Paul Hiom
Despite the west country nickname, Wurzel, Paul Hiom was born on the banks of the River Thames at Chiswick in West London, but now resides in Swindon, Wiltshire.

The fact that the Fullers Brewery was no more than quaffing distance from his birth place has nothing to do with the latter affliction, however, the lead-choked atmosphere of the city has been blamed for the occasional bouts of madness. Paul considers himself a half-serious specialist who has dabbled in most things fishing-related with varying degrees of success, but is in the main a pike and barbel man with personal bests of 24lb 8oz and 11lb10oz respectively.

Angling and Politics

Angling and politics are probably not the best mix given that one of the main benefits with angling is to get away from all the hum-drum. However, it is inevitable that there will be clashes from time to time and not all of them are necessarily a bad thing.

Normanton, Leicestershire Labour MP Bill O’Brien has made proposals to the government as announced in the Mail a few weeks back, that Fisheries Control be handed over to British Waterways from the EA. British Waterways, have apparently always argued that since they are the largest owner of fishing rights, they should be entitled to a share of the fishing license money.

Okay, so the EA could do with having a bit more clout in the court room, but at least we know where our license money goes.

I have some reservations about BW’s commitment to anglers and fishing stocks, especially in those areas where we have seen the dredging of natural spawning grounds to make way for boat owners who wish to further navigate the upper reaches. Many boat owners are quite prepared to fight for natural habitats to be dredged and cut for their own satisfaction. Hardly an environmental improvement when you consider the damage and pollution caused by the annual summer flotillas on your local river.

And, do the EA get a share of the fees paid by boat owners? The only advantage with BW holding rank, and it is a big one, is a possible reversal of water abstraction as plundered by the water companies. Lets hope the three million pounds increase in funding for fisheries work for the EA is put to good use, otherwise we could see some changes that will have a negative impact on the environment.
Wurzel in pre-nappy days
The intervention of another politician has saved us our close season. Can we ever thank Labour MP for Reading West, Martin Salter enough for his hard work in successfully tabling the motion for the continued river close season? I was fortunate enough to meet Martin on the banks of the Bristol Avon last year and remember a conversation we were having about the roach populations in the river. Martin is a keen roach angler and I knew that he was a politician, but didn’t realise the positive impact he would have on the fishing community at the time. Well done Martin. Those of us that care, are indebted to you. Tough luck Des!

Talking of the Bristol Avon gives me a nice link into the antics of our Stuart Morgan, the captor of the brace of 17lb barbel a few weeks ago. What a splendid feat of angling excellence from Stuart. But where now? Now that the new record of 19lb has come from the river? Will the temptation be too much, or will Stuart move off to pastures new?

For those of you who do not know Stuart, let me tell you that this bloke can pull double figure barbel out of nowhere. In fact, don’t even try to measure up because you will fail miserably. Stuart has now had three seventeens from the Ouse in under two seasons and if that doesn’t impress you, he also holds the barbel river record for the Bristol Avon with a fish of over 15lbs. Stuart helped develop the John Baker Barbel Mixes and testimony to this is the number of very big fish (now including three British records) caught by Stuart and his pal Guy Robb on the Baker paste. (If only I could get it to work for me). By the way, a nicer bloke you couldn’t wish to meet.

God, it doesn’t seem like six weeks ago when I penned the last ‘World According to Wurzel’, but a lot can change in that time. The PAC have gone soft and have invited the banished back into the fold. Pressure or good sense? I will trust the judgement of Mark Leathwood and hope that the PAC, and those who honour the invitation can move forward. After all, the PAC is such a worthwhile cause. I suppose some of us will never know the full extent of the politics behind what happened, but lets put it behind us.

That’s enough warbling on from me. I had better get back to nappies and feeding the nipper before he screams the house down and wakes up the good lady Mrs Wurzel. I would just like to add substance to the rumour that in spite of being a father of a three week old baby boy, I have managed a few blank sessions recently (In between Christmas and the New Year) on a freezing cold upper Thames.

You cant keep a good man down or a bad man away from his fishing for too long.

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