March update
Well the weather has not improved much since the last update but things around the ponds have moved on at quite a pace.
The work parties so far have improved the area a great deal in visual as much as building work which has seen a lot of attention taken improving the fishing platforms and gates.
A lot of the trees have been removed and disposed of and the banks improved in places making for an overall visual impact as you enter the site.
The next work party date is the 4th April where we would like to remove the rest of the saplings and rushes from Marshall’s one,
all are welcome to help with this job and get your fiver back if you have not already done so.The best bit of news is that the promised re stocking of fish has been completed and over 2000 fish have been introduced to the ponds, the majority of the fish are common and mirror carp, crucian carp, roach, tench, skimmer bream, perch, gudgeon and barbel, yes you read it right we have put a few barbel in Rachel’s to see how they get on they are the same strain as at Whitmore so if they grow at the same rate expect fireworks in a couple of years.
If you do happen to catch any of these new fish please handle with care they are your future sport on our water.I still have a few places left on some matches if you fancy trying your hand in a match please contact me to book a place.
Colin 07990608497
Well the match calendar is about to start and I feel very excited with the match venues we have on offer again this year. Crane Hall is filling up fast with the news of the results from last year and also that another stock of fish has been introduced Harry will not fully divulge the amount but do not be surprised to catch a barbel!
Also on the subject of Crane Hall the club has negotiated with Harry and 2010 will still give you a days fishing for £3 at the venue Monday to Friday inclusive.
For those members attending at the A.G.M. you will remember that it was decided that if you booked an away match then you would have to pay for the peg if you failed to turn up. At our first committee meeting of the year we discussed this decision and decided to over rule it as long as the match secretary was given a minimum of seven days notice or unless sudden illness stopped the angler from attending.
It would also be nice to see some new faces at the matches I have had a couple of new members booking for some of the matches so we will have a few but all are welcome to join us and enjoy a good day out.
Talking of a good day out I am looking forward to Fir Tree Fishery once again this year last season we had two matches there and I do not think we had a dry net in fact a lot were stuffed with fish such was the prolific nature of the place I still have half a dozen pegs left if anybody fancies a go give me a ring and book your peg pronto!
We have only had one work party on the ponds but it was very well attended a lot of the foliage was cut back and paths cleared the two Sid’s made a new gate for Winchesters and are looking at widening the access ramp by peg one ‘well done the Sid family’.
The next work party is on the 6th March where we will be looking at removing as many saplings as possible from Marshall’s one and raking the reeds to make the pond more accessible and snag free.A new stocking of fish has been ordered and will be introduced to the ponds in the very near future we may close some of the ponds for a week or so to let these fish settle in so please be patient if you see any signs displayed asking you not to fish.
The new clothing will be here this week for those of you which have ordered it so we will have some anglers wearing our new fishing garb which is very warm and yet smart if you see any angler wearing the gear and would like some I will be ordering again mid summer just ask a member of the committee if you are interested.
The next magazine will be out shortly until then tight lines and don’t forget to book your pegs?
November 2009
WELCOME
I wish to apologise that this is only the second magazine to be printed this year, it is due to my moving house which has been extremely stressful and also my position at work has altered leaving me with less time to write the magazine.
Hopefully next year I will be able to put extra effort into writing the magazine as both problems sort themselves out.I want to mention that the ponds have fished really well this year I have had lots of feedback from members stating what wonderful days they have had down on the ponds and also what friendly members we have it looks like we are doing everything right well done to all members for making this such a friendly club.
I know I mentioned in the March magazine how well the matches were doing and that they were well booked up, well it turned out wrong I had a lot of members backing out some without even telling me and if it was not for the regular lads supporting match day raffles we would have lost a lot of cash on peg fees.
I cannot understand it the away matches have turned up some fantastic weights and the majority of anglers at these matches have at some point bagged up I can only put it down to the recession and there not being a lot of cash about.Seeing that this magazine will be the last for this year I have added next years match list and also your membership form for rejoining.
The Annual General meeting is being held on Wednesday 9th December 2009 at
The Sandford Hotel, 353 Central Promenade which is situated near Alexandra Road lots of parking on the prom and as usual there will be a free supper courtesy of the club prepared by the owner Bob Valance.The meeting starts at 7.30 prompt if you have an issue to raise please write to me before hand or better still turn up and say your peace.
Colin/Editor
Pond Cleaning
I would like to thank all members who participated in the pond cleaning sessions without your help the ponds would be in a sorry state.
As most will have noticed the biggest improvement that we did was to remove the fallen tree on Winchester’s the amount of tree underneath the water was unbelievable no wonder members were losing fish and getting snagged up.
We then felled the rotten tree by peg one again on Winchester’s. When we cut it we realised that it was not the top of the tree that was dangerous but the middle of the trunk which had rotted more than half way through I don’t know how it had survived so long without falling with the strength of the gales we were getting in the early part of the year.
We then decided that Marshall’s one needed a sort out and trimmed the tree by the gate which had shed seeds in the pond resulting in numerous saplings sprouting around the perimeter of the pond.
Lots of these saplings had to be winched out such was the root system on them 2010 should see the remainder removed and the narrow end cleared of the thick reed system which has been a sanctuary for the fish and a nightmare for the angler.All in all a lot of crucial work for the benefit of all members to enjoy perhaps a few more members helping out would not go amiss but this has always been an ongoing problem those that did do a bit have no guilt to hide well done to you all.
Bag Up Baits
I have had an email from Chris at Bagup Baits, he has now opened up on the first floor of Preston indoor market.
He has mentioned that he will give offers to our club members on any bait that he sells, just mention the club and say you read it in the magazine and I am sure he will see you right.
Resevoir Ponds
The committee have decided that we will not be renewing our rental on the reservoir ponds.
The reasons are: -
- They are being poached too often
- They are too far to walk by a majority of the membership
- Some cars have been vandalised when parked in the lay by
- We feel that the rental money could be used for better purposes
The ponds may be fished until the end of December when our agreement finishes.
Club Matches
We had a busy weekend over the 8th and 9th of August.
On Saturday the 8th we held our annual ‘Over 50’s’ match this year it was sponsored by Blackpool Angling Centre who donated prizes and vouchers to make a very inviting prize table for the 24 members who turned up to do battle in might I say the best weather for three years.To be fair on the day the ponds did not fish their best but everyone caught fish and enjoyed themselves. When the final whistle went the participants enjoyed a fine barbeque while the fish were weighed.
The barbeque once again supplied by the club and cooked and served by Kevin Ball and John Cherry was superb and all ate heartily and mingled while the prizes were organised.
1st P Wainwright 22lb 2oz peg 13
2nd C Shaw 15lb 2oz peg 18
3rd L Carr14lb 9oz peg 10
These were the top weights though we had top three and a section on every pond. Many thanks to all who participated I know you all enjoyed yourselves and thanks again to Blackpool Angling Centre for their kind sponsorship.
The Club Championship followed on the Sunday at Whitmore’s East Lake once again this match was sponsored by Mark Gibbons of Noah’s Ark Tackle in Poulton whose kind donation of tackle vouchers boosted the prizes on offer with the £50 supplied by the club and the pool money there were ten prizes on offer for the 26 taking part.
I have to mention that the East Lake was slow for the start of the match but by the last hour the pegs were simply alive with fish and the final places were actually decided in that last hour.
1st M Grimshaw 66lb 10oz peg 26
2nd K Ball 63lb 3oz peg 22
3rd P Wainwright 55lb 2oz peg 18
There were other backing weights in the 50lb and 40lb bracket and lots in the 20lb range the match was brilliant it could have gone to one of many anglers on the day it was once again another successful Club Championship match, thanks again go to Mark Gibbons for his kind sponsorship.
Fir Tree
I would like to mention our first matches which we held at
Fir Tree Fisheries, door to door it is only 40 minutes away at the outset but they were poorly attended and yet the match results were fantastic.There were no long pole tactics or special baits needed it was run of the mill fishing mostly under your feet up in the water or on the deck with paste anything went and the match results proved it.
Our first outing was won with 85lb on Benson’s Creek and 75lb on Nooky Hollow, weights of between 60lb to the high teens were recorded on the day.
The second outing was similar 67lb won the day but the backing weights were phenomenal with 13 weights above 21lb many in the thirties.
We did lose on pegs but this was recovered with a raffle at another match. I have booked the venue again because it was so fair in its balance of pegs on offer I hope more will come next year to sample the great fishing on offer there then perhaps we will not need to hold the raffle!
I have been asked if we could advertise our clothing range again as some members have been impressed with the quality of clothing that many of us wear with the club logo and our names embroidered on.
Most committee men will be wearing these items at matches please examine quality before you purchase.Clothing
Choice of colours and sizes
All the chosen clothing items are stylish, top quality, hard wearing and
fully washable.Below you will find some photographs of the chosen items, all are available in various colours and sizes if you are interested please state your choice and submit payment with your order on the form provided.
To keep costs down the order will be delivered to my address and goods will be distributed on match days or at a place suitable to both parties by arrangement.
Base ball cap £6.50
Superfleece cap (with drop down ear flaps) same cap in fleece..cosy £7
Picture of logo
Polo shirt £12.50…Name on free!
Hooded sweatshirt £15…name on free!
Omicron2 wind/shower proof fleece £30…name on free!All top quality merchandise.
As I have mentioned on the front page I have sent your re-joining form with this magazine. You can either bring the completed form with you at the A.G.M. and re-join on the night or send it in preferably before the end of January when membership is open to any new members.
Any lucky member who over winters abroad can send in their form straight away but no cards will be sent out until after the A.G.M. if your form reaches us late because you have already left send it when you return and we will guarantee you a membership for 2010 so do not worry.
The form has changed once again and is self explanatory to all members new or old, remember if you are joining us on a work party to get a refund of £5 if you have paid it please tick the box relating to the date you wish to attend please note in 2010 we will not be having any evening work parties but will have one each month as shown.
Work party dates 2010
Work parties are the first Saturday in the following months starting at 9.00am meeting at Winchester’s.
February to September inclusive
Please note no fishing will be allowed on these days until after the work party has finished, this is in the interest of Health and Safety when power tools may be in use.
If you do go fishing on the ponds over the winter period please do not feed heavily or throw unused bait in the water when you leave.
Remember fish are not as active and need less food any excess feed will rot on the bottom and could cause bacterial problems in the water.*****
As there are too many match results to catch up on I am not mentioning them here but they may be seen on our web site for any of you which have the internet.
A full list of match winners will be on show in the next magazine with any relevant news brought forward at the A.G.M.
If you can make it details of the A.G.M. are on the front page come along and join in, listen or just enjoy the free food on offer and buy a raffle ticket or two.
Finally the committee wishes every member a very
MERRY CHRISTMAS
And
A PROSPEROUS NEW YEARTight lines for 2010
