jamie Cook, Angling Trust’s CEO, said: “We committed to move from phase 1 to phase 2 of our plan as quickly as practically possible. Whilst sports are restricted to participation with no more than one other individual we are confident that angling competitions can be conducted within social distancing guidance and as a result we have worked with the match fishing community to present a blueprint which can offer a compliant return to competitive angling.”

“The Government state that it is unlikely it would be practical to organise amateur events or competitions under the current restrictions. However, we believe we have shown how this is safely achievable and are working on behalf of competition anglers of all disciplines.”

Angling Trust Best Practice Document: WWFA-Competitions-2

The Angling Trust reports: Competition fishing: As public gatherings/events are currently banned by the Government, competitions are not permitted as they would be in breach of legal requirements under COVID-19 legislation. This is legally enforceable and by holding competitions, fisheries and clubs risk fines for themselves and participating anglers. In addition, committing a criminal offence will invalidate insurance policies.

The Angling Trust will continue to press for competition fishing to be allowed in further easing of lockdown restrictions, provided it is safe to do so and fully compliant with Government guidelines on containing COVID-19.

The Angling Trust has produced Phase One Guidelines for Individual Anglers, and for Clubs & Fisheries, on how to start fishing safely again.

Phase One Guidelines for Individual Anglers: Phase-One-Individual-11

Phase One Guidelines for Clubs and Fisheries: Phase-one-guidelines-Clubs-Fisheries-16

The Angling Trust reports: The Angling Trust has given a warm welcome to the announcement today (May 10th) by Prime Minster Boris Johnson that recreational fishing looks set to resume in England on Wednesday, May 13th.

The Prime Minister announced the resumption of ‘unlimited outdoor sports’ from Wednesday providing they are conducted alone or with members of the same household and that social distancing rules are followed at all times.

A government source confirmed that “outdoor exercise includes angling, golf, water sports and tennis providing social distanced from Wednesday.”

The decision to include outdoor activities such as angling in the first wave of newly permitted activities followed weeks of intense advocacy and lobbying by the Angling Trust which unified the angling community like never before and saw over 8,000 individual emails sent to MPs and dozens of articles in the regional and national press in support of a safe return for angling.

The Prime Minister is making a full statement to the House of Commons tomorrow and the Angling Trust will be seeking clarification about the reopening of tackle shops and confirmation of any restrictions on how angling should be practised during the next phase.

Reacting to the news, Angling Trust CEO Jamie Cook said: “I couldn’t be more pleased to see the hard work of the Angling Trust and our supporters delivering such an outstanding result for everyone who loves to go fishing. We have demonstrated to the satisfaction of government that angling can be permitted as a safe, healthy, beneficial outdoor activity and why it can take its rightful position at the front of the queue as restrictions are relaxed.”

Angling Trust Policy Chief Martin Salter said:  “There is still work to do to get the tackle shops open and to provide good advice to fisheries, angling guides and coaches but it looks like we are there and it’s no longer a question of When We Fish Again but ‘where are we going fishing on Wednesday?”

The Angling Trust has today published further Phase One Guidelines for clubs and fisheries to help them prepare for the resumption of angling on their waters on May 13th.

You can read the latest government advice here>>

The Angling Trust reports: The National Governing Body for recreational fishing in the UK – the Angling Trust –  is campaigning for angling to become one of the first permitted outdoor activities when ministers review the coronavirus lockdown restrictions on May 7th.

Fishing is one of Britain’s most popular pastimes and has long been known to be beneficial to mental wellbeing. With the current crisis in mental health caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, the Angling Trust have proposed how fishing could be safely permitted as soon as it is appropriate for measures to be eased.

A report entitled ‘When We Fish Again’ has been submitted to Cabinet Office Minister Michael Gove and the Fisheries and Sports Ministers. It sets out the means by which recreational fishing could be permitted and draws on experience in other European countries including Germany, Holland, Denmark, the Czech Republic and Norway where angling has been allowed to continue under certain conditions during the pandemic with significant benefits to both wellbeing and the economy without having a detrimental impact on their efforts to combat COVID-19.

The recreational angling sector is estimated to be worth over £4bn to the UK economy and experience from across Europe indicates that this contribution has grown significantly where angling has been permitted under lockdown. On May 4th angling is set to resume in Belgium and many countries have now announced timetables for a lifting of restrictions on activities such as fishing that allow social distancing to be maintained.

The Angling Trust report recommends a phased resumption in line with the government’s own criteria and identifies a number of other reasons why angling should be an early candidate for consideration including:

• being a largely solitary sport where self-isolation occurs naturally
• proven benefits for mental health and physical wellbeing
• appealing to people of all ages and backgrounds and engaging able-bodied and disabled participants alike
• the majority of the population live within 5 miles of a waterway minimising the need for significant travel
• evidence that non-contact outdoor activities will not increase infection rates
• a reduction in pressure on other public open spaces

Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden has already confirmed to MPs that ministers are actively considering how low risk outdoor activities like angling and golf might be permitted in the first phase of any easing of restrictions.

The campaign has attracted the support of prominent figures within the angling community and senior MPs.

Angling Trust CEO, Jamie Cook said: “We have demonstrated that angling in the UK could be permitted as a safe, healthy, beneficial outdoor activity and why it should take its position at the front of the queue when restrictions are reviewed…”

Martin Salter said: “Angling is the ultimate social distancing activity as large crowds and successful fishing don’t mix and most anglers tend to crave solitude…”

Summary Report: When We Fish Again – When-We-Fish-Again-Report-13

Full Report to Government Ministers – FULL-REPORT-TO-GOVERNMENT-MINISTERS-FINAL