Download Spring 2015 Newsletter CLICK HERE
or read below.
Membership Year books are being posted now.
Dear Members,
Welcome to the spring newsletter. We are rapidly approaching the start of the trout fishing season and the close season break for coarse anglers. On the waters and on the banks things could not look better for the time of year. This winter has been very kind and we have not faced the flood and storm damage of the last two. The club is in the middle of membership renewals and the online system is working very smoothly. We have received many generous donations on top of the annual fees. Our financial position is strong, with a healthy waiting list for game membership and a stable coarse membership. We have planned some replacement of equipment this year with significant expenditure on a truck, mowers and other light tools. The staff team remains strong with Andreas at the helm and the three keepers. Paul Clancy has undergone knee surgery so will not be able to do his usual level of work but will be backing up the team with Andreas at the office for the next few weeks. We have a solid casual work list for seasonal work, such as the mowing and fringing. We will be able to continue to manage and improve our banks as the season goes on.
Membership Fees 2015/2016
Subscription rates agreed at the AGM held on Tuesday 13th January 2015
Game Full/Associate £217.00
Game Senior Citizen £163.00
Game Junior £57.00
Coarse Full/Associate £103.00
Coarse Senior Citizen £71.00
Coarse Junior £29.00
Renewals can be done by cheque, cash, or BACS transfers.
For BACS payments our account details are given below. Please use your membership number for reference.
Name: Salisbury & District Angling Club
Sort Code: 40 40 14
Account No: 21164015
Sadly we have recently lost our former Chairman, President and committee member Alex Amos who contributed so much in developing the club in years gone by. The committee have decided that the new hut to be erected on beat 8 at Durnford will be dedicated to Alex’s memory and we hope members will enjoy the comfort for their lunches and breaks under Alex’s shelter and while eating spare a thought for the early members of the club who left us such a fantastic legacy.
Chris Thomas an active committee member for many years has resigned his position but will continue his involvement with maintenance and development projects on all the waters and will continue to bailiff and care for the Stonehenge fishery. Members will find this year a picnic bench where non fishing companions are welcome to sit and enjoy the environment while their partner fishes. Our thanks to Chris and to his wife Chrissy for all that they have done and continue to do for the club.
Game Update.
We could not ask for a better start for April 1st. The banks are drying nicely, we have no serious flood or storm damage and every fishery should be open from day one. We have secured the Hamer lake lease and have already put in a new hut and a picnic table. Some benches will also be placed on the lake perimeter. The lake will be stocked just prior to the season opening. We have confirmed that we will continue to fish the upper beat at Norton Bavant after last year’s trial on the same three day per week basis. Hurdcott will reopen and there will be some repair work on the banks. All the fisheries are in fine order. West Amesbury produced some excellent catch returns last year and we will be completing work to make the whole fishery more accessible by attacking some of the reed growth and making the berm edges more firm with ground reinforcing plastic and chalk infill. It already looks in great order and this year will be open from 1st April
Members who attended the game meeting in November will have seen the presentation on our plans and policies and will have seen the catch returns which look very healthy on all waters. These are also available through the forum. We will continue the policy of habitat improvement to promote insect and fish life and we will continue our maintenance and mowing regimes which have been planned to balance angler access and fly friendly habitat. Partnership schemes with EA at Sutton Veny and Bulbridge should be completed this year and will improve the fishing and access. During the winter a lot of work has been done on the tree lines at various fisheries to improve casting space and allow in a little more light.
Our stocking policy will be the same as last year. After a few years of more targeted stocking and stocking reductions we have reached a level that we will now maintain, stocking only the waters that are unimproved and not trout friendly. We retain our stocking licences so that in case of any unforeseen issues we can top up as necessary.
We are starting to talk to the EA about a major improvement scheme removing weirs and creating new channels at Lords Walk. This work is of great interest to us as it is key to improvements on the stretch above at Countess and Ratfyn. Without work to remove the weir impoundments and other structures above Amesbury we would not be able to get the flow we need in the river above to allow us to improve the habitat. This is good news but is for 2017 and beyond. We are also still working to improve Stapleford and we may see some habitat work there by the end of this year.
Jan Szakowski, one of our members who has taken a keen interest in entomology will be taking over leadership of our entomology centre working closely with Dr. Cyril Bennett MBE. We look forward to much more development in this area. We are very lucky on the South Wiltshire chalk streams to have retained much good fly life but we cannot take it for granted. Our sport is underpinned by good habitat and good fly life and this will always be reflected in how we manage the waters. Habitat = flies = fish. Dr. Cyril Bennett will be continuing to support this work within the club and beyond and we are proud to have him as a member. For the members who have smart phones, watch out for the Match the Hatch Fly app which will be available shortly!
We will be holding our usual programme of events this year including the open day and game meeting on May 17th at Manningford Lakes . Charles Jardine noted fly- fisher , artist and journalist has accepted our invitation to become a Vice President of the club. We thank him for his continued support and will see him leading our open day again, as he has for the past few years.
We have been very happy this winter to see members sharing their expertise on the club forum and to see it being used to share their own creations such as flies and furled leaders. The rest of us, not quite so clever with our fingers, can benefit from their expertise at vary reasonable prices. Thanks to those members and to anyone else who wants to showcase their talents.
Last year saw little weed growth, the floods having ripped out most of what was there and the later murky water kept the light from stimulating new growth. This year we expect a heavy growth year for water crowfoot (Ranunculus). It is already there just visible through the coloured water with strands up to a metre or so in length and bright green indicating that growth has already started. Members will recall that we have a new arrangement through the Wiltshire Fisheries Association and the EA whereby we pay a levy to the EA for their weed extraction work. They install booms below Salisbury and at Chilhampton, they remove the weed that we cut with heavy machinery trucking it away as waste. We have for some years been reducing weed cutting on environmental grounds and the levy forces us to think more about how we deal with weed sympathetically. Like everything on the river it is a balance between a number of objectives, control of levels, angler access, prevention of bank damage and habitat preservation being some of the major factors. Weed is home to many insects it is the egg laying site for the grannom which will provide cracking early season sport, it is shelter for trout who will slip quietly under weed beds if disturbed and emerge again to feed . Trout need refuge close to their feeding lies. Members find fishing between the rafts of cut weed difficult but also struggle to find the fish if the channel is choked. The weed cut dates are published in your year book and advice on general fishing conditions can always be sought from the office or keepers.
This winter, as in previous years, our keepers have battled the cormorant menace. The Angling Trust have helped us to develop one of the first catchment based licences under the new Natural England control regime with several clubs and fisheries joining the group license. This allows us to pool the permitted shooting total and to act across the catchment in the most practical way. A small local club with a wild trout policy has two EA fish stock monitoring sites on its water, where the EA had been recording up to 150 trout in the 100 metres they monitor the numbers have dropped to as low as 40 after the arrival of cormorants on the beats illustrating the fragility of these fisheries. We thank Jake Davoile of the Angling Trust for his support.
We wish you all an excellent season in 2015 we would like to urge members to try some of the outlying fisheries, try Sutton Veny, Bulbridge or Nadder Meadows for true, wild chalk stream fishing.. Don’t forget the mixed fisheries where the match anglers have proved the existence of some of our biggest trout, try White Horse or the river around Churchfields or the river alongside the Cathedral. The traditions of upstream dry fly and nymph do not apply on these waters and all fly fishing methods are permitted, try bigger sub surface flies and weighted nymphs, these fish like a good sized meal.
Tight lines. John Stoddart. Vice Chair. Game
Alex Amos
It is with great sadness we announce the death of our ex-president Alex Amos.
Alex was a towering figure in the club and held various positions over the years. He passed away peacefully on February 10th.
The funeral was held on Wednesday 25th February at St. Marys Church Fordingbridge.
Our sincere condolences to his family.
Alexander Clark Amos 1934 – 2015
Born in Kelso in 1934 Alex started his move south in 1939 when the family moved to Cheltenham. Alex’s father was a regular soldier but Alex decided that was not the life for him and at the age of 15 became a GPO messenger boy. After completing his National Service Alex went to night school and subsequently re-joined the GPO, later to become BT, and started his climb, mainly up telegraph poles, in the telecom world.
Alex married Enid and had two children, Ian and Annette. They moved to Fordingbridge in 1969.
Alex’s love of fishing saw him regularly match fishing before his passion for fly fishing took over culminating in early morning sessions at Blagdon where a dawn start would be followed by a “fry up” at the waterside.
Alex’s love of fishing continued and after joining the Salisbury & District A .C was elected to the Committee in 1974. Alex held various positions on the Committee including that of General Secretary, Chairman, Vice President and President through until 2013. The club will be eternally grateful for all the hard work put in by Alex over those years.
In 1990 at the age of 56 Alex retired from BT after 40 years service, his final years as a Senior Manager overseeing the up-grading of the local exchanges and based in Southampton.
Retirement saw Alex pursue not only fishing, clay and game shooting but also his regular outings with Enid and their friends of the Ringwood & Fordingbridge Footpath Society.
Fishing was however a passion and following qualifying events at Chew Valley Alex was selected to fish for England in the Internationals against Wales, Scotland and Ireland.
Fishing trips with friends to Norway, Ireland and the Hebrides interspersed with outings to Chew, Blagdon and Sutton Bingham to name a few followed over the years, some successful some not so, but Alex’s enthusiasm never waivered even on the worst of days.
Later years saw the Amos clan grow to include two grand-children and five great grand-children which gave Alex great pleasure.
Alex’s jovial demeanour touched everyone who knew him and I am pleased and honoured to have known him as a colleague and a true friend. He will be sorely missed.
Ron Hillier: Club President
Web Site
The existing web site has served the Club very well for nearly 10 years but has been in need of updating and refreshing now for some time. A new site has been developed using the Word Press CMS format which should make the maintenance and updating much simpler. This site will go live by the start of the new season, this change will not affect the forum which will still remain in the same format. The new site will give addition fishery information with many more images and the Club will have a Social Media presence.
Newsletters
We still have some 500 or so members that have not signed up to receive electronic newsletters last year this cost the Club £900.00 financially and a huge amount of time with labelling and stuffing envelopes not to mention generating a large carbon footprint. If you are still receiving your newsletter by post we would appreciate you reconsidering, an email or call to the office is all it takes.
Thank you
I am one of the fortunates. For something in the region of thirty odd (very) years, I have followed a dream. An idyl, if you like. I have followed hatches, rising trout, river currents and lake expanses; it has all been a wonderful Kaleidoscope of change and natural richness.
Every now and again you encounter something that is the quintessence of the sport. SADAC, is just that. OK , the waters are exceptional: legendary, actually. But water and fish are small parts of being in a club. An association is more, much more. It is about people: you – and me, and a sense of belonging and oneness.
That is why I am deeply, deeply, honoured by you, the members and committee, to be asked to become a vice president. Of all the things that I have encountered in this fishy tale I call a life, this is, without doubt, a massive accolade.
I am humbled.
I look forward again to meeting many members at the open day at Manningford Lakes on 17th May.
Thank you.
Charles Jardine a proud SADAC member
Match Report
The matches have finally finished on the Club’s rivers with the last get together on March 11th. As is usual for the Club our events are held on most Sundays throughout the winter months on the Rivers Avon and Nadder. We are so lucky in this Club to have such venues available as many of the local clubs around us have turned their backs on river fishing. To the contrary Salisbury has bucked this trend and our average weekly attendance has soared with anglers seeking some decent winter sport. There have been no cancellations this winter unlike last season when the season was abandoned in January.
Generally sport was quite hectic early on with some excellent weights recorded but this soon tailed off once the frosts and the incredibly variable temperatures ranging from 10 degrees in the week to 2 degrees at the weekend arrived. However persistence pays off and there was usually a few fish to be caught. In terms of the fish being caught on the R. Nadder there has been an increased number of smaller chub of around 1½lb bracket but there has been a general decline in the quantity of dace landed. Small to medium sized roach have been the staple on the R. Avon but no captures of those elusive 2lber’s, some close shaves were had but there were no cigars awarded.
Predation remains an emotive subject throughout all the factions of the Club and the committee and management team are very aware of the issues and they will continue to pursue all avenues to try and re-address the balance.
Steeple Langford Lakes: Latest Update
Committee met for its usual monthly business meeting on 3rd March. Most of the meeting was devoted to the issue of otter predation at Steeple Langford.
Committee confirmed its concern and discussed the actions to date by Roger Hunt, Robin Sumsion and Steve Trevett in exploring options to mitigate the losses.
In 2014 seven carp deaths were attributed to otters and this year to date another seven and two bream deaths are confirmed. Big fish are particularly vulnerable during the cold months when their metabolism is slow.
Roger Hunt will continue to work with the owner providing designs, information and whatever else may be necessary.The Committee discussed all options from fencing , through moving the fish to taking no action.
At this point no permission has been given for fencing or other actions. The owners permission will be needed for any work on the ground and professional advice is that EA consent is required for fishmovement involving Section 30 health checks. EA Flood Defence consent, planning permission and Natural England consent may all be required as we are within the Wylye SSSI.
Formal quotes for fencing will be sought from contractors alongside our own estimates of costs using our own workforce with some external support. Roger Hunt, Rob Sumsion, and Steve Trevett will continue to pursue all options towards reducing the otter risk with the owner and agencies as necessary.
Committee will reconvene the discussion if any actions requiring decision or finance arise.
Members are reminded that they should not try to discuss this matter with the owner or other parties as this can be counter productive and thereby prejudicial to the objects of the club.
Bailifs
The beginning of a new season for our bailiffs – gearing up to check their fisheries, looking forward to meeting our members both old and new. Walking the waters and seeing for themselves what work the keepers have done during the closed season.
They would ask you to ensure that you fill in the necessary information required at the front of your new 2015/16 membership book. Make sure that you affix / stick an up to date passport size photograph in the required position and sign across it onto the page.
You will need to insert your E/A licence number underneath your photograph and have your E/A licence available to show to the bailiff if asked to do so. No member can fish SADAC waters without a current E/A licence. This is a statutory requirement.
Bailiffs will be pleased to assist you on the understanding of the waters and pass on any comments you may have to SADAC committee representatives. You are expected to sign into our fisheries, providing your name and membership number before fishing commences. Any guest you introduce to our waters is the responsibility of the member.
We hope you have a productive season on SADAC fisheries – ensure that you stay safe, respect the land you are on, close all gates behind you and when you meet up with other anglers or members of the general public, please remember you are ambassadors of our club
Tight lines !!!!!
Brian Phillips (Senior Bailiff)
BT Lake Winter Fishery
The club is pleased to announce that we have secured this fishery on a one year trial period as a winter coarse fishery.
We recently carried out the first of the club clear up days on the lake. We have cleared all the litter, cleared branches and brash from many of the swims to get light into the lake and to assist safety and access for our fishermen. We have left a great deal of cut wood which we will leave to dry out for a few weeks before returning to the lake to continue with more work and to burn the wood. The date for the next clean-up day will be posted on the forum shortly. All volunteers very welcome.
We have had a few members staring to fish the lake which is now open till the 31st of March 2015. Members should of course carry their club book at all times.
We will need to wait until the water levels are much lower before we can get kit in to remove the dangerous platforms.
The lake will reopen to members to fish as a winter fishery only from 1st October 2015 to 31st March 2016.
The lakes hold a good head of coarse fish and recent catches have included Roach, Rudd and Perch.
Roger Hunt: Vice Chair- Coarse
JUNIOR FISHING LESSONS 2015
GET CHILDREN FISHING TO SAVE THE FUTURE OF OUR SPORT!!
Our sport is at risk of disappearing or changing drastically for the worse over the next few generations. Many pressures on the environment, climate change and changing social attitudes and values are threatening the future of angling. If young people are not given the opportunity to discover the delights of fishing what future does our sport have? We will need a new generation to fight our corner on the issues affecting our sport if it is to survive.
Historically, fishing was introduced by a father or uncle to the young ones. This still happens but probably more infrequent now. Many of our more senior anglers fished as youngsters taught by a relative or family friend and now have returned to the sport as their lives have allowed.
The general pace of family life is more fraught than it was forty years ago. Leisure time as a family unit seems to be rarer and many sports compete for the attention of parents trying to do what is best for their children. Parents who have not experienced fishing in their own lives are likely to dismiss Angling as an option for their children because they do not know where to start. If an opportunity exists to bring their children to a “come and try” session they may see the benefits of fishing – out in the fresh air, learning about nature and potentially giving a small human being a passion for life! We are offering that opportunity!
It is a well voiced fact that more people go fishing every weekend than attend football matches. This may be a fact, but here in the south the opportunity to fish ‘the old canal cut’ for perch or that public lake in the park is not available to youngsters so they default to the skate park or their play stations! Society today also inhibits a youngster’s sense of adventure exploring rivers and lakes because of health and safety or the fear of abduction. Juniors who are allowed ‘out alone’ with no adult guidance, try to fish around the Salisbury area invariably resulting in being spoken to by our bailiffs on our waters where they are trying to fish with rudimentary tackle given to them as a birthday present purchased from Lidl! In the right circumstances our bailiff teams are sympathetic and give advice on where to fish.
Like all sports a proper introduction will help them catch fish and cement their interest which will hopefully get them hooked for life. This happened to me when fishing in 1951 at Steeple Langford with my Father Sid, catching a 1½ lb. roach and winning a prize in the open competition and getting a pikkie in the Angling Times!!
Over the past years the Club have been running introductory lessons for juniors between 8 and 16 years with the hope of them joining the junior section of the Club.
John Slader is a qualified coach from the Salmon and Trout Association and has been running the lessons originally at Dandy’s Lake at Wellow and now at Petersfinger.
In the 2015 season we have arranged four dates. 22nd July, 5th August, 12th August and the 19th August.
John will show how to fish safely, how to respect the fish and wildlife and practice the country code. We believe in the Club that to be a good angler one must respect one’s environment and do everything to maintain and improve it for the benefit of future generations.
Everything will be provided but if the young angler has tackle they can bring it along.
The young angler will start fishing with a ‘whip’ – a fibreglass pole with an elasticated line with float, shot and hook. John provides advice to ensure that fish are caught on their first fishing trip. On subsequent sessions, as the student advances he will be introduced to different techniques and tackle.
As an aside to these sessions, to encourage juniors to come fishing with an adult club member we have relaxed some of our rules which previously limited access to some of our fisheries. Check in the 2015 Year Book fishery maps for details.
Please, bring along any prospective future anglers you can find in your family or friends.
PLEASE, WE ALSO NEED HELP AT THESE SESSIONS IF YOU WISH TO COME AND HELP.
Contact Andreas at the Office on 01722 321164 or give me a call on 01722 320793.
Ricky Polden:
Leominstead Lake
During the winter the track down to the lake has been made more user friendly by laying road chippings and the car park has been improved. The old returns box has been replaced so now the book stays nice and dry.
The brush along the dam has been tidied up giving more bank area from which to cast. The vegetation along the nearside bank around the pontoons has also been cleared making back casts easier and less likely to be caught up. Two new pontoons have been installed on the lawn area again allowing better coverage of the water.
The catch returns over the early part of the year have shown a number of larger fish being caught, all seem to be in a good condition, if you are lucky enough to land one of the bigger fish please note it in the book, bigger fish have been stocked recently but the trout may also be beginning to feed on the small rudd that are in the lake. If you kill one of these larger fish we would like to know the stomach contents if any.
All the regular anglers to the lake seem to be very happy with the fishery so if you have never fished Leominstead and fancy a day out in a very quiet and peaceful part of the New Forest give it a go There are facilities to picnic on the banks, watch the occasional resident kingfisher and other wildlife, and in the warmer weather at least five different species of dragon and damsel flies have been seen which gives a good pointer to a successful pattern to use!
Rob Norris.
