NRA Anglian 96 GUIDE TO FRESHWATER FISHING in the Northern Area of Anglian Region 2 The licence covers all species, including salmon and sea INTRODUCTION trout. Local byelaws allow up to two rods to be used within the Anglian Region. This booklet is a guide to angling within the NRA Anglian Region Northern Area. This covers an area from the Licenses are available from most fishing tackle dealers or Humber down to and including the River Nene. Both may be obtained, along with the booklet Fisheries stillwaters and rivers are covered. Section one covers the Byelaws, by writing to: Lincoln catchment area, while Section two covers the Welland and Nene catchments. The list is by no means National Rivers Authority, Anglian Region, exhaustive and the Anglian Region of the National Rivers Kingfisher House, Goldhay Way, Orton Goldhay, Authority would welcome any information on waters not Peterborough PE2 5ZR. Telephone: 0733 371811 listed. Whilst every effort has been made to ensure that details are correct at the time of going to press, accuracy Licences run from 1st April to 31st March. It must also be cannot be guaranteed. It is therefore advisable to check remembered that it is important to obtain the necessary membership details and day ticket availability with the permission from the owner of the fishing rights before relevant club or fishery owner before setting out. fishing on privately owned waters or river banks and on fisheries controlled by angling clubs. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS The NRA is grateful to angling clubs and fishery owners Anglers must observe fisheries byelaws and relevant acts at for their help in compiling this guide and would appreciate all times. any up-dates on waters or contact numbers. Some of the principle regulations affecting anglers are: Many of the waters listed have been visited by Mr. David Edgoose of the Lincoln Disabled Anglers Association. CLOSE SEASONS - ROD AND LINE Those waters he thought most suitable for disabled anglers • Coarse fish: 15th March to 15th June inclusive. Except are denoted with the following symbol: enclosed waters within the area of the former Lincolnshire River Authority where there is no close FISHING LICENCES season for coarse fish, ie including most of the stillwaters Anyone aged twelve or over who goes freshwater fishing covered by section 1. in England and Wales must have a current NRA rod licence. Concessionary licences are currently available to • Brown and rainbow trout: 30th October to 31st March juveniles (12-15 years) and to retired or disabled persons. inclusive except rainbow trout in enclosed waters which Short-term licences are also available. are exempt. The National Rod Fishing Licence, introduced in January • Salmon and migratory trout: 29th September to 1992, allows you to fish anywhere in England and Wales. 28th/29th February inclusive. 3 ANGLERS MUST NOT • Use lead weights. They are illegal and poisonous to • Introduce any fish without permission from the wildlife. National Rivers Authority. • Use gaffs - use a large landing net. • Remove more than two coarse fish from any water, or two trout from rivers in any one day, except for live- • Leave tackle set up and unattended. It is illegal. baiting where a maximum of ten coarse fish is permitted. • Leave rubbish and discarded tackle on the bank. • Fish for eels during the close season except as permitted in byelaw. DO • Enjoy your fishing and leave the fish alive, healthy and • Fish for salmon and trout during the coarse fish close fit for another day. season with any lure or bait other than artificial fly. EMERGENCY NUMBERS G ANGLING PRACTICE - THE 'S AND DON'TS Dead fish or pollution should be reported immediately to DO either the Northern Area Office, Harvey Street, Lincoln, • Handle fish carefully with wet hands. Scales are easily Tel: 0522 513100, or Regional Headquarters, removed and internal organs can be damaged by rough Peterborough, Tel: 0733 371811 - 24 hour Emergency handling. Contact. • Use barbless or semi-barbless hooks whenever possible. RSPCA - Area Communications Centre, Lincoln, Tel: 0522 539977. • Return fish quickly and gently to the water. • Use tackle of strength appropriate to the fish which you ADVISORY COMMITTEES intend to catch. Using too fine a line can result in a fish Three Area Fisheries Advisory Committees serve the left with a hook in its mouth. Anglian Region of the NRA. They provide a direct link between anglers and the regional organisation. • Follow the country code. The committees are consulted on a wide variety of policy • Be considerate to other anglers and members of the and local fisheries matters and are represented on the main public. Regional Fisheries Advisory Committee. DO NOT • Keep large fish, especially pike, barbel or carp in keepnets. 4 SECTION 1 - LINCOLN CATCHMENT AREA MAJOR ANGLING CLUBS RIVERS from Earlsfield Lane Bridge, Grantham to Woolsthorpe Locks. Contains particularly good numbers of tench as The map on page 2 shows the major stretches of fishable well as common bream, roach and pike. river in the Lincoln catchment area. All are controlled by angling clubs and most can be fished on both day tickets Upper Witham - Barkston area - Belton bypass bridge and membership books. downstream to railway viaduct below sleeper bridge. This is for trout section members only, contact the Secretary for details. BOSTON ANGLING ASSOCIATION The following waters may be fished by holders of Boston Foston area - bank available both upstream and A. A. membership books or day tickets. Both are available downstream of Foston Ford. Dominant species here are on the river bank or from local tackle shops. Membership chub and dace. secretary - J B Sawyer on 0205 35088. Wesborough area - Downstream of footbridge. Dominant Bargate and Sibsey Trader Drain - Both banks are species are chub and dace. available with access being easiest on the right bank. Fishing is very popular in the summer months, with roach, Long Bennington area - Several sections between Long bream, pike and eels being the main species present. The Bennington concrete bridge and Bennington mill. No NRA has constructed disabled fishing stands at fishing in mill pool. One section on left bank downstream Stonebridge and at other sites in the area to improve of mill pool. Common bream, dace, chub and roach are all fishing access. found here. South Forty Foot - Both banks are available. Dominant species here are roach and bream. River Bain Coningsby - Sections are available on both banks upstream and downstream of Bailey Bridge. A very popular winter spot with good numbers of chub, dace and roach being present. Partney Brick Pits - No day tickets. See Stillwaters section. River Witham - The parts of the River Witham held by Witham and District Joint Anglers Federation may also be fished by members. GRANTHAM ANGLING ASSOCIATION The waters below may be fished with a Grantham A.A. membership book. Membership books can be obtained from tackle shops or contact the Secretary, Mr. W Hutchins, 28 Cottesmore Close, Grantham, telephone 0476 75628 for further details. Further information on sites and access is given in the book. Grantham Canal - Tow path side 5 Marston - Two sections available. Barlings Eau - Langworth. Both the Witham and Till offer excellent coarse fishing Denton reservoir and Buckminster Brick pit can also be with particularly good shoals of bream and roach. fished on a Grantham A.A. book, see Stillwaters section. Members may also fish Boultham Park Lake, Hartsholme Lake and Starmers Pit (see Stillwaters section). SCUNTHORPE & DISTRICT ANGLING ASSOCIATION This angling club controls fishing along the entire river Ancholme (both banks). Year books which run from WITHAM AND DISTRICT JOINT ANGLERS January to December are available from local tackle shops, FEDERATION day tickets are also available. The Ancholme supports an excellent coarse fishery containing most species, including The W. & D.J.A.F. consists of 7 clubs each of which pays a good shoals of bream and roach. Contact Alan Gregory, subscription on its membership books to fish waters held Dan’s Tackle Shop, telephone 0724 281877. The NRA by the Federation. Membership of any of the clubs below have constructed disabled fishing stands on the Ancholme allows you to fish Federation waters. in Brigg (Leisure Centre and Cadney Road) and at Hibaldstow bridge. Lincoln & District Angling Association, Rotherham & District United Anglers Federation, Boston & District Angling Association, Grimsby & District Amalgamated BRITISH WATERWAYS BOARD Society of Anglers, Sheffield Amalgamated Anglers B.W.B. control the fishing along the entire Fossdyke Society, Worksop & District Amalgamated Anglers Canal. Day tickets and season permits are available from Association, Newark & District Piscatorial Federation. the bailiff on the bank and from local tackle shops. Matches can be booked by contacting Joanne Connor on The following waters are held: 0827 252000. Disabled pegs are available at Drinsey Nook. The canal supports good populations of most coarse • River Witham - numerous sections are held in the species including particularly good shoals of bream. following areas: Lincoln to Bardney, Branston Island, Bardney Bridge to Boston Stixwould to downstream of Kirkstead Bridge WITHAM FOURTH DRAINAGE BOARD The W.F.D.B. controls the fishing on the Hobhole Drain • Tattershall. near Boston. Fishing is free, although matches are arranged by New Leake Angling Club, Duke of Wellington, Other holdings on the Witham System: Midville. Good numbers of roach, bream, perch, pike and eels are all present here. • Sincil Drain/South Delph Sandhill Beck - approximately 600m between Washingborough and Five Mile house HORNCASTLE ANGLING CLUB • North Delph - approximately 7km of bank Horncastle A.C. control fishing on the Horncastle canal from the swimming pool downstream for approximately 1 • Timberland Delph - between Martin Woods and the kilometre to the lock. Season permits only, available from confluence with the Witham Synco Sports, Horncastle. The canal supports a good mixed coarse fishery.