Plough Angling Club Minutes

Meeting: 20^th May 2025

In Attendance and Apologies

Present: L Teale; J Blackwell; D Dance; T Warncken; N Ponting; B Sutton; J Pike; R Stone; V D’Souza; C Judkins; J Rolf.

Apologies:  A Earl

Minutes:  L Teale

Actions from Previous Meeting

• The Club Secretary position remains vacant. This is an important role for the smooth running of our Club. If any Member would on reflection like to be considered for this position, then please contact the Chairman.
• A Work Party at Newbridge has been scheduled for Thursday 5^th June at 13:00 to strim the Pegs in readiness for the new Season. A survey of the Pegs which are currently unfishable will be carried out during the Work Party with a view to remedial work in the autumn (to avoid nesting birds).
• The lawnmower has been serviced, repaired and a replacement seat fitted. The Club would like to thank Michael Blackwell for carrying out the work at no cost to the Club. We would like to invite him to fish Plough Pond as a guest to thank him.
• The Work Party at Plough Pond on Saturday 26^th April was very well supported. The removal of overhanging trees on the island was completed. Pegs 1, 10 and 11 were back-filling with soil/aggregate. The platform at Peg 17 was repaired. We would like to thank Stephanie Warncken for baking delicious cakes for the team.

Club Welfare Officer’s Report

• Our Club Welfare Officer is Richard Stone (mob. 07551 031857; rstone0311@yahoo.com.)
• 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

• The Sea Fishing Group had a fruitful sailing from Weymouth on 27^th April. The day started with a spell of Conger Eel fishing, with 10 caught. A 45lb specimen was taken by Owain and one of 35lb by Ian. As a bonus, a 35lb Tope was taken by Paul. As a footnote, Chris admitted that he hasn’t caught a Conger over 30lb! (those present were very sympathetic). The day was completed fishing for Black Bream (3 caught, 2½ – 3lb) and Bass (5 caught).
• The next trip will sail from Weymouth on 15^th June 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

• No matches have been fished since the last meeting. The match fishing calendar commences with a Pools Match this Sunday 25^th May at Plough Pond. The draw is at 07:00, fish 08:00 – 13:00.
• The first leg of the Plough Angler of the Year Trophy will take place on Sunday 8 June at Buscot Park.  The draw will take place at 07:00, fish 08:00 – 14:00 (6 hour match). The Match Fund will subsidise the Peg fee. The cost for those fishing will be £10.00 (£5.00 Peg fee, £5.00 Pools).

Treasurer’s Report

• Refer to printed Minutes.

Vice Chairman’s Report

• Catches: 2 Chub were caught at the Pond by Terry on 13^th May at 6lb 2oz and 5lb 10oz. The larger fish has been added to the Club’s specimen list. It is thought that these fish were stocked around 12 years ago.
• Shoals of Bream and 9– 10 Carp (some 10+ lb) have been spotted at the Pond.
• Pond weed growth is providing effective fish refuges. Some of the Willow trees will need to be pruned back to enable more sunlight onto the water surface.
• No cormorants have been seen at the Pond. However, 2 recently stocked bream have been lost to the Heron.
• Supplementary Feeding: A feeding guide has been placed at the pond and a Logbook is now available to record feeding history.

Chairman’s Report

• The Angling Trust’s AIF – Predation Fund opened on 17^th March 2025. The Club has completed the first stage of the application process by submitting an Expression of Interest form. We are awaiting the signed Lease Agreement. An email has been sent to Andy Petch, AIF Manager.
• A draft Lease Agreement for Plough Pond has been prepared by the Chairman. A hard copy was hand delivered to the Landlord’s residence on 20^th May by N Ponting. The Lease Agreement is essential for us to progress our AIF grant application.
• Water quality testing at Newbridge is continuing as part of our role in the national study of rivers by the Angling Trust (WQMN). The 2^nd Annual Report has been published by the Angling Trust. There is an online meeting on 28^th May to discuss the findings.Water quality testing at Plough Pond was carried out on 20^th April, 8^th and 17^th May 2025. Nitrate remains low at 5 ppm. All other contaminants were undetected (nitrite, ammonia, and phosphate). The pH was 8.0. The latest Dissolved Oxygen levels measured on 17^th May were in the range 104 to 158% and water temperature was 13.4 to 15.4^oC.
• Volunteer Bailiff Service: Plough Angling Club would benefit from having 2 or 3 of our Members trained as Volunteer Bailiffs to help Adam at Newbridge Two members have registered for the scheme (T Warncken, L Teale) and will undertake the online training. Further information from the Angling Trust can be found here: Volunteer Bailiff Service Application.

New Actions

• Crayfish Traps at Plough Pond have been installed and baited with sardine and mackerel.
• Plough Pond Pegs 15 and 18 need further work to remove overhanging branches to make them fishable.
• The BBQ and Presentation Evening has been booked with the RBL Sports & Social Club for 19 July 2025. Details will follow in an email nearer the date.
• The meeting was sorry to hear of the recent passing of our Trophy Engraver, Barry.

The meeting ended at 9:00pm.

The next meeting will take place at the RBL Sports & Social Club in Hanney at 19:30 on Tuesday 17^h June 2025. All welcome.