BANK ANGLER ANGLING CLUBS
Before you start reading, just take a moment and have a good look at the above photos. If you can picture yourself sitting there and you get a kind of nice feeling about it,….Well, then you have come to the right place.
Doesn’t matter which sport you look at, they all have certain things in common. Ours is no different and if we are serious about establishing and growing the sport in Australia then we need to do the following:
The word SPORT is specifically used because the styles of fishing we promote is exactly that, internationally recognised sport fishing styles. Joining a Bank Angler Angling Club (B.A.A.C mean you are now part of a very very big sport angling family, in fact there are many millions of us around the world who participate in these styles of fishing. Some are already familiar with these styles but for many this will be a very exciting time as you have just opened the door to a whole new world with an almost infinite amount of fishing tackle, bait, tips, tricks, online tutorials, videos, blogs and all sorts of social media not to mention various world championships and other competitions. One of the reasons why our club name does not reflect the word “Carp” is simply because this is not the only species we will be targeting. Our angling styles can be equally effective when targeting native fish species and we will over time work on refining it even more.
Doesn’t matter which sport you look at, they all have certain things in common. Ours is no different and if we are serious about establishing and growing the sport in Australia then we need to do the following:
- make it enjoyable for the social anglers
- have goals and a pathway to represent Australia for competitive anglers
- have the necessary rules and regulations
- and very importantly, put a much needed structure in place to manage the process.
The word SPORT is specifically used because the styles of fishing we promote is exactly that, internationally recognised sport fishing styles. Joining a Bank Angler Angling Club (B.A.A.C mean you are now part of a very very big sport angling family, in fact there are many millions of us around the world who participate in these styles of fishing. Some are already familiar with these styles but for many this will be a very exciting time as you have just opened the door to a whole new world with an almost infinite amount of fishing tackle, bait, tips, tricks, online tutorials, videos, blogs and all sorts of social media not to mention various world championships and other competitions. One of the reasons why our club name does not reflect the word “Carp” is simply because this is not the only species we will be targeting. Our angling styles can be equally effective when targeting native fish species and we will over time work on refining it even more.
****NOTE: Please complete our short Bank Angler Angling Club survey after you finished reading what our clubs are all about. Establishing these clubs and growing them will be very difficult to accomplish without your assistance and a general strong response to the survey. Link to Bank Angler Angling Club survey ****
***If what you read here reflect the type of angler you are, then please Join, Like and Share our Facebook page "Bank Angler Australia Group" with like minded family and friends***
The fishing styles we promote have a very long history and code of conduct. In the spirit of keeping with tradition and staying engaged with the international angling community we will continue to support and promote the rules and regulations associated with the various angling styles. Doing so not only provide the necessary structure but also a level playing field for both social and competitive anglers. One of our rules will be “Catch and Release” of all fish including carp in states where it is allowed or where we have permission to do so from the local authorities. We promote catch and release not only because it is part of the sport’s traditions and ethics but also because many people simply do not want to spend a whole lot of money, time and effort to go fishing and then be forced to kill everything they catch. We view fishing as a sport and not simply a tool to kill fish. Removal of fish by recreational anglers have a near Zero effect on the carp biomass and is therefore a totally ineffective way to reduce the carp numbers in our waterways. To put it simple, forcing people to kill everything they catch does not result in less fish in our waters, only less anglers on the bank. The public and businesses who would otherwise have benefitted from the increased number of anglers are the ones losing out as a result of these regulations. People who want to kill carp will continue to do it whether there is a law forcing them to do so or not.
As a club, we also plan to be a good citizen by helping out with environmental and native fish habitat repair projects as well as fundraising initiatives for various causes. We have also been in contact with a Carp angling group in the UK who host a number of events that provide fantastic angling occasions and fundraising opportunities for keen anglers and Army Veterans alike. Our angling styles are perfect for it and will make a big difference in the lives many people.
People join clubs for a whole host of reasons and ours will be no different. Some of them are:
- Wanting to better understand the basics of fishing
- Become a more capable and competitive angler by learning the finer details from some of our very experienced anglers.
- Make lifelong friends and socialise with people who have similar interests
- Spend quality time with the family, fishing, camping etc.
- Get closer to nature and further away from electronics which consume an ever greater part of our and our children’s lives.
- Use the opportunity to become one of the best anglers in the country
A very important part of our clubs will be to make them as enjoyable and family friendly as we can. Having the necessary rules in place will go a long way to achieve this goal and also attract those people who would like to be part of such a club. One such rule is that rowdy unacceptable behavior and language in the vicinity of other anglers, especially children and family groups, will not be tolerated. The same will apply to our social media and website forums where everyone from the youngest to the oldest member must feel comfortable to ask questions, give answers and participate in general discussions. Descent handling of fish is also an important part of our sport and we will only allow or publish photos that reflect this value. No dirty, killed, bloody or badly held fish will therefore be on display. This is after all the shop-window of our sport and will play a big role in how the public and potential new members view us. The following photos give you an idea of what we are looking for. They are not all perfect but the fish looks like they have been treated with care and presented in a clean respectful manor.
As a club, we also plan to be a good citizen by helping out with environmental and native fish habitat repair projects as well as fundraising initiatives for various causes. We have also been in contact with a Carp angling group in the UK who host a number of events that provide fantastic angling occasions and fundraising opportunities for keen anglers and Army Veterans alike. Our angling styles are perfect for it and will make a big difference in the lives many people.
People join clubs for a whole host of reasons and ours will be no different. Some of them are:
- Wanting to better understand the basics of fishing
- Become a more capable and competitive angler by learning the finer details from some of our very experienced anglers.
- Make lifelong friends and socialise with people who have similar interests
- Spend quality time with the family, fishing, camping etc.
- Get closer to nature and further away from electronics which consume an ever greater part of our and our children’s lives.
- Use the opportunity to become one of the best anglers in the country
A very important part of our clubs will be to make them as enjoyable and family friendly as we can. Having the necessary rules in place will go a long way to achieve this goal and also attract those people who would like to be part of such a club. One such rule is that rowdy unacceptable behavior and language in the vicinity of other anglers, especially children and family groups, will not be tolerated. The same will apply to our social media and website forums where everyone from the youngest to the oldest member must feel comfortable to ask questions, give answers and participate in general discussions. Descent handling of fish is also an important part of our sport and we will only allow or publish photos that reflect this value. No dirty, killed, bloody or badly held fish will therefore be on display. This is after all the shop-window of our sport and will play a big role in how the public and potential new members view us. The following photos give you an idea of what we are looking for. They are not all perfect but the fish looks like they have been treated with care and presented in a clean respectful manor.
These are examples of what will not be allowed.
The following is some general information about the club and what to expect:
Fishing styles:
Our clubs and the way we fish will predominantly be based on Bank angling (including end / terminal tackle used in Feeder fishing) and Specimen fishing. (See Angling Styles for more details). Conventional fishing is similar to how many freshwater anglers currently fish and should therefore be an easy transition and a step closer to becoming a more accomplished angler. The more you learn, the more fish you’ll catch, the more you will start to enjoy the sport.
Some basic fishing rules:
Only Club members will be allowed to take part in the competition. Visitors are welcome attend but will not be eligible to win prizes.
The structure of the sport will consist of three levels, Club (State level), National and international level
Club level:
This is the very basic level where a whole spectrum of anglers will come together to do what we enjoy most. This is where we catch-up with old friends, make new ones, but also and very importantly is this also where we learn how to become better anglers by sharing tips and tricks with each other and “borrowing “ with the eyes when all the secrets are not forthcoming. We will also from time to time ask some of our most experienced and skilled anglers to do a presentation and share some of their knowledge with us. Myself and many others who have immigrated to Australia have fished in clubs like this for many years. We know that attending monthly competitions are not only very enjoyable but can quite easily become addictive especially when you start to string together a couple of good performance.
Anglers who perform well will be rewarded with a prize and those who are committed and perform well consistently will stand a chance to win one of the Angler of the year awards. Those top performers will then also be eligible for selection to represent their state at the national Championships.
Here is some eye candy which will give you an idea of what we are aiming for at Social / Competitive club level. If this doesn’t get you exited then I don’t know what will!
- Competitions will take place on the first full weekend of every month with the possibility of a social meeting 2 weeks later. Knowing this makes planning ahead so much easier.
- Duration of competitions: one or two days (Sat/ Sun) This will be determined by the time of year, expected weather conditions etc.
- In the near future well have inter club / state championships and also a "Catch for Cash" series
- We work towards having a National competition once a year which may also be used as trials to select a National team to represent Australia at international events. The quicker we get things going, the sooner it will become reality.
- High membership numbers will ultimately lead to more sponsors, more prizes and more opportunities for our members.
Fishing styles:
Our clubs and the way we fish will predominantly be based on Bank angling (including end / terminal tackle used in Feeder fishing) and Specimen fishing. (See Angling Styles for more details). Conventional fishing is similar to how many freshwater anglers currently fish and should therefore be an easy transition and a step closer to becoming a more accomplished angler. The more you learn, the more fish you’ll catch, the more you will start to enjoy the sport.
Some basic fishing rules:
Only Club members will be allowed to take part in the competition. Visitors are welcome attend but will not be eligible to win prizes.
- No more than 2 rods (in use) per angler
- Conventional fishing: No more than 2 hooks per rod (barbless hooks will be encouraged)
- All fish must be landed with a fish-friendly type landing net (no dragging out of fish)
- Keepnets must be made from ”carp / fish-friendly” material. Please get in contact with me if you’re not sure what to get.
- Use of an Unhooking mat by Conventional anglers will initially not be a requirement but will be encouraged. Specimen anglers will be required to have an unhooking mat as they will be targeting bigger fish.
- Fish must be handled with care at all times
- No bait, berley or any other attractant may be introduced to the water prior to the start of the competition.
- Casting must take place from behind the waterline. Anglers are not allowed to walk into the water and cast. Casting accuracy and or distance is one of the skill sets an anglers can work on to improve their results.
- All lines must be reeled in when the signal is given for the end of the competition. Anglers who are busy playing a fish will have 15 minutes to net the fish for it to be counted
- No dead fish will be weighed
- All fish including carp will be released after weigh-in. We promote angling as a sport and not a tool used to kill carp. Bank Angler Australia through the Carp Australia Resource Project (C.A.R.P) support a variety of much more effective and sensible measures to reduce excessive carp biomass where necessary. Having a balanced ecosystem is in the interest of all fish including carp.
- More detailed rules and regulations will soon be uploaded.
The structure of the sport will consist of three levels, Club (State level), National and international level
Club level:
This is the very basic level where a whole spectrum of anglers will come together to do what we enjoy most. This is where we catch-up with old friends, make new ones, but also and very importantly is this also where we learn how to become better anglers by sharing tips and tricks with each other and “borrowing “ with the eyes when all the secrets are not forthcoming. We will also from time to time ask some of our most experienced and skilled anglers to do a presentation and share some of their knowledge with us. Myself and many others who have immigrated to Australia have fished in clubs like this for many years. We know that attending monthly competitions are not only very enjoyable but can quite easily become addictive especially when you start to string together a couple of good performance.
Anglers who perform well will be rewarded with a prize and those who are committed and perform well consistently will stand a chance to win one of the Angler of the year awards. Those top performers will then also be eligible for selection to represent their state at the national Championships.
Here is some eye candy which will give you an idea of what we are aiming for at Social / Competitive club level. If this doesn’t get you exited then I don’t know what will!
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How it will work in Practise:
One day competitions:
No camping or fishing allowed at the venue prior to the start of the competition.
6 am - Anglers meet near or next to the bank area where the competition is going to take place. This time is used to:
Drive-off order: This can be used for open or pegged venue competitions. The number you draw determine in which order anglers will drive off to their preferred spot. The angler who draw number 1 will drive off first followed by number 2 about 20 seconds later. Number 2 must first wait for no.1 to park on his preferred spot before no.2 can secure his. The person who draw the last peg will have to settle for what’s left and secure his / their spot last.
The competition starts at 7am and no angler will be allowed to cast or put any bait or attractant in the water prior to the start signal.
Anglers can then fish until 3 pm after which the weigh-in will take place. Prize giving 3:30 pm. Members are then free to go home or continue with a social fishing session, BBQ, Camping etc
Weekend competitions:
Work the same as above except that the competition will normally start on the Saturday (Sometimes Friday evening) and finish 12 pm on the Sunday. There may also be one or two additional weigh-ins during the competition.
National level:
The various states pick a team of anglers who they believe will have the best chance of winning them the bragging rights of “Strongest Angling State in The Country”. The bragging rights and rubbing-in thereof fortunately only last for one (long) year and will have to be defended at the next National Championship. The selection criteria will be based on merit and consideration will be given to the angler’s unique ability, performance and commitment to the sport. Teams will initially be made up of 4 anglers (2 Conventional and 2 Specimen Anglers) but will grow with the sport to full strength teams of 12 anglers. The quicker the clubs grow, the sooner will we get to teams of 12 anglers.
Receiving an invitation to represent your state at the National Championship is not only a honour but also the best opportunity to measure how good an angler you really are. A good performance here will also make you eligible to be considered for the National team who will proudly represent our country on the international stage.
The build-up to this competition and the atmosphere once you are there is simply incredible. I promise you, once you’ve tasted the pure enjoyment of this experience you’ll work twice as hard to give yourself the best possible chance to be part of next year’s team.
Team selections will be announced early in September with the Nationals taking place towards the end of November. This will give anglers roughly 6 – 8 week to make arrangements and do the necessary preparation work. Cost involved to attend these Nationals is something we are very aware of and initiatives to assist members will be discussed with the States. Some of the funds will be raised through donations, raffle, Sausage sizzle etc.
International level:
The anglers who make it to this point simply are the best of the best. The number of people competing for this honor will grow year on year and so will the strength of our Australian National team. The Australian team will represent us at National championships held in different countries every year. Our goals will not only be to win the World Championships but also to one day host it right here in Australia! Won’t that be an incredibly proud moment!
More details to follow at a later stage.
SPONSORS:
Last but definitely not least! Sponsorship plays an incredibly important role in the success and growth of any club / sport. We highly appreciate all Sponsorship and prizes , no matter how big or small, fishing related or not.
*****REMINDER: Please complete our short Bank Angler Angling Club survey. The above will be very difficult to accomplish without your assistance and a general strong response from the public. Click on "LINK TO SURVEY" *****
BANK ANGLER ANGLING CLUBS:
The clubs we list will be true Sport fishing clubs aimed at promoting the various internationally recognised fishing styles. The first three are in States where Catch and Release is allowed. The others will require a permit.
Bank Angler Angling Club - NSW (B.A.A.C - NSW) ACTIVE
Bank Angler Angling Club - ACT (B.A.A.C - ACT) In process
Bank Angler Angling Club - WA (B.A.A.C - WA) ACTIVE
Bank Angler Angling Club - VIC (B.A.A.C - VIC) ACTIVE
Bank Angler Angling Club - SA (B.A.A.C - SA) Depending on negotiations with State Government
Bank Angler Angling Club - Qld (B.A.A.C - Qld) Depending on negotiations with the State Government
One day competitions:
No camping or fishing allowed at the venue prior to the start of the competition.
6 am - Anglers meet near or next to the bank area where the competition is going to take place. This time is used to:
- Briefly communicate important club information,
- details about the day’s competition
- Collection of kitty contributions eg. $5 per angler
- “Kitty draw” cards with different competition ideas are put in a hat after which a draw takes place to determine what the kitty competition will be for eg, Biggest carp, heaviest bag of fish, biggest Bass / Perch / Murray cod etc.
- Peg draw or drive-off order.
Drive-off order: This can be used for open or pegged venue competitions. The number you draw determine in which order anglers will drive off to their preferred spot. The angler who draw number 1 will drive off first followed by number 2 about 20 seconds later. Number 2 must first wait for no.1 to park on his preferred spot before no.2 can secure his. The person who draw the last peg will have to settle for what’s left and secure his / their spot last.
The competition starts at 7am and no angler will be allowed to cast or put any bait or attractant in the water prior to the start signal.
Anglers can then fish until 3 pm after which the weigh-in will take place. Prize giving 3:30 pm. Members are then free to go home or continue with a social fishing session, BBQ, Camping etc
Weekend competitions:
Work the same as above except that the competition will normally start on the Saturday (Sometimes Friday evening) and finish 12 pm on the Sunday. There may also be one or two additional weigh-ins during the competition.
National level:
The various states pick a team of anglers who they believe will have the best chance of winning them the bragging rights of “Strongest Angling State in The Country”. The bragging rights and rubbing-in thereof fortunately only last for one (long) year and will have to be defended at the next National Championship. The selection criteria will be based on merit and consideration will be given to the angler’s unique ability, performance and commitment to the sport. Teams will initially be made up of 4 anglers (2 Conventional and 2 Specimen Anglers) but will grow with the sport to full strength teams of 12 anglers. The quicker the clubs grow, the sooner will we get to teams of 12 anglers.
Receiving an invitation to represent your state at the National Championship is not only a honour but also the best opportunity to measure how good an angler you really are. A good performance here will also make you eligible to be considered for the National team who will proudly represent our country on the international stage.
The build-up to this competition and the atmosphere once you are there is simply incredible. I promise you, once you’ve tasted the pure enjoyment of this experience you’ll work twice as hard to give yourself the best possible chance to be part of next year’s team.
Team selections will be announced early in September with the Nationals taking place towards the end of November. This will give anglers roughly 6 – 8 week to make arrangements and do the necessary preparation work. Cost involved to attend these Nationals is something we are very aware of and initiatives to assist members will be discussed with the States. Some of the funds will be raised through donations, raffle, Sausage sizzle etc.
International level:
The anglers who make it to this point simply are the best of the best. The number of people competing for this honor will grow year on year and so will the strength of our Australian National team. The Australian team will represent us at National championships held in different countries every year. Our goals will not only be to win the World Championships but also to one day host it right here in Australia! Won’t that be an incredibly proud moment!
More details to follow at a later stage.
SPONSORS:
Last but definitely not least! Sponsorship plays an incredibly important role in the success and growth of any club / sport. We highly appreciate all Sponsorship and prizes , no matter how big or small, fishing related or not.
*****REMINDER: Please complete our short Bank Angler Angling Club survey. The above will be very difficult to accomplish without your assistance and a general strong response from the public. Click on "LINK TO SURVEY" *****
BANK ANGLER ANGLING CLUBS:
The clubs we list will be true Sport fishing clubs aimed at promoting the various internationally recognised fishing styles. The first three are in States where Catch and Release is allowed. The others will require a permit.
Bank Angler Angling Club - NSW (B.A.A.C - NSW) ACTIVE
Bank Angler Angling Club - ACT (B.A.A.C - ACT) In process
Bank Angler Angling Club - WA (B.A.A.C - WA) ACTIVE
Bank Angler Angling Club - VIC (B.A.A.C - VIC) ACTIVE
Bank Angler Angling Club - SA (B.A.A.C - SA) Depending on negotiations with State Government
Bank Angler Angling Club - Qld (B.A.A.C - Qld) Depending on negotiations with the State Government