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The Secretary’s Blog is the only area on the Website where the Secretary gives his opinion.

Secretary’s Blog August 2024

Fladbury Maintenance.

When we started around April we found the fishery in very poor condition, no surprise after 5 months of flooding throughout the period of October 2023 to February 2024. Incredibly the Guys have turned it around & the amount of work completed this year has been incredible.

Contractors;- We enlisted the help of a contractor in May to remove a huge tree (3ft in diameter) half in the water & across the steps in peg 24 which were subsequently repaired. We have had the Tractor down twice to clear the top of the pegs for access, all costly but unavoidable.

Peg 2;- A friend of the Society kindly used his boat to help us to remove the huge overhanging willow branch not possible from the bank, a superb team effort, this time completed free of charge.

Pegs 34 & 35;- We also removed a tree that was swept from the weir across both pegs.

Bank Clearing;- Three sessions have maintained the 26 match pegs & the 9 Lock stream pegs, All of the pegs now have clearly marked peg numbers, the signs have all been replaced & footpath gate cleared.

Steps & Platforms;- All of the steps survived the flooding but we have had to replace the platforms in Pegs 13, 16, 22, 27 & 28 . We have lowered the steps in some of the steeper pegs and fitted handrails in pegs 2 & 4.

We have also fitted an extra wide platform in little used bay peg 3 which extends out into the bay, now a safe peg ideal for the pole or waggler & ideal for an accompanied youngster. The peg is the first you see when entering the fishery & looks superb.

Reiterating;- The help we have had from members this year and the amount of work completed has been unbelievable & I want to add my thanks on behalf of the Society.

Donated Brush Cutter.

We have fulfilled our AGM obligation to service the donated brush cutter for Society use. Roger has agreed to store it but of course, it’s there for any member to use at the fishery.

Problems with Weed at Fladbury

Over the last couple of years at Fladbury we have noticed increasing weed growth from peg 17 downstream getting to the point where some of these pegs will become unfishable. After measuring water quality at Fladbury for nearly 3 years we believe the cause is high levels of Phosphates coupled with long periods of water clarity. Viewed from a boat the magnitude of the problem is huge & beyond the scope of the Society.

I have contacted Dave Evason of the “Warwickshire Avon Catchment Fisheries and Angling Consultative” (WACFAC) & the Society will attend their next meeting on the 16th of October. They are funded by the Environment Agency on behalf of Fisheries, the issue is on the Agenda & we plan to understand whether there is help available to remove some of the weed.  

Fladbury Signs & Business Cards FOC.

Gary has kindly supplied superb signage for the fishery and produced impressive Business Cards to help with promoting the Society, thanks Gary.

Full Membership

We have 33 full members, down on last season but recovering fast with 8 new full members most fishing the river matches.

Associate Membership

5 members joined in June.

Fladbury mid-week matches

Roger has been running mid-week matches with peg fee paying guests allowed, turnouts are increasing.

Match Results

Horseshoe Pool;- Glen B. 24-15-0, Brian Burton 23-10, Andy Coles 21-15-0.

Fladbury LG Shield;- Andy Hammerton 7-11-0, Dave Underhill 4-7-0.

Broadacres Charlies;- Nick 54-14-0, Chris 50-1-0, Stephen B. 22-4-0.

Match Chat

Weights were close at Jubilee Pools on Horseshoe pool, a good match most catching big silvers shallow and Crucians down on Meat, we will be back next year.

The LG Shield match at Fladbury was won convincingly on Hemp seed, Andy is becoming hard to beat.

Nick smashed it at Broadacres fishing meat long while others struggled with near margin snags. Although missing the match Glen is still top of the list.

 

Matches in September 2024

7/9/2024 Birds Meadow (seventh Aggregate)

14/9/2024 Meadowlands Warren (Final SL)

21/9/2024 Fladbury (Cutters Cup)

28/9/2024 Twyning (eighth Aggregate)

Secretary’s Blog