Spring 1995
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Editorial
Welcome to HAS members old and new, you may be relieved at the end of the season, or you may already be starting to get edgy at the lack of your favourite sport, whichever camp you fit in the 16th approaches quicker than you think. Its time to clean out your tackle box, refill your spools, and get that reel of film developed to reveal those end of season monsters. There are other very important tasks for you to perform, first and foremost renew your membership and send it to Terry. Try and remember to include all he requires, a STAMPED ADDRESSED ENVELOPE, a passport sized photograph for you and your associate, and your fee. Don't wait till the last moment, do it early so you won't be disappointed, or be pestering Terry when the season has begun. The fees this year have remained unchanged, because of the loss of Langley, and the relatively healthy financial state of the Society.
Harefield No1 - Litter
Although this is a Society wide issue, it has been noticed that the usual standard at No1 has been allowed to slip. You must stop spoiling the lake.
Working Parties
Your usual strenuous efforts are again required to carry out the usual work on the Societies waters. As a rough rule of thumb, bring construction tools to the early working parties, and brush cutting type tools for the later parties. We will this year be identifying those who do not come to the working parties, if you do not do your bit for the Society, you will be required to pay your fee in lieu, you have been advised.
The Weed
You will of course understand the problems the committee have had with the dreaded canadian pondweed at Harefield No2. It is a problem you will see at many other waters in the Colne Valley and elsewhere. This year it will be dealt with, we have our resident diver, Steve Jenner checking out its initial growth and the council and the sailing base helping.
Stocking
We have given permission to John Miles to investigate further stocking for Harefield No2.
Night Tickets
You must have a night ticket if you wish to night fish, this includes the opening nights fishing on the 15th June.
Closed Season
You will probably have heard that the NRA have decided to abolish the closed season for coarse fishing on stillwaters. The ownus is then placed upon the landlords to determine whether a closed season should be kept. Following discussions with our landlords regarding Harefield, we are told that the NRA have designated Denham Quarry as part of the water course and will be treated similarly to a river. This means that the close season will remain in force for all HAS waters. The season fishing will start as usual on the 16th June, personally I feel this decision is right for the club and for the sport, the date for me has meaning and should stay.
New Members
As people drop out of the society there are always a number of places available for new members, if you have a friend who wishes to become a member you can get a form from Terry Gibson.
Curator's Report
You've probably wondered why there are no fishing charts on display this season. This is the first time ever that I have failed to produce records of good fish taken since the opening of the season. The reason is that although we have over 300 members, I have so far received only 6 reports! 2 reports from No 1, 4 reports from No 2, None from Rowley!
No1
- Jeff Eke reported the appearance of Rudd on No1, along with a Tench of 4lb 9oz.
No2
- Eric Skidmore Bream 8lb 6oz and Perch 2lb 4oz
- Les Skidmore Pike 18lb 14oz
- C.P.Taylor Perch 2lb 9oz
- Stan Brown Perch 3lb 5oz
The dearth of reports is very disappointing indeed. There are splendid trophies awarded each season, and I do urge you to have a crack at wining a cup or shield this year. Miniature shields are presented to all winners, and these are permanent mementoes presented by the Society. So keep me busy with reports, both for triumphs and failures. Entry forms are freely available. Reports are especially needed from The Ladies and juniors.
Frank Webb - Hon Curator
Fishery Management - No2 - Feb 95
As I write this some of you will be looking out of the window at the continuing rain and wondering when it will be safe to venture along to one of our waters, the level at No2 is up nearly three feet, the railway bank and most of the canal bank are under water. God knows what our stretch of the Thames at Sandford is like! Since the last report in September there have been some spectacular Bream catches on No2, one of the best by Steve Brown (see article by him in this issue). Fishing for the big Pike has been slow with only two twenties so far. One of those to a junior member, but fish in the 5-15 pound range are coming out quite regularly on small mackerel and sardine. The weed has cleared up for the time being, we will be doing something to stop it coming back in the summer. Be careful when you go to the Dews farm lane car park, it's very boggy, you may get your car into the car park but you won't get out. The old workings are fishing very well with good bags of Roach coming out along with plenty of small Pike.
This Autumn I took advantage along with Vince Sutton and Warren Kencroft of one of our exchange permits and had a day out down on the river Cherwell at Hampton Poyle in Oxford despite the river being in flood we had quite a good day, plenty of gudgeon and Perch, some small Chub and Roach to 1lbs, a lovely stretch of river well worth a visit.
Steve Jenner
The 20lb Rowley Coot
Friday was here at last and I was watching the clock willing it to get to 5.30pm a bit faster, I thought of my son Russ, who would have my old van packed with the fishing tackle for the coming weekend's session. We had booked night tickets to fish Rowley, in my opinion the best water HAS has. My thoughts were interrupted by the finishing hooter. Five minutes later I was heading down the road on my way home, but of course when you are in a hurry everything is against you. I must have been stopped by every red traffic light and everyone wanted to cross the road in front of me. Ten minutes journey took twenty five minutes and as I turned into my road I could see Russ had already started the van by the smoke pouring out of the exhaust (its an old van). A quick change of clothes and we were on our way.
Turning into the car park at Rowley not another car was to be seen which meant we could take our time choosing our swims, but as we got to the lake a pair of rods could be seen sticking out of the island where we really wanted to fish, it was the 'Dumper' whose nickname came from 'well I won't go into that' he always got to the lake by taxi that's why there was no cars in the car park.
We walked around the lake but there was no sign of Carp anywhere so we decided to fish the double swim opposite the small island. Russ put about twenty baits just to the left of the island on a small patch of gravel and another twenty about ten feet to the right tight up against the overhanging bushes, and I cast the same positions but to the right of the island. The night past without any action and the morning was just as uneventful, that is except for the Coots which seemed to have taken a liking to Russ's baits, he was up and down like a 'yo yo'. I was fishing the same bait but with a different flavouring and they were not bothering me at all, which I thought was hilarious. Just after lunch on the Saturday, Russ went for a walk along the bank to see if he could spot any Carp in the margins, while I decided to have a nap, which lasted about ten minutes. Three beeps from Russ's right hand rod had me sitting up like grease lightening 'bloody Coots' I thought, this one has hooked himself by the sound of the optonic 'bleep, bleep, bleep I'll crown the bloody thing.
Jumping up I picked up the rod and plunged the tip under the water and started to wind in, after a minute I had second thoughts, poor Coot everything has the right to live. Lifting the rod I got the surprise of my life, the Coot took off up the lake underwater, only by magic the Coot turned into a Carp and a good one at that, the rod bent over and the reel clutch screamed in protest, lined spilled from the spool, putting my forefinger against the drum I slowed the run down to a crawl turning the fish, it then turned to the left and ran straight under the overhanging bushes and stopped solid. Oh bother I thought, or something like that. Opening the bail arm I put the rod back on the rest and walked along the bank and parting the bushes, there she lay, a big mirror of about twenty pounds, her head tight up against the bank, no amount of pulling would get her out, there was only one thing for it, back to the rods, I stripped off down to my micky mouse shorts grabbed the landing net and waded in 'Brrrr' it was brass monkeys, although it was a nice sunny day. Holding onto the line I followed it along the bush where the fish lay. Sinking the landing net I tried to bring it up under her, but being forty-two inch landing net it was impossible, breaking the net down I managed to get her in, in one swoop. Being one of those people with blunt teeth I couldn't bite through the line and had to wade back to the rods trailing the line behind me. Just as I climbed onto the bank Russ walked back, 'hello dad, been swimming, hey that's my rod" he said as I picked it up to wind the line in. He then saw that the landing net which I had put back on the bank with the net had something in it attached to his line. "Hey that's my fish", that's not a fish Russ it's a 'bloody big Coot'.
Jim Griffiths
Tench
Dear Mr Webb,
On the advice of a fellow member, I thought I would write to tell you about some Tench experiences at Rowley this season. The first occasion was in October whilst fishing with Ian Potter. we were fishing from the island on a very wet and slightly cold day. After a morning and early afternoon without a touch, the early evening saw a lively 6½lb Tench for me. On such a dismal day and heading towards twilight we both thought that was probably it for the day, but about half an hour later Ian hooked and landed a magnificent 7½lb Tench from the other side of the lily pads to mine. Both fish were taken on boilies: mine on mini's, Ian on standards. We both came away thinking, "Tench on a cold wet October day; outrageous!"
However, things took another turn this week when I was fishing, again from the island, for late season Carp (call me an optimist!). It was mild for February, but still warranted several layers of clothing and the weather moved from sunshine to hail storm, to rain and back to sun again.
Again after a quiet morning with only the occasional tail bite the keep things interesting, the afternoon saw first a Tench of 5½lb and then an hour later a second fish of 5lbs. Both fish were in good condition but for a few parasites on their sides and were again taken on boilies. The catches were seen by a fellow angler from the other bank and it was he that suggested that I write.
Neither he nor myself had taken Tench in February before and therefore thought that you would be interested to hear that Rowley is fishing so well.
Colin Peters
Rowley Lake - February 1995
It is quite some time since my last report - Summer 1993 I think - and if I remember correctly I spent most of the time openly critical of the disgraceful antics of some of our members with regard to litter of the foulest kind and unacceptable angling practice.
Thankfully, things have improved, but, don't get too excited. The bailiffs are still having to clean up and the back of the willow on the island is still used as public convenience. If only we could catch then - their bare bums wouldn't touch the ground until they hit the Uxbridge Road!!!
Let's get our act together with this litter problem - there really is no excuse.
Predictably, the Carp were top of the hit list again this year with many good fish being taken. Sadly, a very large Mirror, probably the biggest fish in the lake at about 24lb, was found dead back in the Summer. This was one of the Langley fish and appeared to have died of natural causes - probably about 25-30 years old.
Reports are still coming through of some individuals fishing in a manner that is totally unnecessarily and unacceptable in that tackle way in excess of the capacity required for this lake is being used in seemingly inexperienced or unthinking hands.
Whilst it is true that the majority of the Carp anglers at Rowley are using rods that are too beefy and reels that are big for the lake, most of them know the limitations of such tackle and fish accordingly. It is clearly not acceptable to fish in the margins with rods of 2lb test and upwards, with 15lb line, and when the take comes whip the rod heavenward on a tight clutch as if setting the hooks into some prehistoric beast 200 yards out in the lake. This has happened at Rowley and concerned members have reported the act to myself and the bailiffs. Happily, I think the gentleman concerned has learnt the error of his ways in that he found himself fishing on his own because even his mates thought he was out of order.
Due to the mild Winter, traditionally Summer fish like Tench and Bream have "enjoyed "? an extended season with catches of these species being reported, albeit unofficially, into, December 1994. Such reports are of great interest to most of us, so please send them to Frank Webb so that he can tell the rest of us via the Magazine. Angling is not just about catching the biggest fish - reports of all types of catches are always welcome and assist in Fishery Management maters as well as being of general interest.
On the Fishery Management front, the annual nettings will recommence this Spring in order to thin out the unwanted small stuff and create more space for the bigger stuff and improve our chances of catching the right stuff!
If all materials are available in time, we hope to rebuild the bridge to the island and create a new boat house. The usual close season tasks of swim rebuilding and cutting back will also be attended to. All those attending working parties please wear the proper gear - no trainer or medallions - and be sure that your name is recorded by those officiating before you leave.
In answer to the numerous questions - the fields between Rowley lake and the Uxbridge Road have been treated to kill all vegetation and will be ploughed up and planted with maize next Summer. This should, in no way, affect the lake although with the use of a herbicide so close to the lake all eyes will be on the progress of the lilies this Spring.
I don't intend to prattle on any longer, I know Vince likes me to be brief - words cost money - so I'll leave you with the usual list:
- 1. No litter of any kind - this includes fag ends and cigarette wrappers.
- 2. Clear you swim when packing up, including litter that was in the swim when you arrived.
- 3. Don't cross the farm land - the footpath is clearly marked.
- 4. No fires.
- 5. No pets.
- 6. Do not cut down bankside vegetation.
- 7. Make every effort to retrieve lost tackle. If this is not possible notify Ray Rogers, Paul Collyer or myself without delay and don't leave discarded line or hooks on the bank - take it all home and bin it.
John Miles - 15 Fsbruary 1995
When Dad, When?
"Dad, Dad, when can we go fishing?" That was Monday, Tuesday "Dad when are we going?" "Maybe at the weekend". Wednesday "Dad! you promised remember!". I didn't promise, but after a weeks nagging, I gave in and told my son Sam that I'd take him right after work on Saturday.
So along came Saturday, 6 o'clock I was just shutting the shop and loading the van for a weekends fishing, a gallon of casters, 20lbs of brown and white crumb, sweetcorn, a couple of tubs of worms and six pints of red maggots.
Off we went for a weekend fishing, coming home early on Monday morning, Sam has to go to school and I've got to open the shop, for another week of talking living and breathing fishing.
So, first thing is to call into Terry's house to pick up the night tickets. We arrive at No2 and decided on a swim along the canal bank, we set the rods up, put the groundbait out, Sam got his bed ready, one of those you see alongside hotel swimming pools, the one with the 4" thick mattresses and arm rests. We put out one rod each, both on sweetcorn. We had a few Bream on Saturday night to about 7lbs, my main aim was to catch a double figure fish, there had already been a couple caught so far this season, Fred Cook the bailiff had one and so had a couple of others.
Things really took off on Sunday, we started to catch fish almost one a cast. Sam who is only nine years old, had the best fish of 8lbs 12oz. The fish seemed to be piled one on top of another, by the evening the water was alive with fish, it had been hot all day, temperatures in the high 70's, and very warm at night, I spent most of the night in a T shirt.
We were fishing with feeder rods and using fox swingers for bite indication, the bites were very definite, and I even had one fish on the drop. We were fishing cage feeders full of groundbait and maggots, size 14 hook on a 2' link, the bait was a sweetcorn and worm cocktail, alternating to red maggot.
Working in a tackle shop can have its disadvantages in that everybody knows where you're fishing. I had loads of visitors, Ray Andrews (grizzly) came and fished next to us for a couple of hours on Sunday, he did not catch many fish but he made a cracking good breakfast. Pete Burt came down coughed his guts up and took the micky all in the same breath. Roy Wilde had a look in, Ian Twaddel came along to give advice we didn't need but he gave it anyway. Steve Merrison even bought his wife along for a laugh and all the time we were catching fish.
My best was 8lb 6oz, we had 90 fish and the smallest was 4lb 12oz and the average was 7lb, giving an estimated overall weight of 630lbs. All in all it was a very good weekends fishing, Sam had his best ever Bream, I didn't get my ten pounder but there is always next season.
There only one thing that spoiled it, and that is that Sam isn't old enough to win the junior trophy for his 8lb 12oz Bream, never mind there is always next season.
Steve Brown