Fish care and safe handling is largely a matter of common sense and respect for your quarry. Use the following guides as pointers to safe handling of your catches.
Fish receive knocks and scrapes all the time and any wound can be easily infected by bacteria that are present in all freshwater. Bacteria and Parasites all have the ability to kill fish if conditions are in their favour, we can help fish with any type of physical damage by applying an anti-bacterial solution to the wound.
Treatments for fish care can be purchased from pet shops or your local tackle shop for around £6.00 so are relatively inexpensive, these ‘first aid kits for fish’ last a considerable length of time, please carefully follow the instructions in the kits, as application methods vary.
Such simple steps can not only help the treated fish, but can also prevent rapidly growing bacteria from infecting other fish, and prevention is always better than cure.
Please bring fish infections and diseased fish to the attention of bailiffs on the fishery or members of the Executive Committee.
Keep a constant watch AND report anything unusual.
The Environment Agency’s Hot line is 0800 80 70 60: a 24-hour free call emergency number or FAS numbers are in the handbook.
Check out the Photographic Competition page for more help on composing and taking pictures of your catch
With the ever increasing popularity of Barbel fishing, many more members coming from the lakes onto the river and as a result we would like to make a plea to some of those anglers that are not used to handling these magnificent fish.
Firstly, we would remind all members that Barbel are not allowed to be retained in keep-nets, see byelaw 4.j. in the Handbook. We would also request anglers to use a landing net with a small mesh that will help to prevent fin damage, especially to the leading edge of their pectoral and dorsal fins.
Barbel are renowned for their tremendous power and the fight that they put up before being landed, however in doing so they expend an enormous amount of their energy, as a result they must be allowed to rest for a few minutes before being returned or photographed. This may be done by facing them upstream in clean, fast running water, either in a landing net or by holding them.
When out of the water, always use an unhooking mat to support the fish and ensure that it is returned as soon as possible to the river.
If Barbel are released too quickly, they can turn belly up, float downstream and drown, this can easily happen in fast water, so when releasing them you should face them into the current and support them under their stomach. Gently holding the wrist of the Barbel’s tail and only let them go when they start to resist a light grip, this will ensure that they only return to the river once they are fully recovered.
Please ensure that you take care of the Barbel in our rivers, treat them with respect and they shall continue to provide you with an unrivalled ‘pound for pound’ fight.
Please ensure that you have read Bye-laws.
Always return your fish, whatever the species as quickly as possible.
When fishing for Catfish, use of the following is recommended:
Mr. Mick Borra
Membership Secretary
The FAS Membership Centre,
Gold Valley, Gold Lane,
Government Road,
Aldershot,
Hampshire, GU11 2PT
Tel: 07546 724317
The Secretary,
Farnham Angling Society,
PO Box 206,
Bordon GU35 5DW
Tel: 07826 851122
Email: honsecretary@farnhamanglingsociety.com
Ian Gray: 07826 851122
Trevor Hopkins: 07968 098441
We are pleased to say the Membership Centre is reopening for this season, and the
opening hours are as follows, but may be subject to change if Covid related social distancing measures are changed.
1st March – 31st August (Friday & Saturday): 10.00am – 4.00pm
1st September – 30th September (Saturdays only): 10.00am – 4.00pm
1st October – 28th February (First Saturday of the month): 10.00am – 4.00pm
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