Open your big mouth Sutton, and it always makes more work for yourself, I was once told at school by someone in authority, how right they were! My verbal assaults on you in the last mag for not playing the game and writing for your favourite club magazine have reaped dividends for you and lots of work for me, but what the heck. Articles have appeared from members old and new; Jim Griffiths makes a comeback, and sets up Bed & Breakfast, Roy Asker relives 'Match Day', Officers reports have returned, poems abound and much more. It is not time to rest your pens, we are only as good as our last issue, don't delay write today.
The Year Last year cannot be described as a good one with the loss of one of our waters, which over the years has provided us with great sport, and much enjoyment. The facility has been lost due to inactivity on our part, let this not me the shape of things to come, so get active.
Printing
Unfortunately I have lost my facility to do the clubs printing at a modest cost. If there are any printers within the membership who could take on the task of the HAS printing, at a reasonable cost, please give me a call.
Vince Sutton
Sunday was just like all the other Sundays, up early sandwiches made the night before, flask of tea for me and a bottle of squash for Russ. While I am making these Russ is loading the car with the fishing tackle. We have decided to fish for Pike, and are going to Number 2 lake at Harefield.
We arrive at the lake at 7.30am, its a frosty morning with a fine mist drifting across the lake. After looking at the scenery for a short while we decided to fish the point passed the peat bank by the slalom poles. We were fishing dead baits of sprats and herrings. By 9 O'clock nothing had happened, no runs, not a bleep from the optonics.
Steve Jenner and Melvyn Brown turn up and decide to fish to the right of us, on hearing we hadn't had anything, Steve said "he would show us how to do it!" After we had stopped laughing, Russ and I thought we would have a casting competition, putting a two ounce lead on the eight pound line, I decided to attach a small silver spoon with red tassle spinners just for the fun of it. The rod was a Sportex 2 lb test curve, the reel a Cardinal 55. My first cast went about eighty yards and on retrieving it, had a definite take which I missed. Russ cast his rod about 95 yards with ease, he always was a better caster than me, then it was my turn, again it landed about the same place, but on retrieving it I was expecting the take this time, and sure enough it took it, with a sweep over my shoulder I set the hooks and landed a pike of 5 lbs. A couple of casts later another pike graced the net, this one weighing 7 lbs 8oz, this went on all day long and every time I had one I said "Hello" and Steve would come running around to watch me play another Pike. I had 13 pike and a nice Perch of 1 lb 15ozs that day and that is why I called that swim 'Unlucky for Some'
Jim Griffiths
As most of us will already know by now, the HAS has lost the right to fish Langley Park Lake. The council in their wisdom have bowed to pressure from Mrs Barnes who got together a 700 Signature petition. Her, the friends of Langley Park and WIFTAC, which is something to do with women against angling. These local anti angling bodies deserve our admiration. Over the last four years they have made a concerted effort to have angling stopped at Langley. They are well organised, they have bombarded local newspapers with letters, written to the local council, pestered the countryside commission, and generally made a nuisance of themselves. So much so, that it was easy for the local authorities to give in to their demands, and do away with the aggravation and the flak they were receiving.
What did we do to counter their argument, well, apart from a couple of letters to a local newspaper in Slough from a couple of Committee members, nothing, absolutely nothing! We deserved what we got. Every member that reads the HAS magazine has been aware of the problem at Langley. It has been mentioned in every magazine over the last four years. Yet how many members have done something, however small? None that I am aware of, i'm not just having a go at the members because I am no better, I did not write either.
So the apathetic angler loses out again, lets hope it's not a sign of things to come.
Steve Jenner
As bad news often travels fast, many of you will already be aware that our Landlords, the Bucks County Council, have decided that angling is to cease on this Lake, and that our lease, which came to an end on March 15th, is not to be renewed.
There are many disturbing features about this decision apart from the obvious. The Society has a good record of managing its affairs at Langley as at other waters, a point the B.C.C. were quick to acknowledge when confirming that their decision was not taken against the Society. Unfortunately, it appears that the misguided and vindictive campaign to stop angling at Langley, led by a local resident, has been successful. Their constant hassling of the Park and County Hall personnel that took many forms, eventually won the day. They convinced the County Valuer that to give in to the small ginger groups' demands would eliminate the aggravation and save a lot of time and money.
The decision gave little heed to the enormous amount of caring work and money that was contributed by the Society over nearly thirty years, to manage and maintain the Lake and its surrounds. Few people outside of the angling fraternity realise that caring anglers are conservationists, and are responsible for nearly all of the work done to fight pollution of our waterways. It is difficult to understand the attitude of the local resident who led the campaign to have angling stopped at the Lake. As with any section of the Community, we have found the occasional rule-breaker amongst our members, but whilst every effort was given by the resident to attract the maximum adverse publicity to these rare events, at no time did they note the Society's actions to correct the offenders, nor study the code of practice demanded by its rule book. Indeed to strengthen their case, they attributed many incidences to our members without any supportive evidence. It is very disturbing to see some of this false testimony is actually recorded as though it were fact, in the minutes of the Bucks CC's Countryside Sub-Committee meeting, that made the final decision to stop angling at Langley. As we are unlikely to be given any right of appeal, there is no opportunity to highlight this malicious falsification for what it is.
Whilst it is of little compensation for losing the water, it has been gratifying to see the local support for our fishing rights at Langley to be re-instated. I have received an encouraging number of phone calls from local residents expressing dismay at our loss, and curious to know why. Indeed, this support has included members of both Slough Borough Council and Wexham Parish Council - a copy of a letter from Slough Borough Council to Bucks County Council is included for your interest.
We believe the Society has always taken a very responsible attitude in the way it manages itself. The good relationship that we enjoy with our landlords and adjacent tenants is a good indicator of this caring stance. Whilst we do not claim to be perfect, we are always trying to maintain good standards of practice. At a time when too many people have more than enough leisure time to fill, it is a pity that an organisation such as ours, involved in the country's most popular leisure interest, is not viewed in a more understanding and comprehensive manner. Perhaps it is part of the reason why standards are falling.
It is hoped that the prime fish in the Lake will shortly be transferred to our other waters - we have just received a health clearance from the NRA.
Needless to say, that unless on official business, members no longer have the right to use the internal car park, nor should they be found angling on the water. Your Management Committee are very conscious of just what the loss of this water will mean to a large cross section of our members - we have cause to be grateful to the many who gave a great deal of their leisure time to the maintenance at Langley. We realise that it will be difficult for you to come to terms with the fact that this relationship is now at an end.
Terry Skelton
Dear Vince,
I write in reply to your plea for material for the magazine.
I enclose some poor efforts at humour (at least I find them funny), which you may find useful, along with an illustration, and a short story. I myself once published a works club magazine which failed due to lack of contributions, and I would hate to see our mag go the same way.
Whilst in print I would like to express my appreciation of the way my wife and I have been welcomed into the Society and have met with kindness and helpful advice in our first year. A special mention to Roy and his wife who helped us with keys and a gentleman with a big van who whilst we were fishing by the viaduct, gave us tea and valuable information about sunken cars. We never learnt his name but enjoyed his company (no prizes for guessing who that was ED.)
We have not been outstandingly successful catchwise, but we have both bagged some decent Tench and some quality Roach from the Harefield lakes. My wife has by accident hooked, but not landed several large Pike, and their numbers seems to be growing.
The Harefield lakes have been a joy as we are both retired, and are lucky enough to be able to spend a fair amount of time at the waterside. We have had the pleasure of seeing; Widgeon, Tufted Duck, Pintail, Mallard, a family of Kingfishers, Jays, Warblers, not to mention snakes countless rabbits, a stoat and various other wildlife.
Joining the Society was definitely one of our better moves. I close by saying that we appreciate the magazine, a very enjoyable read, long may it continue!
Yours sincerely,
Roy & Marj Asker
The morning had started badly, usually on the morning of a club match Len was out of bed at the crack of dawn long before the alarm sounded. Today he awoke, his head heavy, eyes reluctant to open, and as he reached for the clock he managed to tug the bedclothes so that his wife Dora mumbling sleepy complaint turned away taking the blanket exposing Lens pyjama clad body to the chill morning air, climbing out of the now cold bed and clutching the clock he made his way down to the warmth of the kitchen, soon the kettle was singing and bacon spattered in the pan, it was then he decided to glance at the clock. "Hell, he muttered, I'll never make it, Five thirty and the coach leaves at six, why didn't the alarm wake me?" That question soon answered he had forgotten to wind the spring. Rushing around cramming bait cans, flask, sandwiches etc, into his tackle box, fingers fumbling with familiar but suddenly perverse straps and fasteners. A last look round, have I forgotten anything? Rush over to the stove, remove the blackened pan, to the sink, turn off the gas, gulp tea from the unsugared cup poured during the last few frantic minutes, switch off the kitchen lights. The rod holdall and tackle box over the shoulder, and out into the dark morning, half run half walk to the pickup point.
At least my headaches gone, Lens footfalls echoed hollowly in the empty streets as striding manfully along he reasoned. "I should be able to see the coach from the corner of Grant Street, and if I can see it, the lads will see me, and hold it up till I get there."
The corner reached, Len could just see the lighted rear of the coach pulling away, urging his legs into a sprint. He took the short cut through Ketts Alley hoping to intercept the coach at the junction with the High Street. Tackle banging painfully against his thigh he thundered through the narrow alleyway only to emerge into the High Street as the coach swept past. Waving frantically he tried to force his gasping lips into a whistle, in vain, the coach rolled on, then just as he was about to give up he saw the receding light suddenly stop about a hundred yards away, once again he forced his aching limbs into a trot and upon entering the well lit coach came in for some unmerciful chaffing.
Len sank gratefully into his seat, composing his features into a mask to discourage further ribaldry. A black mood encompass him, and staring out at the dark morning he began to wish he had remained in bed. It had come to rain, the heavens wept a fine drizzle, leaden clouds were lowering over sodden fields as the coach disgorges its laden anglers on to the river bank. The river ran dark and deep as Len watched the back of the last of his clubmates plodding ahead of him through the murk. The draw had not been kind, and his peg was far away at the unfavoured end of the venue, most of his fellows would be tackled up and ready long before Len reached his swim, huge umbrellas mushroomed along the river-side as he passed, and the dying reeds reaching blackened stumps up in the margins contributed to the general air of gloom.
Reaching his peg Len noted that access to the river there at least was good, settling his gear among the bed of rushes which rattled weirdly as he set up rod rests, bait tray, keep net and seat box. The dying stalks of the tallest reeds etching starkly in the grey dawn. He mixed ground bait to a stiffer than usual constituency the river was running quite hard and he needed to get the bait down quickly and for it to hold the bottom when it got there, Len assembled his fourteen foot trotting rod, too much flow for the pole and if fish were not forthcoming perhaps he would try a feeder a bit later. Sitting well insulated from the weather under his green umbrella, he carefully threaded his line through the jewelled rings of his rod and threaded on a cork bodied stick float. This was not a day for light tackle, casting with a wet rod was not going to be easy, and the float would need to carry enough shot to get the bait down quickly in the strong flow. A sixteen hook completed the rig. All set, just check, blast the hook point turned in, have to change it. Cursing his carelessness silently but venomously, he renewed the hook. Setting up the landing net Len fed half a dozen balls of groundbait into the head of his swim. Plumbing the depth he was pleased to register ten feet of water, a run down with the float signalled a slight variation at the tail of the swim which signified to him that there existed a feature maybe a weed bed or shelf, Lennies spirits rose a notch, should be fish and if they were there and he could get them to feed, the day might not be such a write off after all.
Baiting up with a double bronze maggot he cast. The float following the cast to settle with just the tip showing above the dark surface of the river, and began its smooth run through the swim. Now that he was actually fishing Lennies spirits rose higher, the gloom of the day was banished from his mind, his practiced eye followed the little flash of colour of the float, and holding the rod tip high the better to control the tackle, he was ready to strike. Then, as he anticipated, the float dipped and he tightened into a hard fighting boring fish. Lennie played the fish , easing it gently out of the swim so as not to spook the shoal, soon he slid the landing net under a fine three pound Chub. Casting and feeding the swim as he fished steadily on, Lennie took Roach and Chub, this was not a day for tentative bites the float at each trot dragged under and he had a only to hold back against the flow to firmly hook each fish. No longer he noticed the rain or the cloud filled sky, he lost count of the splendid fish he dropped into his keepnet.
The day wore on and the rain ceased, droplets from the saturated trees dappled the face of the river but nothing now could distract our hero, concentration personified, he fished on using all his skill to take fine fish after fine fish, he paused only to snatch a sip of tea from his flask and a quick bite of sandwich prepared the night before by Dora. Then back to the fishing which continued as prolifically throughout. Lennies heart gladdened to the perfection of all around him the swift mysterious river yielding its secrets as he plied his expertise. He wished this day could last forever.
On the return journey in the dry comfort of the coach Lennie swapped banter with his fellows encompassed in the warmth of their genuine joy and respect at his great achievement in breaking the club record for a one day catch, he looked forward to the hot meal Dora will have prepared and which they would share beside the glow of their dinning room fire.
Dora would listen with uncomprehending and feigned interest as he recounted the events of the day and he could sit with slippers and pipe and relive what to him had been a wonderful - wonderful matchday.
Roy Asker
As most of you will know during the winter of 91/92 we had a disaster at No 2 lake in Harefield. We had bought some Carp, which we found out later were not in the best of condition. The original Carp were stocked in the late 50's and early 60's. These fish were getting on for 30 years of age, and the new fish were to replace them. In the event we lost most of the fish we had just bought and most of the large fish already there, many were over 30 lbs.
Since then we have not been allowed to stock No 2 in case whatever killed the fish was still in the lake. In November 1992, the NRA gave us 250 Carp, weighing between 1 & 3lbs, and on January 14th a further 100 Carp between 2 & 4lbs. The prime reason for their introduction is to assess if the water is now free from the problem, to 'test the water' as it would be.
Although it is not the intention of the Society to turn No 2 into a Carp fishery, these fish are very welcome. Non Carp anglers will be pleased to know that we have asked the NRA for some Tench and Bream.
To assess these test fish the Carp have all been Pan Jetted. To the layman, (me included) that means the fish have been dye marked on their belly, just inside the Pectoral fin.
So that the Harrow Angling Society and the NRA can keep track of anything that happens in No2 regarding disease and growth it is important that any member catching any of these fish, or any of the existing stock come to that, they must be reported to the curator, stating clearly whether or not they have the mark or not, he is: Frank Webb
Fish report forms will be available at the AGM along with Maps of No 1 & 2 and Society mags.
Steve Jenner
The first of the four matches was held on 27th September on No 1 when 8 people turned up, well 7 to start with until Vince decided to put in an appearance an hour or so late. After a prolonged talk with the bailiff Stuart, he decided to show us how it was done by catching the first fish of the day at 5lbs 2oz. This was not to be enough as I followed with a fish of 6lbs 6oz, and then P.Redrup with a fish of 7lbs. Then after telling Reg Rollins where a Pike was always lurking under a tree he caught a 7lb 8oz Pike there and won the match.
The second match on the 25th October was held at No 2, was a disaster weather wise, pouring rain and very strong winds, smashing to pieces my new brolly. Ten anglers took part and most had runs, especially my mate Bernie who dropped what he reckoned was a 15lber at his feet because I was the only one not to hear him calling for help to land it (It was the noise of the wind honest Bernie!) The match was won by Les Skidmore who caught the only fish at 7lbs 2oz.
The third match on No 1 on 29th November was a better day with 14 Anglers. Fred Cook took second place with two fish of 6lbs and 3lbs. I won the match with a couple of fish at 12lbs 4oz and 10lbs 2oz, I also had the smallest pike in the lake hang onto the tail of my deadbait.
Alan Hague
Ron Asker
Jill Collins
It is some 12 months and more, since my last report on Rowley - my apologies for the delay.
I ended my report of February 1992 with the good news that:
were put in on 19th February. Further to this, on March 13th 1992:
were stocked by Framlington Fisheries.
These fish were in pristine condition, a beautiful golden brown colour, some almost ghost like appearance. Evidently, they were also from a fast growing strain as some of them are now making 16lb.
So, we've had a go at putting something back after the disasters of 1988 and 1991, but, despite spending a lot of money we have only scratched the surface, the few fish we introduced providing very limited sport for the few anglers that have continued to fish the lake - probably because they just like being there rather than the standard of fishing the lake provides.
Why haven't we continued to stock the lake and endeavour to return it to it's former glory? - Simple - Our lease expires on June 16th 1993 and to continue to throw money at the place without some form of guarantee in the form of a renewed lease etc would be crazy.
However, we are currently negotiating with our landlords and are confident of the Societies future at Rowley.
On confirmation of our lease, we will restart our fishery management programme ref restocking, culling, liming etc, with the view to improving and restoring this lovely water.
The Angling grapevine being the efficient communicator that it is, you will no doubt have heard that, due to the cessation of fishing on Langley, we have permission to transfer the fish across the Uxbridge Road into Rowley.
The necessary consents have been granted by the NRA and the work will be carried out at the earliest opportunity during the closed season.
No doubt the subject of Langley will be covered elsewhere in this magazine, but, I would like to highlight a very important point:-
Once again the anti's have won a battle! (They won't win the war, but to our loss they have won this battle). They have won it due to the apathy of we anglers!
If more of our members had taken time to notify the Committee and write letters of complaint to our landlords concerning the antagonistic actions of the anti angling minority at Langley, then we would have had a better chance of fighting and winning our case. Only by being a bloody nuisance and causing the council so much grief by tying up their time and resources have the anti's been successful in blotting our copy book. Had we been as equally enthusiastic in bringing the seemingly pathetic actions of the enemy to the attention of Bucks Council then it would be we and not them with the smirk on our face as we look forward to another season on Langley.
Sadly, this is not to be - the main concern now being to secure our future on Rowley. So, if you see anybody walking around the lake challenge them - ask them what they are doing there, ask to see their permit and get a name or car number if possible. If you are met with abuse then the chances are-they are not members are therefore have no right to be there - let me know and I will notify the authorities. We cannot afford to let ourselves be undermined again - your fishing and the future of our Society depends upon it.
Working parties this year will be geared mainly to swim repairs and improving the path on the west bank where it gets very wet and boggy during the winter. Anyone with access to decent timber (boards, stakes etc) please contact me or bring it along on the day and don't forget to dress accordingly. Working parties are exactly that - hard work where hands and clothes get dirty, so don't turn up in your best designer shell suit and expect to get away with merely posing on the island catwalk.
Looking towards the new season the usual points of note spring to mind all of which should be second nature to everybody.
I look forward to seeing all the usual stalwarts at the working parties (and a few new faces as well I hope) and to those that I don't see, all the best for next season.
John Miles 24-3-93
P.S. Can the gentleman who brought the beefy strimmer to last years working parties do it again this year. Many thanks.