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Angling Competence ...
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Scot-chegg

Posts: 181

#16 13 Jun 2026 at 8.19pm

I think part of the problem is that us of a certain vintage all learned our trade working our way up..for me it started with a hook on a handline catching minnows. We read books and learned from our angling role models.
Sadly the latest generation of anglers (not necessarily age wise) want and get everything instantly, tackle wise and access to fishing we could only dream of when starting out.
For the most part their education is mainly you tube and Instagram carp porn which has no instructional value to anyone whatsoever and most probably fast forward to the money shots anyway .

Squimp

Posts: 155

#15 13 Jun 2026 at 6.39pm

In reply to Post #14
There is already an AT ‘Code of Conduct’.

First conceived and written by the SAA (Specialist Anglers Alliance) before the Angling Trust was invented.

dannyuk32

Posts: 1468

#14 13 Jun 2026 at 5.17pm

How about a hand book issued with every licence that covers what's needed.
Not ideal but better than nothing.

inzenity

Posts: 462

#13 13 Jun 2026 at 5.03pm

Agree and disagree. Agree because in whatever country you look it is a horror show sometimes. Disagree because it couldn't be further away from the reasons i am fishing, just a guy enjoying being out there, minding my own business, trying to outwit a fish. And in a way, this used to be the standard profile, but since everything, not only fishing, is commercialized and overcrowded, this is a thing of the past and more and more rules are deemed necessary. That's quite the circle.

ip100

Posts: 12446

#12 13 Jun 2026 at 4.39pm

In reply to Post #9
Oh I'd advocate it for sure, if it were actually possible in a way that I was practical. Unfortunately it simply isn't. The best we can do is guide people along the way

Squimp

Posts: 155

#11 13 Jun 2026 at 4.24pm

In reply to Post #1
Your points are laudable and as a fishery owner myself I wish more of my customers had a better idea how to catch fish and how to look after them; but……

You make a big assumption and that is that a German style test will help. I’ve fished in Germany (and all over the place) and angling/welfare standards there were terrible. The local anglers that I came across were no better than here. The only decent anglers that I met were a few carp fishing mates of a friend of mine who had gone to live there.

Another example; I was once travelling in California (80’s) and a friend lent me a truck and some basic gear. He told me a local reservoir was worth fishing and he told me where the local tackle shop was…I found the shop, asked for advice and a licence, bought some live fish for bait and went down to the fishery. Loads of people there, catching not much. I squeezed in and caught fish every cast till I ran out of bait (12 fish). They were a mixture of trout and bass (small and largemouth). Really good fun. The locals couldn’t believe it; and I couldn’t believe that they were all pretty incompetent. I’d never even seen a largemouth bass before in my life - so I was no expert ! It was mad, I even had to kill the trout that I caught so that the locals had some fresh fish to cook !

I agree that in U.K. angling is under the microscope. It would help if standards were raised all round. In an ideal world anglers and fishery managers should be required to pass competence ‘tests’ before they got involved. But nobody seems interested in taking this forward. Maybe a joint initiative between the EA, the Angling Trust and the Institute of Fishery Management (IFM) ?

jhhilton1983

Posts: 1901

#10 13 Jun 2026 at 2.44pm

In reply to Post #9
I may be wrong but the test in Germany says you are not allowed to release the carp back into the water after catching from memory?

I get where you are coming from in terms of concern, but as said hard to implement. Maybe a way would be to get commercial waters over a certain size to do so many days a year where they teach this as part of getting a licence... think of like a work party stamp so you can apply for licence. Wont cover everyone but would get a lot and also help protect the commercial fisherys.

wandle1

Posts: 7441

#9 13 Jun 2026 at 1.51pm

In reply to Post #8
Some good points mate,. They do have this test or something like it in Germany ,Something needs to be done about this , i have no idea how it would work or be implemented, but remember that increasingly fish welfare will come under the spotlight I reckon..

It's something all dedicated anglers should be advocating

( in a while I'm going to check these pools ,and I'll be asking if anyone has a up to date license ,as they are checking ,recently ,yesterday, last week today ,etc,etc ,then I'll be sitting on the hedge for 10 mins ,see who clears off.

ip100

Posts: 12446

#8 13 Jun 2026 at 1.00pm

In reply to Post #1
Agreed, but totally unrealistic and impossible to implement. Especially in ways that cover all angling. You can't possibly account for all varieties of fish, all circumstances, and each individual persons physical and mental boundaries. Some will be scared of teeth of pike, some will be physically unable to handle 100lb catfish, some may not have hands steady enough to use a disgorger with tiny hooks. Way too many variables to implement any sort of "test".

wandle1

Posts: 7441

#7 13 Jun 2026 at 12.49pm

Something has to be done ,angling is very much in the spot light,there is a hella lot of people who would do us down in a heartbeat ..

💡, take the Competence test, pass. Then and only then can you fish ,fcuk up and your banned no licence or allowed to angle or something like this .

Every fishery owner, should be asking ,do you have yr licence ,no licence,no fishing goodbye -Sir..

Oh,man...I have witnessed some stuff ,that literally I have to take a second to evaluate the situation ,..for my own sanity and innermost peace, I work hard not to let that peace become distorted .. I'm talking lifting doubles out of the lake ,straight pull,line held no landing net ,nada,litter left ,you name it ..angling needs to up its game ,all the carp care vids and unhooking mats, that are super soft ,all this gets deleted if you witnessed what I have ,and I guess some on here would have also..

Similar to a dog licence ,bring it back ..no licence ,no dog ..

Fishery owners ,have silly rules sometimes, but let's see the enforcement of no licence ,no fishing ,no Competence,....on yer bike ...

The-Heff

Posts: 3388

#6 13 Jun 2026 at 12.06pm

In reply to Post #4
Passing a test only shows you can pass a test though. It doesnt mean whoever has taken that test will learn anything from it, or most likely, even care about whats on it. Driving tests and licences dont mean people can drive or doesnt make them care about other road users.
People that do care would make every effort themselves to learn, and would be conscious of litter and the welfare of wildlife.
Plus the people you are talking about are all allowed to breed in an uncotrolled and unlicenced manner, and that is the underlying issue of a society full of people that do not care about others.
Youve only got to go to a public place and witness how many people have their phones on speaker phone with zero consideration to anyone around them.
And its all assuming these people would even buy a rod licence in the first place.

Busted

Posts: 1858

#5 13 Jun 2026 at 11.46am

In reply to Post #4
I think that this is the issue, but i also agree that perhaps it should be part of the rod licence

Issue is, I doubt that even half of people who go fishing actually buy a rod licence

MrGreen

Posts: 148

#4 13 Jun 2026 at 11.14am

In reply to Post #1
I completely agree with you but the bigger picture is a lack of education regarding morals and ethics. This has lead to almost zero respect for human beings, property, nature and the environment.

Westmidsmoaner

Posts: 195

#3 13 Jun 2026 at 10.36am

100% agree .. I've seen first hand some terrible fish care on day tickets and club lakes .

There seems more interest in cash than care these days

Stokebloke

Posts: 589

#2 13 Jun 2026 at 9.50am

Fully agree. If you don't pass that test then you can't have a rod license, simple.


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