Angling is crucial to both the economic and social wellbeing of rural communities and will continue to play a "vital" role in the future, according to shadow environment minister Huw Irranca-Davies.

Speaking at the Angling Trust (AT) and British Association for Shooting and Conservation's recent Rural Reception in Manchester, the Ogmore MP urged Labour to continue to engage with angling groups in the future.

Mr Irranca-Davies added that fostering stronger partnerships with rural dwellers and sporting enthusiasts will be important for the party as it adjusts to life in opposition and will ensure a future that is economically, socially and environmentally viable.

His comments were welcomed by AT chief executive Mark Lloyd, who explained that anglers simply want to see fish stocks returned to healthy levels.

Earlier in the month, Liberal Democrat peer Lord Redesdale told a fringe meeting at the party's conference in Liverpool that fishing rod users bring "knock-on benefits for the whole community". 

A Norfolk angler overcame tricky weather conditions to catch nearly 200 roach on his way to winning the sought-after Norfolk Broads Championship last weekend, earning himself a handy £330 in winnings, it has been revealed.

According to the Norwich Evening News, 56-year-old local caretaker Robert Hubbard reeled in 194 roach with his fishing rod from the city's River Bure, but said afterwards he was more interested in a good day's fishing than his cash prize.

"The big attraction of this series was not so much the prize money but the quality of the fishing," he explained. "There are no rivers in the country that can match ours in the Norfolk Broads area and that is why this tournament is so popular."

Norwich District Angling Association chairman Tony Gibbons hailed the event, pointing out that it had produced an average catch of around 20lb per participant.

Earlier this month, scores of competitors descended on Scarborough for the All England Codling Championship.

A pair of students from King's Lynn are celebrating winning £10,000 in cash after beating competition from some of Britain's most experienced anglers to top the British Carp Angling Championship.

The Eastern Daily Press has reported that 21-year-olds Luke Church and Wayne Rees landed 14 carp – weighing a total of 202lb 12oz – with their fishing rods, leaving their veteran rivals in the dust.

"Luke and I decided to enter the event to pit our wits against some of the best in the sport," Mr Rees told the newspaper. "And, after our success in the eliminator and the semi, it seemed winning the event was not beyond us."

He added that nearest challengers Jake and Dan Wildbore had proved particularly stiff opposition and said his share of the winnings will go towards setting up an angling school.

Last week, the Angling Times revealed that Leicester fisherman Dave Thompson had caught an 80lb 6oz mirror carp during an angling session at Rainbow Lake in France.

Scores of youngsters in Scotland have grabbed fishing rods for the first time thanks to a local angling initiative and rapidly became hooked on the pursuit, according to a report.

The Perthshire Advertiser has revealed that the Angling for Youth Development (APYD) scheme was relaunched earlier in September after shutting down for the summer holidays, teaching a range of fishing techniques to schoolchildren.

"There's seven or eight coaches who all give up their time and expertise for free, we couldn't do it without them," said administrator Fiona Bain. "AFYD courses are springing up all over the country now, they're proving to be really popular."

She added that the course aims to give participants skills they can use in later life and explained that the AFYD project has proven particularly popular with nearby parents eager for their kids to experience the outdoors.

Last month, an article in the Bolton News highlighted the work of the Get Hooked on Fishing organisation in the town.

Anglers in the Peterborough area have been praised by the Environment Agency (EA) after a recent scheme intended to crack down on fishing rod licence dodgers uncovered no rule-breakers.

According to the Peterborough Evening Telegraph, 615 anglers across Northamptonshire, Lincolnshire and Cambridgeshire were approached by bailiffs and asked to produce fishing rod licences over the last few weeks.

"All anglers in Peterborough were found to have a licence. We are very pleased," an EA spokesperson said. "Just 21 in Lincolnshire were found to be without a valid rod licence and were issued with offence tickets."

Last week, BBC News reported that the EA was considering resolving a cross-border angling dispute along the banks of the Border Esk, angling along which requires an English fishing rod licence despite the river being mostly situated in Scotland.

Fishing groups in Scotland have long called for a solution on the matter and two anglers were convicted by a sheriff for angling on the Esk without the necessary documentation, although both escaped punishment.

An angler from Leicester has spoken of his delight at catching a massive mirror carp with his fishing rod at a French fishery and admitted he had been somewhat surprised at his success.

The Angling Times has reported that fishing enthusiast Dave Thompson reeled in the 80lb 6oz creature from Rainbow Lake in France, landing more than 2,000lb worth of carp over the course of a mammoth two-week session.

"I never dreamed that I'd catch so many massive carp in one session," he told the publication. "I'm just an everyday working man that loves his carp fishing and more anglers should give fishing like this a go."

Mr Thompson's friend and fellow carp angler Rob Hughes claimed the catch is among the best the sport has ever seen and suggested that scores of fishermen could be inspired to try and emulate his achievement.

Last week, the news provider revealed that legendary angler and TV presenter John Wilson had caught a 184lb blue shark while sea fishing close to the Welsh coast.

The Angling Trust (AT) has suggested that the role of the Environment Agency (EA) should be reconsidered by the government to ensure it best represents the interests of fishing rod users.

AT representative Roger Furniss hinted that there has been some dissatisfaction among fishing enthusiasts about the job performed by the EA and suggested the organisation could benefit from a spot of self-criticism.

"The Environment Agency needs to listen more closely to anglers who pay an annual £26 million in licence fees to the Agency," he explained. "There are three million anglers in this country and angling generates £3 billion for the economy every year."

Liberal Democrat peer Lord Redesdale also endorsed Mr Furniss' assessment of the importance of angling, saying that the sport provides a wide range of benefits for the "whole community".

Earlier this month, AT chief executive Mark Lloyd and chairman Mike Heylin met with fisheries minister Richard Benyon to discuss issues relating to the management of the pursuit.

Organisers behind an ongoing angling festival in Scarborough have revealed they have been pleased with the way the event has gone and are anticipating a busy conclusion this weekend.

According to the Scarborough Evening News, between 150 and 200 competitors are expected to take their fishing rods to the final day of the festival, which will reach its climax with the All England Codling Championship.

"It's gone very well. The numbers are up on previous years and there's been some excellent catches," said organising committee chairman Peter Atkinson. "The weather has been good and the boats have managed to get out."

He added that the closing day of the event this Sunday (September 26th 2010) is the "big one" for all concerned and expressed hopes that the weather will continue to be favourable.

Last month, Environment Agency fisheries officer Robert Stephenson emphasised the importance of fishing competitions, describing them as "great for promoting angling".

Legendary angler and broadcaster John Wilson has landed a huge blue shark with his fishing rod off the coast of Wales and says his latest big catch is among his all-time favourites.

The Angling Times has reported that the veteran fisherman reeled in the 184lb creature 20 miles out of Milford Haven and he told the publication he had been struck by the sheer quality of the angling he had experienced.

"I've been fishing all over the world and this is up there with the very best," he explained. "It's hard to explain the buzz you get when the rod buckles over and the line screams off the reel."

Mr Wilson added that such thrills and spills are easily accessible to anglers across the country and said there is more to the experience than simply battling it out with massive sea dwellers.

Last week, the news provider revealed that TV presenter Chris Tarrant is in talks about bringing an angling series to British terrestrial screens.