Plough Angling Club Minutes

Meeting: 15^th October 2024

In Attendance and Apologies

Present: T Warncken; N Ponting; L Teale; J Blackwell; D Dance; J Rolfe; J Pike; C Judkins

Apologies:  G Cramp; R Stone; B Sutton

Minutes:  L Teale

Actions from Previous Meeting

• The next Working Party at Plough Pond will now take place on Wednesday 30 October 2024. Additional cormorant deterrents will be installed (tapes, mannequins) and the island will be cleared of vegetation and burned.
• The Christmas Meal will be held at the RBL Sports & Social Club in Hanney on Sunday 8 December 2024 at 15:00. This will be a carvery (turkey, beef), with the option of one, two or three courses (£25, £30, £35).
• October water bookings at Newbridge have been cancelled owing to the river being in flood from recent heavy rainfall.
• At the request of the landowner, winter car parking for our vehicles at Newbridge is available at either the car park opposite The Maybush or the public car park behind The Rose Revived. Our vehicles are not permitted to cross the cattle grid to avoid damage to the fields. Adam, our bailiff at Newbridge is giving us weekly updates on the condition of the fields and river.

Club Welfare Officer’s Report

• Richard Stone has taken on the role of Club Welfare Officer. Richard’s contact Tel. 07551 031857.
• The Club’s welfare policy is available on our website (www.ploughangling.org.uk/safeguarding/)
• No issues have arisen this past month.
• The Angling Trust has appointed a new Safeguarding Lead, Dom Lattimer. He will be working with member clubs and give support to Club Welfare Officers.

Sea Secretary’s Report

• Chris reported on the 3-day sea fishing trip on 23 to 25 September, fishing Dartmouth. Monday morning was spent fishing for Black Bream off Portland. Live bait was scarce at this point, but the wrecks yielded Pollack and a Ballen Wrasse. On Tuesday, sufficient mackerel were caught for live bait and the wrecks were fished again in the morning. In the afternoon, fishing for plaice yielded 14 fish. Wednesday saw the weather a bit unpredictable. However, a total of 50 Bass in the range 4 to 5lb were caught. Overall, the trip to Dartmouth was excellent with all amenities close by for our 8 – 9 anglers who fished over the 3 days.
• Next trip, sailing from Weymouth, is scheduled for 20 October.
• Contact Chris Judkins if you would like to be involved in the Sea Fishing Group.

Match Secretary’s Report

• The PAY matches scheduled for 29 September and 13 October at Newbridge were postponed owing to The Thames being in flood.
• The home leg of the Team Match against Wantage & Grove AC scheduled for 6 October was postponed owing to The Thames being in flood. This match has been rescheduled for 3 November.
• The next match, PAY8, will take place on Sunday 27 October at Newbridge. The winter parking arrangements will be observed.
• The Match Fund remains at £237.00. No outstanding invoices.

Treasurer’s Report

• Refer to printed minutes.

Vice-Chairman’s Report

• We have received a quotation from Priory Fishery in Honiton, Devon ( https://prioryfishery.co.uk ) for the supply of Bream, Tench and Crucian Carp for Plough Pond. This company was suggested by our EA Fisheries Officer. Although we are interested in Bream around 2lb, these fish are in short supply. We could wait up to 2 years for fish of this size to be available for us. We could build a relationship with Priory Fishery to take fish annually: 2025: bream of 1lb; 2026: bream of 1.5lb; 2027: bream of 2ib.

• Priory Fishery have been advised that we wish to purchase the following fish for February 2025 delivery:

50           Bream, 1lb                          £500.00

45           Crucian Carp, 6 – 8”           £177.75

45           Tench, 6 – 8”                       £177.75

               Delivery                               £75.00

               Total incl. VAT:                   £1,116.60

• The three pre-planted Coir Rolls supplied by A.G.A. Group are doing well. Each roll is pre-planted with twelve Carex Riparia. We hope this trial will provide proof of concept and strengthen our case for a future grant application to continue this work. A report on the work carried out is available on our website (https://www.ploughangling.org.uk/plough-pond-development-update/).

Chairman’s Report

• Adam, our Bailiff at Newbridge, is currently emailing weekly reports regarding the condition of the fields and The Thames.
• Water testing at the pond was not possible in September owing to poor weather conditions.
• Water quality testing at Newbridge is continuing as part of our role in the national study of rivers by the Angling Trust. No testing was possible during September whilst The Thames was in flood.

New Actions

• The next Working Party at Plough Pond will now take place on Wednesday 30 October 2024. Additional cormorant deterrents will be installed (tapes, mannequins) and the island will be cleared of vegetation and burned.
• 83 crayfish have been removed from the Pond this year.
• A few cormorants have been spotted at the Pond, possibly because the rivers have been in flood.
• Plough Pond will close on 31 October 2024 for the shooting season. The landowner will be notified that we will be working at the Pond on 30 October and he will be reminded of our need for a lease document (Nick P).

The meeting ended at 8:50pm.

The next meeting will take place at the RBL Sports & Social Club in Hanney at 19:30 on 19^th November 2024. All welcome.