LEE ANGLERS' CONSORTIUM
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Introduction Last edited 22/07/2010 18:24:39 43 pages
The Lee Anglers' Consortium, which is managed by anglers for anglers, was formed in 1992 with the objective of improving the River Lee Navigation as a fishery to be enjoyed by all. The Lee Navigation starts at Hertford and flows downstream to Bow. The river holds roach, bream, perch, chub, tench, carp, dace, pike and zander as its main species. To improve facilities and services to anglers we have developed this web site. The bad news for me is that in December 2008 I have had to replace my computer.Most of the web site design was undertaken by an expert, and the software is unavailable to me and probably would not run on Vista. So for the past two months I have tried to teach myself how to update the site with different software. So if you are reading this, at least, it means I have had some measure of success without really understanding what I am doing. Time has long passed by since the LAC could afford to bring in professional help.The river guide pages are reproductions of the original Handbook and River Guide (now out of print) and were printed some years ago. They were re-written in 2006 to take account the current conditions. Please bare in mind that the maps are not drawn to scale.
Some of the sections are permanently pegged and on some stretches there are platforms. We do ask you to respect these facilities. On the ‘River Guides’ page you will find a link to three photo galleries with over 70 images of the Lee Navigation.
About the Lee Anglers' Consortium
In 1992 the LAC was formed to take over the management of the Lee Navigation from British Waterways (BW). It took control of 22 miles of the 29 miles that are navigable from Bow (London) to Hertford. There being a seven mile stretch at Hoddesdon run by the Lee Valley Regional Park Authority (LVRPA) and a privately owned fishery. The LAC holds a licence to fish from BW. We have been governed what we can do by our licence agreement and the Environment Agency bye laws.
The management is run by a committee formed from delegates of the clubs in the Consortium. Originally there was over 50 clubs but now the number has reduced to just over 20. The energy came from my old friend, the late Terry Mansbridge. Terry had so many plans for the Lee it was hard to keep him from spending all our resources in one year. Despite many teething problems which were all overcome the LAC was very successful mainly because the fishing was so good throughout its length and at that time there were no alternative fishing that is now available from commercial fisheries. Anglers lined the bank every day of the week with many weekend matches and plenty of summer evening matches. You could walk along the river and watch the skills of England internationals gracing the Lee. Bob Nudd, Ivan Marks, Keith Arthur, Dickie Carr and the Vincent brothers, Dave and Micky were but a few. We had a team of bailiffs and every year our income exceeded our expenditure allowing for the installation of platforms, weed maintenance and restocking programmes.
Now we have the current trend to poach our fishery for commercial gain and even food for the table.
If you see this sort of snare please report your findings.
The Future?
This is one question I cannot answer. by now, I wish that someone from a member club and the next generation down would have been knocking at my door to take over the running of the LAC as I believe it is not a job for a pensioner. However, I have pledged my continuance, in the absence of a successor to the LAC and its members, BW, EA and our bailiffs. We will take each year as it comes and continue to discuss the fishery management with BW. the navigation is a local amenity that should be able to provide decent fishing at a low cost for residents in the Lee Valley. It has always been a fishery that enables you to spend a few hours of your free time enjoying your favourite hobby. The management is important as without it the river quickly goes in decline and results in a free for all for those interested in something for nothing.
The Lee FAP will continue to work for the Lee Valley fisheries. From the many issues raised in its documents it is clear, being realistic, that some will not be achievable but others could be if finance was available. To this end the FAP has agreed to engage a FAP Coordinator to raise funds from either the private sector or the grant aided bodies to meet the objectives of the Lee FAP and to promote the actions undertaken by its' members and partners. If such an action is successful then no doubt there will be some advantages for the Lee Navigation.
You are all aware that the Olympic village is being constructed on the banks of the Lee at Bow by 2012.This is obviously going to impinge on our fishing in this area. At present we are completely in the dark how angling will be affected. I am sure you appreciate that there is no way the LAC can influence what is happening in Bow. So as soon as we have any positive news I will post it on the web site 'news' page.
It is hoped that you can enjoy your fishing on the Navigation. It is important to me that there is a feedback of your experiences. Such information is passed onto to the EA as part of their surveys. We know there is a cormorant problem but at the moment there is nothing we can do. We know the north section has a crayfish problem and in the past we have worked with the EA by trapping and thousands of these beasts have been removed but has it made any difference?. We know there are poachers. If you see them do you report them to the EA? We know also know that anglers are catching bags of fish and specimens but we get no feed back. I have rewritten most of the river guides as they had not been updated since 1994. If you read these notes you will see that for certain stretches I am unable to elaborate because lack information. So please let me know your experiences whether good or bad.
Thanks for reading these notes which hopefully put you in the picture concerning the LAC. I wish you all a good time on the banks of the Lee navigation and I trust we can continue to provide angling in the coming years ahead.
Dennis Meadhurst
August 2006 updated January 2009
Mr Dennis Meadhurst CPFA
Secretary & Accountant
Lee anglers Consortium
PO B OX 19426
London
E4 8HT
02085247270
07932001443
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