Legalities fo Fishing rods, handlines etc

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Robbi

Full Member
Mar 1, 2009
10,244
1,036
northern ireland
th
does this..... look like any of these....
th
or....
pole.jpg
..........no ?



then it's not a fishing rod or a pole............it's a hand line and therefore illegal to use on fresh water.
 

Dave

Hill Dweller
Sep 17, 2003
6,019
9
Brigantia
Basically the experienced anglers on here were correct to question this, and probably did Mike at MCQ a big favour, as he may have ended up being prosecuted by the Enviroment Agency.

It always smelt a bit fishy to me.

[Personally I do like the look of them though, and have bought one..:lmao: to use in another country of course....]
 
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It says Rod and line it dos not say the 2 need to be connected

A thumb stick (which could be described as a rod) is handy with a Hand reel/line as you can catch the line and guide it (just like a rod) with the thumb catch . you are therefore using a Rod and a line

yes it would need to be tested in court and a judge to judge the law against case but it complies with the word of the law on the licence Rod AND line
 

Rabbitsmacker

Settler
Nov 23, 2008
951
0
41
Kings Lynn
Thanks Toddy, was as i expected. I would also ask anyone wishing to fabricate a rod or whip on site so as to fish legally while still being bushcrafty, that you be sure you can land safely any fish you may catch as broken gear left attached to a live fish is no way humane or respectful. Imagine leaving hooks, weights, floats or spinners, 6 feet plus of line and apart of a broken stick in a fishes mouth? Also, if you do fabricate a rod to use, you will need a rod license.
Better to buy a telescopic rod and reel and small fishing kit. Also be aware there are restrictions on type of baits at certain times of years, closed seasons on rivers where even with your rod license, if you are caught fishing you will be prosecuted And limits of fish removed from waterways. A well known fisherman in the fishing presswas caught doing a photo shoot (or at least that was his reason in court) in the river during closed season, he was reported by a fisherman who was passing by with his dog or something who knew the regs, he was then teaken to court and fined by the EA, because he had bait in his possession and had a hook on the end of his line and the hook was in the waterway. He didnt get out of it and its his proffession and hes well known. Fined.
 

Toddy

Mod
Mod
Jan 21, 2005
38,979
4,626
S. Lanarkshire
I admit that I suspected as much, but felt that an official response that clearly stated the matter was probably the best way to settle the argument.

For those who are still quibbling about the definition of a rod and line, I suggest that you look at the rod licence details.

Rabbitsmacker, I so agree about the poor fishing technique/tools that leave damaged fish and bits of lines and hooks.
Poor show that.

The biggest litter louts on many Scottish Lochs and rivers are so called fishermen.
Sad that, isn't it ?

M
 

Johnnyboy1971

Bushcrafter (boy, I've got a lot to say!)
Dec 24, 2010
4,155
26
52
Yorkshire
So it's now been answered that Handline fishing is illegal in freshwater. What about a thread on compact legal fishing equipment.
Legal or not a Handline kit as talked about is surley something that can be carried and used in survival situation. Ok so not really needed in this country as were never that far away from help but in other places in the world may be of some use or if used in a saltwater environment.
 

Goatboy

Full Member
Jan 31, 2005
14,956
17
Scotland
It says Rod and line it dos not say the 2 need to be connected

A thumb stick (which could be described as a rod) is handy with a Hand reel/line as you can catch the line and guide it (just like a rod) with the thumb catch . you are therefore using a Rod and a line

yes it would need to be tested in court and a judge to judge the law against case but it complies with the word of the law on the licence Rod AND line

Hmm, you would be testing the "spirit" of the law on that one. I think it would be percieved as poachers kit due to the Heath Robinson nature of it.

Sent via smoke-signal from a woodland in Scotland.
 

Johnnyboy1971

Bushcrafter (boy, I've got a lot to say!)
Dec 24, 2010
4,155
26
52
Yorkshire
Even a budget telescopic rod and reel doesn't take up much space and if you intend to fish do it properly.
 
Ive been nosing at those telescopic "pen rods" on ebay.
come with a reel
bout 10quid or theres abouts.
i got my bro in law one for yule a couple yrs back as he's a keen angler and he reckons for a rod reel combo to just leave in his pack when he goes glampin with my sister its ideal. That and a couple spinners is all he takes
 

Toddy

Mod
Mod
Jan 21, 2005
38,979
4,626
S. Lanarkshire
I have just had an email conversation with a gentleman from the Environment Agency; he advises that I link to this site for folks to peruse,
https://www.gov.uk/browse/environment-countryside/fishing-hunting

and he said,

"Handlines are illegal for use in freshwater and in the event of one of our enforcement officers encountering a situation where they believed a genuine rod was not in use, just a handline attached to a handle or short stick, they would probably seize as evidence and we would have to build a casefile that would convince Magistrates that the instrument was illegal. Any instrument used to catch frehwater fish, salmonids and other species within EA remit has to be authorised or licensed (ie by rod licence for a fishing rod) to be legal. "

atb,
Toddy
 

Rabbitsmacker

Settler
Nov 23, 2008
951
0
41
Kings Lynn
According to Norwegian law handline is on par with fishing rod. So it should be imo, wonder how England ended up making a distinction among the two?
My guess would be land and waterway ownership and using it as a way to control poaching, same as game bird poaching. cant smuggle a rod in as easily. Same as tickling is as simple a way to fish possible but i believe is also illeagal, no rod there either.
 
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