Posted on 01/06/2007 8:18:54 PM PST by blam
Anglers fear ban on 'cruel' live bait will spread
By Jasper Copping, Sunday Telegraph
Last Updated: 12:30am GMT 07/01/2007
Anglers are to be banned from using live fish as bait after politicians decided it was cruel.
The ban, which will apply in Scotland, has angered fishermen south of the border who believe it has handed a major victory to animal rights campaigners calling for similar legislation in the rest of Britain.
Steve Greenway, a leading angler from Staffordshire who has been on 105 fishing trips to Scotland, said: "If I thought live bait was cruel, I wouldn't use it. Where will it all end? Do you stop using maggots and worms as well?"
advertisement Mark Barrett, the general secretary of the Pike Anglers' Club of Great Britain, said: "To have the law change like this on your doorstep is going to be a concern for people in the rest of the UK."
The blanket ban was a last-minute amendment to the Aquaculture and Fisheries Bill, which has just passed through the Scottish Parliament without any objections.
It has already been strongly endorsed by Scotland's deputy environment minister Rhona Brankin and will pass through the legislature for a final time in the next three months before becoming law.
Green Party MSP Eleanor Scott, who is deputy convenor of the environment and rural affairs development committee and an architect of the Bill, said: "Anglers won't like me saying it, but fish do feel pain and we felt there was a cruelty issue here."
The politicians also believe live bait threatens fish stocks by introducing alien species into their habitats which may bring diseases and parasites.
Putting live small fish such as roach on a hook is a common tactic for catching larger, predatory fish like trout, perch and pike, which are drawn to the movement.
The coarse fishing industry contributes up to £7 million a year to the Scottish economy. Ron Woods, a policy officer from the Scottish Federation for Coarse Angling, said: "This will hurt fishing tourism."
But Yvonne Taylor, from People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, said the ban was a "massive first step" in the group's fight for one in the rest of Britain.
Angling is the nation's most popular participation sport, with an estimated four million devotees. In recent years their hobby has been increasingly targeted by animal rights activists. Last summer saw a spate of attacks on fishermen.
Scientists are divided on the issue of whether fish can feel pain.
"I fly fish but I've always understood that the reason fly fishing exists is to make it harder to catch fish. When I want to catch some fish to eat I use bait. When I want to spend a day on the river enjoying myself (and catching very few fish) I fly fish."
My experience has been just the opposite. Geting a bass to hit a small insect or popping bug is a cinch, and some awfully large ones are taken on those small offerings. Bluegills are suckers for flies. While most of my fly fishing has been in the east, I have fished the big rivers out west and found the native trout were not at all reluctant to eat flies.
Never fly fished for bass but I've always wanted to. All my fly fishing is for trout in NC. Maybe it's time to branch out.
The best of the Scots moved to the U.S. long ago.
Anorexia, the next frontier...
These people need a good old fashioned flogging
I obey the regs.
To tell the truth I only fish artificial lures. Tried bait , clams once, just a smidge left over stunk my truck up and I had to tear it apart to find the offending itty bitty piece.
I fish plugs, rubber grubs and flies.
Though I think a person throwing a bait net with skill can be a beautiful sight.
THERE IS NOTHING LIKE A 12 LB BLUEFISH ON A 9WT. FLYROD!!!!!!
The smirk lasts a couple of days.
ZIIIIIIIIING.
A hatchery trout, as most eastern trout are, are looking for something in pellet form, and not flies.
That could explain why you catch more fish on bait than on flies.
It can get a lot better than that, and I would encourage you to branch out.
I certainly didn't mean to infer otherwise. I mainly fish with artificial lures/flys as well. I'll give nightcrawlers a try at the same time we are running lures just to see what the fish are hitting on that day.
While I have not yet learned how to fly fish, I understand what you mean about catching an oversized fish on underweight gear. Exhilarating!!! Plus, there's nothing like watching my 7 year old granddaugher pulling in a five pound plus Rainbow Trout on light tackle.
No doubt some of the lunatics who are pushing this ban would describe themselves as "libertarians." Which really means: pro-abortion, pro-drugs, anti-war on terror.
Sounds like my niece got involved over there. She complained to her fly fishing mother that it hurt the fish when she did catch and release.
My obvious question was, "would she rather you caught and ate?"
Now the good news..... I found out yesterday that a new friend of mine has a very large pond and she loves to fish. As soon as it warms up enough for them to start moving, we are at it.
LOL, and got a bite or two...on it. She was the catfish of his dreams.
You ARE out of date; good news, the spec and red fishing is a whole lot better than when you fished here last...I am not lying. Limits (creel and size), banning gill nets(THE REAL DEAL), protecting the marsh from erosion (hopefully more to come)has really helped fishing here in La. You ought to try it down here again; you would not recognize La. from Larose to Golden Meadow, Leeville, Fourchon, Grand Isle (changed since 71) Vien ici!
Bluefish=trashfish=cut bait.
PING TO YOU SIR IF YOU EVER RETURN.
Why is it that fish can feel pain but human fetuses a few weeks from birth can't?
Grammy, get your popping bugs ready. Fly fishing for bass and bluegill in a pond is wonderful, one of my favorite types of fishing.
Did you know the popping bug was invented by a guy from Tennessee, H.E. Peckinpaw (sp)? He dropped a piece of cork from his coffee thermos in the water while fishing, and the trout tore it up. This was in one of the middle Tennessee streams, I think the Hiwassee.
So, he invented the popping bug.
I'm a regular historian (grin)
Grammy, we will get together this spring, hopefully things will slow down here by then.
Billhilly is afraid to fish with me, though. He is sensitive about getting skunked on the water (grin). He, like fish, fears me.
Scared of you huh? Must be a male ego thing. 8-)
I know you are going to skunk me and I don't care a whit.... just let me near the water!!! Maybe you can teach him a few things.
I know all about poppers. I love fishing little ponds with them. I had a fun evening where I spent more time taking the fish off the hook then fishing. Until the last cast where a big guy stole it!
I am ready for spring. Being from the north, where it eventually warms up in ohhhh, say mid June, we were surprised to see the daffodils bloom so early here. Our markers are an anniversary and a birthday.... they always bloom some time between Jan. 30 and Feb 26. I am counting the days to say "It's coming!!!!"
My daffodils are coming up too. Crocus and hycinth. This weather is crazy eh?
When I get back from Florida (be there 10-14th) I'm going to get serious about fishing, quit talking about it. Don't know if I told you, I have a new boat and motor Santa brought me.
Billhilly, you know Grammy and I are ribbing you right? Actually billhilly probably has more fishing time in than me.
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