Canal anglers warned: stop taking fish home to eat

Gus Brindle, chairman of the Scottish Federation for Coarse Angling, says fish caught on canals must be returned.

Gus Brindle, chairman of the Scottish Federation for Coarse Angling (SFCA), has received reports of fish being taken from the Union, Forth and Clyde and Monklands canals.

And he reminded anglers that the safe return of all fish caught on canals is a condition of the permit.

Fife-based Brindle, who is also on the board of Angling Scotland, added: "We have sadly been getting more reports of fish being removed from the canals by anglers fishing for the table.

"It would be good to remind individuals that fishing on the Lowland Canals (Forth and Clyde, Union and Monklands Canals) is by permit only.

"The safe return of all fish caught on the canals is a condition of the permit. Removing fish from the canals for any unauthorised reason is therefore unlawful."

Brindle said that SFCA individual membership allows fishing on the canals and all members are sent a copy of the rules with their membership card.

He added: "Anyone witnessing individuals killing or removing fish should report the fact to the police through the local wildlife crime officer or by dialing 101.

"Incidents should also be reported to the SFCA at [email protected]."

And he stressed: "Anglers should not approach or confront perpetrators as there have been incidents where individuals have been threatened when doing so. Help us to protect our sport and our fish."

Incidentally, to join the SFCA go to http://www.sfca.co.uk/membership/applications-renewals/ and the price is £8 a year for adults, £5 for pensioners and registered disabled while under-18s are free.

He added: "As for fishing, we are getting a few reports of pike coming out of the Forth and Clyde Canal as well as a couple of reasonable bags of small roach.

"As with most winters, most activity is in and around towns where the water temperature stays fractionally higher during the colder winter months."

Around the Lothians, fisheries have been busy since the end of the big freeze. At Linlithgow Loch bosses have stocked over 1,200 fish since February 24.

Up to midweek, 38 fish have been kept for 101lb 4oz and 89 returned.

A floating line with a long leader has produced the best results according to secretary Tom Lambert. Best patterns have been black and green cormorants and lures and orange blobs and he added: "The water is very clear and without weed - ideal."

At nearby Bowden Springs, Tam Duncan was one of the more successful anglers, landing a cracking brown trout which weighed 11lbs and the catch was verified by other anglers. He also had five other trout with a total weight of around 20lbs.

In the Borders, Connor Alexander Newcombe and his "other half" Carly Frances landed 18 between them with Carly catching eight, all tempted by bloodworm at Kailzie near Peebles.

Rosslynlee near Penicuik has also been fishing well with Mr B McLeary and Mr D Menzies both having 21 to their net, McLeary catching on buzzers and egg patterns while Menzies tempted his on buzzers, cormorant and diawl bach, with a best fish estimated at around 10lb.

J McLeary also had 13 to the net on buzzers and egg patterns while Rosslynlee regular Rab Amos reported in with 11 on one session thanks to his favoured egg patterns.

And Loganlea, which opened last weekend, is also performing. James Charters landed the first fish of the season and that was followed by Kenny McDonald with 16 to the net mostly on an Ally McCoist pattern.

Meanwhile, RIO Products launched Fluoroflex Strong tippet material and the PR blurb said: "The material is very easy to tie knots with, has a very high knot strength, and a smooth finish that ensures knots seat easily and tightly.”

The fluorocarbon line is available in half sizes of key trout diameters giving anglers extra options and it is available with 30 yards per spool in sizes 7X (2.6lb) to 100lb, as well as bulk spools of 100 yards in sizes 7X to 0X (2.6lb to 15.5lb).

In addition, the company offer the product in a three-pack option, with either a spool of 3X, 4X and 5X, or a spool of 4X, 5X and 6X tippet material.