Anglers at Loch Ken in south-west Scotland have denied a researcher’s claims that a recent crayfish cull could inadvertently cause their numbers to rise.

One million crayfish were removed from the water last summer, but Zara Gladman of Glasgow University believes doing so has made it easier for younger specimens to mate, the Galloway News reports.

However, local anglers claim the project has been a success and is enhancing conditions for those who use the loch, with fishing lures now receiving less interference from crayfish.

"It used to be you’d put your bait in and it would last two or three minutes. Now they’re putting it in and it comes out with hardly any damage on it," water bailiff John Thom told the newspaper.

His comments were echoed by John McCubbing, chair and president of New Galloway Angling Association, who said the "stats" prove the cull has been effective.

Popular with anglers, Loch Ken is a nine-mile freshwater loch also used by the Galloway Activity Centre, which offers sailing, windsurfing, powerboating and kayaking courses.

A new fishing programme will be shown on terrestrial TV this summer after Channel 4 purchased the rights to Catching the Impossible.

Produced by Hugh Miles and Martin Bowler, the eight-part documentary series follows Bowler and veteran actor Bernard Cribbins as they search UK waters for the largest fish around, the Angling Times reports.

The show will be broadcast on Sunday mornings from June 13th, although it could later be repeated in a primetime slot if Channel 4 controllers deem the viewing figures to be good enough.

"To have the opportunity to raise the profile of angling is terrific and right from the outset that was always the goal," Miles told the publication.

"We got close with BBC4 and then ITV, before finally getting the OK from Channel 4," he added.

Perhaps best known as the voice of The Wombles, Cribbins is a keen fisherman who has appeared on Celebrity Mastermind with "the art of angling" as his specialist subject.

An angling expert has praised the quality of fish currently available in the Foremark and Thornton reservoirs.

Writing in the Burton Mail, Alan Dawes explained that the size of catches at both National Forest fishing venues has improved significantly since manager Ifor Jones took charge, with many "superb" specimens now in the water.

He said that more than 10,000 fish have been reeled in at Foremark this year, a "remarkable" figure considering the reservoir has only been open to anglers since early March.

Both fishing lures and buzzers have been producing results at the venue, according to Mr Dawes.

"The fish have tended to lie in the deeper water, but still within casting range of the bank anglers," he revealed.

With the water temperature at Thornton reaching ten degrees C in recent days, the buzzers have been "out in force" and the fish spread out across the water.

Foremark is a 230-acre reservoir and nature reserve popular among trout anglers, while Thornton is 75 acres in size and features an exhibition and fishing lodge.

A new project at the Catterick barracks in North Yorkshire has seen soldiers enjoy angling sessions while waiting to serve in Afghanistan.

The initiative is designed to help the troops relax before their deployment, with members of the Mercian regiment’s first battalion pursuing bream, carp and tench in the nearby village of Carlton Miniott, the Guardian reports.

Captain John Elms, welfare officer for the regiment, said a few hours spent with the fishing rods should help the troops to "keep calm before they go".

Private Atikini Nagogolevu is one of the soldiers taking part in the scheme, which could also be offered to aid the rehabilitation of those injured in the conflict at a later date.

He told the newspaper: "It’s a chance to chill for a day and enjoy the scenery before we go to Afghanistan."

Situated on the edge of the Yorkshire Dales, Catterick is believed to be the largest military base in Europe and has a population of approximately 18,000 people.

Students will learn how to use fishing rods and reels as part of the curriculum at a new sports academy in Leicestershire.

Based at Brooksby Melton College in Melton Mowbray, the facility will offer students aged between 16 and 19 expert angling tuition, as well as teaching skills in other sports such as football and golf.

According to the Melton Times, three-time world angling champion Darren Cox has endorsed the academy and was a special guest at the official launch.

"This angling academy could potentially provide a model to roll out nationally," he told the newspaper.

Meanwhile, assistant principal Mark Bendle said the centre will give local youngsters "the opportunity to take sports and recreation courses alongside taking part and developing skills in their favourite sports".

The academy will be based at Beedles Lake Golf Club in nearby East Goscote.

According to a tip given by England international Cox on the Garbolino website, feeding is the key to successful fishing.

The government’s angling spokesperson has warned that British coarse fish stocks are in danger of being seriously diminished by predatory otters.

Martin Salter said conservation programmes have released the animals into the wild without making sure there is enough food to sustain their numbers, the Daily Telegraph reports.

He suggested that many UK anglers could soon find less prey for their fishing reels if the problem is allowed to continue, with otters increasingly turning to fisheries for their food.

"I want to avoid the situation where people are calling for a cull on otters," the Labour MP said.

"They have been released into an environment where there is an imbalance between predator and prey."

Mr Salter also raised concerns about the issue of cormorants preying on fish in UK waters.

Last week, the Angling Times reported that two fisheries in Essex have been trialling alarm-style laser beam systems as a high-tech cormorant deterrent.

An angler from North Lincolnshire has recalled the moment he caught a 75 lb carp during a recent fishing trip in France.

Described as a "carp of a lifetime" by the Scunthorpe Telegraph, the fish saw Alan Cargill set a new record at Angling International’s Abbey Lakes complex.

The 65-year-old’s best-ever catch followed soon after another slice of luck, as he enjoyed a win on his premium bonds shortly before packing his fishing rods for France, the newspaper reports.

Reliving the moment, Mr Cargill said: "I called my friend who was 100 yards up on the bank to come down. After 20 minutes we got it in. It was so big that I couldn’t lift it."

After taking some trophy pictures, the angler was keen to return his prize catch to the water, although the carp proved to be capable of doing so without his assistance.

"As I was trying to get a picture of putting it back in the water, it suddenly went and I couldn’t stop it," he explained.

Earlier this month, several newspapers published pictures of a 211 lb catfish reeled in by British teenager Simon Field on Spain’s River Ebro.

Angling clubs have responded positively to a new scheme that opens up 300 miles of the UK canal network for fishing.

Earlier this month, British Waterways made 122 previously unlicensed stretches of canal available to anglers in England and Wales.

Thanks to the Waterway Wanderers initiative, people can now take their fishing rods to the new waters for an annual ticket price of £20, or £10 for members of the Angling Trust.

Frank Lythgoe, secretary of the Warrington Anglers Association, described the scheme as "outstanding value".

He told the Angling Times: "Many of the stretches are set in scenic areas and will offer great fishing for a mix of species".

Mark Lloyd, chief executive of the Angling Trust, has said the nation’s canal network is "a fantastic resource for anglers of all abilities".

Permits will run for 12 months from the date of issue, while £5 day permits will also be available from British Waterways bailiffs on the bank.