November Newsletter 2003

Shaun's Report (Fishery Manager)

The rain finally featuring this month with increased flow through the whole fishery, all areas are producing fish freely. Lures have featured more this month than of late, white tailed tadpoles as well as orange and yellow producing bag limits. Trusted colours black green and olive not so productive. Lots of good bags of late after the big fish weekend. Each day after the event large fish evident in most peoples’ bags. As reported, weekends as mentioned in last newsletter are proving very popular because of the short days during the week. Please remember we would like to give priority to members on weekends, however this cannot be done if we don’t know you’re coming. We will give priority if you simply phone or e-mail us before you come!

Catch and Release
Working well this month, remember that if you receive your newsletter by e-mail this voucher will not be attached. Simply pick it up at the Fishery on your visit as this will allow you to use it during its valid month. I say this because I still have quite a few from last month. These are not now valid on receipt of this newsletter. All that receive this newsletter by post have this month’s voucher attached, remember this is a free 2 fish ticket which allows you to fish without purchasing a ticket but you must release the 2 fish it is valid for, or you may use this if you achieve your bag limit early, allowing you to return two extra fish at no charge.

Big Fish Weekend and Weekday Results
Saturday fishing better than the other two days of the weekend. Many on Saturday had fish in excess of 5lb, Sunday however not so apparent.

Sat results:
Best bag: Alan Game 25lb 13oz
Best fish: Sam Koski 10lb 4oz

Sunday results:
Best bag: Martin Langford 19lb 11oz
Best fish: A Taylor 9lb 12oz

Monday results:
Monday improved from the Sunday, a similar day in conditions as the Saturday, a good turnout. 17 anglers supported the weekday event!
Best bag: Gordon Wood 25lb 6oz
Best fish: Keith Taylor 8lb 15oz (blue trout)

Thanks to all who supported the 3 days, a good turnout with 55 anglers in total. Well done to all winners on their days and overall winner Alan Game who was pleasantly surprised at winning over the weekend.

Raffle Winners
3 winners each receiving £70 on your club card: Reg Mole – no.104

Barry Derosa – no. 122
Simon Desorgher – no 131

Please collect your winnings on your next visit. Your club benefited by £50 to go towards newsletters costs. Thank you all.

Doubles Results 15th/16th November (Qualifying Round)
8 teams won through they were as follows, also the draw for the next round has been made:

K Winchester R Mole
L Winchester v A Game

P Allen G Mutch
S Orchin v M Lawrence

D Worrall B Oak
A Taylor v S Robertson

G Fleet D Wharram
K Goldsmith v K Vizard

This round is to be fished by 1st Jan 2004. Please check future round dates on the members’ notice board where all rules and round stages for the knockout are displayed. Please phone the Fishery as phone numbers of all competitors are displayed also on the members’ notice board.

Singles Knockout
The draw has been done, with 16 members into the knockout stage (1st round)

J Brocking v K Winchester
G Mutch v S Orchin
C Bush v B Oak
G Briggs v D Worrall
C Brewer v P Allen
G Fleet v L Winchester
S Standen v M Abbott
K Goldsmith v A Taylor

The 1st round is to be fished by 1st January/ also the rules and lists of telephone numbers are also displayed on the members’ noticeboard. Please phone for your opponent’s number, or pop in to the Fishery.

Xmas Party 20th December
A booking sheet is enclosed this must be returned by Monday 8th December. Sorry for the short notice, it’s only by demand that we have quite happily considered running this popular social occasion so please don’t let the club down! Friends and family are welcome. A good chance to indulge in the festive spirit amongst friends on the Fishery.

Xmas Shop Sale as from 1st December – 1st January 2004
All members will receive a 30% reduction from retail prices in the shop. Your club cards cannot be used for these purchases. All transactions are cash/credit card and cheque sales only, on all tackle items except flies.

Forthcoming Events

Member and Guest Weekend and Weekday 6th, 7th, 8th December
Always our most popular event with a chance to bring a friend for a good social/festive spirit. Mornings fishing, 6 fish shared, Christmas lunch. Price £52 per couple. Book early for weekend dates and let’s hope the weekday is as popular as last year.

Boxing Day Brace (2 fish ticket £19)
Over 3 years this event has become more popular each year. Fishing from 9am – 12 noon. More details will be in December newsletter but your booking form is attached.

New Year Day Brace (2 fish ticket £19)
Fishing from 12 noon – 4pm. Always a very popular event, a chance to sober up in the morning and blow the cobwebs away fishing in the afternoon. More details in December newsletter. Book early as both events, Boxing Day and New Year, are always popular – also relieve the pressure on the postal services in December.

Members’ Rebate
As reported in February this year, your club had a surplus carried over into 2002/03 season. This was to be entered onto your club cards. However this wasn’t done due to software which was not available and is still not within our till/card system. This has been done now manually. Any member receiving a voucher in this newsletter can have this £8 put on to his card, but only on receipt of the voucher. Email members ,your vouchers are for collection at the fishery. To find out if you are eligible for your voucher see me.

Sorry for the delay, but we had faith in being able to do this through the card system. This £8 credit will only apply to members who had full membership during the 2001/02 season. This will, I am sure, be received gratefully at this time of year.

Here’s hoping the good weather holds during this early winter season. This should help with a busy programme in December and January. We look forward to seeing you all before Christmas.

Tight lines

Shaun
Fishery Manager

Secretary’s Report

Firstly my thanks to all those who responded to the call to arms to represent your club against Springwood. You may recall that we went into the home leg trailing by a weight that was equal to one fish – the significance of which will become apparent later. However I am pleased to report that our boys (and lady) triumphed on the day and reduced the away leg to an aggregate surplus of 50lbs. Well done all.

Congratulations also to Alan Game winner of the Big Fish Weekend. Commiserations to those - myself included – who failed to catch any whoppers. Just to keep you interested I can confirm that a beast is lurking in the depths which if caught on the right tippet strength will be a potential world record! To make sure it qualifies I’ll give a little help – USE 6LB TIPPET AND REPORT ANY UNUSUAL CATCH TO SHAUN IMMEDIATELY!

The pride in our victory over Springwood is tinged with sadness over the loss to the champagne cellars. Yes the twits are back!

Candidate one is Keith Winchester who had drawn the notoriously difficult peg outside the clubhouse. With flies pinging off lights, furniture and all other solid objects on the back cast, Keith observed that “this swim can be a source of real big fish on its day”.

A while later the pinging ceased as Keith ploughed manfully onward at this source of big fish, only to be observed fishing without a fly as the final ping was said fly detaching itself from the line. This brought a wry smile from this commentator.

Now for the significance of the single fish.

Some competitors against Springwood had the good fortune to clean up on their first peg – among them one Stuart Robertson. Unusually, I managed to catch my limit on the second peg. As is habitual amongst early finishers they like to wander the lake doling out advice to us lesser mortals. Seeing four fish lying by my peg Stuart cried “what are you playing at, there is a three fish limit today”. A red-faced Mr Robertson then confessed to having weighed in, cleaned up and packed away his gear. Using borrowed equipment our hero was dispatched to catch his last fish. Thankfully the margin of victory was such that this mathematical error did not prove too costly, but it could have been!

Having inadvertently discovered battle plans for the annual assault on Bluewater Lakeside, Brent Cross, etc I am mindful that Christmas is approaching. Several members have expressed interest in holding a club Christmas party in the marquee. We have pencilled in Saturday 20th December as the date for this function. However it will only be viable if we get a minimum attendance of 60. If you are interested in attending can you please let Shaun know as soon as possible. As in previous years tickets will be £12.50 per head. The format will be disco and buffet with a cash bar in the marquee.

Good fishing to you all.

G Mutch
Hon. Secretary