For those who love their rivers an important meeting takes place tomorrow night at the Swan Hotel, Harleston at 7.30 pm.

Discouraging facts from the 2011 Environment Agency Temporal electro fishing surveys will be analysed and a remedy sought. The call for an independent, outside source such as the University Studies previously successful in defining faults in the river system is being made.

Led by the Bungay Cherry Tree AC who produced 1000 copies of an eight-page pamphlet as an invitation, the response is looking good. With fluctuations of chemicals often three times over the average of EA samplings at Billingford for zinc, copper and others, combined with low dissolved oxygen levels and over-weeding, fish have died.

This culminates with no roach, dace or chub turning up at the Billingford sample point. Compared with the 2003 EA Survey the result overall is a staggering 66 per cent decline in fish at the five sites down to Wainfords. A national body 'The Rivers Trusts' makes it possible to form local associations and a local alliance of Geoff Doggett from Harleston and Dave Gladwell (myself), is looking to establish 'The Waveney Rivers Trust' at the meeting.

For those wishing to join and support the local trust, free membership for the first year will be available on the night, being opened by East Anglia's top angler John Wilson MBE. The Rivers Trust Regional director Barry Bendall, who lives at Haddiscoe, will give a short talk too.

There were podgy purses in place of ice-age nightmares for commercial fishery proprietors this week with plenty of smiling faces on the bank. Catches have soared with fish full and fat roaming on the look for food to nourish the spawning to come. Already quite a few perch are milting in the hand whilst being unhooked. Thankfully the keepnet ban at most fisheries mean fish in this condition experience the minimum of stress.

Marsh Trail Lakes hefty commons were on the march clearing up sweetcorn to pack their golden flanks out and increase their weight to top that double figure mark after last season's 8-9 lb average. Even the smaller lakes such as Bales Nursery Fishery at Ellingham have seen some good catches often covering a range of seven species including the odd massive eel which has stirred itself, and was put back at over 6lb.

Broome Pits the ever reliable for a catch, has been well populated with overnight nivvies and three fish reported over 23lbs and up to 28lb 6oz from B Pit. Roach and rudd on the waggler or slider in B Pit give really excellent sport with 10lb coming in just three hours, fishing up in the water and the best fish around 12 oz. Barney the Bailiff meanwhile reports two 100 lb plus bream bags from the A Pit with the best nearing 8lb.