Plough Angling Club Minutes

Meeting: 21^st April 2026

In Attendance and Apologies

Present: L Teale; J Blackwell; J Rolf; C Judkins; B Sutton; P Wilson; D Dance; T Warncken; N Ponting; A Earl; J Pike; R Stone

Apologies:

Minutes:  L Teale

Actions from Previous Meeting

• The Secretary has emailed our Fisheries Technical Specialist at the Environment Agency to confirm our interest in receiving fish for Plough Pond. In addition, provided an update on the Fisheries Improvement project at Plough Pond. No feedback received to date.
• The Crayfish trapping licence expires on 31^st May 2026. The Secretary will apply for a new one.

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. The boat is full for this trip to the wrecks.
• 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 fourth leg of the Nick Ponting Canal Trophy was fished on the Hungerford Canal (Upper Dunmill) on Sunday 22^nd March, with 7 Members and 1 Guest attending. The match was won by Jim Pike with 2lb 13oz (4 perch) In second place was Chris Judkins with 1lb 13oz (1 perch). These were the only two who caught fish. Overall winner of the Nick Ponting Canal Trophy is Jim Pike.
• The first leg of the  Sedgewick Memorial  was finally fished on the Hungerford Canal (Tavern) on Sunday 19^th April, with 9 Members attending. The match was won by Danny Dane with 2lb 6oz. In second place was Paul Wilson with 1lb 0oz. In third place was Jim Pike with 0lb 12oz.
• The next match is the Ron Foster Memorial. This match will be fished at Plough Pond on Sunday 24^th May. The draw will take place at 07:00, fish 08:00 – 13:00.
• A match is scheduled for 31^st May 2026 at a new venue for the Club: Priory Farm Lake, Lyneham, Chipping Norton. The draw will take place at 09:00, fish 10:00 – 16:00. There will be no Peg fee for this match.
• A date for the Team Match against Wantage & Grove AC has been agreed between the Match Secretaries of both Clubs. The match could be fished on Sunday 21^st June 2026 if a venue can be mutually agreed.
• Please return all trophies to the Match Secretary by 1^st May at the latest.

Treasurer’s Report

• Refer to printed minutes.

Secretary’s Report

• Plough Pond Water Testing:

Water quality testing was carried out on 15^th April. Nitrite; Phosphate and Ammonia were all below detectable limits. Nitrate levels was 10 ppm at pH 8.0. Dissolved oxygen measured between 108.8 (Peg 1) and 161.4% (Peg 13). The water is clear and nutrient rich. Water temperature was between 11.1 (Peg 10) and 13.3^oC (Peg 1). The submerged pond plants are growing as last year, hopefully taking up nitrate and providing fish cover.

• Water Quality Monitoring Network (WQMN):

Water quality testing on The Thames at Newbridge was carried out on 20^th April. Phosphate was measured at 0.19 ppm, below the reportable level (0.3 ppm) and nitrate was undetected. The Angling Trust has over 13,000 entries on the UK database, since the start of the programme in 2022.

• Water Testing at Millets Farm:

The Club was asked if we could test the water quality at Millets Farm Trout Fishery. This was undertaken on 20^th April. Dissolved oxygen was measured around the lake and possible contaminants were sampled, tested, and a report issued. The fishery was invoiced for this work, which will benefit our Club’s funds.

Vice Chairman’s Report

• Plough Pond: A solution to the slippery footbridge has been identified. Non-slip strips, L1.2m x W5cm x H3mm, will be ordered and fitted to the walkway. The approximate cost is £93.00.
• Newbridge: Nick intends to discuss parking arrangements with the landowner and chase their invoice for the upcoming season.

Chairman’s Report

• Work Parties: Thanks to all who attended the Work Party at Plough Pond on Saturday 11^th April. The cormorant tapes were removed to open-up the swims. The platforms were cleaned up. Various overhanging branches were removed. A work party has been arranged for Saturday 9^th May to complete installation of the pre-planted coir rolls around the island and position any remaining along the margins between Pegs 3 to 5. 20 coir rolls will be delivered on Wednesday 6^th May. Details of work parties can be found on our website.
• Predation:  No cormorants have been sighted at the Pond recently. A single otter was seen once by the wildlife camera. No evidence of fish kills has been found. Club Members are encouraged to carry out regular patrols of the Pond and report signs of predation.
• Stocking: An order has been placed with Priory Fisheries for delivery in February 2027.

New Actions

• The canal venues have been booked for 2027 matches. However, Paul Wilson has agreed to look into the possibility of match fishing the Oxford Canal (at The Rock of Gibraltar) as an additional winter venue.
• One floating barrier has been removed from the Pond (installed to restrict cormorant movement in the lake). The remaining submerged barriers will be removed at the next work party. The bottles will be separated from the wire and both stored carefully.
• Members are allowed to lightly rake swims at the Pond if weed proves to be a problem for fishing.Crayfish trapping will resume on 1^st May 2026.
• The Presentation Evening and Barbeque has been booked at the RBL Sports & Social Club for Saturday 25^th July 2026.
• The mower will be returned to the Pond to enable mowing to be resumed. Jim Pike will lead this activity.
• Nick will provide stakes for the work party on 9^th May.
• Please take care close to the boat shed to avoid the falling branch. This might need the services of a contractor (Toby) to remove.
• The cormorant tapes need coiling and removing to storage.
• The scarecrow is to be dismantled and burned in our annual wicker man ceremony.

The meeting ended at 20:50pm.

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