Over the years, there has been much debate about how much damage baits like luncheon meat are causing to UK fisheries.
As fishery management has improved, those looking after waters where excessive quantities of meat baits had been introduced began to notice a considerable decline in water quality and overall health of the lakes. After conducting their own research, they concluded that meat was a contributing factor and, as a result, many fisheries took the opportunity to ban them.
In recent years, more and more venues have introduced bans on meat at a faster rate than ever before, and while some anglers feel this is an overreaction, those caring for the waters daily have observed noticeable improvements in water quality and lake health since the use of meat baits were prohibited.
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The problem that many find with the majority of meat products is the high fat content that is contained within the bait, and anyone that has used them can attest to this. While this is a contributing factor as to what makes the bait so attractive to the fish, their is little research into how well fish digest it, and the excess fat that comes off the bait isn't water soluble, which can lead to water quality issues as it fails to breakdown easily.
This can increase the biological load on the lake as the rotting fat contributes to ammonia and nitrite spikes in the water, which are toxic in their own right to fish. As a result, bacterial activity also increases as it works to convert these surplus nutrients, which can rapidly deplete the oxygen available to fish, and in extreme cases, cause lakes to crash.
As meat is primarily used in summer, when dissolved oxygen levels are already lower due to higher water temperatures, many fishery managers view it as a catastrophe that can be easily avoided by removing meat from anglers’ bait trays.
It is worth nothing for anglers fishing on rivers or large lakes where there is a much higher turnover of water, lower stocking densities and far less bait being introduced into a larger water body, meat is perfectly fine to use and can be very effective.
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The latest high-profile venue to ban this bait is Partridge Lakes in Warrington, who, despite already having a limit on the amount of meat anglers could use, were still finding oily slicks on the water. This led them to make the decision to implement a complete ban. They are the latest in a long line of fisheries this year to take action in a move to help improve water quality for their fish. On Facebook, the team had this to say:
"We’ve noticed a drop in water quality on the lakes, caused by an oily slick on the surface. After looking into it, it’s clear this is coming from meat baits."
"To protect the lakes and the fish, meat in any form is now banned at Partridge Lakes with immediate effect."
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As stated, they aren't the only venue to ban meat, with well known venues like Drennan Lindholme Lakes and The Glebe which both have rules strictly stating meat is not to be used there.
Aaron Clarke-Grantham of Drennan Lindholme Lakes had this to say:
"The quantities of meat being thrown into our lakes at one stage saw us having to scoop fat from the surface of the water almost daily in the summer months."
"Since we took the decision to stop the use of meat seven years ago, we haven't had this issue arise again."
"It’s all about anglers using it in smaller portions, but unfortunately it’s the few what spoil it, with some using 12 tins each at one point, which is completely unsustainable."
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