Plough Angling Club Minutes

Meeting: 18^th February 2025

In Attendance and Apologies

Present: L Teale; J Blackwell; D Dance; J Rolfe; C Judkins; N Ponting; T Warncken; B Sutton; D Hurst; S Ferris; J Pike; G Thomas

Apologies:  

Minutes:  L Teale

Actions from Previous Meeting

• A booking has been made at Stacey’s Lakes for our 2026/27 match calendar.
• The date(s) of the Team Match(es) against Wantage & Grove AC is still to be finalised. The possibility of a single match fished at a neutral venue (Buscot Park lake) will be discussed with them.
• At the AGM, the issue of reed beds encroaching several Pegs in Field 3 at Newbridge was raised. The Match Secretary added that moored boats, and with Pegs 1, 10, 14 and 18 unfishable, Pegs in Field 3 might be required for certain matches. Currently, there are only 5 fishable swims in Field 3. The Chairman has contacted our Fisheries Officer, Stuart Keable, at the Environment Agency to see if they could possibly assist us in the cutting of reed beds and overhanging branches. It was felt that this isn’t an activity to be undertaken on a Work Party as it would involve working from boats.
• A reply was received from our Fisheries Officer at the EA after the meeting. The EA are no longer able to assist with this type of work for angling clubs. He asked that we be mindful of wildlife and carry out the work in late summer.
• The lawnmower is currently sited at Nick’s farm and needs repair. Jon Blackwell advised us that a service kit has been ordered along with a replacement seat. The mower will be repaired by his son in readiness for the Spring.

Club Welfare Officer’s Report

• Our Club Welfare Officer is Richard Stone (mob. 07551 031857).
• The Club’s welfare policy is available on our website (www.ploughangling.org.uk/safeguarding/)
• No issues were reported this past month.

Sea Secretary’s Report

• Next trip, sailing from Weymouth, is scheduled for 16 March 2025.
• A Sea Fishing Group page will be added to our website. Chris will advise content for the page.
• Contact Chris Judkins if you would like to be involved in the Sea Fishing Group.

Match Secretary’s Report

• Two matches have been fished since the last meeting.
• The second leg of the Nick Ponting Canal Trophy was fished on 26 January on the Kintbury stretch of the Hungerford Canal, with 4 Members attending. The match was won by D Dance.
• PAY7 scheduled for Sunday 9 February at Newbridge was postponed as the river was in flood.
• The third leg of the Nick Ponting Canal Trophy was fished on 16 February on the Upper Dunmill stretch of the Hungerford Canal, with 8 Members attending. The match was won by Nick Ponting with a perch of 12oz.
• PAY8 will take place on Sunday 23 February at Newbridge. The draw will take place at 07:30, fish 08:45 – 13:45.
• The Ron Foster Memorial trophy, in conjunction with PAY8 is scheduled for 2 March at Newbridge. The draw will take place at 07:30, fish 08:45 – 13:45.
• The Match Fund stands at £296.50.

Treasurer’s Report

• Refer to printed minutes.
• There are currently no outstanding invoices.

Vice Chairman’s Report

• A seminar titled ‘What the Muck’ from OASE Water Technology, on organic sediments in lakes, will be attended online by the Vice Chair and Chair on Wednesday 19^th February.
• Stocking Plough Pond

Tom from Priory Fishery confirmed the estimated delivery of the new fish order for the middle of March. A backlog of carp deliveries and staff illness has delayed his operation. He will give us 7-10 days’ notice prior to delivery. The delivery vehicle will be a 4×4 with a trailer. Prior to delivery, the Pond track will have to be assessed, and an alternative route may need to be provided. The weight of 50lb of Bream will be weighed on-site in the presence of PAC committee members. I suggest we measure the Crucian Carp and Tench for record purposes. A blog post of this event will be posted on the PAC website. Fish are currently being fed Coppens Pellets, which cost over £40 for 25Kg sack.

• Supplementary Feeding

I have contacted Ben at BP Millings about providing supplemental feed for our fish stocks. He kindly offered a copy of his “Feeding guide for a healthy fishery”, a copy of which is being made available to the club chairman. According to his guide, we should feed between 0.5 and 2% of total biomass daily during different yearly seasons, depending upon many factors, but primarily on water temperature. Assuming the lake has a biomass of 250 lbs, we should be able to feed approximately 1.1 kg 3-4 times a week for the whole year, based on 1% biomass. He has quoted us 10×25 kg sacks for £220 (22 per 25 kg sack) plus a £60 delivery fee, totalling a cost of £280. This will be presented to the club committee and members for consideration. Storage consideration and transport to the lake will have to be considered. As with all works being introduced under the Pond development plan, this is very important to provide the existing and new stock fish with enough feed for the following potential benefits:

Reduces fish stress,

Encourages feeding activity,

Improves fish growth and condition.

Fuels healthy immune responses,

Faster post-capture recovery.

Another important consideration highlighted by the guide is the need to rotate the feeding areas to encourage the fish to be mobile and encourage them to search for food. In due course, a plan of what areas to feed and when will be created.

• Additional Planting

I have approached the AGA Group for a quote to provide 100x Carex Ripari Mature Bare Roots (MBRs). They previously quoted £1.50 per unit, so expect the cost to be roughly over £150. It is proposed that these be planted between pegs 5 and 9, with some need to regrade the banks. The club can quickly achieve this work at minimal cost and effort, significantly benefiting the Pond.

• AIF Predation Grant

The Club Chairman has been informed that the predation funding will soon be open. A meeting will occur at the Pond to discuss the proposal before contacting the AGA Group for a comprehensive quote for more coir rolls and bio-diverse plants. Before submitting the proposal, we must have the agreed 5-year lease agreement to be part of the PAC proposal (Nick Ponting to arrange with the Landowner). Work parties must also remove all bankside trees and shrubs from the island’s perimeter, including any significant overhanging branches so that UV light can reach new plants without restrictions.

• Additional Pond Works

I suggest the fallen tree between Pegs 3 and 4 be fully removed. This tree presents a significant snag in the water and has already destabilised the bank. Removing this tree will also allow the club to continue supplementary planting up to peg 2.

• Club’s Website:
  • A page will be added for the Sea Anglers,
  • The Upcoming Events page will be re-vamped to make it easier to navigate.
  • Suggestions from Members for further improvements to the Club’s website are always welcomed.

Chairman’s Report

• Water quality testing at Newbridge is continuing as part of our role in the national study of rivers by the Angling Trust, although no testing has been carried out since 29 October. Testing will resume when river conditions allow.
• Water quality testing at Plough Pond was last carried out on 22 December. Testing will resume shortly.
• A submission to the Angling Trust’s AIF – Predation fund will be made to enable us to carry out further cormorant predation measures at Plough Pond as part of the Development Plan.

New Actions

• The Club Secretary position is currently vacant. This is an important role for the smooth running of our Club. If any Members would on reflection like to be considered for this position, then please contact the Chairman.
• It was proposed that we look at adding to our current list of match venues for 2026/27 season.
• The match anglers present at this meeting proposed a limit of £15 for match fees, for venues within a 30 mile radius. Steve Ferris will head this activity.
• The possibility of finding alternative Canal venues for our match fishing was discussed. Difficulties with car parking for the Oxford canal were highlighted.
• Match fishing start times were discussed. Perhaps more Members would consider fishing our matches if the start time was later?
• A Work Party has been scheduled at Plough Pond on Wednesday 5^th March, starting at 10:00. The fallen tree between Pegs 3 and 4 will be removed. We will start to remove trees and shrubs from the perimeter of the island. All are welcome to attend.
• The next meeting will take place at the British Legion on Tuesday 18 March 2025, starting at 7:30pm.  There will be a second opportunity for members to renew their permit for the 2025/26 season.  Please note any payments need to be in cash, cheques will not be accepted.

The meeting ended at 9:30pm.

The next meeting will take place at the RBL Sports & Social Club in Hanney at 19:30 on 18^th March 2025. All welcome.