Why rivers are less popular

Many anglers, myself included, are sorry that there are a lot less anglers on our rivers than was once the case.

On once very popular parts of the river Trent, for instance, where once you had to arrive at the crack of dawn to secure a favourite swim you now have the choice of many swims that are almost unwanted by anglers.

The move to the many densely stocked stillwater commercial fisheries is part of the reason for this change in angling fashions, and as I do value the commercials because I can fish in comfort close to the car with lots of facilities such as toilets and snack bars.

This need for comfort is not the main reason why once popular rivers are comparatively deserted nowadays.

There are in fact two main reasons for the rivers being less popular.

One reason that we sometimes shy away from mentioning is the fact that it simply is not safe to leave a motor vehicle unattended in the countryside for hours on end while you fish, often a long way away.

There is another serious reason for the decline in river fishing for coarse fish though, and perhaps this is even more worrying.

Though the chances of landing a few really big fish have never been better than they are now, especially with big barbel and chub, the back up fish are growing on to provide sport for those who do not want to target a few whoppers but prefer to catch plenty of lesser fish are simply not there in anything like the numbers previously seen and fished for.

Again an important cause of this state of affairs exists, though it may not be politically correct to point it out.

Our waterways have become plagued by vast numbers of cormorants that eat the fish then move on to denude another water.

Many of the birds are from abroad, attracted no doubt by the presence for a short time of new batches of stock fish that clubs use to try to keep some sport going.

Don’t believe the people who tell you that cormorants come inland mainly because their natural larders in the seas are not sufficiently full of fish anymore.

No, the cormorants have always tried to fish on easy inland waters, but at one time we kept the numbers under control by culling, and you got paid to do so!

John Neville