A History of Fish and Fisheries of the River Thames

Cover Price: £25.00

Special offer for members of the Littlemore Angling Society

Extracts from reviews of “A history of fish and fisheries of the River Thames” “Fish” issue 141(3) Autumn 2021.

“This is a fascinating and attractive book. It could serve as a coffee table book but is also packed with information, not only for anglers and fishery professionals, but also for anyone interested in fish, natural history and the socioeconomic history of the Thames” “This book is not an angler’s instruction manual, but it is a must for anglers, as it is for anyone else concerned with the management of fish and fisheries and the river environment. It is an easy read whilst also forming a very useful source of historical information, lavishly illustrated by fascinating and colourful extracts and images from original sources. My advice is to buy it now or put it on your wanted-list for Xmas.”

Brian Knights, Chairman Institute of Fisheries Management, London and South East Branch.

“Classic Angling” No 133, August/September 2021 “Anyone who has fished the Thames will greatly enjoy this book, the thoroughness of the research and the marvellously evocative illustrations and photographs from a bygone age”

Keith Elliott, Editor of “Classic Angling”.

Literary Review, Issue 502, November 2021 “Dr David Solomon, a respected fisheries scientist who has known the river from childhood, is a keen angler – I first met him on a Cuban houseboat moored in the mangroves – and his study is energised by enthusiasm for its subject, the result being judicious, timely and full of interesting things.”

David Profumo, fishing correspondent for Country Life magazine

This book is available to Littlemore members at a discount of 10%, ie £22.50 including shipping to UK addresses. If you wish to purchase a copy email djsolomon47@gmail.com, stating that you are a LAS member, and we will email you a pro-forma invoice with details for payment by BACS. We will then dispatch a copy to you by return.

So we have moved the date to Sunday 16th January 2022 and the venue will be Walworth Lake at Bishops Bowl Fishery.

Thank you the Coolman family for helping our Juniors out

Venue Change

My Thames Festival 2021
Day 1 - Peg B4 - Culham - 10lb 4oz - 2 points
The day didn’t start well I was 30 minutes late for the draw. All the other anglers had gone, I spoke to the organiser for some info on how to get to the peg and best way to approach it. Basically whip short moving out following the fish as the day went on and don’t bother wasting 2 hours bream fishing. On getting to my peg I decided on 11m chop line, 5m whip, 13m pole line and a waggler. The lads around me were setting up much more which did worry me. I asked one of them to go easy on me, his reply, I’ve heard that before. Anyway the match started, the lads left/right balled/cupped in ground bait, I don’t know why but I didn’t even mix any up, it just didn’t feel right. I dumped some chop in, then started on the whip, pinging hemp/caster on my 13m line and feeding my waggler line quite aggressively with hemp. My whip line was a non starter and binned it up the bank within minutes, pole out straight over my chop line. Had a few wasps then a decent perch of 6oz which quickly found itself in the jaws of a 3lb croc, but I won the battle but it killed the worm line. Out at 13m single red and I started putting a run of 1/2 oz roach together. The ground bait boys started well and were well ahead of me and after 2 hours the pole line for all was getting iffy. Out came the waggler, single red and I was getting 2/3oz roach quite regular and not a bleak in sight. With 2 hours to go I reckoned I had caught up the lads each side. Again I don’t know why but I nicked on a tare and had a 5oz roach first chuck, happy days, stayed on this putting 4-6oz roach in the net. Ended up 2nd in the section beaten by a 11lb net at the other end. Well chuffed as I haven’t seen or fished Culham before.

Day 2 - Peg C14 - Abingdon - 7lb 4oz-3 points
Another new venue for me, middle section which fished steady the day before. Had some great info from a old pal I haven’t seen for a long time who fished the above section the day before putting 19lb on the scales. Anyway got to my peg which was between 2 wasp nests, it was like Heathrow all day. I set up 2 rigs one bulk and one shirt buttoned at 13m, My trusted waggler, and a half hearted no where to go line at 6m. In hindsight I should have paid more attention to this ‘Drennan’ line. The whistle went and the ground bait barrage started all round me, them crocs just love the noise. I cupped in 5 balls with a few casters and hemp. Loose fed hemp over the top and again feeding lots of hemp on my waggler line. I had 2 good hours over the ground bait line catching 2oz roach, nothing spectacular but I was enjoying myself. But like the day before it got slower, I started on double red ending up on single pinkie. Stayed disciplined and didn’t reintroduce any more ground bait, just in case I could nick a few later off just the loose feed. Out came the waggler, single red, float didn’t settle, 3oz roach. Had another 3 in as many casts then it started to get iffy, had to cast off the feed area to still catch. 2 hours to go had 5lb in the net which was roughly what the peg gave up yesterday. Then the wheels came off, nothing back on the 13m line or the 6m line. So now I really did have nowhere to go, so on to the waggler we trust. Still no bites, I was just about to put a pinkie on when I remembered yesterday and the tare. Would you believe it first chuck and again the float didn’t settle thanks to 6oz roach. Stayed on this until the end nicking the old decent roach. Well beaten next door with a chop net, but disappointed I got ounced out by the top end peg. That bite less hour and failing to pay attention to the 6m line cost me a point. Gutted, but really enjoyed the day.

Day 3 - Peg A13 - Sandford -10lb 4oz-1 Point
My section was top heavy with stars but I was on home ground and on a good peg. Set up 2 wagglers one at depth the other mid water, tub of tares, 4 pint of hemp and a few casters and maggot was the bait for today. Had 90 minutes to wait for the whistle, couldn’t leave the peg as the cattle were close by, but the gods were with me today no cows or crocs all day. The whistle sounded and we were off, fed hemp liberally and a few caster. First cast on maggot, bleak. Second cast on caster, bleak. Third cast on tare, nothing. Preserved on the tare for 2 hours for 11 roach, not overly concerned but getting a bit frustrated as tare normally kicks in after 1 hour. Then the Salter boat came pass and turned the water brown. It transformed my peg immediately and I started catching 2 - 8oz on a regular basis, clicker said 39 with an hour to go. Then the sun disappeared and so did the roach ended up with 45 roach and a few chublets. I was so chuffed winning my section as without doubt it was the hardest in respect of the other anglers. I finished 7th overall out of 72 anglers which was well above my expectations as the standard of angler is very good. If you get a chance to fish it next year, take it, you won’t regret it, a very well organised event.

 

Our deepest condolence go to his wife Karen and two children Jake and Laura. RIP

Thames Shield 2021

There will be 2 sections of 12 both days.  Payout will be 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th place and 8 six man sections over the 2 days. Top Tackle are also kindly donating £100 towards the top 3 anglers. Entrance is just £40 for the 2 days.

Please book in with Alan Campbell

(Refunds will be given at the Committee's discretion)

Thanks to all the members in the close season for all their hard work, tidying up the pegs and picking up litter. Now the real stuff begins.

Please get your permit before you fish. You will pay an extra £5 charge if you do not have a permit.

Tight Lines for the season.

Don't Leave It Too Late

We really need a good push from members to get all our fishery ready for the new season. Even if it's just a litter pick around the weir streams, this will be one less job to do before we embark on some serious tree clearance. Next work party is on Sunday 6th June 2021

Open Fires

Last season, our water keepers and members made numerous complaints about the open fires left burning over the weekend.

We have now decided that NO open fires will be allowed. We want to provide swims that are clean and fit for angling.  It is not a campsite.

Regular checks will be made each evening and early morning.

Please do not abuse this Rule or you will lose your permit. We have a duty to look after the land for Oxford Preservation Trust, Reading RDAA and our Landlord.

Night fishing permits are only available through the Secretary.

Work In Progress!

Membership 2021-22

Permits will be in the shops shortly

Please also familiarise yourself with the General Rules. Any angler without the correct permit on the bank will be charged an additional £5.00 on top of their permit/day ticket.

Our Water Keepers and Environment Agency officers, will be patrolling rivers during the close season as part of the annual Operation Clampdown. As well as checking for close season angling, they will also be making sure other serious offences aren’t taking place under cover of the close season. If you see any illegal fishing or anything else that poses a risk to fish, please report it on 0800 80 70 60.

Remember the coarse fish close season and help protect the fish you love.

Thank you for your continued support,

2021-22 Membership will be available shortly

Adult £15.00

OAP/Disabled £8.00

Junior £2.00

Night Fishing Permit for Sandford Weir Streams £2.00

Day Ticket £3.00 (From the Secretary Only)

New Membership will be available online from April 1st and in the Tackle shops from April 14th.

Northfield Brook

Late this evening I was informed by DCMS officials that the Government are again reconsidering their position.
It would appear that the definition of "exercise" may well be wider than the previous ‘running, walking, cycling’ and we have insisted that the Government recognise both the physical health and mental wellbeing benefits of angling in any decision they make. We strongly believe that exercise should not simply be limited to high impact, aerobic activities which the first lockdown proved led to many in society being left without the means to maintain an active lifestyle. The Government has heard our case loud and clear and it was repeated with some force by MP’s in this afternoons commons debate. We hope that they will now acknowledge, as they have before, that fishing is part of the solution and not part of the problem.

We are expecting to see the publication of revised guidance and supporting FAQ’s from the Government tomorrow. We will immediately share these with the angling community the moment they become available. We are working as hard as we can for our members and the sport we all love and when we know more so will you.
This is incredibly frustrating for all of us. Anglers have acted with huge credit throughout this period and I thank you for your support.

Please stay safe
Jamie
Jamie Cook
CEO – Angling Trust

Anybody found fishing on these waters will be asked to leave and run the risk of losing their permit and future applications.
We would like to take this opportunity, of thanking the Angling Trust for getting us out on the bank through this Pandemic.

Stay Safe everybody

The regulations have now been published and confirm this evening’s message from the Cabinet Office that the Government have taken the decision that fishing will not be permitted during this national lockdown period. Whilst this is disappointing news I would ask anglers, fisheries and clubs to respect these rules and the reason they have been put in place; to help save lives and support the NHS.

Individuals should not go fishing from midnight tonight (5th Jan) and clubs and fisheries should close their waters to anglers. We will be publishing more detailed guidance on specific areas like bailiffing and fishery maintenance once the Government regulations have been examined.
Over past few weeks we have been in communication with the Government at the highest possible level. We have presented a strong case on how fishing could continue safely during the third national lockdown. We have explained that fishing benefits physical health and mental wellbeing and that it is regularly the only form of activity individuals undertake.

My team and I have consistently presented the arguments ahead of the changing government guidelines, which have allowed fishing to remain permitted continuously since the first national lockdown was lifted in May. We have been successful when other sports have not as all anglers will know.
However, with 60,000 new infections announced today the Government have taken the decision that leaving home for recreation or leisure, including all forms of recreational fishing, should be prohibited in England during this third national lockdown period.

I thank you for your support and for being a credit to our sport. As members, you can rest assured that the Angling Trust will continue to represent our sport at the highest level and will present proposals for the resumption of angling when it is safe and sensible to do so. We will come through this period of national crisis. We will fish again, but until then, please, stay safe.

Jamie Cook - CEO Angling Trust

We will be extremely busy working on this and request that at this stage you do not contact with individual questions. Thank you.

Hopefully we all have a better year. Stay safe

Work Party

If the river has receded, we will try and get a team in the small weir pool.

AGM Announcement

We could possibly do this via Zoom or Facebook. If you wish to join by Zoom please send me your email address

In the meantime can you please send me any proposals for Rules/Rule Changes before March 1st.

They had no permit and no intention of buying one. We are quite fortunate that we still have the lock cut to fish. This is for our members that have paid. Our bailiffs will continue to ask non members to leave

If you wish to purchase a permit or day ticket

If you are out and about on the bank stay safe.

The Abingdon Bridge

If you wish to donate to the Charity

Saturday 12th December 2020

Lockdown Litter Pick

Meet at the Lock at 9.00am where Lock Keeper Aidan will have bin bags and sharp bins if needed

You must also download this consent form to carry out the work.

If you are buying PPE and tools to carry out the litter pick, please send receipts to Alan Campbell and the club will reimburse you. Thank you

This puts paid to our match this Sunday at Pondwood Fisheries and Donnington on the 22nd. However we hope to catch these back, once there is a return to the three tier system of restrictions.

We also want to as many of our members to tidy up our waters, with a bit of socially distancing maintenance. If you got tools that can help us tidy up a few pegs please do so. We will also hope to arrange some maintenance work on weekends.

Please download the form if you wish to help us out

We have some great fishing out there so get out and enjoy and stay safe

If you recognise these are yours, do not worry, they are in safe hands with our Water Keepers, waiting for you to come and collect them

Thanks to their vigilante surveillance, can you please reward them when you pick them them up with your permit (If you have one)

On a serious note, the Environment Agency are constantly monitoring Sandford together with our Water Keepers. If you are caught, we will fight for the highest punishment

If this continues at this rate, night fishing may well be removed.

Our Bailiffs will be monitoring who is in the swims that night and checking in the morning. Don't risk your permit for being lazy

Sandford fished practically well with several double figure nets over the 3 days.

Next Match

Next Match

Littlemore A.S/Top Tackle Thames Shield

Donnington will not be used this year due to Social Distancing. The match will be at Sandford and Folly. Entry fee is £40 for the 2 day festival. There will be 4 section payout each day. Prize money will depend on entrance. Top Tackle have generously donated prizes of £50, £30 and £20 for the top 3. The match is open to any ODAA Club angler.

Draw for venue will be at Redbridge Park & Ride on Sunday 30th. Draw for pegs will take place at the venue you have drawn. Please book in  with Alan Campbell or Wayne Gray at Top Tackle.

Next Match

Fixture Update

Next Match

Knock-Out Cup 1st Round

Full Draw

Malcolm Smith v Steve Pope
Terry Yates v Steve Pitson
Brian Hutchings v Nathan Thompson
Gerald Perks v Steve Isaac
David Allsworth v Steve Eeles
Alan Campbell v Vernon Adams
Andy Webb v Chris Webb
Kevin Dolton v Pete Clarke

Next Match

The match was a real grueller for most and only 3 anglers broke double figures.

The match was won by South Cerney with 10pts. Littlemore and Elgin tied on 13pts

Littlemore had the Individual winner of Chris Webb. He had 72-13-00 of bream on the pole with pellet.

This match is now Fully Booked
 

Cut off date for Loyalty Points will be Sunday 21st June when line up is announced

How we will Run The Matches

Next to the fixture on each match, a link will explain the peg, pools, section pools and league pool. Peg fee is mandatory, pools are optional. You may pay by Paypal (leaving a note what you are paying for) but we will still accept cash payment in a sealed envelope of the correct payment.) Download and Print off the form, tick what you are paying for and place in an envelope. If you don't have a printer just writedown what you are paying (most will be all in)

Match Secretary/Captain of the Day will draw peg numbers going down the list of anglers booked in

Payout will be paid out via Paypal or cash at the next match.

Pool Sheet can be downloaded below. Fill it out and place in an envelope together with payment.

Match Secretary

We are now looking for an Interim Match Secretary for the coming season. Most of the match bookings and pools will be done online to speed things up. We need someone that will be at most matches and record the results with the help other members. Please contact Alan Campbell if you fancy a go. There is free membership and an Honorarium.

How we will Run The Matches

Next to the fixture on each match, a link will explain the peg, pools, section pools and league pool. Peg fee is mandatory, pools are optional. You may pay by Paypal (leaving a note what you are paying for) but we will still accept cash payment in a sealed envelope of the correct payment.)

Payout will be paid out via Paypal or cash at the next match

Thank you to all the volunteers. Once again "Investing in Angling"

Plans for Matches

Booking in payment of Pools / Entry money

• Anglers should "book in" to a competition as per normal either through our Facebook page. phone or SMS.
• Pools and peg fees should be paid as stipulated on the website. There will be a link to pay via Paypal. Peg Fee is mandatory. Pools is optional.  Please leave a note on the Paypal transaction of what you are paying. Wherever possible, we will avoid cash transactions. Anglers paying by cash should place money in a sealed envelope

Arrival at venue

• Competitors should travel in accordance with current Government guidelines only.
• At Sandford, please be prompt and give yourself plenty of time. We need to close the gates at 7.20am and disinfect.
• On arrival at the venue vehicles should pay strict attention to signage and park under the instructions of the fishery/organiser.
• On leaving the vehicle, strict social distancing measures must be adhered to at all times maintaining a minimum of 2 metres apart. No physical greetings handshaking etc. to take place.

The Draw

• The draw should be held in accordance with the clubs pre-stated process to ensure social distancing is maintained..
• The Match Secretary will draw all the pegs for all the anglers.
• When a peg is allocated the angler should immediately make their way to the fishing location as normal.

Weighing in

• At the end of the competition, competitors will be expected to remain at their pegs until the weighing official arrives.
• Strictly no anglers are permitted to follow the scales. Ensuring safety and adherence to the social distance guidelines during the weigh-in is the responsibility of the Match Secretary.
• Two weighing officials will be appointed, one to weigh the fish and the other to record the weights.
• Weighing officials should consider the use of gloves and masks as a precaution and maintain social distancing measures at all times.
• The angler should remove their keepnet themselves and transfer the fish into the weigh sling without breaching social distancing guidance (weigh slings of a self-supporting design achieve this).
• he angler must then step away to allow the weighing official to come in and weigh the fish. The weighing official then calls the weight and the anglers must agree that they are happy with it. The weighing official then returns the fish to the water.
• The process is then repeated if several weighs are required. Social distancing guidelines i.e. the 2m rule should be obeyed at all times. Once weighed in the angler will pack up and return directly to their vehicle.

In order to avoid breaching Government rules on organised gatherings special attention should be made to the announcement of results at the end of the match.

Payouts / collection of winnings

• The club will post results of the match online as soon as possible for competitors to view
• The club will payout winnings directly into the angler’s bank account by electronic means. (Paypal)
• Anglers without this option will be paid out in a sealed envelope. They can collect it from the Secretary or pick it up on the next match available.

At the end of the day please stay alert. If you can think of any other guideline that we can use, please email the Secretary

Riverfest organiser Dave Harrell, England internationals Steve Ringer and Dean Barlow and Lindholme fishery boss Aaron Grantham are amongst a group of highly experienced match fishing enthusiasts who have been working with the Angling Trust to deliver robust new guidelines to bring competition fishing in line with COVID-19 procedures which, it is hoped, will secure the necessary agreement from Government to allow match fishing to resume as soon as possible.

Full details here Angling Trust Latest News

https://www.anglingtrust.net/news.asp?itemid=5268&itemTitle=Angling%20Trust%20submits%20new%20plans%20to%20get%20match%20fishing%20permitted%20under%20COVID-19%20rules&section=29&sectionTitle=Angling%20Trust%20News&fbclid=IwAR3FZqGJaw-gMahe7Un7-D_LUeQ7YRhUK9AoHgBDaHCCSiyaaMj4BNIfqWA

If you buy your permit through the fishing shops (when they open) and you require a "Night Fishing Permit" then you must send a Stamped Addressed Envelope together with your Membership Number to the Secretary. We do not issue any permits on the bank, and you will be asked to leave if you do not have one.

General Rules for Night Fishing the Weir Streams only 

• No enclosed bivvies to be used only open fronted shelters.

• No bed chairs allowed on the rivers2 Rods Maximum

• Anglers are permitted to leave their ‘swim’ for a maximum of 90 minutes in any one single 24 hour period. Any longer and the ‘swim’ must be vacated.

• Do not leave rods unattended

• Swims cannot under any circumstances be ‘reserved’ by placing buckets etc. into swims.

• Fish retaining ‘sacks’ or Keepnets are not allowed

If you are going out to fish these venues, please adhere to the Government/Angling Trust guidelines.

• Please do not fish near moored boats.
• Keep 15m apart from other anglers
• Do not clutter the towpath. Other people need to walk there.
• Try fishing where the towpath is wider. 
• Do not use keepnets
• Use PPE to open and close gates etc...
• Carry Hand Gel

........most of all get out there and enjoy it. Stay Safe, Stay Alert

Don't forget your Rod Licence and Club Permit.

More details here https://canalrivertrust.org.uk/enjoy-the-waterways/fishing/fishing-skills/get-fishing-in-six-easy-steps

We will still hold out to get our fixtures started for the start of the season. However this looks highly unlikely under the current circumstances.

We are also looking at ways to stop social gathering.

• Paying pools up front will be a no brainer. We can do this via Paypal when you book in. We can also payout this way.
• Drawing can be done by the Match Secretary only
• We hope to have a cradle to make weighing in a single man process.

These are just some ideas. If you have any please email Alan Campbell.

We may also get the go ahead to start getting down to Sandford and start the work parties. Again this will have to be done within Government guidelines

In the meantime Stay Safe

New Membership Starts Today!

Due to the shops being shut, this is the only option. When the shops re-open, this will also cause an issue as the outlets will only offer CARD only sales due to Government restrictions with handling money. Permits are sold in the shops CASH only, due to the VAT payments. This could result on a delay for your permit, as the shop will have to send the application to myself
So please use the Membership request through the club now. We are geared up to get your permit to your door, without even leaving the house (unless you are posting)
If you are requesting a Night Fishing permit for the weir streams, these will only be issued through the club. They will not be distributed to the shops.

Thanks again for your continued support

Stay safe.

We will try and organise a meeting/presentation when we get the ok.

In the meantime, if you have any proposals please still email them to me or phone me. If it' a match rule that may effect the coming season, I will put it to the vote on our Facebook page. Stay safe

Spring League 2020

COVID-19 Resource Hub

For Individual Anglers

The match will be fished at Club Lake on Sunday 26th April 2020

Next Match

Sunday 19th April Ivy House

Sunday 3rd May Hunts Corner Pond

Sunday 24th May Frobury Farm

Please book in early as we have limited pegs on these venues. Loyalty Points will apply for all matches

Please book in with Alan Campbell

Next Match

We are aware of "Storm Dennis" this weekend. A decision will be made Saturday if the weather puts anglers at risk due to high winds!

Please contact Steve Pitson or Alan Campbell

The match will now take place the following Sunday at Donnington

Promoting Fishing on Old Father Thames

Two long established angling clubs in the Oxford and Reading areas have decided to enter into a new water sharing agreement with aim of encouraging more anglers to experience some of the great fishing that the River Thames has to offer.  

Reading & District Angling Association (RDAA) have offered Oxford based Littlemore Angling Society (LAS) members free access to over two miles of the Thames at Northmoor and Sandford weir stream in return with help with bailiffing and maintenance. Littlemore are offering RDAA members fishing on their waters at Sandford Meadows and Kennington below Oxford. The arrangements exclude match days but both clubs are in discussions about the possibility of holding joint matches on the river.  

Both these stretches of the Thames produce excellent bags of roach, big catches of bream in certain areas as well as chub, barbel, pike and perch to specimen sizes. 

Angling Trust Policy Chief and RDAA President Martin Salter said: 

“The middle Thames is full of fish these days and some of the recent match weights have been nothing short of spectacular yet outside of competitions it is rare to see more than a handful of people fishing this wonderful river. I’m delighted that we’ve been able to open up more fishing for members of both clubs and we hope our partnership will encourage other angling associations to enter into similar arrangements. After all, why compete when you can cooperate.” 

Alan Campbell, Secretary of Littlemore Angling Society added: 

“ We already have the fishing on some of the bank opposite the RDAA waters at Sandford Weir and I know our barbel anglers in particular will welcome the opportunity to have full access to the weir pool. The RDAA stretch at Northmoor, above Oxford, has a good pedigree but has been under fished for years. It will certainly be another good option for our members and we know that the Reading anglers will enjoy some of the great roach and chub fishing that we have to offer below the weir stream at Sandford Meadows and for the bream up at Kennington. This arrangement is a ‘win win’ for both clubs.” 

Thames specialist and angling journalist Keith Arthur said:  

“How refreshing to see clubs who could easily be rivals collaborating to achieve the best outcomes for their members and, especially, the future of some brilliant wild fishing on the River Thames. In most walks of life there’s no doubt teamwork has enormous benefits and this is a fine example.” 

The new arrangements come into force from June 16th 2020