ANGLERS in Oxfordshire fear the worst if predictions of a drought are realised this summer.

The effects of the recent lack of rain have so far been slight, with clubs having to put up with low, clear rivers and stillwaters falling below their usual levels.

Our main rivers – the Thames, Cherwell, Thame and Evenlode – will at least get a break during the close season from March 16 to June 15, and how they need it.

The Thames is virtually static at the moment and the smaller rivers have very little flow and are gin-clear.

Stillwaters will be affected by drought too, but larger lakes – like those at Linear Fisheries int Stanton Harcourt – will cope better than most.

Linear’s fisheries officer Chris Blunt says they are monitoring the situation.

“We’ll have to keep an eye on the lakes throughout the year,” he said.

Smaller lakes and ponds, plus the Oxford Canal, may suffer if it is a hot summer and oxygen levels fall.

It will be down to the Environment Agency to play their part if fish need rescuing, while anglers have a major role to play by keeping them informed.

Many anglers, who pay £27 a year for their licence, think the EA could be doing more work on rivers to help levels and flow.

Monty Finnemore, of Predator Tackle in Kidlington, feels strongly that more dredging on his local Cherwell is desperately needed.

He says he pointed problems out to EA officers in the past, but nothing has been done.

“The river desperately needs dredging, while leaving the gravel runs for spawning,” he said. “But I am sure they will say it is too expensive – I say that’s what he pay our licence for.”

Predator’s Tony Wright also fears for angling if we don’t get the rain we need.

“It could be extremely serious,” he admitted. “Water levels will fall even further and it will have a serious effect on angling.”

No doubt that would have a knock-on for the likes of Tony in the tackle trade, while clubs would suffer too, with fewer cards sold.

Marston AC water bailiff Barry Lewis says they have noticed a major change in the Cherwell this year.

He said: “For the first time in a number of years we have been able to fish the river all through the winter.

“We normally have to rearrange one or two matches as the river is in the fields or just not fishable, but this winter, the water level and the flow is more in keeping with the summer conditions.

“It will be interesting to see how the river fishes next year as I am sure we normally lose fry into the fields with the winter floods, but this problem has not arisen this year.

“The fishing has also seemed to change with the lower levels. The smaller fish, especially dace, have been harder to locate and matches are now being won with good roach and big perch that have been showing all year.”

While Marston remain optimistic, others have been taking action already. A tonne of fish have been moved from the smaller to the larger of the two lakes at Ladygrove Park by Didcot Town Council.

In the worst case scenario this summer, some clubs may have to cancel fixtures or switch them to deeper venues, and pleasure anglers could be told to stay off waters and take a break from fishing.

Let’s hope it doesn’t come to that ...