May Newsletter 2003

Shaun's Report (Fishery Manager)

All I am sure enjoying the early summer sunshine, although this week some welcome rain was appreciated by us and sure all gardeners amongst you.

With the season a month or so in front of itself, natural Damsels, hare’s ear, p.t.n and sunken Daddy are about the only patterns you need. Floating lines being favourite on all water courses with willow producing fish more consistently than Mill.

Cool winds across the pool proving difficult even for the good casters. Best Rainbow 15lb 15oz, 7lb 2oz Blue Trout, 6lb 9oz Brown. Bag limits found easy on most days, however cool winds as mentioned.

Brighter days fishing well in mornings and late evenings. A good head of Browns and Blues being stocked this month. Now is your chance to catch this rare fish.

Tagged Fish

Caught last month by John Burgess. Nearly £400, also this week John Burke, nearly £70 for the tag fish. Well done to both of you. To catch a tagged fish maybe change your name to John by deed poll.

Instead of a Blue Trout being the tag for the last two months we have reverted back to our old system of a large blue dot on the belly of the fish. Check all your bellies for blue spots, don’t be alarmed.

Member / Guest Weekend / Weekday Results

A pleasant weekend’s fishing. Spring-like weather and a full house on each day. Bag limits achievable on the Saturday and Sunday.

Best bag Sat: A Taylor/S Malone 35lb 10oz
Best fish Sat: Frank Young 4lb 3oz
Best bag Sun: C Brewer/D Walker 19lb
Best fish Sun: C Bush 5lb 13oz

Well done to all winners and overall weekend winners of the Fairview Flooring Silver Salver, A Taylor and S Malone.

Monday’s competition, the Mick Aylett Salver was a full house with the worst weather over the 3 days, cold and wet. Fishing was still good, bags still caught.

Best bag: M McKiernan/T Farrington 20lb 1oz
Best fish: M Harwood 6lb 8oz

Well done to Monday’s winners and Salver winners K McKiernan and T Farrington.

Raffle winners

£75 each to go on your club cards, tickets pulled out were: No. 8 A Clack, No. 67 L Ives and No. 56 J Brocking. Your club gets £50.

Well done, collect your prizes.

Forthcoming Events

Big Fish Weekend/Weekday 31st May, 1st and 2nd June

Limited spots available at weekend dates, however still a few spots available on Monday. Send your booking forms in or pay on the Fishery for the last spots.

Members BBQ Weekend, Standen Trophy 28th/29th June

The Standen trophy, donated by our late club secretary William Standen. A popular event for a very popular and respected man. A free BBQ. 4 fish ticket (£29) 8am - 1pm.

Each member may bring wife/partners and sons/daughters for the BBQ. Numbers must be informed by the booking sheet as to catering.

A chance to enjoy hopefully some summer sunshine and a good social BBQ atmosphere in the afternoon, book early for this popular event and social gathering.

Early starts - 6am only

The earliest any member may start is 6am. The gates at the drive don’t open before this. If you park on the road and walk down before this time, remember you may upset local residents.

We haven’t had any complaints as yet but don’t abuse this privilege. When the clocks went forward, they gave a problem for the first few days of Spring. This was soon put right, but only park after 6am at the top of the lake in the first car park.

You may move cars down closer to the lodge by 8am. At 8am it is down to you to pay at the lodge for your ticket purchased as well. Don’t let us have to chase you.

Please try to adhere to this as locally we have a good reputation with the residents in what is a sensitive pastime. Please also pay by 8am on your early starts.

Line left lying around the Fishery have increased recently. We don’t just blame members who have respect for the wildlife, however please dispose of this line carefully.

If you see anyone discarding Nylon, report to Shaun or Neil and we will take action, which is needed to protect our sport and surrounding Wildlife.

Catch and Release

For new members, the voucher attached is valid the whole month that is printed on the voucher. This is also valid until you receive your next newsletter, which means this voucher goes outside the month of issue. This is fine, but it is not valid once you receive your next voucher in your newsletter.

This privilege is only issued ‘by discretion of the Fishery management’. Certain times of the year this will not be an issue in your newsletter when your voucher doesn’t appear, there is no catch and release option.

New members, your season is well underway, please contact me if you have any queries regarding your Membership benefits. Competitions are a good social, light-hearted competitive format. Please feel free to enter or speak with myself to explain how to book or take part.

Hope to see you all during early summer for what is normally the best time ofyear before full summer sunshine!!

Tight lines!

Shaun
Fishery Manager

Secretary’s Report

Firstly, my apologies for not reporting on the AGM but for some unusual reason, I actually had some work to do!

As Shaun mentioned it was pleasing to see such a good turnout and belatedly can I add my congratulations to the prizewinners and more importantly to the non-prizewinners, as without their participation we would have no competitions. As I have always maintained - we fish for fun.

The unseasonal warm spell has slowed the action to less than would normally be expected this time of year. At the moment patience seems to be the key word in any event who wants to bag up in half an hour. This being good old England I’m sure the weather won’t last.

We have been approached by a few other fisheries who wish to take on Coltsford Mill on a home and away basis. Details are being finalised and will be published shortly. It is our intention to give all members the opportunity to represent our club if they so wish. Team selection will therefore be made by ballot with the names of all those who express an interest going into a hat and being drawn at random.

The May bank holiday once again witnessed the annual men v ladies invitation challenge. Despite the ladies fielding perhaps their strongest team for some years (including those well known cross dressers Doris and Rosemary) the men ran out strong winners and retain the trophy. Political correctness will refrain me from making further comment!

As someone who travels a fair bit (to glamorous destinations such as Aberdeen, Glasgow and the like) I am always conscious that one should always say “yes sir, no sir” to airport security staff. I am reminded of the angler who saved for years to go on his dream fishing trip to Australia and who would have done well to remember this point.

On arrival at Cairns airport he was asked by the Aussie immigration officer the nature of his visit. “Pleasure” our man replied. Then he was asked if he had a criminal record to which he replied “I’m terribly sorry, I had no idea that this was still compulsory for entry to Australia”.

He was deported on the spot!

Good fishing to you all.

G Mutch