Okay folks heres a report of three men that were fined a total of £750 for fishing with handlines in a freshwater river in Wales in 2002. They were found fishing with handlines and were prosecuted for fishing ''using an unlicensed instrument''. The environment agency stated that ''the only legal way to fish in freshwater is by the use of a rod and line and with a valid licence''. Therefore a precedent has already been set in court, a handline is illegal and you can expect to be prosecuted if found to be fishing with a handline, in fact the law states that it is not only an offence and illegal to use one but even just to have one in you possession with the intent of using it.
Link to men prosecuted for fishing with handlines http://www.total-fishing.com/fishing-news/handliners-fined-£200
The law regarding this is called ''The Salmon & Freshwater Fisheries act 1975 section 27'', this link shows that law.
http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1975/51/section/27
A person is guilty of an offence if, in any place in which fishing for fish of any description is regulated by a system of licensing, he
(a)fishes for or takes fish of that description otherwise than by means of an instrument which he is entitled to use for that purpose by virtue of a fishing licence or otherwise than in accordance with the conditions of the licence; or
(b)has in his possession with intent to use it for that purpose an instrument other than one which he is authorised to use for that purpose by virtue of such a licence.
Clearly fishing with a handline in freshwater is illegal, I doubt very much indeed that the guy in the vid had special permission (the fact he didnt mention it in the vid convinces me) however once again am happy to be proved wrong.
Link to men prosecuted for fishing with handlines http://www.total-fishing.com/fishing-news/handliners-fined-£200
The law regarding this is called ''The Salmon & Freshwater Fisheries act 1975 section 27'', this link shows that law.
http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1975/51/section/27
A person is guilty of an offence if, in any place in which fishing for fish of any description is regulated by a system of licensing, he
(a)fishes for or takes fish of that description otherwise than by means of an instrument which he is entitled to use for that purpose by virtue of a fishing licence or otherwise than in accordance with the conditions of the licence; or
(b)has in his possession with intent to use it for that purpose an instrument other than one which he is authorised to use for that purpose by virtue of such a licence.
Clearly fishing with a handline in freshwater is illegal, I doubt very much indeed that the guy in the vid had special permission (the fact he didnt mention it in the vid convinces me) however once again am happy to be proved wrong.