Plough Angling Club Minutes

Meeting: 20^th January 2026

In Attendance and Apologies

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

Apologies: B Sutton

Minutes:  L Teale

Actions from Previous Meeting

• The Work Party at Plough Pond due to take place on Saturday 3 January was postponed at the landowner’s request. A small Work Party did take place on Sunday 18 January, with 5 Members attending. More underwater barriers were installed to deter cormorant transit, mindful of protecting the recent fish stocking on 15 January.
• In anticipation of our AGM which will take place on Sunday 1^st February 2026, two issues were raised at this meeting:
  • In accordance with our General Rule 13, the Officers of the Club determine the annual subscription pricing structure. Members have the opportunity to vote for or against at the AGM. The Chairman put forward a case for raising the annual subscription, based on our intention to continue to stock Plough Pond with quality fish and further habitat improvements. Therefore, at the AGM, Members will vote on a Full Member subscription of either £35 or £40. The cost reverts to the current £30 if either option is voted against.
  • Finding a Club Secretary has proved unsuccessful over the past 12 months. The following will be proposed at the AGM:
    • The current Chairman, Leslie Teale, will step down and put himself forward for the vacant Club Secretary role.
  • • The current Vice Chairman, Terry Warncken, will step down and put himself forward for Chairman.
  • • The Vice Chairman’s role will become vacant.
  • • These proposals will be voted on by Members attending the AGM.

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 next sea date is 26 April 2026, sailing from Weymouth.
• 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. Full results are published on our website.
• The Christmas Shield match was postponed again because The Thames was in flood. A possible new date for this match is 8^th February.
• The LOMO Pairs trophy was fished on the Hungerford Canal (Church stretch) on Sunday 28^th December, with 11 Members attending. The pairs match and trophy was won by Phil Mansbridge and Nick Ponting.  The top angler on the day was Matthew Cramp, with 5lb 8oz of roach (on bread punch).
• The first leg of the Nick Ponting Canal Trophy was fished on the Hungerford Canal (Tavern stretch) on Sunday 11^th January, with 6 Members attending. The match was won by Phil Mansbridge with 5lb 3oz. In second place was Terry Warncken with 3lb 10oz, including a 2lb 2oz perch. In third place was Chris Judkins with 3lb 2oz. Danny Dance, in fourth place, caught a 2lb 0oz perch.
• The next match is the NPT 2 trophy on the Hungerford Canal (Church stretch) on Sunday 25^th January. The draw will take place at 08:00, fish 09:00 – 14:00.
• The new trophy for Largest Fish caught will cost £128 and will be paid for from the Match Fund.

Treasurer’s Report

• Refer to printed minutes.

Vice Chairman’s Report

• Plough Pond Update: Feeding has now been suspended as the water temperature is low (currently 6.5^oC). The Pond will be open for fishing on 2^nd February 2026.
• Predation: No cormorants have been seen during recent patrols.
• Stocking: This was carried out by Priory Fisheries, with our members in attendance, on 15-Jan-26. A full report can be seen on our website.
• Work Parties: A Work Party took place on Sunday 18^th January, with 5 Members attending (Terry, Nick, Barry, Jim and Leslie). Three additional floating barriers were installed, to deter cormorant transit and some tapes were replaced. The support of Members for our Spring Work Parties, to install the pre-planted coir rolls around the island, is critical to the success of this EA supported project.

Chairman’s Report

• The order for pre-planted coir rolls will be placed with A.G.A. Group later this month.
• Water quality testing at Plough Pond on 18^th January 2025 gave nitrate at 5ppm. Nitrite; phosphate and ammonia were undetected (0 ppm). Dissolved oxygen was found to be in the range 78.1 to 90.2%.
• Water quality testing at Newbridge will continue as part of our role in the national study of rivers by the Angling Trust (WQMN), once the flooding has subsided.

New Actions

• The Chairman will contact our Fisheries Technical Specialist at the Environment Agency to confirm our interest in receiving fish for Plough Pond.
• Members are reminded that Landing Nets of at least 24” are a requirement at Plough Pond.
• A proposal will be submitted at the AGM for three keep nets to be required for Plough Pond for matches and fish retention during pleasure sessions.
• Members are advised to avoid fishing the Platform swims at Plough Pond in the next few months as they are slippery. This will be addressed in the spring.
• A solution to the slippery footbridge at Plough Pond will be sought, possibly following the method used at Newbridge.

The meeting ended at 8:55pm.

The Annual General Meeting will take place at the RBL Sports & Social Club in Hanney at 19:30 on Sunday 1^st February 2026.

The next monthly meeting will take place at the RBL Sports & Social Club in Hanney at 19:30 on Tuesday 17^th February 2026. All welcome.