Trouble is it's anglers and their attitude that are in my mind a nightmare on the cuts.
I spent around 25 years on the Canals fishing matches first 15 years were spend on the London canal circuit and due to the heavy foot fall on the tow paths we used to ship along the bank NOT over the tow path.
Also a lot of section we had walls about 5ft behind us so still shipped along the bank.
Fair enough most only had 11mtr poles back then but we still shipped along the bank causing no obstruction.
Then i moved and started to fish the Midlands canals and still i shipped along the tow path everyone else though shipped across the tow path so causing an obstruction.
I think i heard maybe a handfull of moans whilst on the London circuit which were mostly the type of moan that would be heard even if no one was there.
In the Midlands though all the time you could here what i still today class as ignorant anglers moaning because they were asked to move their poles to allow people past.
To me its the Angler that needs to be taught how to ship in / out just as much as walkers and the such need to learn to look ahead and slow down.
Now i guess most that read this will be whining and saying im wrong but if i as an Angler can see the problem just think what non anglers must feel and see.
I walked away from the canals for a few reasons of which Boats - Dog Cr@p - Pitiful Returns - Anglers Pompous Attitudes were some of those reasons.
In my mind Joff until Anglers get their own act together you are on a loosing battle we as anglers SHARE the canals with others and yes at present we and boaters are the only ones that pay (have you ever met a cyclist with a licence ?) but everybody has a right to walk along the tow path without having to hurdle loads of carbon.
Now i'll stick my hard hat on.