Coarse Kayak Fishing Association?

[boesman]

Would it be beneficial to us if some sort of club or association existed for kayak coarse fishing? Does something like this already exist?

I am thinking of an organization that has members (fee paying) a code of conduct and importantly its own insurance. You can look at what the BFTA (British Float tube Association - www.bfta.org.uk/)  has managed for their sport. I personally think kayak fishing should have a lot less obstructions than float tubing. Look at their website especially the fisheries section and remember they can't go on rivers and they mostly specialize in fly fishing. I know that a lot of you guys already have a lot of fishing available to you and I also know that it took a lot of hard work to get this. If kayak fishing is going to grow (this will benefit us all) we need to make it easier for newbies to take up the sport. This organization could run training courses or at least put kayakers in touch with training. It could arrange competitions and get access to new waters this way. The BFTA used this method very successfully, they organised comps at waters to which they didn't have individual access but the waters didn't want to turn away large groups of already insured anglers. The fisheries then realised that float tubers are safe and responsible, they also saw how many guys actually float tubed and saw an untapped source of revenue. I remember fishing in the BFTA British open at Eyebrook Reservoir and catching my PB perch on a GRHE fly! There is massif perch in there. 

What do you think?

I also want to add: the information on this forum has been incalculable. My son and I are new to kayak fishing in the UK and without the information on this site we would have struggled a lot more. We are hoping to join one of you meets in the future.  

[Izzetafox]

I totally agree and similar things have been discussed in the past. I think it is the whole creation of such an organisation is what holds it back.

I am all in favour of it but many are opposed to any form or organised control as various controls may come with it with regards to access and behaviour.

My 'tag line' has always been 'responsible access to appropriate water'. I have always promoted this attitude and work with the code of conduct listed somewhere on here that I was involved in with the Angling Trust when I originally started access talks. Sadly the AT's committment was not the same as mine and we parted ways.

As a formal association though it would have to have much more than just members. The whole 'committee, Chairman, Treasurer etc' comes along with it.

If someone has the time and knowledge to get the ball rolling I would be more than happy to support it as strongly as I can. Going forward I DO see this as the future for coarse kayak angling. The salty lads have virtually unlimited access and do not understand the controls the clubs can put on us.

With regard to negotiations for access then a national club structure with codes and insurance would definitely be a massive benefit.

If you want to test the water than I would be happy for you to use this site and post links to it to try and generate interest. Depending on how things progress there is the option to create a separate section either fully public or with a 'members only' section within it.

My thoughts? Go for it! What is there to lose.

Look at SWKA. This is the ONLY kayak fishing club in the UK and they are doing some wonderful work. I am sure that Ed Gibson, the founder, would help get us along the right track on the Admin front. In fact I am seeing him at The Disability Day in Wales this weekend and I will have a chat.

Terry

[philpot]

This can only be a good thing and add weight to fresh water kayak fishing side of the sport. Perhaps you could put together details of the float tube club to see if there are similarities that could be used as a guide. As Terry has already said however, it will take someone to take the role of leader because I think there will be quite a bit of work involved in a project such as this.

Very interesting

Phil