Just to compound the misery of what's already happened on the Trent, it's now being reported that a survey conducted by the Environment Agency along 700 metres of the waterway has found 'almost no evidence of living fish'.
Further downstream, however, stocks appear to be 'mostly unaffected' by the pollution. Scant comfort in the wake of the devastation but perhaps when water in the polluted stretch returns to more normal levels, fish will make their way back there. This coupled with a possible re-stocking programme may in time see the stretch get back to it's former self, as long as the Environment Agency ensures nothing like this can happen again.
Friday 16 October 2009
Thursday 15 October 2009
The Wharfe in the north - a southerner's first taste of a northern river
Coming soon - how I got on when I went head-to-head with one of north Yorkshire's finest rivers.
Review - Keenets Catch Carp Roving Rucksack
I've just bought this 58 litre bag for £11! Read the full review now I've given it a week's thorough field testing at the River Wye in Hereford.
Having used this bag quite extensively I have a fairly mixed opinion of it. Size-wise as the capacity suggests, it's massive, possibly even too big for the roving angler so you have to be careful not to over-fill it and make it too heavy or you won't want to move from your first swim!
The shoulder, hip and chest straps are well padded and the stitching is sound but even with maximum adjustment the bag sits too high on my back and the hip straps sit on top of, instead of around my hips. Despite this, a reasonable level of comfort can still be achieved and I walked with it fully-loaded for half an hour or so without much of a problem. The plastic clips are well made and are big enough to use even with cold fingers.
Due to the depth of the main compartment, the back of the bag has a tendency to sag which is annoying but could probably be solved by inserting some ply down the back and across the bottom of it. There are four spiky plastic mud feet on the underneath of the bag which is made of plastic and as such isn't difficult to clean, but don't go putting it down in deep mud as the moisture will creep in given time. The bag seemed to be shower-proof but it never got a full soaking as I carry a separate waterproof rucksack cover to protect it during heavier downpours. This seemed like a sensible precaution due to the nature of the thin plastic lining.
All-in-all it's not a bad rucksack but the overall quality is reflected in the low price. Some more thought at the design stage would have paid dividends in the form of a more comfortable fit and a more rigid structure, but the plethora of pockets – six in total – and the quality zips, clips and straps go some way towards making up for this. More suited to the static carper than the river rover.
5/10
Having used this bag quite extensively I have a fairly mixed opinion of it. Size-wise as the capacity suggests, it's massive, possibly even too big for the roving angler so you have to be careful not to over-fill it and make it too heavy or you won't want to move from your first swim!
The shoulder, hip and chest straps are well padded and the stitching is sound but even with maximum adjustment the bag sits too high on my back and the hip straps sit on top of, instead of around my hips. Despite this, a reasonable level of comfort can still be achieved and I walked with it fully-loaded for half an hour or so without much of a problem. The plastic clips are well made and are big enough to use even with cold fingers.
Due to the depth of the main compartment, the back of the bag has a tendency to sag which is annoying but could probably be solved by inserting some ply down the back and across the bottom of it. There are four spiky plastic mud feet on the underneath of the bag which is made of plastic and as such isn't difficult to clean, but don't go putting it down in deep mud as the moisture will creep in given time. The bag seemed to be shower-proof but it never got a full soaking as I carry a separate waterproof rucksack cover to protect it during heavier downpours. This seemed like a sensible precaution due to the nature of the thin plastic lining.
All-in-all it's not a bad rucksack but the overall quality is reflected in the low price. Some more thought at the design stage would have paid dividends in the form of a more comfortable fit and a more rigid structure, but the plethora of pockets – six in total – and the quality zips, clips and straps go some way towards making up for this. More suited to the static carper than the river rover.
5/10
Wednesday 14 October 2009
Red Industries and the ironies of being a 'hazardous waste disposal company'
The Environment agency has served a suspension notice on Red Industries of Burslem, Stoke-On-Trent in the wake of last week's River Trent cyanide and sewage contamination. This means that the hazardous waste management and disposal company can no longer discharge any industrial effluent after cyanide was found at the sewer access point that it used. The company had already voluntarily ceased all discharge of effluent and in a statement released last week, promised to co-operate fully with the EA as they conduct an investigation into the disaster that has claimed the lives of thousands of fish.
Whatever the reason behind this terrible occurrence, be it a careless mistake or something more sinister, the EA must find grounds for, and press ahead with a prosecution under the Water Resources Act and impose a fine of the size that will send a clear message and act as a deterrent to other companies.
To give Red Industries the benefit of the doubt and assume it was a mistake, it is still one that is entirely unforgivable for a company whose sole purpose ironically is to dispose properly of the sort of waste that ended up in the Trent. Any company dealing with potentially lethal chemicals has a duty to ensure that things like this don't happen and before the EA reinstates Red's licence, it should be made to prove that measures have been taken to prevent anything similar from ever happening again.
In it's 'Vision and Mission Statement' Red Industries states that:
“The company’s continuing success benefits customers, environment, business partners, families and the communities in which they operate all around the UK.”
In the case of the Trent and the surrounding area, nothing could be further from the truth and this sickening environmental catastrophe has had a hugely negative impact for which Red Industries must be made to pay.
Whatever the reason behind this terrible occurrence, be it a careless mistake or something more sinister, the EA must find grounds for, and press ahead with a prosecution under the Water Resources Act and impose a fine of the size that will send a clear message and act as a deterrent to other companies.
To give Red Industries the benefit of the doubt and assume it was a mistake, it is still one that is entirely unforgivable for a company whose sole purpose ironically is to dispose properly of the sort of waste that ended up in the Trent. Any company dealing with potentially lethal chemicals has a duty to ensure that things like this don't happen and before the EA reinstates Red's licence, it should be made to prove that measures have been taken to prevent anything similar from ever happening again.
In it's 'Vision and Mission Statement' Red Industries states that:
“The company’s continuing success benefits customers, environment, business partners, families and the communities in which they operate all around the UK.”
In the case of the Trent and the surrounding area, nothing could be further from the truth and this sickening environmental catastrophe has had a hugely negative impact for which Red Industries must be made to pay.
Tuesday 13 October 2009
Review - Sonubaits Pellet O's
I've been using Sonubaits pellets of various types for a couple of seasons now for a variety of different situations. I've used their S pellets in 6mm halibut and 16mm monster crab and mussel which have been the downfall of all sorts of fish from roach to tench to chub. They go on the hook perfectly, and equally well on the hair providing you're careful with the smaller sizes, and the oil leakage is second-to-none which I'm convinced helps draw fish into the swim.
Having achieved good results with some of the range already , I was keen to try a new – to me at least – addition that I found while browsing a tackle shop recently. Pellet O's come in a 75 gram tub of hard, 8mm or 12mm pre drilled pellets in crab or halibut flavour... And that's it! However, the difference with these is that you get two Korum hooks complete with hair, quickstop and needle to thread the bait on included in the tub and all for around two quid.
The hooks are strong with a flat profile and a slightly in-turned point and are perfectly matched to the size of the pellet that you choose. The hair is the right length and a pellet will sit just off the bend of the hook or just touch it if you tip it with a grain of corn to improve visibility, while the quickstop system makes mounting any bait a simple procedure, and cuts out the need to fiddle about with a hair stop, especially useful in the dark.
Ultimately, this is a simple product but with some some careful thought and great presentation from Sonubaits, it's been turned into an entire bait system in a tub that will help you to put fish on the bank.
10/10
Click to view a practical if unenthusiastic video of Pellet O's in use
Having achieved good results with some of the range already , I was keen to try a new – to me at least – addition that I found while browsing a tackle shop recently. Pellet O's come in a 75 gram tub of hard, 8mm or 12mm pre drilled pellets in crab or halibut flavour... And that's it! However, the difference with these is that you get two Korum hooks complete with hair, quickstop and needle to thread the bait on included in the tub and all for around two quid.
The hooks are strong with a flat profile and a slightly in-turned point and are perfectly matched to the size of the pellet that you choose. The hair is the right length and a pellet will sit just off the bend of the hook or just touch it if you tip it with a grain of corn to improve visibility, while the quickstop system makes mounting any bait a simple procedure, and cuts out the need to fiddle about with a hair stop, especially useful in the dark.
Ultimately, this is a simple product but with some some careful thought and great presentation from Sonubaits, it's been turned into an entire bait system in a tub that will help you to put fish on the bank.
10/10
Click to view a practical if unenthusiastic video of Pellet O's in use
Thousands of fish dead in River Trent cyanide contamination
News of a cyanide contamination in the the Trent between Stoke-on-Trent and Yoxall, in Staffordshire, has come as a massive blow to those anglers who have been enjoying the recent sport on the river similar to that of its 70s heyday. For at least a couple of years now, the angling press has been singing the praises of the river, and catches like Lee Swords' recent 50 plus barbel haul attest to the fact that it's bang on form. That catch was taken further north of where the spillage occurred but initial reports suggest that thousands of fish have already died as a result, which goes to show that prior to this, the river held a good head of fish up and down its length.
It's not just the fish stocks that will suffer as a result either; plant and bird life will also be affected as their natural habitat is changed out of all proportion. To treat the contaminated site, the Environment Agency has had to pump thousands of litres of hydrogen peroxide – a powerful chemical in its own right - into the water in an effort to re-oxygenate it. The whole affair is a mess and smacks of a company who were willing to cause this environmental havoc in order to save a few quid during these times of economic difficulty.
Wildlife wasn't the only victim however, as a Severn Trent water treatment plant at Strongford in Staffordshire was badly affected as a result of the cyanide, and couldn't avoid releasing some partially treated sewage into the river. Staff then had to work around the clock to get the plant back to good working order.
If one positive can come from this – and it's a long shot, I know – it's that anglers were amongst the first to notice the change in the river as fish were seen struggling for oxygen. Cyanide pollution is invisible in water so it was down to switched-on river users to spot what was happening and alert the authorities to it, thus firmly cementing angler's place as the eyes and ears of the countryside. It is also anglers who will most fervently press for action to be taken and prevent a repeat episode from happening long after it has slipped down the news agenda.
It will be interesting to see how the Angling Trust deals with this as it's the first major incident and serious test with which the organisation must deal. As the legal arm of the organisation, Fish Legal are reportedly pursuing a civil claim or at least the potential for one and I hope that they are able to do so and get a result for any clubs that have affected stretches on their books. This is almost more important than any criminal prosecution that the EA may be able to bring, which ultimately, would be a bonus and serve as a warning to any other company stupid enough to think about pulling a similar stunt in the future.
For any anglers still unsure about the Angling Trust and the merits of joining, it is surely incidents like this that should be the deciding factor. Whatever your views on the organisation, it is now the only choice and the one body who can fight this sort of thing from the angler's corner and as such, deserve the support of us all.
It's not just the fish stocks that will suffer as a result either; plant and bird life will also be affected as their natural habitat is changed out of all proportion. To treat the contaminated site, the Environment Agency has had to pump thousands of litres of hydrogen peroxide – a powerful chemical in its own right - into the water in an effort to re-oxygenate it. The whole affair is a mess and smacks of a company who were willing to cause this environmental havoc in order to save a few quid during these times of economic difficulty.
Wildlife wasn't the only victim however, as a Severn Trent water treatment plant at Strongford in Staffordshire was badly affected as a result of the cyanide, and couldn't avoid releasing some partially treated sewage into the river. Staff then had to work around the clock to get the plant back to good working order.
If one positive can come from this – and it's a long shot, I know – it's that anglers were amongst the first to notice the change in the river as fish were seen struggling for oxygen. Cyanide pollution is invisible in water so it was down to switched-on river users to spot what was happening and alert the authorities to it, thus firmly cementing angler's place as the eyes and ears of the countryside. It is also anglers who will most fervently press for action to be taken and prevent a repeat episode from happening long after it has slipped down the news agenda.
It will be interesting to see how the Angling Trust deals with this as it's the first major incident and serious test with which the organisation must deal. As the legal arm of the organisation, Fish Legal are reportedly pursuing a civil claim or at least the potential for one and I hope that they are able to do so and get a result for any clubs that have affected stretches on their books. This is almost more important than any criminal prosecution that the EA may be able to bring, which ultimately, would be a bonus and serve as a warning to any other company stupid enough to think about pulling a similar stunt in the future.
For any anglers still unsure about the Angling Trust and the merits of joining, it is surely incidents like this that should be the deciding factor. Whatever your views on the organisation, it is now the only choice and the one body who can fight this sort of thing from the angler's corner and as such, deserve the support of us all.
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