Most angling competitions revolve around catching the biggest or the most fish, but the latest initiative from Britain’s crucian enthusiasts to promote their favourite species is to be judged more on the quality of the photography rather than the size of the captures.
The Angling Trust and the National Crucian Conservation Project have teamed up with the Association of Crucian Anglers who conceived the idea of designating June 2016 as ‘Catch a Crucian Month’. They have organised a photo competition with some great prizes to be judged by a panel of leading crucian crusaders: angling legend and previous carp record-holder Chris Yates; Hugh Miles, film maker of Passion for Angling; author and crucian carp expert Peter Rolfe; and well-respected angling artist Chris Turnbull.
The competition, which is open to all and will run throughout June, is designed to promote crucians as a species, to assist in the recognition of true crucians, to encourage more anglers to take up crucian fishing and to highlight the immediate need to develop specific crucian waters in line with the aims of the National Crucian Conservation Project. This project, which is supported by the Angling Trust and the Environment Agency, was the brainchild of Chris Turnbull.
Martin Salter, Angling Trust Campaigns Chief said: “We are hoping that this competition will create a renewed interest in true crucians and their habitat, both of which are under threat from changing agricultural practices and through thoughtless stocking policies which are creating more and more hybridisation. The Angling Trust is particularly grateful to our sponsors at Bait-Tech, Angling Direct and M Press and to our esteemed panel of judges for making it all possible.”
How to enter:
Entries are free of charge and will be online via a special competition website that goes live on May 19th. Simply go to www.catchacrucian.wordpress.com to register for the competition, then go catch your crucian and get snapping!
You will even find some top tips for taking a great fishing photo, which award-winning film maker Hugh Miles has kindly to produced for the event.
There will be four categories for entries with the best three photos in each going into a final:
• Best Crucian Picture
• Best Specimen Crucian Picture
• Best Scenic Picture of a Crucian Water
• Best Picture of a Junior with a Crucian
Thanks to some generous sponsorship from Bait-Tech and Angling Direct, each of the four main winners will receive a £100 Angling Direct tackle voucher, a copy of Peter Rolfe’s book ‘Crock of Gold,’ plus a special Bait-Tech bait bucket containing £35 worth of crucian groundbaits, pellets and additives.
Our judges will choose three finalists from each category and all 12 finalists will receive the Bait-Tech bait package and a signed certificate. All appropriate entries will be displayed on the competition website and we are hoping for a great selection for the judges to choose from.
Film maker and competition judge Hugh Miles said: “The crucian is one of the most endearing and magical of fish and we are extremely fortunate that these golden beauties are receiving the attention that they richly deserve … before it’s too late.”
Peter Rolfe added: “Fishing for crucians takes many of us back to our earliest angling days. At last this splendid fish is getting the publicity and support it deserves and I’m delighted to be a judge in this imaginative competition.”
Oliver Harper – Angling Direct’s Marketing Manager said: “The crucian carp is the essence of freshwater angling, holding for many true fishermen treasured memories from earlier days, when the species was more common and the gene-pool less polluted. It is good to hear that this important and inspiring species is finally getting the attention and recognition it deserves with the important work of the National Crucian Conservation Project. Angling Direct are proud to be associated with the competition and the aims of the Project, to bring back the crucian carp to where it belongs to be – at the heart of angling in the UK.”
Hayley Goldsmith, Managing Director of Bait-Tech said – ” Bait-Tech are very happy to be supporting this competition and the worthwhile cause behind it to promote Crucians and their habitat. We are really looking forward to seeing all the photos – I bet there will be a few surprises but certainly there will be plenty of smiles as people get involved in the very first national Catch a Crucian Competition.”
Photo: Angling legend and competition judge, Chris Yates, with a stunning crucian carp.
Angling Trust
The Angling Trust is the national representative and governing body for angling in England. It is united in a collaborative relationship with Fish Legal, a separate membership association using the law to protect fish stocks and the rights of its members throughout the UK.
Find out all about the Angling Trust and its work at www.anglingtrust.net or call us on 01568 620447
