Canoeists

[elwyman]

Good news for anglers in England & Wales:

For immediate release:
06 March 2007


GOVERNMENT REJECTS CANOEISTS’ CALL FOR STATUTORY RIGHT OF ACCESS TO RIVERS AND STREAMS


Attempts by the British Canoe Union (B.C.U) to drum up political support for their campaign for a right to paddle along every river and stream in England and Wales received a setback last month when the government formally rejected the B.C.U sponsored Ten Minute Rule Bill promoted by Brighton MP Des Turner. The ‘Access to Inland Waterways Bill’ failed to receive its Second Reading in the Commons on February 23rd and now has no prospect of proceeding any further.

The Biodiversity, Landscape and Rural Affairs Minister, Barry Gardiner, has also written to Labour’s Angling Spokesman, Martin Salter MP to re-confirm the government’s support for voluntary access agreements to be drawn up between canoeists and other water users. This approach has been rejected by the B.C.U who now appear to be seeking to undermine existing access agreements as part of their campaign for statutory access rights.

In his letter, Barry Gardiner said:

‘Our view is that increased access to water, for activities such as canoeing, can most effectively be achieved via the voluntary approach, which involves landowners and water users coming to a formal, written agreement about access to a particular stretch of water which takes into account the needs of all interested parties.’

Over 30% of the major rivers and canals already provide access for canoeing and the Environment Agency announced plans last year to open more water to canoeists with the publication of its “Voluntary Canoe Access Agreements” Report. As part of a series of pilot studies additional canoe access agreements were conducted on sections of the rivers Mersey, Teme, Waverley and Wear.

[splash]

I've got to say that for anyone having to deal with canoeists they could do worse than follow the example set by Kenny Reid ghillie at South Park when I fished there recently:

1. When they are 100-200yds away provide a clear hand signal for them to move to the far side of the river and away from the angler.

2. Politely ask them to do the same when they come within earshot

3. Ask them if they are having a good day and tell them there is a good spot to beach their canoe downstream which won't cause any bother to his fishers if they would care to get out for a while and stretch their legs

4. Result - friendly wave and words of thanks from woman in canoe, two canoes pass by uneventfully and they know the protocol the next time they pass an angler

5. Result . Well done SPK, if only it was always this way instead of WWIII breaking out

cheers

Splash

[tyneandrew]

The attitude of canoes on the Dee this year that i have encountered has been impeccable

Just as you explain

[donnieW]

Ditto for me on both the Tay and the Tummel - all canoeists have moved away without being asked. I spoke to someone in charge of one of the main rafting companies on the Tay and he tells me that there should be no rafts on the Tay on Tuesdays or Thursdays. The upper Tay beats get really busy with rafts and so far this has put me off fishing them but I might have a chuck now.

[greenbanks]

splash said:

I've got to say that for anyone having to deal with canoeists they could do worse than follow the example set by Kenny Reid ghillie at South Park when I fished there recently:

1. When they are 100-200yds away provide a clear hand signal for them to move to the far side of the river and away from the angler.

2. Politely ask them to do the same when they come within earshot

3. Ask them if they are having a good day and tell them there is a good spot to beach their canoe downstream which won't cause any bother to his fishers if they would care to get out for a while and stretch their legs

4. Result - friendly wave and words of thanks from woman in canoe, two canoes pass by uneventfully and they know the protocol the next time they pass an angler

5. Result . Well done SPK, if only it was always this way instead of WWIII breaking out

cheers

Splash

Kind words Splash unfortunately yesterday I had a convoy of 8 canoes which were 3 adults in 2 canoes and the rest filled with school kids(2 per canoe).On speaking to them (the kids)they had not been offered safety helmets to wear,they had never been in canoes before (the open kind) and they didnt know how to row never mind stick in a line down a pool.Result very unchuffed anglers watching canoes coming down a' ways at a snails pace.Compensation being demanded and a tricky situation to deal with.Why do teachers feel they can compromise young kids safety by putting them on a river without adequate tuition or safety gear.No surprise you read about tragedies every year.In the end they beached their canoes and all got out as they were knackered and at the end of the day there is really nothing you can do but feel sorry for the kids and anglers.

[splash]

Kind words Splash unfortunately yesterday I had a convoy of 8 canoes which were 3 adults in 2 canoes and the rest filled with school kids(2 per canoe).On speaking to them (the kids)they had not been offered safety helmets to wear,they had never been in canoes before (the open kind) and they didnt know how to row never mind stick in a line down a pool.Result very unchuffed anglers watching canoes coming down a' ways at a snails pace.Compensation being demanded and a tricky situation to deal with.Why do teachers feel they can compromise young kids safety by putting them on a river without adequate tuition or safety gear.No surprise you read about tragedies every year.In the end they beached their canoes and all got out as they were knackered and at the end of the day there is really nothing you can do but feel sorry for the kids and anglers.[/quote]

That will teach me to open my big mooth then !

[macd]

splash said:

I've got to say that for anyone having to deal with canoeists they could do worse than follow the example set by Kenny Reid ghillie at South Park when I fished there recently:

1. When they are 100-200yds away provide a clear hand signal for them to move to the far side of the river and away from the angler.

2. Politely ask them to do the same when they come within earshot

3. Ask them if they are having a good day and tell them there is a good spot to beach their canoe downstream which won't cause any bother to his fishers if they would care to get out for a while and stretch their legs

4. Result - friendly wave and words of thanks from woman in canoe, two canoes pass by uneventfully and they know the protocol the next time they pass an angler

5. Result . Well done SPK, if only it was always this way instead of WWIII breaking out

cheers

Splash

I have also witnessed this from SPK. The kanooists, seemed happy to be directed, because they were treated with respect.

But one day he will fall foul of one that lip reads ;D ;D

[castlikeaghille]

macd said:

splash said:

I've got to say that for anyone having to deal with canoeists they could do worse than follow the example set by Kenny Reid ghillie at South Park when I fished there recently:

1. When they are 100-200yds away provide a clear hand signal for them to move to the far side of the river and away from the angler.

2. Politely ask them to do the same when they come within earshot

3. Ask them if they are having a good day and tell them there is a good spot to beach their canoe downstream which won't cause any bother to his fishers if they would care to get out for a while and stretch their legs

4. Result - friendly wave and words of thanks from woman in canoe, two canoes pass by uneventfully and they know the protocol the next time they pass an angler

5. Result . Well done SPK, if only it was always this way instead of WWIII breaking out

cheers

Splash

I have also witnessed this from SPK. The kanooists, seemed happy to be directed, because they were treated with respect.

But one day he will fall foul of one that lip reads ;D ;D

Or understands sign language

[juniorspey]

I might be going off on a tangent but......... what if im wading down a pool and...wallop, a canoe hits me, breaking my rod and perhaps injuring me.
Im sure that all of the companies which do trips will have 3rd party liability, but what happens if this was a solo canoest?

had a funny wee chat with a friend today, his plan is to charge canoes the same as anglers are charged to fish the same water! so as they enter grantown water they pay 45 quid, a further 120 if they go to castle grant and 200 when they reach tulchan!!!! ;D

[pertempledog]

Ah but then they would want to spend the whole day with you on the beat they'd paid for..... keep em moving along.
Provided its not a flotilla of them do canoes actually cause a problem?

[tynetraveller]

I have no problem with canoeists and I was quite chuffed to hook a fish as a group came through on the Spey last year, feeling very pleased with myself at performing in front of an audience and at the excited looks the kids were giving.. Right up to the moment the hook came out and the line whizzed back past my ear. I didn't look quite so cool then

[zephead]

Depending on conditions when I'm fishing I never have too much trouble over respectful canoeists paddling through.

Indeed I do like them to appear to shake up a low water pool in the summer sometimes and I have often welcomed their prescence with a cheery wave as they are a better alternative to heaving in a few stones and swimming the keepers dog thro a pool neck as one would clearly not wish to be party to an illegal act to stir up salmon to come onto the take when a naturally generated shake up by a horde of Cragraticus Maritimus is available.

ZH

[splash]

Another couple of floatilla's passed us by uneventfully up at Dunkeld House on the Tay today. Kept there distance to the far side of the river, friendly banter with the ghillie and away they went. Lets hope it continues. Like the charging suggestion though ! ;D

[rpsalmon]

I don't fish waters where canoeists have permission to paddle. Therefore I don't have any time for canoeists who appear when I am fishing because it is obvious they are trespassing and therefore it is also obvious that they didn't give a damn about my own rights or anyone else when they chose to disrespect authority. I view trespassers as thieves, and having seen the effect certain punishments have among local communities in certain other countries, I think they should be dealt with appropriately. Much of the law in this country is an ass and we need to get tough with the likes of trespassing canoeists.

[bagoworms]

Never had a problem with them and many of them look a lot better than my companions on the bank!

[clydebuilt]

I had an unfortunate experience on the Tay (at Pitnacree if i remember correctly) where one idiot came rushing into the pool, splashing like a madman, turned and tried to paddle against the flow back up river whilst screaming at his followers about how "rad" it was!!!

Said "idiot" will never be doing a stunt like this stunt again, especially after I was finished with him, of that I am assured

Gladly though, this was an isolated incident & I have generally found, on other beats, that there has never been any trouble & mutual respect for both canoeist's and angler's alike

I hope it stays this way.

[rpsalmon]

My experience of canoeists has been worse. Once one of them ran into a friend, a sorry and claim of accident came after wards, while he was wading in the middle of an open stretch of the Dee. Just how can someone fail to see and accidentally hit a person in the middle of an open river in broad daylight!

I've seen one go out of his way to do a roll (is it a barrel roll or eskimo roll?) not five yards from an angler, this is utterly contemptible! I've also seen a group of about thirty get out on some shingle and stop for half an hour, for lunch etc. We later heard that the Ghillie on that side had done his nut because of their paddling antics, and when he'd later found the excrement and rubbish left he was blowing like Mount Etna.

I've had them ruin too many days fishing to tolerate them now, they are incompatible with serious fishing.

The astonishing thing is, some of them are idiots and some are just plain stupid with the result that some don't understand that they are causing a problem.

[tyneandrew]

Maybe the hill billies in deliverance were salmon fishers who had had similar bad experiences, and they were just getting their own back on the canoeists?

Clydebuilt - I hope you did not command a similar punishment

[ibrox]

;D ;D ;D

[lomond]

Branching off slightly from the canoeists theme.

I've had a jetski in my boat on Loch Lomond. Some idiot gave his 10 year old son a shot of the thing and he proceeded to open the throttle and 'fly' straight into my boat. A scary sight when one of these things is coming towards you,out of control at 30mph, believe me! I nearly went for a swim ! Canoeists are nothing compared to these guys.