Dear Members
NEWSLETTER - January 2008
Dear Members
So the start of another year, I wonder what this one will bring? From members reports last year was a good one for our club with some excellent catches of Roach, Bream & Carp with quite a number of specimens coming out.
Let’s hope it’s an even better one for us in 2008, anyway, just a brief report to let you know the date of the forthcoming AGM & to remind you….
Subscriptions are due in before 15th MARCH 2008.
Please take note of the Membership Secretary’s name & address!
Last year some Subs were still being sent to Norman Young’s old address.
Good News. There will be NO increase subscription fees for this forthcoming season.
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ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING:
This year it will be at “THE BULL”, Linton, Nr. Maidstone Kent.
It takes place on Friday 8th FEBRUARY 2008 at 8.00pm.
It would be good if a few more members could try & attend.
(No football matches that clash this time as we’re out of the Euro Cup matches!)
As last year this will be combined with the AGM.
(Existing Cup & Trophy winners please return Trophies to Match Secretaries ASAP before end of JANUARY 2008)
A full set of match results & 2007 Trophy winners will be on the ‘Matches’ web page.
Congratulations to Don Brown for winning the 2007 Overall League & the Winter Trophy. Barry Andrews & Don both tied & share the Summer Trophy. Barry won the knock out Competition.
Again it was all very close. In the end only a couple of points separated the top competitors!
(Well done to Don, an excellent year!)
These all still run on a calendar YEAR basis. The first four 2008 winter league ones are on your current membership card.
Barry Andrews is organising the dates & venues for the League matches in 2008.
Because of a poor response Mark will not be running the Summer Evening Comps.
We are again running the ‘Doug Daw Memorial Carp Match’ in May + an additional longer Summer Carp Match & a ‘Junior Teach in’. We will also be organising a club comp on one of the commercial venues so they’ll be plenty of matches for all…
Full details of these will be in your April newsletter & new membership card/fixture list.
Entry fee is £3 per competitor with £1 of that going to towards a secret weight or lucky peg draw held on the day.
The ‘Sid Flood Memorial Comp’ will be a separate ‘Roach only’ match held on June 22nd on River Beult at Hawkenbury or Cross-at-Hand.
The Knock Out will start from the First Summer League match after that.
Further to Don Brown’s success in being outright winner of the 2007 KFCA Championship we hope to enter two teams in September 2008.
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These remain unchanged & will be as detailed on your new 2008/2009 membership card.
(Still waters this only really applies to Staplehurst Res.) For the RIVERS & ROYAL MILITARY CANAL the close season will remain from 15th March till 15th June inclusive as per Environmental Agency Statutory Regulations.
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As from September 2007 we no longer leased Oakapple Fisheries at Benover, the owner has other plans for the farm & water; it was only for a year’s trial period anyway.
Next year the lease on the Woodchurch waters also expires, we will not be renewing it.
The new section on the River Beult at Staplehurst has proved to be a great success with some good bags of Roach, Tench & Bream also some nice Pike & Carp, last year was fortunate in it being fairly free from the dreaded ‘duckweed’
Both reservoirs at Sutton Valance come fully ‘online’ as from 2008.
We are also looking at the possibility of leasing of another still water, we will keep you informed.
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In December Chris organised the start of stocking of Stallance Reservoir with some 300lbs of Carp, amongst them were number of specially selected genetically exceptional carp with outstanding growth potential, although only 3 years old these individuals have already reached 9lbs in weight!
We also hope to stock with silver fish early in the New Year.
We put 6 of these ‘special’ fish in Linton as well to maintain new stocks. As you see by the recent photos in the web site report section, in the last 9 months the reservoir has now become established with ground growth, floating islands reeds & bottom weed.
As a club we have to plan & build for the future.
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We are down some 13% on the 2006 – 2007 season! Again the commercial fisheries having an effect + a nationwide decline in Fishing Club membership however we do need to cut our cloth…
Despite this the Society is still in excellent shape hence we have not raised the forthcoming seasons’ subs!
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These have been increased to £10.00 each. With three rods allowed, up to three permits per member & for a full 24 hours this is still excellent value especially when you look at some of the prices commercial fisheries charge.
Details of ADDITIONAL sales outlets will be on your new card.
Royal Military Canal permits remain at £5.00 per angler per day.
Legal Note: All guests become ‘temporary members’ for the duration of the Permit.
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Alan & Jason report it has been another good year for Linton catches; our waters have produced some fine specimen fish… Carp up to 30lb, Tench to 9 lb+, Bream to 10 lb, Chub to 7 lb, Crucian to 3 lb+, Perch to 4½ lbs, Roach to 2 lb, Rudd to 1½ lb & Pike to 27½ lbs.
They also reported some excellent bags of Bream, 80lb+ catches, one member had 35lb bag of Roach from the Medway on Hemp & Tares.
On the whole members had been pretty good; however we still getting the odd problem with poachers at Toke & on the Chainhurst section of the Beult.
We still have the old litter & excrement problem with some fires at Hawkenbury & Chainhurst.
Linton, Manor & Medway suffer the most with the litter problem.
No real problems with juniors last year, tightening up on the rules a few years ago has helped!
Some of you still need reminding… NO MEMBERSHIP CARDS WITH YOU - NO QUESTIONS – IT’S NO FISHING!
This will be strictly enforced in 2008.
Members are responsible for their guests & must ensure they have purchased a guest ticket BEFORE fishing commences.
A few Bream to 3lbs were found dead in the Manor Pond, strange it was only these ½ dozen that suffered & no other fish what-so-ever!
A word of Warning: Anyone found moving fish from the main reservoir to the pond will be EXPELLED!
We would ask all members to be vigilant, keep you eyes open, and report any incidents immediately, no point a few days later. You have over twenty names on you cards. Please help us to protect your waters.
The combination locks remain; See your new 2008/09 membership card for the new number.
Note: It changes on 1st April 2008.
PLEASE ENSURE THAT YOU CLOSE & LOCK ALL GATES AFTER YOU.
Further to a few poaching problems in 2007. Linton A. S. have the sole licensed fishing rights from the E.A. for the
3 mile section, Ruckinge Bridge to Giggers Green Bridge, anyone fishing it must be a member or have the relevant Day Fishing Permit irrespective of which bank they are fishing from.
Anglers are only allowed to fish from the Southern bank.
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The 2 YEAR ROTA SYSTEM is still in operation. This year it is the turn of & compulsory for those applicable members with surname I to Z to attend at least one working party.
(New members joining after 16th June are requested to attend either the October or November work party)
Full details of these will be on your new membership card/fixture list.
We are planning on treating the Lake with Siltex, erect more palisade fencing in the car park, repair the track at Manor, trim back the trees & rebuild some swims on the Medway. Look at the weed, reed & lily problem on two waters as well as the RMC, swim clearing on the Beult & Tiese. Not including the stocking we have a fair amount to do! You help would be appreciated.
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There is an entry form attached. The more of you who enter the bigger the prize money!
It will only cost you £12 for a whole year’s entry; that works out at only 25p a week! You can join anytime & have as many entries as you like. MPAS members are most welcome to participate.
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We had plenty of good photos for the site last year, well done to those who contributed. This year let’s see if we can better last, any good catches, not just carp!
Please e-mail us with a jpg or even sent the photo in (it will be returned) putting name, address & details on the back direct to Chris, Warren or myself.
In the past Chris Knowler & I have been involved in providing a lot of the material. (We do need more of you to contribute).
The LAS Forum page has been a great success, promoting some lengthy discussions, amusing stories & information. You can now put your own sales & want adverts directly on with complete control & for FREE.
There is also an instant news & announcements section to keep you up to date.
Also a “Chit Chat” section for general discussions. Just register, log in & fire away!
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Special thanks go to all the committee & officers for their hard work in running your Society, especially Alan, Jason, Martin, Malcolm, Adrian & John. Not forgetting Barry & Don on the match & maintenance scene & of course our ‘Webmaster’ Warren Muckell.
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There will be another newsletter in April, we will be writing to rejoining members again in April 2007 in the form of a newsletter with a little more detailed information on the seasons fixtures, possible new waters & a report on the AGM, I hope to see you there.
May I take this opportunity in wishing you all the best for the New Year & tight lines for the remainder of this season.
Tony Spall
Chairman
For & on behalf of LAS Officers & Committee January 2008
