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Rules are rules when it comes to fisheries. You accept them or you don't fish imo. If you have no paper license you'd make sure to take your phone if the rules are you need to show the license surely? Just turn it off if you don't want calls. This makes no sense to me at all mate. If the fishery requires you have a license why not just show it to them? Awkward sod 🤣

I fell in on the winter social we did there……. It was in February…….. and cold 🥶🥶🥶🤣🤣🤣

he does like a kipp when out.

because they access the national database from their phone/pad so they only need your name and address to check you have one. This does mean you need to carry a form of photo ID though

As I said, some people spend the same on bait for a weekend session and £45 isnt off putting then is it? £45 for three rods is only £15 a rod. You yourself said £10 a rod, so what's £5 extra considering its going towards improvements for angling? 5kg of boilies is about £45 from most brands. People think nothing of spending that every month or even more regularly, but an annual rod license is somehow too expensive? Enforcement officers are paid out the general pot, i know locally we have 1.5 FT to cover the catchment which equates to hardly anyone really. As said they'll target the likely haunts where they will catch people out, but still you get the chance to buy a license on the bank to save yourself a court date. Which btw, you would struggle to win on the basis you think its over priced. Personally I think some of the rod license monies could be diverted for extra staffing and some more hard line consequences of not having a rod license, take france or belgium for example where they'll confiscate your kit and dish out 1000+ euro fines.

At that point nowhere 😁 Max goes in a travel crate and gets covered over so he cant see out - he settles well to be fair, I wish I'd have done this with George as he's in and out of bed all night just like he is at home tbh

I have bought my license and have an email proving that. If I am fishing without my phone (it's a chance to get away from modern life) and have not recieved a physical license (you are not legally required to carry it when fishing) how would I prove to you I have a license. That's a bit unfair. A fishing license is like a driving license. I don't have to show you my driving license to buy a car or if you stop me on the road. Even if I was parking in a car park that you own, you wouldn't be entitled to see my driving license, so why are you entitled to see my fishing license? Whilst I have a fishing license, if anyone other than the EA or a person in authority (police or similar) asked me for it, I would respectfully refuse to show it. Your license does not entitle you to act on the EAs behalf. There are too many people who think they are entitled to check on things that are beyond their remit.

Got myself the Shimano XTD spod reel for Christmas and extremely pleased with it. Super smooth and as you say, the line lay is ridiculously good as the super slow oscillation puts each coil of line on the spool millimeters apart . I haven't fished a water this season where I've really needed to really wang it but know it wouldn't disappoint if I did.

couldn't agree any less. It's £45 a year for 3 rods, people spend more on food and bait for a weekend. What the money gets spent on has massive value to the environment and to fisheries too. Rod licence monies only go to the Fisheries team, they dont go anywhere else so every penny of income gets spent on improvements, it doesnt pay anyone wages. I do agree however that all river users should have to pay something. In an ideal world all fisheries and clubs would check your licence before selling you a ticket, but a centralised infrastructure would be so complex and expensive.

From a commercial perspective this is all the more reason not to ask to see licenses! No one wants to turn customers away innit.

The XTD 14000 (I think) is the Rolls Royce reel of reels at moment...everyone wants em and there's quite a few up for sale.... Had a little play with my mates at weekend...OMG absolutely smooth on the cast and retrieve, the line lay is unreal.

So where do you get to sleep , Kev? . 😁

Young Max learning how to be a carp dog with veteran George - much to learn but he looks the part - much fun had.

Yeah I'm aware buddy. Last year we were given the heads up they'd be checking (not a problem, I always license all my rods). They never showed up. Pretty much mate. I've spent thousands over the last few years on tickets for waters that will likely never see any benefit from license funds. We fence them ourselves. We take all sorts of precautions to avoid disease. Water health/quality is monitored. Tbh we wouldn't trust the EA to deal with any issues effectively (i.e. fast enough) should they arise. Don't get me wrong, if I fish waters that benefit I have no issues with paying for licenses. In fact they're a bargain. But when I don't see any benefit I can't help but feel shafted. It's like paying car tax when you don't drive on public roads. I've been checked once. It was 1st April several years ago now and it was the only time I've ever been fishing without a license..... I'd just completely forgotten to renew. I called the hotline and got my licenses right there on the bank. Luckily they checked my track record, saw I'd always had my licenses, and let me off. Lesson learned though eh... idiot!!!

The agency can still check you on syndi waters though @yonny

Nah, that's outrageous imo buddy. It's not their job to check. It is the responsibility of the angler to buy one. If we speak frankly, why would a syndi gaffer receiving up to a grand a year or more from each angler care if they have licenses? If we speak even more frankly, why should those anglers who pay to fish these waters exclusively have to buy a license? I'm considering fishing a public water this year. It'l be the first time in years I dont resent paying for my license.