February Newsletter 2003

Shaun's Report

Weather improved during the month of February to bring some settled days almost Spring-like. On the right days, the Fishery was very busy with sport on all lakes and cascade. More natural patterns featuring well with Bloodworm, G.H.Daddies and natural damsels being the most popular patterns.

Lures not needed as much this time of year, the chance to test yourself and fish more naturally. Longer days with the evenings drawing out nicely. A premium time of year when hopefully Spring arrives with also the clock going forward at the end of the month.

Membership 2003/2004 - Existing Members

Your new club year is 1st April 2003. Subscriptions are due on or before this date. A subscription form is enclosed for current members. Please return this prior to the A.G.M. to allow us to process the relevant information and have membership badges ready to issue at our A.G.M.

Your subscription forms must be filled in fully i.e. phone numbers and more importantly, any e-mail addresses and also, please tick the box if you are willing to receive your newsletter by e-mail. This simply allows your club to save money on expensive posting and ensuring they arrive safely in the right hands.

Our new web site, www.coltsfordmill-fishery.co.uk is ready for viewing. Members will find all relevant information of interest and more importantly informative.

Any member not able to attend the A.G.M., your membership packages will be left until the 22nd April in your pigeon holes for collection, any left after this date will then be posted.

Any member who has not acknowledged renewal of his membership by 7th April, we will consider his/her membership lapsed. This will allow us to offer these available spots to our waiting list members.

We have offered spots to our early entries on our waiting list after current members expressed disappointment at not being able to renew for the current season.

New Privileges for 2003/2004

As last year we introduced our new membership privilege card and catch and release option, this year any changes shall be less extreme. We may consider the catch and release option being used more frequently, however, many did not take up this option. This will be discussed at our A.G.M.

Privilege Card

This is particularly important to new members to identify themselves to Fishery staff. This should be presented every time you fish to benefit from your cheaper ticket price. This has lots of other values, which are explained in your members’ privileges under number 12.

This will mean no cash to carry with you on the Fishery and every time you spend, a balance report will be given with your receipt to allow careful monitoring of your balance.

Please note all explanations if not already made clear will be explained at your A.G.M. and we look forward to hearing your comments on our first year of our new improved system.

A.G.M. 7th April 7:30/8:00

In the marquee at the Coltsford Mill next to the Club Lodge. A social evening, free buffet and your club prize-giving.

Club trophies and medals to be presented to winners during 2002/2003.

Club reports from committee chairman, secretary and treasurer.

Fishery reports for season 2002/2003 and prospects for 2003/20043 season, open floor for members’ suggestions and constructive criticism and compliments!

New members, this is of great importance as to socialising with current members and starting the year with the knowledge of your Club’s constitution and objectives. We look forward to seeing many of you.

New Year’s Day results - 12th January

We managed to fish this after the New Year as bad weather hampered the last new year’s day. A well supported event with around 20 fishermen.

Best brace was 14lb 8oz to Martin Langford. Thanks to all who fished for your support.

Automatic Gates

These are now in operation. Please follow the simple signs, which are displayed on both sides of the gates, to gain access. I am sure that this will run efficiently and help with security and general nuisance foot traffic experienced at weekends. Any member who needs to gain access by foot should contact Shaun for the keypad security number.

Tagged Fish

This amount stands at near to £400. We are altering the system and no more fish will be tagged with a blue spot to its belly. To increase the chances of capture, any member who catches the first blue trout as from 13th March will be able to claim the pot. However the tagged fish are still out there and if caught before the 13th, the pot can still be claimed if you have paid your pound!

Forthcoming events: 26th, 27th and 28th April - Member and Guest Weekend - Fairview Flooring Trophy

Always a popular event fishing from 8am till 1pm so be early to return your booking forms which are enclosed. A midweek event has been organised to try and release some of the pressure on bookings for the previous weekend, many of you expressing the belief that this is a good idea for midweek members.

Members can bring a guest for the day and a 6 fish shared ticket costs £38 with lunch at £6 per person [lunch not an option]. Each day will be run individually as the Best Bag Member and Guest and Best Fish of the Day.

The weekend has a trophy over the two days, the Fairview Flooring Salver sponsored by Keith Goldsmith. The Monday event is sponsored by the Mick Aylett salver.

There is always a good social atmosphere at this Member/Guest event, providing the opportunity for you to introduce a fellow angler to your water or a novice to sample the bug of fly fishing.

A lot happening in the new season. Hope the weather improves so fishing becomes more appetising with Spring surely round the corner. Hope to see you all at the A.G.M. or start of new season.

Tight lines!

Shaun

Fishery Closure Dates:
13th March ( Thursday) am only
10th April (Friday)
12th April (Sunday)

Secretary's Report

After the floods, snow and ice we are finally in a settled spell of weather with cold nights and milder days resulting in excellent fishing conditions with limits perhaps being achieved with relative ease. I am sure that those who soldiered on during storm tempest and flood will now be reaping their just reward.

AGM

As if any reminder is necessary, our AGM and prize giving will be held in the marquee on 7th April at 7.30 pm. As noted in the last newsletter, your subscription - which has been held at £90 - must be paid by this date.

Also, and as reported in an earlier newsletter, your club entered the 2002/03 year with a healthy cash balance which principally arose from raffle proceeds. As with everything in life, our costs for the year have gone up.

However we are in a position to be able to distribute our brought forward surplus. There has been considerable discussion on novel ways of doing this and frankly we could not come up with anything better than a rebate to all those who were members at 1 April 2002. Those who qualify will therefore have a credit of £8 each.

As an inducement to attend the AGM - aside from our bar and free grub - you will be able to purchase a discounted ticket on the night i.e. four fish for the price of three, three fish for the price of two etc.

Twit of the Year

As a result of an exceptionally well behaved membership - barring of course the antics of Messrs Barry Oak and Adrian Brown in deepest darkest Africa which really don’t count as they were probably induced by sunstroke or Tusker - I was beginning to think the champagne cellar at Mutch Towers would remain unscathed. How wrong can you be! Barring any late entries the award goes to Phil Allen for the following remarkable feat.

During the recent cold spell, the hardy Phil made a very early start, and exercising his membership benefit, began fishing at 6am some hour and a half before daybreak.

With mounting excitement in the pitch darkness Phil was getting a take on virtually every cast. “Surely I must connect with one soon” he thought. Time passed, takes continued and as the fireball rose in the east the grim realisation dawned (pun intended). The part of the lake Phil had chosen to fish was frozen and the takes were fly catching on ice!

Smallest Fish

Despite seeking no publicity by placing an X in the returns book I am pleased to announce the smallest fish of the year was caught by Andy Crow. A bottle of champers awaits you at the AGM. It is worth it just to hear the management grumble “I dunno how that got in there”.

And Finally

Congratulations to Neil and Nicky on the birth of their baby boy Luke. Neil is the one who is fast asleep in the corner!

You may also have noticed the splendid addition to the Club House. This is not as you may think an area to relax, enjoy a drink and contemplate the joys of a day’s fishing while taking in the vista, but in fact a playpen for the staff crèche.

Good fishing to you all.

G Mutch
Hon Secretary