Last Updated  26 April 2013

Content & Design © C.S.G. 2009

Group Founded 1972                              President:- Fred Sykes                        Former Presidents:- Charles Landells :: Peter Stone :: Dick Walker

     Welcome to the web site of the

     Chub Study Group

 The C.S.G. The UK’s first and only group for the specimen/specialist chub angler

The Chub Study Group is a long established small friendly group of like-minded specimen anglers dedicated to the pursuit and study of Chub. Founded in 1972 we are now in our 39th year and has recently published it’s 2nd book ‘CHEVIN’... see below

Group members fish the rivers and stillwaters of England, Scotland, Wales and, in recent years, the rivers of some Scandinavian countries in their pursuit of old Chevin, “the fearful-est of fishes” We are small in number but big in reputation amongst fellow specimen anglers and groups.

Fred Sykes appointed Group President

Following the sad loss of Group President and founding member Charles Landells in December 2009, longstanding member and well respected specimen angler Fred Sykes was appointed Life Group President at the Annual General Meeting held in Bedford February 2011.

Chub Weight Calculation Table

A recent addition to this web site is the C.S.G. girth/weight/weight table. An accurate method of calculating the chubs weight from its length and girth measurements

The Defra consultation on proposals for future engagement following the proposed abolition of EPACs and RLFACs (Regional and Local Fisheries Advisory Committees also known as FERACs) has been published.

There is a link to the Defra consultation on our website which can be found HERE

The closing date for the consultation is 23 January 2012.

Angling’s representative body, the Angling Trust, has launched a new web site for anglers to record sightings of cormorants, goosanders and mergansers throughout the UK: www.cormorantwatch.org The new site is easy to use and will gather vital data to help persuade government of the need for action to protect fisheries. It has been launched to coincide with the start of the coarse fishing season on rivers.

The Angling Trust succeeded in persuading the Fisheries Minister Richard Benyon to carry out a review of the licensing procedures and he has stated that he is prepared to take “bold decisions”. As part of this review, the Trust needs data on the abundance of cormorants to convince the government to take decisive action.

Anglers can record sightings and activity of cormorants anywhere in the UK, directly onto a Google Maps driven micro-site HERE

Users will also be able to scroll around the map and zoom in to view details of each recorded cormorant sighting and watch the real picture of cormorant predation in UK waters build up week by week.

The Trust’s aim is to persuade DEFRA to simplify licensing procedures and allow greater controls on cormorant numbers. It is hoped that this data will also be factored into a wider pan European study on cormorants

Although any initiative that addresses the very real threat to the nations fisheries is welcomed, sadly it has taken the Angling Trust almost three years to pick up on the excellent work initially started by NAFAC and the late Terry Mansbridge, working with the bird organisations, and continued by his successor as NAFAC Chair, Martin Read.

‘Cormorantbusters’ is a web site started some years ago by Martin and the Yorkshire based monthly Angling Star publication. You might also like to sign the Avon Roach Project’s Cormorant Campaign petition HERE

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              to those clubs that are members of the Angling Trust AND Fish Legal

Hydropower Schemes:-

I provide technical advice to the Angling Trust on hydropower issues after having retired from the Environment Agency where I was latterly the fisheries lead on hydro issues. I would like to bring a couple of things to your attention and possible dissemination to your members.

The guidance that the Agency provide to advice both internal staff and would-be hydro developers is being reviewed. The review was only achieved after a lot of pushing by the Angling Trust and others as we feel it is totally inadequate to protect fisheries. The consultation can be viewed and responded to here:
https://consult.environment-agency.gov.uk/portal/ho/br/gpg/review.

It would be good to get responses from bodies such as yours and individual members and clubs, The Trust is putting together some bullet points which will appear on their website.

One of my concerns is the potential impact on weir pool habitats. I am sure you are more aware than most the value of these on heavily impounded lowland rivers such as the Trent and Thames. Even where hydro turbines are situated on or adjacent to the weir, little flow will actually flow into the main body of the weir pool and that which exits the turbine will have much of its energy taken out (obviously!)
This logically must affect the habitat, especially the gravel shallows on which chub, dace and barbel spawn. The EA have already sanctioned what I believe to be damaging schemes on the Trent, Thames and Warks Avon, with many more planned. There is a scheme which has been in existence for a number of years on the Trent at Beeston. Consultants have concluded that the habitat and fish population has not been damaged, but I have seen catch data which indicates a big decline of barbel in the locality, so much so that the angler no longer fishes it.

I wonder whether any of your members fish, or have fished, there and whether they have any observations, is it possible to ask?

If you'd like more information on the issues with hydropower, just ask.

Here’s how they raise the money to ruin our, and HERE

Alan

Dr Alan Butterworth. Technical Director, Angling Trust

Group Photo Albums.

At the recently held Group A.G.M. members voted to include the Groups photograph albums on this web site. As these go back to 1972 this process will take some time. When completed these will be found within the Members Area, with a small alternating selection being made available for general public viewing

These have now been scanned and will be uploaded as soon as possible

A Lea ‘9’  Bob Hornegold (Osprey Specimen Group) eventually nets his fish of a life-time  Read more HERE

River Welland Improvement Project

At the Groups A.G.M. held 26th February 2012, members voted to maintain the membership numbers at the current record high level.

Although we could continue to take on ever-more members the feeling of the current membership was that for the levels to increase more, the Group would lose what has always been its unique features, the friendliness & openness and the long lasting friendships that have built and grown over the years.

Even ex members who might for whatever reason have let their interest in chub fishing drop keep in touch and regularly attend our get together weekends.

Anyone wishing to join the Group will now be placed on a waiting list and will be contacted when and if there are any vacancies.

Site Updates - Group Information

A new Specialist Angling section on the Angling Trust web site HERE

Members Forum Board ‘Chub Chat’ reformatted and updated.

Read the Angling Trust’s Statement on Hydropower schemes HERE

The Predation Action Group goes live. Read more HERE

PAG new web site HERE

Mark Lloyd and Martin Salter meet MPs Read more HERE

Fred, who is also a member of the British Carp Study Group,(BCSG) said he was very honoured at being asked to become President of the C.S.G.

Fred joined the C.S.G. in 1973 and becomes the Groups fourth President following Charles Landells, Peter Stone and Dick Walker, all giants in the specimen fish world.

As Fred would say “Its Magic”