NEWS

21 June 2008
New Season Fish
Steven Young took this fine tench 4.08.00 from Stanstead Abbotts on tuti fruity boilee

Tom Kemp caught this 24lb mirror carp from Hertford Folly.

Roach were being caught at Rye House and also at Hertford Lock on breadpunch

15 March 2008
End of season carp
Steven Young finished the season on a high at Stanstead Abbotts. Fishing tuti fruity boillie he had three carp weighing 10, 13 and the best a 23 lb mirror carp.

11 March 2008
Images
Today I received the following photogaphs from a member. I am not sure they are all taken from the Lee Navigation but you will all probably recognise the Zander and Enfield Lock area.

Perch 3.10.00 26 Feb 2008

Zander 6.00.00 19 Oct 2007

Pike 14.08.00 24 Feb 2008

Carp 20.08.00 26 Oct 2007

6 March 2008
Perch and Bream coming from Feildes Weir, Rye House and Stanstead Abbots
I have, today, received further reports of big perch coming from these stretches. Perch are being taken on lobworm to float with the best weighing in at 4.03.00. At the weekend an angler had a 8.04.00 bream from Feildes Weir. Remember you only have until the end of the 14th March to fish above Cheshunt. The upper Lee does not open again until 16th June 2008

Tickets for 2008/9 season are now available see membership.

Newsletter 'The Lee Angler' Published March 2008
You can find a downloadable edition in 'PDF' format for printing under 'Delegates Meetings'

26 February 2008
3rd Party Events 2008
British Waterways have notified us of the following approved events for 2008

Here is a list of the events coming up so far on the River Lee and Stort.

Bishops Stortford Sprint Regatta, this is a canoe race between Twyford Lock and Southmill Lock – Sunday 30th March starting at 10.30 am

Hertford Shires Rotary Dragon Boat Challenge 2008, this is a charity dragon boat event on the River Lea in Ware – Saturday 14th June starting at 10 am

Lea Spring Regatta, River Lea at Spring Hill , this is a rowing regatta over a course of 600 metres with a stake boat start – Sunday 27th April starting at 9.30 am

Sponsored Walk in aid of the Pirate Club, Starting at Tottenham Lock and finishing at Camden Lock – Saturday 24th May 2008 at 10.30 am

Run the River 5 mile, starting at Tottenham Marsh and finishing at Tottenham Marsh – Saturday 6th July starting at 10 am

Stanstead Abbotts Riverside Festival, 1-5pm stalls on the green beside the Jolly Fisherman pub, from 7-11pm there will be live music outside the Jolly Fisherman Pub. This takes place on Saturday 21st June on Lee Valley Regional Park Authority property. On BW land there will be boat trips on the river run by the Canal project.

Annual Pilgrimage Sponsored Walk , Lee Valley towpath – Ware to Waltham Abbey, start on towpath south of Ware Bridge and finishing in the Lea Valley barbeque site, Highbridge Street, Waltham.

25th February 2008
Lee Trout
You may have heard of a number of trout being caught on dead baits from the Feildes Weir to Rye House Bridge stretch. They are in the region of 2 lbs and are confusing everyone as to exactly what species they are. I have received phone e mail images and discussed these pictures with the Environment Agency. No definitivedecisions were made so last week the EA electro fished the weir. They turned over a shoal of quality bream and one pike in excess of 20 lbs.

The electro could not work at the deep parts of the weir. However, eventually they caught two trout and two scales were removed from the fish before they were returned.

The EA have informed us that the scales came from brown trout of 4 and 5 years old. They were probably washed down from Amwell Trout Fishery during the heavy December rains.
Please let us know if you have caught one of these fish anywhere on the Navigation.
Perch
Throughout the autumn and winter there have been several big perch caught from the Navigation. In the last few weeks news came though of two anglers catching 13 perch in a morning on legered lobworm in the Stanstead Abbotts area. The fish ranged from 1 lbs up to a best 4 lbs. Update big perch are still being caught in early March.

Pollution
The local TV news covered the first incident where diesel spillage injured up to 30 swans. The EA attended this incident and tracked back the pollution to the Salmon's Brook near Edmonton. They could not find the source. Then in the evening of Sunday 24th more diesel was seen covering almost the whole width of the river below Stonebridge Lock. I am awaiting the EA's report on this incident. It looks as though the diesel floated on the river's surface and there was no fish kill. I would be pleased if you could keep your eye on this section and notify me or Tom, the bailiff of any further pollution, dead birds or fish and even any reports of fish being caught in this once very popular stretch.

Springfield Marina
Local TV news also carried the story of sewage floating on the Lee in this area and making life unpleasant for the rowers and the future Olympic visitors. It is funny that we have been complaining about the mis-connnected drains relating to new buildings and unmapped very old sewage pipes for years but nothing gets done. The effect it has had on the once big fish populations from Springfield to Lea Bridge has been ignored for years. Such a clean up will be a massive cost to the authorities and perhaps their embarrassment for 2012 will be our best hope for some action. What have you seen in this area and has any fish been seen or caught in this area over the past couple of years.

7th November 2007
Small restocking
The Environment Agency have stocked 3000 small roach at Enfield Town.

Fish Movements
The winter roach shoals are gathering under the A406 road bridge at Edmonton. Punch bread and hemp will provide the best rewards.
Skimmers still showing at Ponders End to pinkie and squatt and also breadpunch.
Pike and chub showing at Feildes Weir.
Recent morning frosts have turned off the roach at Rye House but if warmer mornings return the roach should show near to the road bridge. In the meantime try lobworm for perch up to 4 lbs.

12th September 2007
Countryside Live on Lee Navigation, Highbridge Street, Waltham Abbey
Once again this year on Thursday 20th & Friday 21st September the Country Fair for Schools will be held on the banks of the Lee Navigation. Invited children from local schools will be given the opportunity to receive angling coaching from 4 NFA and 4 Thames 21 coaches. Other events include Country dogs, Birds of Prey and Racing pigeons. So please avoid this stretch if you intend fishing the Lee on these two days.

12th September 2007
Big Lee Navigation Tench
Reported in this week's Angling Times with picture showed John Harrris of London with a tench weighing 8.04.00 caught on breadflake form Enfield Lock. That is the biggest Lee tench I have ever had reported.

6th June 2007
Third Party Events
I refer you to my note dated 28th March 2007 where I gave you notice of an event on Saturday 23rd June.
The Lee Valley Parks have now provided details of 'Pedalo Power' on Saturday 23rd June. But cricket fans dont rush to it as I have it on good authority that Fred Flintoff will not be competing. Six teams will be pedalling from Broxbourne to Tottenhan Marshes to celebrate the LVRPA 40th anniversary. The race will consist of nine legs going through 8 locks. There will be 4 members per team, plus a cyclist as a coach/safety watch plus 6 members to ride in the passenger boat accompanying the pedalo's. The mayhem is scheduled to start at 8.15 am and finish 5.00pm.
(If the pedalo doesn't mess your day up please beware of the cyclist riding over your pole or splashing your back as they go through the puddles, it is raining). (Also don't forget the Dragon Boat Challenge at Ware on the same day). It is surprising they haven't challenged each other! (To be safe that leaves you from Feildes Weir to Hertford and Stonebridge Lock downstream).

6th June 2007
Bailiffs
I am pleased to notify you that we have appointed Denis Cavanagh and Martin Phipps as bailiffs for the northern section previously conducted by Dave Anderson. Denis will also be Tom's back up for his beat. They are volunteers and will not carry out the full range of duties that Dave undertook.

6th June 2007
Fish movements
Shoals of bream have been seen in the Lower Lee. A large shoal of quality roach were in the Cooks Ferry area spawning on the weed. Cormorant numbers have increased wherever fish have been showing especially where the water is very clear. Good tench have been caught in the Waltham Cross to Dunlops Bend area and the odd bream to 61/2 lbs have been taken. Take a walk along the Enfield stretch if you are a carp angler. Pick a calm day and watch the far bank.

17th April 2007
BW News
Bow Back Rivers and the 2012 Olympics
British Waterways secured agreement and final funding for the Prescott Lock and Water Control Structures in February. The £18.9m project is funded by the Olympic Delivery Authority, London Thames Gateway Development Corporation, Transport for London, the Department for Transport and British Waterways and is a major step towards the restoration of the rivers in the Lower Lea Valley. The structure will serve a range of functions including: controlling the upstream rivers at a navigable depth (3m headroom and 2.4-2.1m draft) for commercial and leisure traffic; enabling extensive works to be carried out to the existing channels within the Olympic Park; preventing the influx of the tide, and tidally-borne detritus; and increasing fluvial flood storage capacity of the Lower Lea Valley. British Waterways’ principal contractor set up its works compound on Three Mills Island and began preparing the site last month. The first piles will be driven toward the end of April, and ‘tidal lock-out’ is planned for December. The new lock is programmed to be operational in August 2008, in time to service the main Olympic construction phase.
One of the major functions of the structure will be to create a freight path between the Olympic Park/Stratford City and the Thames and it is estimated that at the peak of construction the structure will help to take 1,200 lorry journeys off local roads each week. The lock has been designed to the maximum navigable dimensions of the waterways which will enable it to take two, 350-tonne barges at a time. There will be a four- to six- hour tidal window for navigating up Bow Creek and British Waterways is working with a range of commercial operators on the precise method of operation. The lock will be able to service both the Olympic Park and future developments planned in the area, such as Stratford City. Although the initial cargoes are likely to be construction materials, in the longer term it is anticipated that this will be replaced by waste and recyclates. British Waterways is also discussing with the Olympic planners and other partners opportunities for leisure and tourism boating facilities in the area.
This project has been made possible by the considerable support and advice of a wide range of groups and organisations, including: the IWA, NABO, AWCC, IWAAC, Environment Agency, Natural England, Port of London Authority, Sea & Water, Lea Valley Park Regional Authority, LB Newham, River Lea Tidal Mill Trust, representatives of all the main political parties and many more.

Tottenham Hale Wharf Footbridge
Following a successful DCLG (Department for Communities & Local Government) bid, BW has secured funding to construct a new landmark footbridge over the River Lee Navigation, north of Ferry Lane in Tottenham. Following the design competition in November 2006 BW selected two contractors to develop their ideas in more detail. BW will review both submissions and appoint one of these contractors to design and build the bridge, with construction planned to start in late summer 2007.

16th April 2007
A brace of carp from Picketts Lock
I have just received these photographs of a 24-12-00 common and a 13-12.00 mirror caught above Picketts Lock.Thank you Ryan for the feed back and well done.

29th March 2007
EA Rod licences
I did not know until I tried this week that you cannot obtain an online licence for concessionary OAP's and people with disabilities. The EA state that there is no way of verification of proof that I am over 65. Yet you have to give your date of birth. Also when I went to the Post Office all they needed was a sight of my current licence. So surely there should not be a problem with renewals on line because you could enter your current licence number so that it could be verified on their data base. Thus leaving just the first time applications as the problem year. Have you had similar problems?

28th March 2007 Update
The past few months have been very quiet with very few anglers on the bank. Most of the hardened soles out there were season ticket holders. I have no winter reports of fish from the Navigation. Unfortunately the extremely wet winter badly affected the stretches below the Turkey Brook outlet. It seems to take weeks for the muddy water to pass through the system.
Season tickets are now available for 2007/8 and so far 85 individuals have renewed their membership. Also 14 clubs have continued membership of the Consortium.
I was please to find that the two trees obstructing the Feildes Weir platforms have been removed but I cannot thank anyone because I do not know who cleared the obstruction away.!
I continue to attend the EA Lee Fishery Action Plan but I must report that there has been little progress from this Group. This is hardly unexpected when the Environment Agency and British Waterways are continually having less budget money allocated to fisheries. Those of you who have read the FAP report will know that various issues and projects have been identified but require finance beyond any sums that are available. As a result we are trying to engage a fund raising officer who will try to attract private finance to bring some of these schemes into fruition.
On Monday April 2nd the Environment Agency is hoping to carry out a electro fish survey of the Ponders End upstream to the Turkey Brook. It should prove very interesting what they find on this very underfished part of the Navigation.

You will recall that early 2006 I reported the sad loss of our old friend Terry Mansbridge. His wife, Christine, wished to have a memorial bench placed along the towing path in his name. After long discussions, BW agreed that her wish could be granted albeit not at the site she wanted. The bench was delivered to BW back in November but they have still to install it eventhough all of the costs are being met by Christine. However, hopefully the bench is soon to be installed at Ponders End Lock where Terry often could be seen fishing with his mates. So I ask you all when the bench is there to ensure the site is clean and tidy for me. Just spend a moment reflecting on all his hard work for the Lee Angler and make sure it is being respected. Thank You.

There is a note under 'Bookings' that the OAP/Disabled Anglers Match will again be held at Enfield on Wednesday August 1st. This match is open to all anglers and I will be pleased to receive your booking for the match. Alternatively if you are fit and abled bodied why not come along and assist as most of my helpers on the day, including myself, well qualify to fish.

Newsletter 'The Lee Angler' Published March 2007
You can find a downloadable edition in 'PDF' format for printing under 'Delegates Meetings'

17th December 2006
The Environment Agency has completed a small restocking of juvenile fish all around the 1 to 2 ounce
mark at Enfield Lock adjacent to the Island bridge. The details were roach 500, chub 300, dace 150, skimmers 250 and crucian carp 200.

30th September 2006
The picture below shows a typical carp caught this season from the Lee Navigation. Taken from near the Chalk Bridge, Edmonton on floating bread it weighed almost 30lbs.

25th August 2006
Roach are showing along the Navigation at Enfield and Waltham Cross to those anglers fishing light and delicate presenting breadpunch, casters and hemp and tares. Fish to 6 ozs are being caught with ags to 10 lbs. An additional bonus at some pegs at Watham Cross are a number of young tench between 2 inches and 6 inches with a few going to 1.04.00 pounds.

16th August 2006
Feildes Weir
We have a serious litter problem on this fishery. The litter bins provided are not being emptied by BW's contractors. Up until last year the LAC held the litter picking contract but this was taken away from us by BW. As a consequence the litter bin facility on this fishery has been abused. As soon as the bins are full it should be the responsibility of every angler to take their litter home for disposal. Today our bailiffs collected 18 sacks fulls of rubbish. This is unacceptable and as a result the bins have been removed so that the Fishery reverts to a 'no litter' fishery. So what you bring please take ome with you.
I am getting nowhere regarding the state of the willows on this fishery. Those who have visited will know that one particular branch has fallen into the weir pool and taken root. Both BW and the EA (Flood Defence) refuse to remove the obstructions to your fishing and the water flow. It is beyond the LAC's licence agreement to even attempt to remove such large trees bearing in mind the risk assessment and health and safety implications.

16th June 2006
Bailff: Dave Anderson
Despite putting out notices to all member clubs no one has come forward to act as our bailiff on the northern beat on a part time or part beat basis. The income from this stretch can no longer sustain a ull time bailff so we were hoping a recently retired angler in good health and mobile would be interested.
In the absence of a new bailiff, Dave Anderson has agreed to continue in a part time capacity. Dave will continue to complete our crayfish trapping contract with the EA and will get along the bank as much as he can. Dave will continue to have full bailiff powers and act on behalf of the LAC.

3rd May 2006
British Waterways London User Group
I have received the latest set of papers from BW and I have picked a few issues out that may be of interest to you. Please e-mail with any observations you have.

• City Mill Lock Restoration The gates have been installed along with new stop planks at the Waterworks River end of the lock. The contractors will install duct and ram pits for the future mechanism of the lock over the next few weeks.
• Tow Path Tidy During the first week end of April, office based staff teamed up with bankside staff and volunteers from the public to help tidy up the waterways. No work was carried out on the LAC stretches.
• Waste Recycling The new water borne weed season will be with us again on the Lower Lee, but for the first time, instead of simply collecting and disposing 100 tons per day (at peak) to land fill, BW will be trialling taking waste to the new 43 acre London EcoPark in Edmonton for recycling into compost. Large items recovered, such as refrigerators and household furniture will also be recycled at this plant.
• Vegetation BW staff have cleared a significant amount of overgrown vegetation from the towpath side to river edge on Lower and Upper sections of the Lee. The waterway supervisors responsible for these sections will continue to work with BW London Ecologist to tackle overgrown vegetation in a responsible and practical manner.
  Have you guys got any views on the work you may have seen so far? If so please e-mail me.
• Tree Management Plan The contract for the Tree Management Plan for the whole waterway has been awarded and work has started. The report/survey should be completed and circulated to BW management teams by the end of April 2006.
• Enforcement Following the recruitment of a new East London Mooring Coordinator BW will have a full time dedicated Patrol Officer covering the Lee and Stort.Bow Back Rivers and the Olympics 2012 BW is in dialogue with the Olympic master planners about securing the most sustainable restoration possible for the waterways in and around the Olympic Park. BW are working in partnership with the other Defra-sponsored agencies, the EA and English Nature, to ensure that the use of the waterways is maximized for leisure and commercial traffic, biodiversity, flood conveyance and public access. BW are also working closely with a range of partners, including the Port of London Authority, LVRPA, Sea & Water, the IWA, AWCC, NABO and several commercial operators to promote greater understanding of the potential for regenerating the waterways.
• Lee Valley BW has secured a grant of £2.5 million from the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister, London to Stansted Corridor Growth Area Fund. The grant will be used to design andbuild a bridge at Hale Wharf, Tottenham to improve access between Hale Wharf and the LVR Park.
• BW's new Stonebridge Lock Waterside Centre is now managed on BW's behalf by Friends of Tottenham Marshes.
• Lower Lee Valley In partnership with Leaside Regeneration Ltd, BW has successfully bid for c£100k from the London Gateway Development Corporation for the design of a new floating towpath under the A11 Bow Flyover to provide safe access under one of the busiest road crossings in east London. The project will lead to the submission of a future bid for construction funding.
• Angling leaflet a new angling leaflet detailing information about clubs will soon be available. It will be given out at local events and distributed through local offices and the information boat.

3rd May 2006
Bailiff: Dave Anderson
After many years service for the LAC Dave has decided to leave the LAC at the end of May. His services will be greatly missed and I am sure you all join me in wishing every success in his future away from the Lee Navigation.

3rd May 2006
The late Terry Mansbridge
It is with great regret that I have to report that our Vice President, Terry Mansbridge died in hospital on Thursday 20th April 2006. Terry was a personal friend of mine but for those who had just met him briefly you will have realised how easy he was to get on with particularly with his knack of being able to communicate just as easily with either anglers on the bank or with government officials at high powered meetings. I do not intend to list everything his was doing for you as anglers but it was Terry who revived the Consultative set up in the Lee Valley. More importantly in 1992 he was the leading figure with his management team that set up the the LAC. It thrived very successfully until the cormorants arrived in 1996. When, in 1999, he moved on to live in Norfolk he told me that you may win a few battles but never the war. How right he was. Since his move he has worked behind the scenes to assist the LAC in its working relationships with British Waterways and the Environment Agency and, indeed, he was instrumental in getting the Lee Valley its Fisheries Action Plan.

Terry will be greatly missed and our condolences have been sent to this widow, Christine and family.

2nd April 2006
Roach showing at Ponders opposite Ford factory
Last Sunday roach were being caught along this stretch. Fish fairly short on the pole to bread punch. Nets to 5lbs can be expected with a few around a 8 inch mark.

8th March 2006
Newsletter 'The Lee Angler' Published March 2006
You can find a downloadable edition in 'PDF' format for printing under 'Delegates Meetings'

8th March 2006
Close Season
Please remember you can continue fishing from Bow up to Aqueduct Lock, Cheshunt in the 'old close season'. But there is no fishing from Aqueduct Lock right through upstream to the source of the Lee no matter who holds the fishing rights.

3rd March 2006
Young angler, 15 year old Elfie Nethercot netted a fine 14lb pike from the Navigation at Enfield. Elfie used float fished sprat on size 8 hooks.

24th January 2006
Big Perch and Pike
One of the biggest recorded pike at 30lb 4oz from the Lee Navigation has been caught by Paul Thompson from St. Albans. This specimen came out at Waltham Abbey to floatfished lamprey. His bait had only been in the water for 10 minutes and nearly doubled Paul's previous personal best.
We also received a report of a 3lb perch from Ware. Gary Edmonds caught his personal best perch on a 4" inch rubber jig with a flourescent green tail.

5th August 2005
Roach on hempseed.
Now is the time to try those forgotten hempseed fishing skills but remember you are not normally rewarded with instant bites as you would with breadpunch but the stamp of fish should be a lot bigger. It has been reported that bags to 11lbs have been taken in the last few days in the Enfield area. Try not to overcook the seed and your hook pieces should be just ready to take the bend of the hook in the slit that opens after boiling the seed. Alternatively try use a knot picker or baiting needle to make a whole where the seed joined the plant and pass your hook through the hole you have made so that it just shows through the split. It is important whatever method you use to have the point of the hook showing and feed hempseed little but often. Use fine line and light hooks with a decent gape but if the roach are really having it try a larger hook to say size 16.You may have to wait an hour before you get your first bite indications but if you find the fish it should be worthwhile.

5th August 2005
Saturday August 6th
Lee FAP Launch
The Environment Agency officially launch its FAP programme at Hayes Hill Barn, Stubbins Hall Lane, off Old Nazeing Road, Waltham Abbey. The event will commence at 11 am and finish at 3 pm. A buffet lunch will be served and all anglers are welcome. Representation will be from EA, BW, VRPA, RMC Angling, LAC and the LVACA.

1st July 2005
Tow path closure from the Swan & Pike Pool Enfield to North Circular Road (A406)
Please note that rather belatedly British Waterways have put closure notices up stating that part or all of the tow path along this stretch is to be relaid (so that the cyclists can go even faster!!!!!!!!) and will be closed for about 4 weeks from July 13th. Please watch for signs on the river bank as I am afraid there is little point ringing our number as it seems our office is always last to find out what is happening along the navigation. A call to the bailiff may help.

30th June 2005
Feildes Weir Good fishing
Dave informs me that the weir pool is producing quality bream to 71/2 lbs and chub up to 5lbs. So why not try out our new facility.

14th June 2005
Feildes Weir OPEN for the start of the river season.
I am pleased to be able to report that the new platforms at Feildes Weir will be open on Thursday for the start of the new season. Each platform has been designed for use by disabled anglers and there is a hardstanding on the other side of the lock bridge for 2 disabled anglers' cars. Day tickets available on the bank at £3 and £1.50 for concessions. Please report your catches at this new facility and help us to look after it.

24th May 2005
Fish Refuges installed upstream of Tottenham
The Environment Agency and British Waterways have combined resources under the umbrella of the Lee Fishery Action Plan programme to provide 32 fish refuges tethered to the far bank upstream of Tottenham Locks. Each refuge has wire mesh beneath the water to allow fish to swim to safety but obstruct predating cormorants. They also have surface weed growth including water buttercups.

4th April 2005
Newsletter 'The Lee Angler' Published March 2005
You can find a downloadable edition in 'PDF' format for printing under 'Delegates Meetings'

20th March 2005
Carp
My news article of the 6th January stated that carp were restocked at Enfield and at long last I have received the first report of them being caught. On Sunday fishing early morning on the boats just below Rammey Marsh Lock a carp angler caught 9 mirrors in the 3 to 4 lbs weight on mini boilies.They were all in good condition and hopefuly the warmer weather has brought them on the feed.

20th March 2005
Close Season
Please remember you can continue fishing from Bow up to Aqueduct Lock, Cheshunt in the 'old close season'. But there is no fishing from Aqueduct Lock right through upstreamto the source of the Lee no matter who holds the fishing rights.

19th January 2005
Feildes Weir Refurbishment
Please note that our bank (east) is currently shut for major refurbishment. The work entails making the fishery accessible to disabled anglers. There will be 8 new platforms with good paths to each peg. There will also be 2 car hardstandings for disabled anglers on the fishery. In addition when totally completed the Feildes Charity Trust will have toilet and refreshment facilities in a building adjacent to the lock house. This work is being funded by the Lee Anglers Consortium, British Waterways, Environment Agency and Waterways Trust. The project has been in the pipeline for 3 years now and the required funding only came together with the advent of the Lee Fishery Action Plan. Groundworks (Herts) are project managing the site.
Work in progress

6th January 2005
Carp Restocking
British Waterways have just given the LAC 300kg of carp averaging about 1.5kg which means about 200 fish. For us old ones that means about 660 lbs of fish each weighing an average of about 3.3 lbs.
They have been introduced along the boom stretch between the Greyhound PH and Rammey Marsh Lock, Enfield. They are perfect miiror carp specially reared to this size to be cormorant proof.
If you are lucky enough to catch these fish please report your catches to our e mail address or inform your bailiff, Tom.
If you witness any abuse or people trying to snare and steal these fish please report the incident to Tom, local police or the Environment Agency.
It is hoped that they are sufficiently developed for their immune systems to get them through their first difficult year. You will recall that previous stockings have seen carp develop sores and also they seem to have a will of their own to swim downstream through the locks. Please report any activities of these fish you are aware of. Also if you are lucky enough to sit on the shoal please to not overcrowd your keepnet. Treat your catch as if you were on a commercial venue.

For the sceptics I would like to point out that the LAC cannot afford to stock silver fish and if we are offered any fish I am sure it is better to accept and turn a generous hand away. I was hoped that the EA would be able to find small quantities of young silver fish to assist with the 'fish refuges' project at Enfield but you are all probably aware from the weekly national angling papers that the EA has had to close its two major fish farms down and destroy their entire stock because of desease.
Personally I would love to restock the Navigation with good sized roach, perch, bream and dace but there are not enough anglers fishing to bring the required income to finance such projects. How about finding us a sponsor!

3rd January 2005
Lee Navigation Licence.
The LAC are pleased to announce that it has just agreed an extension to its existing licence to continue to control its angling rights along the Lee.This includes a new rental agreement for the last year of the current licence together with an additional two years. LAC, secretary, Dennis Meadhurst in discussuion with BW's Fisheries and Environmental Manager, John Ellis are both keen to see the partnership continue especially with the introduction of the Lee Fishery Action Plan. The LAC have already benefitted in kind from being a prominent member of the FAP Steering Group. It is hoped that with the new agreement lasting to March 2008 that all parties involved with the future of angling , aquatic and environmental life on the Lee will now have sufficient time to see some of the initial groundwork bear some results.

19th September 2004
CORMORANTS DEFRA PRESS RELEASE
Many readers will be aware that NAFAC has lead the campaign against cormorant predation on our fisheries for many years including a recent submission that they should be placed on the General Licence list. Following this there has been intensive consultation between Defra and The Moran Committee represented by Terry Mansbridge (Chairman of the Bird Group) and S&T Director, Paul Knight, during the course of which there have been meetings with Fisheries Minister, Ben Bradshaw MP.
As result of all this on Thursday 16 th September 2004, in answer to a written parliamentary question
by Martin Salter MP (Government spokesman for angling), the Minister announced a number of policy changes that will affect the way these birds are dealt with when they become a problem for a fishery. The main changes are as follow:
Licensing Changes.
The existing policy is to permit the killing of a small number of birds to aid non-lethal methods of scaring This will change and in future the policy will be to grant licences to kill and take those birds causing problems.
One of the main problems for licence applicants in the past has been providing evidence of serious damage, which can be extremely difficult to prove. In fact about 70% of all applications failed on this point alone. In a further change of policy Defra will now accept where there are a significant number of cormorants at a fishery the presumption will now be that serious damage is occurring. Of course
the law still requires that Defra must be satisfied that there is no other satisfactory solution to killing them before a licence can be issued. However applicants will not have to actively demonstrate that they have tried all available techniques, as Defra will accept that some current methods are impractical on some sites.
One of the main effects of the new policy is that more birds will be shot. The current limit of about 600 will be increased to 2,000 with a possibility of increasing the number to 3,000 if necessary. However if the conservation status of the birds is threatened then these figures will have to be
reviewed.
Licences will now be issued for a period of up to two years and not the current one-year or less.
The period when licences are granted will be extended when necessary to give protection at specific times such as where coarse fish are known to spawn and following stocking of fish when they are particularly vulnerable. Licences will be issued in advance to anticipate these events, which can often be predicted with reasonable accuracy.
I n future licences can be issued without a site visit unless it is a new application. However all sites will be visited at least once every two years. Licences may be amended by telephone; fax or e-mail and Defra are currently working on a system whereby the entire application can be made by e-mail.
Defra will ensure that the Environment Agency and other agencies, such as British Waterways are aware of these changes and will encourage them to follow the new procedures where appropriate.
They will also provide one to one training by their own wildlife advisors to help first time applicants understand the licensing system, complete the application form and explain the practical application of fish refuges.
Further consideration will be given to funding research into refuges for large still waters and rivers.
LAC COMMENTS.
These changes of policy by Defra are welcomed and will significantly improve the ability of fishery managers to protect their fish stocks whilst not affecting the conservation status of the birds.
The LAC is extremely grateful to NAFAC for providing this information which has beeen edited for the LAC website.
Short of placing cormorants on the General List that would allow them to be hunted without a licence (arid that was never really going to happen in 2004!!) what has been achieved is all that could ever have hoped for.
From a Lee Navigation viewpoint very little will change as with all rivers and canals, especially those having towpaths and running through rural and urban areas, it would be impossible to allow the use of firearms in any public area. All we can hope is that our neighbouring fishery owners having private grounds in the Lee Valley do apply for licences and as a result we benefit from their culling. In addition perhaps we can encourage that more fish refuges are provided along the Lee Navigation.
12th September 2004
Towpath dog pollution
In March 2004 I received a British Waterways press release stating it was to install 1,000 new dog waste bins at popular towpath access points. It is know understood that the Lee Navigation will have 20 and the first have appeared at Enfield and Ponders End. Let us hope they are used and regularly emptied so that it might be easier to put your tackle down at your favourite peg.
9th September 2004
LAC Delegates Meeting
The autumn meeting took place on Thursday at the 'Rifles' PH Enfield Lock. Although the attendance was low there was still a quorum of delegates to allow the meeting to deal with all matters .Please turn to 'Delegates Meetings' for minutes of the meeting.
1st September 2004
Web site
From the 1st September 2004 the LAC Web site will gradually go live and be updated regularly. I trust you will find some of the site interesting and hopefully some of your experiences on the bank can be conveyed back to the office for inclusion in the site.
Lee Navigation Carp
Many of you may have read Gary Newman's 'Carp News and Views' article in the Angler's Mail this week. It reported that Mike Faulkner had caught a stunning 40 lb 1 oz mirror carp from the Lee Navigation. Apparently Mike has had numerous carp, many over 30 lbs, from the Lee over the past 7 years but he does not know where the carp have come from and why some have tags. Well over the past 10 ten years the LAC and British Waterways have stocked carp in the 1 lb to 2 lb range. Unfortunately they never stay where they are introduced and many have not survived the attention of cormorants and those undesirable people who fish the the Lee for food. However, those remaining have put on weight and can be found in nearly every stretch of the Navigation. The tagged fish about 1.5 lbs each were introduced at Enfield and Homerton Road in February and April 1997.The tags were coloured blue or yellow with either 'Environment Agency' or 'Lee Anglers' Consortium. The 1997 LAC journal provided more details and requested all anglers to report any tagged fish they had caught.
Roach fishing
Calling all roach anglers!
How many frustrated roach anglers are there out there? Are you fed up of catching carp from commercials at costly day ticket prices? Well why not give the Lee Navigation a try. For those of you who have not forgotten your hemp skills decent bags are being caught from Enfield and Ponders End. I am aware of a few 'old hands' bagging up along these stretches and there are probably more if we only knew. I personally tried this Wednesday and was pleasantly surprised with 18 old fashioned shield goer roach (to the younger generation that means roach over 8 inches) plus a few smaller ones and all taken on hemp at Ponders End and I wasn't the only 'olden' catching. I call that a good cheap day out.
15th August 2004
Dicker Mill, Hertford Platforms
Through the good offices of Louise Fishleigh, British Waterways Recreation Officer we have been provided with 14 fishing platforms along the stretch where the tow path is narrow and the river looks more like the Grand Union Canal. This will enable anglers to sit comfortably off the towing path away from other users and at water level. This is a popular stretch in the winter when bread punch offered finely on pole tactics will produce roach albeit of not great size. Below are a couple of photographs of these platforms.(not yet available). It took two years to negotiate for them to be installed and it was not without the National Association of Boat Owners lobbying for the scheme to be dropped but thankfully BW stuck to their promise.
4th May 2004 and ongoing
Lee Fishery Action Plan
To be able to achieve even the smallest improvement to protect our fishing one needs connections at the highest level and for the LAC they do not come much better that our President, Fred French and our Vice President, Terry Mansbridge. In particular we are indebted to Terry for his work as Executive Chairman of NAFAC. For those of you who have been fishing the Lee will remember that he was the Lee Administrator from its inception in 1992. In those days there were plenty of fish and anglers to make the LAC a thriving and financially viable Consortium. However, since 1996 which coincides with the cormorant invasion in the Lee Valley, the LAC has struggled to provide good fishing and the necessary finance for new projects. When I took over from Peter Green it was almost too late to save the whole of the Navigation. So it became our intention to concentrate on those stretches where fish populations have been held at reasonable levels.
When in 2001 I was asked whether I had the time to get involved with a new Government (DEFRA) scheme I was naturally sceptical. Everybody said that we have been down that road many times before but what had the LAC to lose. As a river for fishing it has nearly every problem conceivable.
So in 2002 the Lee FAP was formed with local stakeholders forming the committee with Environment Agency (EA) officers advising and carrying out most of the work. Being realistic and a retired accountant I was fully aware that there was no way the Government could or would provide the necessary funds to cure all of our problems. Nevertheless it gave us a platform to air our concerns and perhaps receive a little help. The EA officers are headed by Matt Carter and his assistant Richard Tyner and now Karen Austin. They are truly enthusiastic officers and without the constraints of their other duties and lack of resources I am sure they would wish to do a lot more.
Very shortly the Lee FAP report will be published highlighting the many problems in the Lee Valley. These relate not just to angling but others users but I have to say that despite invitations to provide input to the stakeholders meetings the main commitment has come from angling and much of the work has been concentrated on the Navigation.
The document which will provide a long 'wish list' of issues requiring attention. Each issue has been categorised into topics and levels of priority. Most require a lot more work before being considered and sadly some are well beyond the finances available to the FAP initiative. For example such issues as mis connected sewers etc require Government funding much like the recent problems of the tidal Thames and the tragic pollution.
Certain small pockets of money have become available.To the LAC even these modest sums, when considered on a national basis, are completely beyond our diminishing resources.
For example, The EA has provided fish refuges from Enfield Lock to the moored boats below Rammey Marsh Lock at a cost of £60/70,000. This is a long term project to provide fish habitat and refuges from cormorant predation.
Refuges installed by the EA in 2003 at Enfield Lock

Photograph by courtesy of Angling Times
Ongoing fish surveys are being carried out by the EA at exactly the same places each time and with the electronic probes set at the same depth. This is to achieve a fair a comparison as possible and it was interesting to learn that the last survey of two weeks ago found a considerable increased number of fish around these refuges than previous surveys.
The EA through the offices of the Lee Valley Angling Consultative Association (LVACA) of which I am Treasurer, has provided the necessary finance to set up a trial crayfish culling operation. To be able to sustain this work it is necessary for the project to be self financing. Unfortunately this is proving very difficult to achieve and may mean the project has to be dropped because of the financial implications.
In addition in the winter of 2003 the EA carried out a limited restocking programmer of immature silver fish. Not all of these fish have been taken by cormorants and those along Enfield has shown in recent surveys.
A large project hopefully nearing its planning stage, is the rehabilitation of Feildes Weir. This is a partnership scheme and has proved most difficult to get off the ground. If it does go ahead it must start by the beginning of 2005 otherwise vital finances will be lost.This website will keep you up to date with any progress.
The LAC no longer has the finances to carry out restocking so last winter as part of a long standing promise to the LAC and a contribution to the FAP British Waterways,(through the offices of Fisheries & Environment Manager, John Ellis) restocked the Enfield Lock area with thousands of carp between 8 ounces and pound and a half. Initially they showed very well and prompted Angling Times to carry a centre page feature on fishing adjacent the new refuges. However the exact location of these carp are now not known. Many may have been lost to cormorant predation and others to those people who break the law and fish for the table. Others probably have succumb to the diseases of the Lee. Many slipped through the lock gates to the lower Lee. Every so often one or two are caught and it should be remembered that those carp introduced in the Lee in the mid 1990's are now being caught with many in excess of 20 lbs. The above paragraphs gives readers an insight to the work behind the scenes of the LAC and in particular projects created by the mere existence of the Lee FAP and I trust you have found it a useful summary.

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