Anyone aged 12 years or over is required by law to carry a rod licence. The money is used by the Environment Agency to maintain our fisheries.

The fee for the 2005/2006 coarse fish and trout rod licence is £23 for a full licence, £5 for a junior concessionary licence for 12 to 16 year olds and £11.50 for others. You can also obtain a one-day licence for £3 and an eight-day licence for £8.

There are no excuses for not getting a licence. They can be obtained from any Post Office in the region or online at: www.environment-agency.gov.uk/fish , where an annual direct-debit payment to automatically renew your licence can be set up.