Strained relations
Last updated 09:01, Friday, 23 May 2008
THE relationship between anglers and cormorants can at times be strained.
Cormorants do after all feed upon fish and in some situations anglers deploy all manner of legal methods to deter those birds.
These include scarecrows, noise and light emitting devices – and on many stillwater fisheries anglers create artificial refuges for fish to escape the attentions of cormorants, floating islands and reefs to name but two.
Although fully protected by the Wildlife and Countryside Act, 1981 there are circumstances, controlled by strict criteria, when cormorants can be controlled legally by license under section 16 of the Act.
This makes the news I have recently received all the more galling.
A small colony of cormorants which have nested on Rockcliffe Marsh each year since 2001 have had the eggs in all 20 nests stolen.
But this is not the first time they have been interfered with; in 2005 all their eggs went missing for the first time, in 2007 both eggs and young birds were destroyed and just weeks ago the latest incident occurred.
I hope that no anglers were involved in this selfish and illegal act which under the Act carries a penalty of up to £5,000 per egg if found guilty. The police are now investigating the case and the site is being closely monitored.
Despite the low water conditions three salmon have been caught from the river Eden at Warwick Hall this week.
Last Friday Andrew Ellis from Darlington landed a fly caught 9½-pounder in Duffers and on Tuesday David Bamford continued his successful season with a brace from Irthing Foot.
David landed fresh run fish of 12lb and 9lb on Flying C's.
Harrington SAC fished their latest match at Waberthwaite between 8am to noon.
First was Mike Cooke from Salterbeck with four flounders and one dab for 3lb 14oz. Second was Barry McGlasson from Little Clifton with two flounders, one dab and one plaice for 2lb 10oz.
Maryport and District Sea Anglers Club Spring Open Roving Competition will take place on Sunday, June 8, with fishing from 10am to 3pm between Maryport South Pier and Workington Jetty.
The match is a Sea Angler Penn League Qualifier and senior entry costs £7 with a £2.50 heaviest fish pool and a £2.50 heaviest bag pool. Anglers can enter on the day from 8am at Glasson Rangers Rugby League Club. There are cash prizes for heaviest bags and heaviest fish.
Dave Gillies won last Friday's Knock Up match on the Carlisle and District Coarse Angling Club's Crofton Lake. Dave caught roach, rudd and chub fishing shallow with soft pellet early in the match before adding a couple of bream then in the last few minutes of the match Dave added a 5lb carp.
In Sunday's CADCAC match at Crofton John Brookes landed a superbly conditioned 12lb common carp to win the match, John was using pellet and sweetcorn. Shaun Corless was back in the frame this time taking second place landing 2lb 13oz of roach, rudd, chub and small skimmers. Pete Brown was third also catching roach, rudd, chub and small skimmers to weigh in with 2lb 4oz.
Both the CADCAC Friday night and Sunday Leagues gets underway at Crofton Lake this weekend.
The Friday League starts this evening with a 6pm draw and the Sunday League with an 8.45am draw fishing 10am to 4pm.
